First things first…HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all who celebrate!!! Being a parent or a parental figure is so much of the time, a thankless job. But we hope that today you are filled with so much love and deep appreciation. And if this day is hard for you for whatever reason, we are here for you too, and sending you lots of love. Now, let’s get into these links so you all can continue to enjoy your Sunday>3
This week’s house tour is a historical San Francisco Victorian that is bursting with color and pattern, honoring the homeowners’ Indian and Italian cultures! Designed by Noz Nozawa, this home is joyful and beautiful, and a total feast for the eyes.
From Emily: I am accidentally way ahead this year with Father’s Day gifts for Brian, mostly because we have this outdoor kitchen that we needed to buy tools/supplies for. So here’s what I bought for both Brian and me (that would make a fantastic Father’s Day gift). The Franklin BBQ Cookbook Collection – These are meant to be the best BBQ recipe books out there, which I heard from multiple people (dubbed the BBQ bible). When Brian found it (via snooping), he was like “Oh, I was going to buy this book,” which was very exciting. Additionally, I had this apron customized for him via Etsy for Father’s Day because he keeps ruining his clothes with rogue oil splashes.
From Marlee: I am not a huge jewelry person, but I recently received a gift card to Gorjana and spent it on this super simple necklace that I’ve been loving. It’s super thin and dainty, and the little pops of color are fun without standing out too much. It’s also one of the most affordable pieces of jewelry on their site (I wanted to max out my gift card without spending too much of my own $). Mine is the normal size, but it also comes in a shorter version🙂
From Gretchen: I stopped into Ulta the other day because I’ve just about run out of my shampoo. Usually, I use the Monday shampoo and conditioner, but because I’m really trying to lean into my “wavy hair routine,” I picked up a few new products from Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk line. I’m most excited about this Bond Building shampoo because my hair definitely needs some repair. I haven’t used it yet, so I’ll have to report back, but that’s not even my link for you this week! While there, I also re-upped on my favorite hair ties of all time, because unfortunately, they have a habit of disappearing on me. These are my tried and true favorites because they’re not too thick like an actual scrunchie, but the material is soft and gentle on your hair, and at least for me, doesn’t leave a gnarly indent when you take them out. They’re easy to wear on your wrist because they’re much thinner, like a regular hair tie, but they bunch up nicely in your hair to give you more of that exaggerated pony vibe. And the colors are just too cute!
From Mallory: It’s rare to find a cute (and comfy) outfit you’ll wear over and over again for $50…BUT I FOUND IT. Marketing worked on me because I saw this unbelievably cute set on Instagram and immediately snagged it when I found out the top was $24 and the bottoms were $26. The simple railroad stripe made my heart flutter, and the little gold buttons make it look so expensive. I wore it a few different times this past week and received so many compliments, and every time, people were shocked to learn it was from Walmart (as was I, lol). The pants come cuffed, but I just cut the stitching to make them longer. Also note the top runs true to size, but the bottoms run a bit big!
From Arlyn: New design Substack to follow alert!! I’ve run in similar career circles with Leonora Epstein, who started her Substack, Schmatta, last year after being let go from her long-time job as Editor in Chief of Hunker. It’s one of the few Substacks I’m subscribed to that I actually open and read because it’s short, quippy, smart, and I always discover something new. If you like whit dryer than a rice cake, you’re going to love Schmatta. Leonora recently got bad news about her job yet again, this time due in part to the imposed tariffs, so let’s support this hard-working woman, shall we?!? You can sign up for free or become a paid subscriber for $7 a month.
Also From Alryn: One of the wonderful online art galleries I mentioned in my recent piece about my desire to buy “real” art is having a sale! Until this coming Tuesday, May 13, 20×200 is offering 30% off their Vintage + Space Editions with code ICONIC (you won’t see the sale price on the product pages until they’re added to cart with the code, FYI). I just picked up this one by Florine Stettheimer as a Mother’s Day gift to myself, and I love that I’m able to read the artist statement and an explanation from 20×200 of why they love the piece and why it’s important. If you’re looking for very well-priced art prints that just so happen to be limited edition, make sure to check out the sale!
From Jess: I’m sure you’ve heard Arlyn rave about her stunning East Fork Pottery plates and bowls a couple of times here in The Link Up and I can also attest to how beautiful and high quality they are, as I have gotten to use them when I go over to her house, usually for dinner:) But unbeknownst to most people, the founder, Alex, recently revealed he is the grandson of Henri Matisse. YES, THAT MATISSE. Unstandably, Alex wanted to make a name for himself without using his family’s famous name, and that he did. The work East Fork produces is heirloom quality, and from everything we’ve ever known and read about them, they really seem to care about the work as much as the people they employ. But back to family legacy, they recently launched The Matisse Collection — a celebration and collaboration of his grandfather’s art and his pottery. While there have, of course, been other collaborations with Matisse’s art, none like this. This one is special. Almost like you are getting a piece of art history. You bet I’m saving up for these plates🙂 We were fans before we knew, and this fun new piece of information only adds a cool new layer.
From Caitlin: I am bullish on some of the advancements in AI – I’m stunned by the medical applications; I’m floored by some of the research capabilities; I’m even a paying customer of ChatGPT, Claude, and Cursor! – But I am REALLY wary of advancements in chatbots. Case in point: some conversations are driving people to the brink of delusion, as reported in this gripping Rolling Stone piece. AI can be really dangerous when it’s this sycophantic and enabling – if you’re a parent, I’d urge you to get familiar with these tools so you can explain them to your kids. They’re far more susceptible to taking these tools at face value, which can (and has) come at a grave cost. It’s becoming increasingly clear that we need to build our in-person communities – a monetized chatbot is a far cry from a real friend, no matter what Zuck says.
Thank you for stopping by, as always, have a beautiful Mother’s Day to all of the moms, and see you tomorrow for the outdoor kitchen reveal!!! xx
Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Farmhouse Primary Bedroom
