The Obliteration Room by Yayoi Kusama
What happens when you give thousands of kids stickers and tell them to go to town. This makes my heart go boom-ba-boom.

Adobe’s Remake Project
Photographers reinterpret famous paintings. Photos paired with paintings used to be one of my favorite things to post about here.
(via A Cup of Jo)

(Crappy video, but the performance gives me chills. I have yet to see K.Flay live, which is dumb because I think she lives like a block from me. Hey, girl.)

The Simple Present Mix is about the calm after upheaval. It’s a more laid-back companion to Yep. Yep. The 2012 Victory Mix. After you listen, I hope you feel well-rested.

Links to individual songs or videos are below. The whole Simple Present Mix is available on Spotify, if you roll that way. It’s also on Rdio, but missing a few tracks. Please pay special attention to Chris Bathgate and K.Flay; they’ve been in heavy rotation.

Losers from The Belle Brigade
My Boys from Taken by Trees
Truth from Alexander
Kids from MGMT
All the Wine from The National
No Duh from K.Flay
Do What’s Easy from Chris Bathgate
The Way I Am from Ingrid Michaelson
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes from Paul Simon
Drink Deep from Laura Viers and Saltbreakers

What songs remind you that things will be okay? Let us know in comments.

I have a new post up at Lifescoop, Top 10 Sites and Apps for Keeping New Year’s Resolutions.

On New Year’s Day, my strongest resolution is often to avoid champagne for the next few years. Why do we start with fresh goals on a day when most of us can barely manage to raise our voices above a whisper?

Making New Year’s resolutions is fun, but staying committed can be anything but. These are a few sites and apps that will help keep you on track to success, at least until you reestablish your taste for champagne. Read More…

(Say, you might also like Get Happy, Online Resources for Improving Your Life.)

Oh, 2012. You are my favorite year of all the New Years. So gentle, so charismatic, so imminent. I don’t usually make New Year’s resolutions, but for you kid? I’ll make an exception.

Image credit Butterflyfood

Eat more donuts.
When you’re drunk at 3:30 a.m.? Donuts. When you have eight bucks, but need breakfast for yourself and eleven of your closest friends? Donuts. When you’re a weirdly permissive parent? Organizing a party game where you tie a tasty snack to a string? So two teenagers can kind of make out as they eat it? Let’s just say cupcakes never led to dry humping. We hate you, cupcakes. Donuts! 2012.

Image credit Ulala

Carry less crap.
They make enormous purses now, which is convenient if you need to transport a ham or a human head. But do I need a digital SLR, a book, a notepad, and three kinds of lip balm to grab a cup of coffee? Spinal health, 2012.

Image credit Alyssa Ettinger.

Light more candles.
I’m writing this by candle light. You feel sexier just reading that. Candles, 2012.

Image credit Chooseanalog.

Read some books.
My memory and attention span have been

Keychain from Brookfarm General Store.

Organize the little stuff.
I recently inherited a key on a handmade ring that actually stabbed me like barbed wire. I used it for about a month. Then I got one of those keychains with multiple tiny key rings, each of which has a quick release. Now I feel so tidy and content when I use my keys. Yesterday, I bought some special hangers just for my scarves. De-fricking-lightful.

Image credit KZSC.

Listen to more music.
I love music, but in the past I rarely made time for it. I can’t get much done if there’s music playing, because I stop what I’m doing to listen. So lately, I’ve just been listening to music and failing to get stuff done. Worth it. Dancin’, 2012.

That’s how next year is shaping up for me. What are you resolutions for the New Year, team? Wanna go get donuts?

Oh, what a quaint little tea set! So sweet and…

Wait a minute.

(Crane Motif Tea Set from The Big8s on Etsy $209)