Whether you’re inspired by chocolate chip cookies, juggling, love or a little more time in your day, May continues to bring inspiration to our spirits and smiles to our faces.

Tenn. Sweethearts To Marry 60 Years Later
After six decades, college sweethearts Henry Freund and Peggy Marie Pence found their way back together and true love blossomed once again. Maybe more like caught fire. “It didn’t take long for the spark that had survived for 60 years to burst into flames,” says Henry Freund. Ruthie Dean (@RuthieDean), thanks for tweeting this lovely story.

Mario Batali’s Food Stamp Challenge
By eating only what can be purchased with a monthly food stamps allotment, Chef Mario Batali and his family challenge us all to “walk in someone else’s shoes.” Thanks for this post, @Inkognegro. Makes us stop and think.

What Could You Do with Two Extra Hours a Day? 
Love this infographic. We’ve all daydreamed about more hours in the day. How would you spend your extra time? We’ll dream along with you, Win Dunseath (@Win).

Celebrate National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
Created by Ruth Wakefield on a whim, chocolate chip cookies have warmed our hearts for decades and are sure to be a mainstay in lunchboxes for years to come. So why not a designated day to celebrate? Joanna Stern (@JoannaStern) we hope you celebrated with a cookie or two.

Video of the Week
You may have thought walking and chewing gum at the same time was a challenge. Try juggling while competing in a triathlon. Makes me want to head for the beach.

Did you enjoy this edition of Monday Madeleines?  We hope you find a little inspiration this week. Have a cookie. That’ll help. Leave a comment. No over-sharing here. (But if you somehow cross that line, we’ll let you know.)

Here we are in mid-May already and life continues to get more amusing. Let’s dedicate this Madeleines issue to a few smiles and a little belly laughter to kick off your week. Here’s hoping it’s a good one for you.

Hug a Coca Cola Vending Machine and Get a Free Soda
By showing a Coke machine some love, students and faculty at the National University of Singapore are smiling. “Hug Me” inscribed across the front of the dispensing machine, in Coke’s iconic red and unmistakable logo, means just that, “Hug me.” What happens next opens up all kinds of  happiness. Hugs make us smile. Thanks Holly Blondin (@artsmeetbizness) for your @foxnews RT and making us do just that.

Zachary Bodish Sells Original Picasso Print He Found In Thrift Shop For $7,000
As luck finds it, Zachary Bodish of Columbus, OH struck on a find that surprised him beyond his imagination. While browsing his local thrift store, Bodish came across a vintage poster and, thinking it was most likely a reproduction, plunked down $14.14 and went on his way. May this type of luck be with you Cabral Edwards (@CEMManagement). Thanks for the @HuffingtonPost RT.

It’s a Gas: Dinosaur Flatulence May Have Warmed Earth
If you’re traveling back in time, bring a gas mask. Full of methane-producing microbes, dinos were a lot like big cows. “A simple mathematical model suggests that the microbes living in sauropod dinosaurs may have produced enough methane to have an important effect on the Mesozoic climate,” says researcher Dave Wilkinson of Liverpool John Moores University. Major thanks to Anthony DeRosa (@antderosa) and @rueters for making us giggle.

Police Arrest Naked Man Riding Unicycle
It’s probably something you never fathomed you’d see, but drivers on a Houston highway were surprised by what they saw cycling on a busy traveled bridge – a naked man riding a unicycle. “He said that he liked the way that it felt. Really don’t know what he meant by that, but that’s what he said,” said Kemah Police Chief Greg Rikard. Tanya Hayes (@tanyahayes2) you cracked us up with your @KPRClocal2 RT.

Video of the Week
A man, a goose and a lightsaber. May the laughter be with you.

Did you enjoy this edition of Monday Madeleines? Need a hug? Need some luck or perhaps a simple fantasy about going all Jedi on waterfowl ? Leave a comment. No over-sharing here. (But if you somehow cross that line, we’ll let you know.)

Welcome to the month of May. Time continues to fly, the weather is heating up and it’s time to get out and have some fun. Here’s a mixture to get your month, week and day off to a head start. Don’t be shy – leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you.

