Happy first week of 2017 friends! I feel incredibly optimistic about this new year (as long as I stay off Facebook;). What are you up to this weekend? We’re celebrating our friends’ 10 year wedding anniversary and the boys enjoyed ice skating, they want to go again (maybe indoors this time!). Have a wonderful weekend, and here are some links from near and far…

“I didn’t hate what I looked like – I hated the culture that was telling me to hate it.” This bad ass post about this bad ass photo.

First Fridays: Star Wars. Free, fun and family-friendly!

This excerpt of the First Lady’s final speech has all the feels.

Practically Magical 3-Ingredient Recipes.

Loving these behind-the scenes White House photos from 2016.

As a mom of tweens, this was insightful and reassuring.

You eat chocolate with wine, so why not put chocolate in wine?

Small ways to beat the winter blues.

9 new podcasts for the new year.

A snowy scene of Saint Louis.

(Amazing smoothie photo by Rachel Rene Lorton)

PS. My One Word for 2017.