Pinterest Picks (and a brief discussion of current events)

Before we carry on with business as usual, I need to take a moment to acknowledge how utterly insane this week has been. First the bombings at the Boston Marathon, then the fertilizer plant exploding in Texas, and now the Marathon suspects have gone on a shooting spree in a suburban Boston neighborhood. One of them was killed by police, but the other is still at large and armed. The city is on lockdown, the ENTIRE city of Boston, and residents are being told to stay in their homes. I'm so stunned and horrified that I can't think of adequate words. If you're in the lockdown area, know that we're all thinking of you and hoping the situation is under control as soon as possible.

If you want to stay posted on the events as they happen, I recommend following this guy on Twitter. He's the social media editor for Reuters, and is incredibly well-informed.

In local news, flooding is still an issue in a lot of areas, and most of downtown Naperville is closed. Residents are being asked to avoid the area. All street closures can be seen right here.

I feel kind of silly going into Pinterest Picks, but it might be good to offer up a distraction if anybody wants one. Think of it as a hug for your brain.

This chair is adorable. It's a new take on the paint-dipped trend, and I actually like it more this way:

This is a lighthouse in upstate New York that's been turned into a bed and breakfast. You can see a tour of the interior by following that link, too. Maybe we should go there for our next vacation...

Leopard sandals! Who needs leopard sandals? Answer: everybody.

This is a wonderful coaster DIY. I might substitute smooth tiles for the tumbled marble they used, but that's a nitpick. I really like that none of them match:

And finally, not that either of us are scientists, but I love this cutting board. If you look closely, the top says "I use this cutting board periodically." Ha! Puns!

It feels strange to say this, given the crises scattered around the country, but I hope everybody has a good weekend. As good as you can, anyway. Hugs for everybody.