A Few Things

Hello, Friends. How are you? Did you have a good week? We are in full holiday season mode at our house. For the first time in a long time we made a simple advent calendar. It’s just 24 little envelopes with an index card inside, with a simple activity written on the card — things like Read The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, or Hot Cocoa Bar, or Window Shop on Main Street, or Watch The Santa Clause. I put a chocolate inside each envelope too.

I can’t believe how nice it’s been to have something for the family to look forward to each day. And as a bonus, it’s really helpful for making sure I actually do the things I like to do during the holidays. If you’re wishing you had started one on the first, why not just start today? It doesn’t need to be fancy and your kids will love it!

But I know you’re here for the link list, so I’ll jump right in. Here are a few things I’ve wanted to share with you:

-Research suggests the most effective way to help poor people can be to give them no-strings-attached cash. A new study finds a ripple effect: Cash transfers to some families can benefit the whole community.

-When Does America Reckon with the Gravity of Donald Trump’s Alleged Rapes?

-Best holiday office party story of all time.

Inside the hate factory: how Facebook fuels far-right profit. A network of far-right pages on Facebook “churn out more than 1,000 coordinated faked news posts per week to more than 1 million followers, funneling audiences to a cluster of 10 ad-heavy websites and milking the traffic for profit.”

The best films of 2019 according to the The Atlantic. I’ve only seen two of them. How about you? Any favorites for from this year that aren’t on the list?

-The cruelty is the point. Nearly 700,000 people will lose food stamps with this Trump administration rule change.

Flip Flops for fans of impeachment.

-Have you heard of Peloton? I guess I’m out of the loop because I’d never heard of the company until a holiday ad for their stationary bikes went viral this week. Despite the ad being mocked, apparently they have a huge dedicated fanbase — here’s an essay about the “tribe of Peloton”.

Payless Shoes opened a fake pop-up store called “Palessi” in a Los Angeles mall and invited people to the grand opening. The store was stocked with Payless shoes in disguise. One shopper spent $640 for a pair of boots.

-Nazis defaced over 100 Jewish graves in France.

-Pinterest and The Knot are going to stop promoting wedding content that romanticizes former slave plantations.

15 Gorgeous handmade gift ideas.

Here are a few tweets I’ve saved for you:

Relationship advice.

-A list of women who should be financially compensated.

-No shame in getting a little help. : )

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I’ll meet you back here on Monday. I miss you already.

kisses,
Gabrielle

23 thoughts on “A Few Things”

  1. Congrats again on your move (back) to France. Are you planning on doing a what to wear to school post/edition this year?

    1. Christina Carestia

      So sorry you decided to put your political thoughts on your blog. You must know, not everyone agrees with you. I may be the only one to comment, but I am sure I am not the only one who is not following you anymore.
      Until recently, I enjoyed reading about your family living in France. We spent 3 yrs as expats in Germany. I could connect!
      Why ruin a good design blog? Your political hubris may, and should, cause sponsors to re evaluate your blog. I found your questions and comments to be insulting.

      1. You must be new here. Gabby posts a list like this every Friday and occasionally posts other things of a political nature. I don’t always agree with her political opinions but I always read them anyway because 1) it is good for me to get out of my echo chamber and 2) I always learn something. I encourage you to do the same.

      2. I think it is always hard when we find out that someone we admire holds different political opinions than we do. I have been disappointed many times when I find out that someone I respect is a fan of our current president. However, it surprises me when I read comments like this, as it is Gabrielle’s blog, and although it is called Design Mom, there has always been much more to the blog than design. In fact, knowing what I know after following this blog for many years, I would be shocked if she didn’t weigh in on the current administration. Unlike many Republicans in Congress, Gabrielle realizes that speaking her truth is more important than sponsorships. (Or in the political world, votes.)

        1. Thank you for your comment, Ellie. Especially this line: “Unlike many Republicans in Congress, Gabrielle realizes that speaking her truth is more important than sponsorships.”

