I’ve been saving these goodies up for you…yep…just for you.

How ’bout let’s start with the munchies, because, well, you know, if we don’t, we’ll get kinda cranky.  Grrr….

Cue French café music.   You have to try the Crème Brûlée French Toasts on Smitten Kitchen.  They are…mmm…hold on a minute…another bite…let’s see, what was I saying, oh yes, they’re…mmm…GONE!

For the next two recipes, you’ll need to switch music tracks.  Think Musak, in your favorite mall.  Now view the Mall Pretzel on Elephantine. Is your mouth watering yet?  Try the Corn Dog with Mojito Melon Fruit Skewers on Design*Sponge. [Really, this last recipe comes from a new book—On a Stick!—by Matt Armendariz (of Matt Bites).  I’m thinking all of them could be daily staples.

A dash of art for today.  These Bird Jars at Geninne’s Art Blog. How clever is that?  Don’t limit yourself to birds.  Include your kids’ artwork or your fantastic doodlings.  Change them out frequently—for a whole new look.

Teodora Zareva’s post on “Spreading Some Random Happiness.” Can I just say this whole leaving-surprise-notes thing is SO fun?  I only wish I could install a camera, to see who picks them up.

I’ve recently read Heminway’s The Old Man and the Sea, so when I saw what Alexander Petrov did with the story, I was mesmerized. Petrov painted the scenes on retroilluminated glass with his fingers, and photographed the results.  It took over 29,000 takes!  Although I’ve embedded Part 1 for you, I want to credit the original post at Brain Pickings (which is an amazing site, by the way!).

Watch Andrew Zuckerman’s Wisdom: The Greatest Gift One Generation Can Give To Another.  [Original post on Brain Pickings.]  So interesting!

This next one’s breathtaking.  Tony Orrico, a performer/visual artist/dancer, uses his body as a human spirograph to do these mathematically precise paintings that mirror those numbers in nature I was talking about a week ago!  You can view more at Tony Orrico’s site.

The next two are fantastic pieces of music that will make you happy—that will make you feel like you’re soaring.  The first is for my sister, Amy.  She loves it as much as I do, I think.

The second is for my brother Josh, who reminded me of it yesterday.  Imagine old European streets.  You’re sitting at a café table, sipping an espresso or cappuccino, or downing a warm beer,  thinking, “This is the life.”  Then gloriously, an impromptu concert happens.  Could it get any better than that?

Last but not least: Remember, there’s a new podcast up.  “What Beliefs Do You Hold Currently?”

[Post image: Crocus by bertvthul on stock.xchng]