TGIF!

Happy Friday! You’ve made it to the weekend! Here are some (really random) TGIF! links to kick things off on the right foot.

30-for-30-ofmiceandmen

A couple weekends ago, we discovered that ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentaries are streaming on Netflix. You can imagine how enthused a non-sports girl like myself was about watching any of these, but I seriously dug them. Sports fan or not, if you love stories, you’ll dig these documentaries. I really enjoyed “Of Miracles and Men” because I’ve heard the story of that Olympic team from my dad for years. We also watched “Bernie and Ernie” who got their start here at UT in the 70s.

While we’re on sports (seriously, I don’t know who I am anymore): Dick Butkus wants you to check out the NFL’s new Pinterest boards. Totally a real thing.

The answer to why French women don’t contour is pretty fantastic.

Contouring is not our thing because the main beauty philosophy in France is to accept who you are.

womenwhowork-ivankatrump-randibrookmanharris

Randi Brookman Harris is a professional hero of mine. She’s a prop stylist residing in NYC who’s done work for companies ranging from Warby Parker to the New York Times. Today, Ivanka Trump profiled Randi for her #WomenWhoWork series. Consequently, the whole series is worth checking out.

molly-crabapple-zeitouna

I was on a panel recently to talk about hand illustration in a digital world, a topic I should really riff on at another time. One of the coolest applications of technology to hand illustration that I mentioned is the way illustrators are sharing their work and giving it a larger voice. One such artist that I saw this week is Molly Crabapple. She’s an NYC-based artist who has been doing some amazing mural work in a building in Turkey that houses the Zeitouna program. Zeitouna is a creative therapy and physical wellness program works with Syrian refugee children–amazing! Read more here. 

TGIF!

Good morning! You’ve made it to Friday–in just a few short hours you’ll be lying on the couch avoiding all those household chores you put off til the weekend. But first, a few TGIF! links to peruse.

Mean Girls wearing pink.

Small disclaimer: It really bothers me that people assign colors gender. I’ve never understood why less than a century ago, pink became assigned to girls and blue now belongs to boys. And I am forever indebted to my mother for painting my nursery yellow! That said, Racked had a feature recently called “How Pink Became a Color for Girls,” and it was really interesting!

Abraham Lincoln before his beard and his presidency.

Proof that girls have always run the world. (cue Beyonce) In 1860, as Abraham Lincoln was running for president, he received a letter from young Grace Bedell asking him to grow a beard. His reply is ever-so sweet, and he actually asked to meet her when he rolled through town on his inaugural train journey to DC. Read the story here. 

And while we’re on that subject: I’m just gonna leave this here. 

Reddit: Hillary Clinton Pantsuit Rainbow

The rainbow was created by this reddit user a year ago, and it’s basically my favorite thing right now.

Design*Sponge’s Grace Bonney recently sat down with Marie Forleo to talk about “Doing The Work You Were Born To Do.” I really enjoyed their discussion. (You can check out more Marie Forleo vids–they’re great!–on her YouTube channel.)

This needs no introduction. Just enjoy! (“We love you, Uncle Jesse!”)

Finally: My day job is working as a designer for HGTV and DIY Network. At the end of last week, we wrapped up a project months in the making: the new DIYNetwork.com! Watch a little intro below and then be sure to check out the new site!

 

Style File: Lucille Ball

Last night, we watched something fabulous on PBS called Pioneers of Television: Funny Ladies. I found it both inspiring and also rather disheartening… how did we go from I Love Lucy & Mary Tyler Moore to Here Comes Honey Boo Boo? (And, for that matter, does anyone else remember when TLC really was The Learning Channel?) Anyway, all that to say, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to draw on a little inspiration from one of my favorite ladies of the past: Lucille Ball.

Style File: Lucille Ball  |  Secrets of a Belle

1.) Whoever said blondes have more fun was dead wrong! Having been many colors of the rainbow myself, I can definitely vouch for the redhead. Despite what Anne Shirley would tell you, everyone should embrace the fun & carefree spirit of red hair at least once!

“Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead.”

Also on that note…

2.) If you are lucky enough to find your signature look young, stick with it. Lucy was not a redhead until she was 32 when she dyed her hair to a flaming red after getting a part in a new MGM picture. However, she was smart enough to know a good thing when she found it and suddenly she went from being known as “Queen of the B’s” (seriously: check out imdb… the girl could own a B movie) to the *Lucy* that we all know and love.

“The more things you do, the more you can do.”

Style File: Lucille Ball  |  Secrets of a Belle

“I’m not funny. What I am is brave.”

3.) Always be willing to try new things. Say what you like about Lucy, but she was never known as ‘timid.’ If only we were all so brave.

“I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.”

Style File: Lucille Ball  |  Secrets of a Belle

4.) Play the part of devoted wife. This involves patience with your husband when starts pontificating in Spanish, regular visits to the salon, cute aprons and, of course, putting on your pearls & a fresh coat of lipstick before he gets home!

“How I Love Lucy was born? We decided that instead of divorce lawyers profiting from our mistakes, we’d profit from them.”

Style File: Lucille Ball  |  Secrets of a Belle

5.) No one will ever love you like your pup, so why not have 2?

“The more things you do, the more you can do.”

Style File: Lucille Ball  |  Secrets of a Belle

6.) She may have been a screwball comic, but she was also a great fashionista! Think polka dots, scarves & bedazzled horn-rimmed glasses. Just remember, ladies don’t smoke… and those that do catch their fake noses on fire.

“It’s a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy.”

Style File: Lucille Ball  |  Secrets of a Belle

7.) Share your successes with your friends. While Lucille Ball was initially stand-offish about the casting of Vivian Vance as her sidekick Ethel Mertz, the 2 quickly became friends and remained close until Vance’s death in 1979. (One random fact that’s worth noting: Vance was around Lucy’s age and was really quite a looker so on the show she was made to wear frumpier clothing so that the 2 contrasted a little better.)

“One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’ t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.”