Link Love

• 5 things your friends with chronic or mental illness wish you'd say.
• "Most people assume that I’m [at the gym] for the sole purpose of losing weight and would never consider that I might be there to take care of my body." A beautiful, important essay about exercise, body image, and self-love: How to Exercise out of Self-Love - Not Due to Fat Shaming. 
• 5 Rules for Pampering Yourself at Home from The Financial Diet, my new favorite resource for navigating financial decisions.
• Instacart, a grocery delivery service, is my new favorite thing. Use my link for $10 off your first order and free delivery!
• From #YesAllWomen to Laci Green, Women who Boldly Dominated the Internet in 2014.
• #28DaysOfBlackCosplay: More Than Just A Hashtag
• If you're not watching Jane the Virgin, you really should be!
• Brands Saying Bae pokes fun at brands trying to fit in online, and it is hilarious.
• I love these geeky cosplay aprons from A Little Geeky!
• 7 signs you’re blogging about too many topics and how to narrow your focus.

What fun links have you found recently?

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Life According to Instagram

1. I've been so behind on comics. When I went to the comic shop, I picked up a huge stack. I can't wait to get through all these and get caught up.

2. My newest purchases from Look Human -- this magical girl shirt and Sailor Moon tank top -- and a donut sweater from Target. #MagicalGirlLife

3. "Quit slacking and make it happen" is my current mantra, so I got it printed on notebook from May Designs. 

4. A freshly dyed and shaved head makes me feel like a new lady! This reminds me... time to book another hair appointment!

5. My favorite local vegan business, Capital City Bakery, teamed up with Sinfull Bakery to bake kolaches in all kinds of flavors, like pizza, blueberry cheesecake, and Thanksgiving dinner. They were fantastic.

6. During finals week, my university hosted a petting zoo with cute animals to improve student morale. I made friends with an adorable hedgehog (and it definitely improved my morale).

7. One of my favorite Christmas gifts? This amazing American Horror Story: Coven-esque hat. Very Zoe Benson, no?

8. A big goal of mine this year is to minimize my possessions. I keep a lot of extra stuff around -- like I've said, I'm kind of a packrat -- so I'm trying to be ruthless and get rid of things I don't like or won't use. We reorganized our bookshelf, and now our comics look beautiful!

9. My biggest project last semester was creating a start-up business, from idea to pitch. Our final product was pitched to real investors. I'm so proud of my team and our final result.

If you're on Instagram, we should be friends! 

I love peeking into the daily lives of others. (Plus I post way more photos on Instagram that never make it to this blog!)

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February Activities

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Romance yourself. I'm a big fan of year-round self-love, but Valentine's Day inspires a little extra self-lovin'. Write a love letter to yourself about all your favorite features and qualities, spend a day doing all your favorite things, or make yourself an elaborate dinner.

Light a candle when you work. I've started doing this and it is divine! Lighting a candle will help you focus and it's an instant mood brightener. Bonus points: choose a scent that corresponds to a mood you want, like lavender for relaxation.

Make time to read a book every day. Reading is such a valuable habit to cultivate. If you squeeze in just 15 minutes of reading time a day, you will have no problem finishing a book or two a month. Read a little before bed, while waiting for an appointment, or with breakfast. Reading is one of the cheapest, easiest ways to learn more and expand your vocabulary -- hop to it! Kristen has some great tips for finding time to read, and if you need recommendations, check my Pinterest board.

Take part in #28DaysofBlackCosplay. February is Black History Month, and in celebration, a group of cosplayers is partnering up to feature a black cosplayer or cosplay duo each day. Check out the hashtag and follow along, there are so many great cosplayers out there!

What's your must-do for February?

Looking for more ideas? Here's last year's list!

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