Some Good Things on the Internet Right Now

I try to regularly update my "Post of the Day" section in my sidebar, but, let's be honest, pregnancy can hinder productivity like you wouldn't believe, so it's become more of a "Post of the Week" feature. I rather like it that way, actually, because one day just doesn't seem long enough to spotlight someone's talent. Anyway, I thought about starting something semi-regularly as a main post: sharing with you links to great nuggets around the Internet, things that have humored me or touched me or have just made me enjoy my week a little more. This is that feature's first installment. Feel free to add links in the comments, and I'll edit my post to include anything I think deserves a little more featuring.

********************

It's officially fall all over the country and it's unofficially fall in most places, as well. Texas is still clinging to some last-minute summer heat, but we're seeing temperatures slowly dip a little bit, and with those lower temps come a state of mind I had almost forgotten. I think it's called happiness, but I can't be completely sure. I have been impatiently waiting for this season, and with it fall clothes/recipes/smells/decorations/etc. Today, I saw this recipe for Pumpkin Swirl Brownies on Smitten Kitchen—an incredible food blog, as I'm sure you know—and I plan to make a batch this weekend.

********************

One of my favorite writers—on the Internet or off—is Holly from Nothing But Bonfires. She recently got engaged while vacationing in Rome, and the story (and the way she told it) is so beautiful and romantic, you really should go read it right this minute if you haven't already. (Then try to resist the urge to read every post in her archives.)

********************

Merry Mishaps was my random good deed contest winner a few weeks ago, and she immediately paid the goodness forward to a blog friend who has fallen on some tough times. I was touched she did that, and I thought maybe you'd be inspired by her the way I was.

********************

I meant to link to this post sooner, but better late than never. Christina has become one of my favorite readers, and when I find myself at her site, I'm always impressed. This particular post about becoming and being a mother and staying a woman through it all touched me in deep ways. I will save this link and read it many times in the next year, I suspect.

********************

Kerrianne is a talented writer and, what's more, a really warm person (I was fortunate to meet her, really briefly, at BlogHer). My favorite posts of hers are when she recaps concerts she and her husband, Chris, have attended. She writes with true passion. This post about a recent Jackson Browne show she saw was wonderful, as were the lyrics of his she included to close the post.

********************

I don't want it to get too heavily political around here, as I assume you are bombarded with politics at every turn and will continue to be for at least the next three weeks, but I have to share this post. Alexa's story is beautiful and painful and inspiring, and I will absolutely be a better mother to my son for reading it, but her latest entry is gripping in a way I think every voter should be exposed to. I am just at 23 weeks (give or take), and I am truly right on the cusp of this beautiful boy being viable, making this post and this subject even more meaningful. (And, John McCain, it's not pro-abortion, it's pro-choice, and the choice in question is not a universal one-law-fits-all decision, for the record.)

(Edited to add: Dooce, incidentally, linked to Alexa today, as well. She also links to another blog author I don't read, and that seems to be my loss. Go see.)   

********************

To lighten things up a bit: Old Navy seems to be having a pretty fantastic sale right now, and J. Crew is offering an extra 20% off their sale items until tomorrow. Go purchase clothes in my honor, will you, since it'll be months (AT THE VERY LEAST) before I can enjoy shopping again. 

Comments

[Angella]

I'm heading over to J. Crew RIGHT NOW.

[Moose]

Hooray for Holly and Alexa! Also: you have just inspired me to make pumpkin swirl brownies tonight. My evening is looking up.

[Kate]

Thanks for the link to Alexa's post, that is incredible writing right there.

[Kerri Anne]

You are so sweet. Also! Great minds think alike, as just a few weeks ago I started a "good things" category on my site to do the same thing: http://www.kerrianne.org/2008/09/good-things-abound/
(See also: we are awesome. And some sort of internet soul mates, I think.)

[Just Jinny]

I got a shirt at Old Navy this weekend for $2.15, total. Rock on. The only down side..there was only one left in my size. I could have stalked up at that price.

[Bethany]

Loved the new mom post... the part about the mom layer of the onion being the thinnest and prone to bruising was such a perfect analogy!