Online Weekend Reading (OWR): Travel, Stand Up, Design

I had all these links ready to go last week, and then last week happened, so they went on hold and now here we are - Happy Friday! 

This is an odd one coming from me, I know, but the Hubs and I find ourselves asking the same question whenever we hit the roads: why can't anyone drive any more?? People making bad judgement calls with a 2-ton vehicle, people posting on Facebook WHILE DRIVING, people who slow to a crawl because it's RAINING - and that's just for a start. Though this study focused specifically on newly licensed drivers, it's indicative of what we've experienced on our own roads - from drivers of all ages. Do not read this article while you are driving (but do read it)! http://fleetowner.com/blog/diagnosis-drivers-bedeviled-inexperience-lack-skills

• Favorite Takeaway: "... researchers also noted that previous studies of newly licensed teenage drivers indicate that they exit their 'learner period' with significant skill deficits, leading to a much higher risk of crashing compared with more experienced drivers. Their most common types of crashes? Left turns, rear-end events, and running off the road."

It's summer, which means it's time for many people to hit the road on a family vacation. Not us this year, sadly, but that doesn't mean we don't dream about returning to our once-home, always favorite city of Boston. If you don't vacation because you don't think you can afford it, Vanessa's post might change your mind. Bottom line: 2 days, Boston, meals out - including lobster, for just $200. While I won't be booking a hostel bunk in the foreseeable future, there are still a lot of helpful tips for saving money in Beantown: http://www.turnipseedtravel.com/blog/200-challenge-boston

• Favorite Quote: "I think it's fair to say I've never eaten so well on a $200 Challenge and I never thought that lobster and value travel could go hand in hand!"

It's no secret - I love Paris. In theory - Paris was the place where people go to find love. In reality - I didn't expect to fall in love with the city itself (nor did the Hubs), but that's exactly what happened. Now, I'm not dumb enough to think that living there would be the same as spending a week in a perfectly placed apartment on vacation, but the fact of the matter is, I certainly wouldn't mind giving it a try. If you ever get the chance to go, I highly recommend it - and bookmark this "Must Do" list from Girls Guide to Paris: http://girlsguidetoparis.com/girls-guide-faves/must-dos-paris/

• Personal Recommendations: I can vouch for #1 and #9. We stumbled upon #1 by accident (and I left with two books and a cloth shopping bag), and #9 was sought out and worth the walk.

By now you've probably picked up that I work from home (freelance editor, social media specialist, and book launch pro), and that means I spend a lot of my day sitting at a desk. In fact, I can go for hours at a time and forget to stand up, and this has caused a number of back and neck issues for me. Last week, I pulled out a lap tray with legs and an old keyboard and hacked myself a standing desk that still works when I need to sit. This article from Mashable backs up my own experience - it's time to stand up! http://mashable.com/2015/06/02/sitting-study-office-workers/

• Key Takeaway: "... the hazards of sitting too much have been compared to those of smoking, with research suggesting people who spend most of their days seated are more likely to be fat, have heart problems, cancer and even die earlier."

Within 24 hours of buying our house (built: 1940), Peter put a hole through the kitchen/dining room wall and our life as perpetual renovators started. In the 14 years that we've owned our home we have torn apart, demolished, or completely gutted, replaced, or added on to every room in our house, including a total revamp of our "updated in the 60's" kitchen. We love all the changes, but it's our kitchen that everyone walks in and comments on, and I blame that on the wall of widows - let there be light, indeed! This light kitchen (highlighted by The Inspired Room) is worth looking at for inspiration: http://theinspiredroom.net/2015/06/08/small-space-remodeling-tip-kitchen/

• Favorite Quote: "...the interior window allows the kitchen to still feel like a separate (and quieter) space if you want it to, while removing the visual barrier of a full wall. Light is so important in a kitchen, and in a small house more light will mean feeling less closed off or claustrophobic."

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What are YOU reading (online or off)?