          1. Same, Julia. In fact, I come here BECAUSE (not in spite of the fact that) Gabby posts things that I would not normally come across in my own reading, even when I’m trying to read widely. I don’t always agree, but I am always grateful to consider another point of view.

      3. Hi Christina. I think you must be pretending when you imply you’ve been reading here for a long time. Two of my most popular blog posts over the last year or so are about irresponsible ejaculations and the prediction of a gun ban. Hah! I have never hesitated sharing my political views on this blog, which you would know if you were actually a Design Mom reader.

        To be honest, if I could ban you from reading here, I would happily do so — it makes me sad to know that I provide content for people who behave as rudely as you do. Alas, there are no banning mechanisms on the blog. But I can ban you from Instagram or Twitter or Facebook if you want to let me know what your handle is on those platforms.

        1. Bravo on the perfect response Gabi. And fascinating that someone who thinks she can dictate content/editorial direction to you on your own site would accuse you of hubris. I definitely smell a troll.

        2. You’re the best. I love this response so much. My patience with this kind of nonsense has been completely eroded over the last few years.

      4. I just want to know what was so triggering for you? The rapes, the Facebook hate posts, the nazis or the slave plantations? The echo chamber you live in probably didn’t cover any of these. It’s great a design blog is maybe exposing you to some new ideas.

      5. Gabby, I love love love your perfect blog! Social responsibility, creativity, community, the best of everything that exists. And how I love that you put decent morals above fear of “sponsorship re-evaluation.” My guess is sponsor flock to your site.

      6. Honestly, like another commentor I come to Gabby’s blog BECAUSE of, not in spite of, her commentary. Why comment to say you are “not following” anymore except to make Gabby feel bad?? THAT is what I find truly insulting.

    2. Hi Maddie. I miss the what to wear posts too! I was just saying to Amy below that on a couple of different years I’ve posted the What to Wear to School posts in January instead of the fall, so I’m thinking that might be a possibility.

  2. My favorite movies this year were Yesterday and Peanut Butter Falcon. I thought The Farewell was dreadful, I’m going to check out Knives Out, and I can’t wait for Little Women! “But I know you’re here for the link list”– I like the Friday posts because I enjoy getting the personal update from you! I occasionally read some of the links. I still like a few blogs that tell of family life– that’s the original reason I started reading blogs all those years ago!

    1. I loved Yesterday and Peanut Butter Falcon too! Both were so sweet and fun to watch with my family. (Though I admit, I have re-wrote-in-my-head the ending of Yesterday — I wanted him to keep performing.)

    1. I hear you. Our fall months were so tricky that I just couldn’t manage it, but on a couple of different years I’ve posted the What to Wear to School posts in January instead of the fall, so I’m thinking that might be a possibility.

  3. Love your family comments as much as I love all of the weekly internet links and tweets. I have always loved the mixture of benign and provocative posts you write. I happen to be aligned with your politics, but not with your religion and I still read everything with an open mind and heart. I also LOVED your response and fully support you!!!

  4. Just a heads up, the Payless story is from a year ago, November 2018. Since then, Payless has closed all of its US stores, laying off thousands of employees. Stores in Central and South America are still operating. The worst part is, it didn’t have to happen. Gross mismanagement by a hedge fund is what did them in. It was rather awful. My husband was over store operations and found another job just in time before he would’ve been laid off as well. Anyway, RIP Payless ShoeSource…

  5. That little hula hooper made my day. Thank you. I shared it to Facebook in order to make other peoples’ days.

    I know the Atlantic article gives Knives Out an honorable mention, but I’d have put it in the top 10. What a delight. I’ve seen it twice in the theater. As someone who loves old Agatha Christie adaptations, this was just what I’ve been waiting for, and what I had hoped Branagh’s recent adaptation of Orient Express would be (and sadly was not). I’m hoping for more installments of the cases of Benoit Blanc!

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