It's Friday! This week we're oh-so-grateful for...


Take a flight through the universe in a minute and fifty seconds

Chefs reflect on cooking lessons (and recipes) from Julia Childs that they still put to use today (via The New York Times)

An adorable note from son to mother (via The Huffington Post)

This giant Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Recipe is too good to pass up (via A Cozy Kitchen)

Photo: Thinkstock

We love to remind ourselves to be grateful. But I have to admit something here: I don't know if I know how to actually say thanks. This occurred to me recently as I was cooking dinner, by which of course I mean purchasing it from my local Italian food shop -- the proprietor makes this justifiably famous rotisserie chicken and manages to do something to broccoli rabe that makes my children not only eat it but chant for it. (This is not typical behavior.) Anyway, the man who runs this store has a manner that is affable if exactly not given to effusiveness. But he is really, really good at saying thank you. He makes eye contact, and smiles slightly, and says, every time, "Thank you so much," and every time, I can't explain it, it just seems like he really, really means it. I've witnessed this same very sincere thank you given to customer after customer, and somehow even though it is always identical, it never feels artificial. It makes everyone feel special, and makes everyone smile.

It is the best thank you on Earth.

I'm trying to study this method of saying thank you. Not the cheerfully texted "thx!", not even that kindest of cyber-gestures, the retweet -- the actual, face-to-face, eye-to-eye, fully felt, "Thank you. Thank you so much." You know who they are, the people you need to thank: the customers who patronize your business, the shopkeepers who make dinner for your family when you can't deal. Try it, without smiling in a newscaster way, without adding verbal punctuation like "so so so, very very very" -- just mean it. Thank you.

Read More:
Oprah on the Power of Saying Thank You
An Attitude of Gratitude
Thank You Note Etiquette
The Neuroscience of Gratitude

It's Friday! We're grateful for so many things this week, starting with...


Who would have thought a rapid sequence of ball-shaped objects would be so profound?

The Olympic Google doodles—They're just that amazing!

How do you connect a community? Start hanging swings in the most delightful of places

Humans of New York: A photographic census of the Big Apple (via Cup of Jo)

The coffee shop where everyone pays for everyone else's drinks (via GOOD)

Hello again, Friday! We're looking forward to the weekend and looking back on the things that made our week.



USA Olympic Swim Team parodies Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe"

Gabby Douglas, the first African-American woman to win the all-around gymnastics gold, says "Gold medals are made out of sweat, blood and tears" [via TODAY]

Next level summer reading: Book covers matched with bikinis [via Matchbook]

A NYC real estate agent finds the locations of famous album covers [via Open Culture]

This mom crafted a wedding present with the items her son left in his pockets over the years [via BuzzFeed]

In honor of the London Olympics Opening Ceremony tonight, here are a few things about the games we're grateful.
Above: The Olympic cauldron at the Torch Relay Finale Concert in London's Hyde Park

From the Phelps-Lochte showdown in the pool to the stunning precision of archers, all the Olympic games will be online this year [via NBC]

Team USA tumbles back into the rhythmic gymnastic arena for the first time since 2004 [via Time]

50 stunning Olympic moments [via The Guardian]

A case for daily reminders—when it's the race of your life (or, in our case, plain old life) [via Daily Mail]

Hello again, Friday! We're looking forward to the weekend and looking back on the things that made our week.



He's back! From Hong Kong to Haiti, that guy is dancing all over the world. Again. And yet? Still makes us laugh.. 

The Marine's have an adorable (and moving) Pinterest board dedicated to soldiers with dogs and children

The power of 5 pair of knee socks: A chart of famous athlete's superstitions

An anonymous man is giving out wads of cash to complete strangers—with one condition.

Get lost in a book. Actually, get lost in a maze of books...

Friday is finally here! We're taking a moment to look back on what inspired us throughout the week.


An Australian credit card company rewards honest civilians in the most elaborate ways. Cue the JumboTron

North Dakota town (population: 2) celebrates the town's centennial with a hopping party

A "flash choir" debuted Philip Glass's latest composition in Times Square

One more reason to visit Italy: It's opening a gelato museum!

The first Google image result for every word in the dictionary

Happy Friday everyone! What better way to start off the weekend than a little inspiration?

Beautiful multiple exposure photography from Christoffer Relander

The NYC subway is full of passionate readers—just take a look at these images.

Why pink is a cooler color than we thought it was