Top 50 Twitter Acronyms, Abbreviations and Initialisms
This list and its many comments goes way beyond the typical OMG. Of course, these little shorteners are handy for text messaging, too. Can you come up with others that aren’t yet on the list or in the comments? Let us know FCO! Thanks to our friend @ruhanirabin for some smiles.

Do Customers Really Matter to Your Business? Prove it.
Brian Solis was asked by Frank Eliason to write the foreword for Ellison’s new book, @Your Service. As part of agreeing to do so, Solis asked that he be permitted to publish the foreword in its entirety on his blog once the book was published. It’s published, and so here it is – a bit long, but also entertaining and definitely worth a read.

How Can I Avoid Becoming an Introverted Weirdo?
Ask LifeHacker responds to someone – real or imagined, you be the judge – who is growing concerned about how easy technology is making it to stay indoors and avoid real social interaction with human beings. The response is good, though, and includes 5 tips for avoiding the potential quicksand of the situation. Do you have any suggestions you would add? Thanks to @BradReason) for this one.

Video of the Week
Here’s a little culinary delight for you. From the catch to the preparation, the end result sure looks tasty.

Did you enjoy this edition of Monday Madeleines? Have some favorite Twitter acronyms to share? Some thoughts on getting out of the house, a joke or a magnificent recipe?  Leave a comment. No over-sharing here. (But if you somehow cross that line, we’ll let you know.)

Both Earth Day and Arbor Day passed by last week, so a tribute seemed in order. Plus, the Enterprise flies to its new home and some nifty tips to help improve your memory. As always, we hope you will enjoy this edition and that you’ll leave a comment, as we’d love to hear from you.

Shuttle Enterprise Arrives in New York
Space shuttle Enterprise took its first flight in more than 25 years, traveling to its new home in NYC on the back of a jetliner. Plenty of action pics and tweets to commemorate the occasion. Tweeted by @NBCNews.

25 ‘Green’ Photos from the Mashable Community
To honor Earth Day (Saturday, Apr. 22nd), asked readers to submit a photo that represented the idea of ‘green’ for their weekly photo challenge. The 25 winning entries are presented as a slide show that’s well worth the click-throughs.

11 Simple Memory Tricks
In today’s information overload society, it’s not difficult to forget something, regardless of age. How about a few handy tips to improve your memory, as well as your health and stress levels? Thanks to Amy Neumann (@CharityIdeas) for this one.

Video of the Week
Our video honors Arbor Day (last Friday, for most). Let’s hug a tree!

Did you enjoy this edition of Monday Madeleines? Which were your favorites?  Leave a comment and let us know, share your favorite recipe, a joke, or what have you. No over-sharing here. (But if you somehow cross that line, we’ll let you know.)

How about a bit of levity? Something we might all need after getting those taxes off to the IRS. Here’s a collection of odds and ends that we hope will at least a bring a smile to your face. Enjoy, and leave a comment with your favorites.

When Grandma Goes to Court
Here’s a good one about a grandma who was called to the stand to testify. The only mistake plaintiff and defense counsel made was to ask her a seemingly harmless question. Thanks to @OregonArtGuy (Bill Whitmer), a frequent contributor, for sharing this on his blog.

Fun Friday Facts #35: History of English Edition
As writers, we simply couldn’t let this pass unnoticed. Some little known, but interesting facts about the English language from @marjoriemcatee (Marjorie “Don’t Call Me Marge” McAtee).

Top 10 Most Unforgivable Twitter Spelling Mistakes
Here’s a collection of mis-spelled tweets. Worth a smile at first, but you’ll probably find scrolling to the end is very worth it if your spirits need a lift. Thanks to Bryan Young (@Tre4Champion) for sharing this. Still laughing out loud.

Video of the Week
Our video of the week comes to us courtesy of Diana Adams (@adamsconsulting). It’s a video created with a Phantom V12.1 high-speed camera that’s capable of capturing 6,200 frames per second. Only Jell-O, but really amazing.

Did you enjoy this edition of Monday Madeleines? Which were your favorites?  Leave a comment and let us know, share your favorite recipe, a joke, or what have you. No over-sharing here. (But if you somehow cross that line, we’ll let you know.)

Ah…a mid-April Monday. What do you say we dedicate this madeleines issue to the visual and comedic arts. Okay, we will!

Enjoy, and leave a comment so we know you’re still breathing out there!

