The Link Up: One Of Em’s Favorite DIYer’s Kitchen Reveal, Ryann’s Great Drugstore Serum, And An Article About The Importance Of Having Fun :)

Hello friends and welcome back. We wanted to start this week’s Link Up by first acknowledging the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria. Our hearts are with every person who has been affected by this tragedy. If you are looking for resources on how to help, we have linked some at the end of this post. Now if you are interested, here are this week’s links:

This week’s home tour is a “treehouse” that is like something from a fairytale so of course it is located on an 800-acre property in Herefordshire, England. Click the link to see the charming English country-inspired abode surrounded by idyllic wilderness.

From Emily: I’m constantly in awe of DIY content creators. Y’all it is SO MUCH WORK. I particularly love watching Drew from Lone Fox Home who recently redid his new kitchen by himself and revealed it in a 30-minute youtube video that is so entertaining. A big shout out to Drew (and all you DIY content creators) for all your talent and hard work.

From Caitlin: I LOVED this piece from NPR on how fun is correlated with happiness. I’m going to quote one of the experts here, because he sums it up better than I ever could: “Happiness is a state of mind. But fun is something you can do. It doesn’t require education, money, or power. All it requires is intentionality. If happiness is a mirage, fun is your backyard oasis.” The article goes on to explore some interesting paradoxes (the more you conscientiously seek happiness, the more disappointed you become) and offers up some great life advice (e.g. you don’t have to be happy to have fun, which is obvious but is often forgotten – like, who’s seeking out a theme park or comedy club when they’re depressed?). In any case, it sparked something in my brain and I hope that maybe it’ll resonate with you, too:)

Also From Caitlin: Two weekends ago I drove out to Temecula with two of my best friends (fun!) and brought home a surprise souvenir: a nail in my tire (not fun!). This portable air compressor absolutely saved the day, though – when I opened my garage after returning home and discovered a severely deflated back tire, I just had to plug this into my car’s center console, set my desired pressure, attach it to my tire, and let it do its thing. (It automatically turns off after your desired pressure has been reached.) My tire went from 6 PSI (!!!) to 35 PSI in a matter of minutes and I was able to drive myself a mile down the road to get things patched professionally. Y’all, THIS SAVED SO MUCH TIME. I wouldn’t have been able to make it to a gas station safely and getting AAA here would have taken a few hours – but instead, I was back in business SO QUICKLY. It felt like a life hack. This thing is only $32, it’s easy to stash in the trunk, and you’ll never have to fumble for quarters or feel uncomfortable while you’re standing and pumping air into your tires in front of a captive audience of fellow gas station patrons again. Is this my new go-to practical gift? (Spoiler: yes:))

From Mallory: I’m in need of good black flare jeans (since we don’t wear skinny jeans anymore) and these really caught my eye. I’ve added them to cart but then I thought, I could crowdsource!! Does anyone have a pair of black flare jeans that they love?? HMU with the link 

GOOD Sales This Week:
Article: Dates: Through Presidents Day Offer: 30% off select furniture and decor.
Lightology: Dates: 2/8 – 2/28 Offer: Up to 20% off select brands
Arhaus: Dates: 2/16-2/20 Offer: Up to 60% off select items 

From Ryann: I am on a mission to prove that affordable drugstore skincare is just as effective as their expensive high-end counterparts. To that end, I am currently trying out some basic skincare products I got from Rite Aid and so far have been LOVING them. One particular gem that I will be purchasing again is this Aveeno Triple Oat Serum. It is designed to help restore your skin barrier and after using it for a week I have noticed my skin feels so soft and hydrated. I’ll report back with more recs but so far this is a top favorite of mine!

Also from Ryann: By now many of you have probably heard of the show The Last Of Us and listen, I know zombie shows are not for everyone but hear me out. The show itself is very good, but episode 3 in particular is one of the best-stand alone episodes of any show maybe ever. It’s so full of emotion, it’s touching, and oh so human. Even if you have no interest in the show, I think it’s worth it to skip episodes 1 and 2 and just watch episode 3. You will not regret it.

From Jess: I cannot recommend the new Apple TV+ show Shrinking enough. First off, Harrison Ford is in it. HARRISON FREAKING FORD. Second, it’s about a therapist, Jason Segal, who is dealing with the death of his wife while trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter and treating his patients. The humor is dry and perfect, the acting is superb, and on a personal note it’s filmed in Pasadena/South Pasadena so it’s very fun for me to recognize most of the background:) Bill Lawrence created the show and has been responsible for other shows like Scrubs and Ted Lasso. And while I love those shows too, Shrinking might already be my #1. If you don’t have Apple TV+ I’m pretty sure you get to watch the first episode free if you want to at least get a taste. But it really only continues to get better with each episode. Enjoy:)

Also From Jess: I was checking out what was new at Target and these three things REALLY caught my eye:
1. This cute and expensive–looking drink table.
2. Need a “mini mudroom”? LOOK at this!
3. These wildly cute and chic leather round bins. 10/10

Again, we are extremely saddened by the tragic earthquake in Turkey and Syria so if you are able to help, you can donate here to provide emergency services to the families affected, and for a limited time, monthly donations will be doubled. Save the Children is also accepting donations here which will help provide children with food, shelter, and warm clothing.

Thank you, as always, for being here. See you tomorrow. xx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Rob Diaz Design & Anastasia Ratia, Builder: Diaz + Alexander Studio | Styled by Sarah Brady of The Platform Experiment | Photo by Virtually Here Studios | From: Is This The New “California Casual”? Step Inside This Modern Double A Frame Home That Is Contemporary AND Dripping With Soul