anika

by Theodor von der Beek 

by Constantin Emile Meunier /detail/

by John Everett Millais /detail/

by Alexandre Cabanel /detail/

by Jean-Baptiste (James) Bertrand /detail/

also by Jean-Baptiste (James) Bertrand

- Unknown artist

[A white fortune cookie paper with black text on the front and an icon of a bee. It reads: Tomorrow your lucky color is green. Congrats and be happy!]

17th century frog bags

Physically, I may be here. But mentally I am in a small coastal village in New England, it's late afternoon in autumn and I am wearing a flannel and drinking apple cider. I'm sitting on my back porch, surrounded by trees, and the only sound is the faint sound of the waves crashing onto the shore in the distance.

by Noah Sammak

Had a mom come into work tonight while I was closing out the cosmetics counter at work. She looked a little lost, so I asked if she needed help, and she pointed to all of our perfume gift packages (holiday special whatnot) and asked if I could help her pick some out for her two kids.

I say sure, ask the age range, and go from there, asking if there’s anything she wants in particular (shopping for two tweens, one 11 and the other 12).

She hesitates and goes “just…something pretty. and feminine”

And I’m like “lol wanna make them feel like princesses, I see!”

And she just lowers her voice, like she’s scared I’m going to say something rude, and goes, “My 11 year old just started transitioning, and I want her to feel pretty.”

Just about made up for the rest of my shitty night. Kudos to you, mom. You’re doing good.

My goodness the highlands have my heart. Heading north again, away from these hills, this mist, and into the sea soaked Isles.

eye marbles

Friendly reminder classic moments like these with the kids are entirely unscripted.

my heart exploded