Links I love

I hope you’re having a great weekend. We’re enjoying our cool spell (with a high of only 84 degrees), getting together with family, and doing back to school stuff for our last days of summer vacation.

My favorite finds from around the web:

• A dream backyard getaway for Seattle book lovers. “It was only natural that plans for renovating their backyard included creating a beautiful place for reading.”

• Write fast, edit slow. “In my experience, writing fast and then editing slow is the best way to move as close as possible toward the ultimate vision. You never fully get there, because no one ever does, but writing fast and editing slow uses time as a tool, and gets the most leverage out of it.”

• 13 awesome children’s libraries around the U.S. that will make you want to be a kid again. “I’ve included a mix of spaces that are big and innovative, as well as those that are smaller and make creative, savvy choices within a tight budget and space situation.”

• The best ways to organize your kitchen, according to a nutritionist. “We asked registered dietitian nutritionist Marisa Moore some questions about how to make the kitchen—namely the fridge, freezer and pantry—an environment that creates a sense of calm and helps reduce anxiety around mealtimes; helps prevent food waste; and of course, keeps food safe.”

Favorite Instagram:

If you make the sacrifice of allowing glitter into your home for a photo, you must share the photo as much as possible. (Follow me on instagram @annebogel.)

Related: if you want to receive those pretty preorder bonuses by I’d Rather Be Reading’s 9/4 release day, please preorder now—and complete the form at IdRatherBeReading.com. We ask that you preorder by August 14 to give my team time to get those bonuses delivered to your mailbox by release day. (All the info you need is right here.

On the blog:

One year ago: Ask for the &$!@%! mug. “This was a revelation, albeit one that made me feel like an idiot. I’d been wanting to know how to get a mug, and here was the answer: ask for it.”

Two years ago: Making things happen vs. letting things happen. “Now I’m scanning my surroundings, asking myself what other simple things can I do to help the good stuff happen more often? What else can I do, not to make things happen, but to make it easier to let the good stuff happen?”

Three years ago: Enduring vs. enjoying the journey. “This wasn’t a big change. It wasn’t without cost… But instead of dreading the journey, I almost enjoyed it.”

Four years ago: When reading is rude. “In a bona fide big city like NYC or LA, I wouldn’t think twice about popping my earbuds in to shop. But if I was in a bona fide small town, I wouldn’t dream of attempting it.”

Five years ago: “All the world’s parenting advice can be distilled to two simple rules.” “All of the authors emphasized the importance of nurturing kids’ interests (while questioning whether there was such a thing as natural talent), and doing it right, because it’s alarmingly easy for these attempts at encouragement to have the opposite effect.”

Have a great weekend!