New Pastel Painting: Alaskan Malamute
Here’s a beautiful and interesting pastel by Janae Lehto (@janaelehto) of one of her sister’s Alaskan Malamutes. What makes it interesting is the progression she takes us through – from photograph to her artistic pastel stylings to recreate it. Thanks to Paul Steele (@paul_steele) for retweeting this so it hit our Twitter stream.

Silhouette
Here’s a tree silhouette photo in which the light takes center stage. As one commenter put it, “Mesmerizing.” Another great photographic work showcased by Bill Whitmer (RedGage) – @OregonArtGuy.

Our First Sunrise from Our Hotel
This shot of the sunrise from his room in the Aqua Palms Hotel, Honolulu, was posted on Instagram by Anthony Quintano (@AnthonyQuintano), Sr. Community Manager for @NBCNews. (Oh, BTW, Facebook just gobbled them up, didn’t they?).

Video of the Week
Our video of the week comes to us courtesy of funny guy Bill Zucker (@BillZucker). It’s actually a catchy tune, and the scary part is this was produced about two and a half years ago. Things have gotten worse since then for many social network-aholics.

Did you enjoy this edition of Monday Madeleines? Which were your favorites?  Leave a comment and let us know, share your favorite recipe, or what have you. No over-sharing here. (But if you somehow cross that line, we’ll let you know.)

As most families across the nation were on spring break last week, today it’s back to work or school for many.

Oh well. Welcome back to reality with this fresh batch of madeleines!

Terrafugia: The Flying Car Flies Again
Stuck in traffic? Spread your wings and fly. We could all be flying to work soon in this two-seat personal aircraft, legal to drive on streets and highways. Parking garages may have to install landing strips soon. Thanks to Guido Stein (@GuidoS) of Boston, MA for posting this high-flying article from CNET.

The Charming $200 Micro House
So how much square footage does a person really need to be comfortable? According to Derek Diedricksen of Connecticut, 24 square feet ought to do it. He designed this compact home – which can be built for only $200 – out of discarded materials.  A 24 sq. ft. thank you to Jenny G (@12C4) in San Francisco, CA for sharing this UK Daily Mail story.

Dorman Becomes First County High School to Spawn Competitive Fishing Team
When you go fishing you usually take a leisurely stroll to your favorite fishing hole, cast off and sit back until you get a bite.  Now it qualifies you for a high school varsity team. Leave a comment and tell us what you think of bass fishing as varsity sport. Thanks to Patrick Donohue (@Patrick_Donohue) of South Carolina for this big fish tale from Go Upstate.

Vietnamese Man Buys Tiny Wyoming Town for $900G
Buford, Wyoming, population 1, went on the auction block last week and was sold for $900,000. The town’s only resident must be happy about getting a new neighbor. Thanks, Ed Remington (@EdeRemington), for sharing this article from FoxNews.com.

Video of the Week
Our video of the week is for all of you suffering from allergies this season. The next time you’re about to sneeze, maybe you’ll be thinking of this video and smiling instead.

Did you enjoy this edition of Monday Madeleines? Could you live in a 24 square foot space?  Leave a comment and let us know. No over-sharing here. (But if you somehow cross that line, we’ll let you know.)

And in one, two, three…wait for it…it’s April! And with April comes showers and spring flowers.

Let’s hear it for spring – cleaning up the yard, long walks without boots and mittens, and daylight past 7:00 PM.

Be Careful What You Wish For!
Saturday night was the Mega Millions $600 million jackpot. Did you buy tickets? Winning the lottery doesn’t always make for a happy ending. Thanks to Lori Martin Gregory (@LoriGregory) for this post that reminds us that money isn’t everything!

Country Music Legend to Adopt Abused Horses
As animal lovers we are appalled when someone abuses any animal. These two lucky horses were saved in the nick of time and Willie Nelson has adopted them. Atta boy, Willie! Thanks to Angelpostell (@angelpostell), Director of the Charleston, SC Wine & Food Festival for sharing this story.

A Fisherman’s Tale About Life Without an Education
Who says old dogs can’t learn new tricks? At 91, this now 98-year old lobster-boat captain from Mystic, Connecticut learned to read. Then he wrote a book about the experience. Thanks to One Universe (@oneuniv) for sharing this inspirational story from CNN.

Game of Thrones Season 2 Review
And with April comes Season 2 of Game of Thrones. Are you a Thronie? Leave us a comment and tell us what you thought of last night’s episode. Thanks to Thronie Lauren (@Gaudielle) of Dallas, TX for sharing this review by Jace Lacob on The Daily Beast.

Video of the Week
Our video of the week is a funny video of some grandparents that discover the Photo Booth option on the iPad. You have to laugh at how much fun they’re having.

Did you enjoy this edition of Monday Madeleines? What would you do if you won the lottery? Leave a comment and let us know. No over-sharing here. (But if you somehow cross that line, we’ll let you know.)

Spring not only came early with the warm weather across much of the nation, but in an astronomical sense as well. Last week’s spring equinox made its earliest arrival since 1896!

Financial Spring Cleaning: What to Toss, Save or Shred
With the spring season comes our impulse to do a little spring cleaning. Maybe we should do more than cleaning out our closets and think about including a financial house cleaning, too.  Thanks to Susan Jones @susanjones21 for posting these handy tips.

Why Working More Than 40 hours a Week is Useless
Recent studies have shown that working more than 40 hours a week is unproductive, which means you can all take the weekend off! For many of the workaholics out there, this information may be helpful.  Thanks to Daniel Son of Washington, DC (the workaholic capital?) – @dsson – for pointing this out.

Do Record High Temps Mean a Scorching Summer is Ahead?
In some areas of the nation, the end of winter and start of spring felt like summer. Does it mean this summer will be a scorcher? Thanks to Michael Lamberson of Dallas, TX (@MikeLamberson) for this post and what may be forebodings on this summer’s air conditioning bill.

Tips for Organizing Yard and Garage Sales
With the early warm temps come the ever present garage sales. After all, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Linda Cann Pearson (@Lindacpearson) posted these tips on Helium.

Video of the Week
Our video of the week asks the question: Is it a garage sale or a stoop sale?

Did you enjoy this edition of Monday Madeleines? Do you work more than 40 hours a week? Do you accomplish more? Leave a comment and let us know. No over-sharing here. (But if you somehow cross that line, we’ll let you know.)

Beware the Ides of March! Last week brought tornadoes to Michigan, record-setting temperatures to Chicago, snow and ice to the Pacific Northwest, and storms along the California coast. And winter isn’t even officially over ’til later this week. We can’t wait to see what April brings.

New iPad: A Polishing of the Old
The new iPad is here! Last week people were standing in line all over the world waiting to purchase the newly released iPad. Were you one of them? Leave us a comment, and tell us what you think of it. Thanks to Kelly Woods Lynch (@Kelly_Lynch) from Utah for posting this review from the New York Times.

Encyclopaedia Britannica Is Dead, Long Live Encyclopaedia Britannica
Remember the days when you had a school paper to write and the first thing you did was pull open the Encyclopedia Britannica? Last week Encyclopedia Britannica announced they would stop printing the 32-volume print version. Good news, though: they’ll be available online. Thanks to Lucas Wyrish @Lucas_Wyrsh of Zurich, Switzerland for this info.

Field Of Dreams to be Turned into a $38m Theme Park
If you build it, they will come. That was the theme of the movie Field of Dreams. It was announced last week that a couple plans to buy the Iowa farmhouse and field featured in the film and turn it into a youth baseball tournament and training complex. Now that’s a home run. Thanks to Jacobyte By Name @jacobyte969 from across the pond (U.K.) for this post.

Healthy BBQ Fish Recipes Start Here
With this unusually early spring weather comes great grilling opportunities. Here’s a Greek-influenced recipe for BBQ fish that’s only one of many easy and healthy fish BBQ recipes. Slap on your apron, and fire up that grill! Thanks to Paul Yates (@OutdoorChef) for this great recipe.

Video of the Week
Our video of the week is dedicated to the United States Coast Guard.  Every day these brave men and women risk their lives so that others may live. Semper Paratus!

Did you enjoy this edition of Monday Madeleines? What wacky weather have you had in your area? How’s that new iPad? Leave a comment and let us know. No over-sharing here. (But if you somehow cross that line, we’ll let you know.)