Not overwhelmed with the usual..no time, too much to do, school, Christmas, parties, trying to obtain perfection..or at least make sure I give the impression of perfection..
No it's different this year.
I'm overwhelmed with gratitude..really I have it pretty stinking good..roof over my head, food on my Thanksgiving table, health, employment, freedom to pretty much say and do anything I want to do..
Wow..
Of course these peeps are on the top of the list...
You know..I struggle now with only posting just the perfect pic here on my blog..I mean I'm claiming I take pictures for a living..so I can only post perfection ..right? Well no wrong, this should be a place for me to post whatever..so this picture is of whatever..why did I take it? It made me smile and be thankful for all that I have..as you can see I'm not a fan of the "all shades of white look"..No I need color..and lots of it:)
10. I'm having a good week:)
9. I feel more grounded than I've felt in a very very long time, while at times this can scare me almost as much as feeling uprooted, I'm very much liking the feeling right now. I can honestly give only one reason for this calm feeling..My Creator.
8. Are you having one of those bad Mommy days?? Do you want to make yourself feel better? Check this..
I threw Twin B's science project on Saturday..the only problem with this is the science fair was this Tuesday.
Was Zach busily trying to recreate the bridge for the science fair before he left for work?
You know it.
After forgetting Silas at Kindergarten last year, this is a close second to winning the most derelict parent award for 08/09. Yeah I'm pretty awesome like that.
7. I was wondering if a girl can EVER own too many black dresses? I'm pretty sure that the shopping voices in my head told me no..not ever.
6. I've decided that I'm going to turn the room that Mona is hanging in, into a full on Mona Lisa room..that being said I'm on the look out for ANYTHING Mona.. I spied a Mona Lisa with a pirate patch painted on... I'm pretty sure I must acquire her quickly. Zach is super stoked about my decision.
5. Our desk top computer finally bit the dust. We have had it for almost eight years. I'm thinking it's about time to upgrade to a Mac.. (and no I did not secretly sabotage it).
4. Can't wait for some Turkey..yum. Last year we enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving in AZ with good friends...now we are in WA and they are in NY..wow, life can sure change fast.
3. The very best part of my week was when 12 year old Twin B came up and gave me a kiss on the forehead for no reason.
2. I'm pretty stoked for the day after Thanksgiving. Nothing planned but leftovers, Bing Crosby and tinsel..it's almost better than Christmas morning.
1. I feel like ending the list with a quote...
I postpone death by living, by suffering, by error, by risking, by giving, by losing. AnaisNin
I was having coffee with a gftoday and we were (happily) interrupted by another friend who was asking me questions about blogging..
In this conversation about blogging it was mentioned that she liked my Friday Fav and that I don't do it consistently enough.
Really it's because the only thing I do consistently is eat good food and drink coffee..pretty much everything else is hit and miss with me.
So I better get off my coffee drinking bootie and offer up a Friday fav..right Charity?;)
It's pretty cliche to say that Annie Leibovitz is my Friday favorite. Personally as an emerging photographer I should name some random hardly heard of guy that only a really really super duper serious photographer would know who I'm talking about..yeah..that kinda guy should serve as my inspiration.
(side note..I'm totally OBSESSED with Mickey Rourke..not in a I think he's hot kinda way, but in a wow you are such a different, crazy not normal guy kinda way)
But I'm of the generation that grew up with Annie and since I've always loved all things media related and have always been a news hound..I followed her long before I had found the camera.
It seems like every picture tells a story, I'm sure that every person who looks at her pictures might even read a different story than myself. There is sooo much depth to every photo, you might first look at it and see something, a hand in a certain place, a smirk..the next time you will notice another thing about the photo..and so on and so on.
I admire that the subject feels so relaxed, so confidant that no matter what they are doing, they are trusting her..it is all just so real.
My fav's are her photos of Mick Jagger and The Queen. Just amazing.
Umm just realized that most of these photos are of men..total coincidence..really..promise:)
Now before you jump down to reading the list..I wanna give a shout out to all (um 4) of who left a comment on my Goodwill post.
The Dish-Or course she left a comment, she was the star of the story!! BUT she did add one thing that I had forgotten..the creepy janitor man only had ONE EYE!! Oh that totally takes the story to the next level..your right we do need to write that book!!
Anna- Oh her story was very very sweet!! Plus it made me smile, because I can just picture her trying to explain to the nice man behind her that she is not destitute and really can afford some old sheets..I wish I could have been a fly on the way for that one:)
Lauren- Even though she will not tell me where it is..I hear she has a secret blog.
Aurora Suzette- Paying for a sweater you brought in with you!?! HA! I guess the only thing worse than that is when I stood there contemplating if I should buy back something I had donated..I'm sick.
Thanks ladies for the comments!!
Ok on to the list....
10. EGG NOG!!! My kids have always asked me what the nog is in egg nog..I just say it's a secret yummy goodness...
9. Today I was in Target and they had the Christmas decorations up..and it made me smile from the inside.
8. I've heard chatter from some of my peeps this year about making this a bit of a homespun Christmas..I'm thinking that is a good direction..now if only I can get my boys to appreciate decoupage.
7. Christmas music?? Zach forbids it till Thanksgiving.
6. Speaking of Christmas music... It's pretty public knowledge in the Strehle circle that Zach hates (and no that is not wording it too strongly) the song Christmas in the Northwest. In fact a few years ago when our twins were still at that, "you should not say that out loud phase" (ok so maybe they are still in that). We had a little situation at church involving this song...During the church Christmas special a young sweet lady was up on stage preparing to sing, as soon as the intro music started twin A blurted out,
"OH GREAT MY DAD HATES THIS SONG!"
Nice..
But the best part of him hating the song so much is that every year we get at least 3 phone calls from one of my gf's signing the song on the other end...it's just too much fun to watch Zach moan from deep inside while we all laugh mercilessly at him... I'm pretty excited for that this year.
5. I purchase kitchy Christmas decorations all year round. I always have a drawer or a cuppord devoted to my Christmas booty..over the years my friends have jumped on the band wagon as well..It seems little kitchy Christmas items roll in all year round.. Like these..
4. Every time I watch Elf I laugh hard..like even though I know Buddy is going to answer the phone saying,
"Buddy the Elf, whats your favorite color?"
It still feels like the first time.
3. Sew Mama Sew is hosting Handmade for the Holidays. There are sooo many very fun handmade ideas!! And not just sewing either, otherwise I would not be excited about it..cuz I'm never very excited to sew.
2. How early is too early for decorations? You know it is my dream to one day own a cabin that we keep decorated for Christmas all year round..just imagine tinsel trees and kitchy Christmas all year round **sigh**.
1. Goodwill toward Men!! I love the spirit of Christmas. I have not always loved it, or always looked on the bright side of it either. BUT when I put myself in that mind set and think about how stinking blessed I am, I just can't help but want to everyone to feel the same way..yes I guess with age I'm becoming that women who wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and wears Christmas sweaters and says things like,
"Silent Night gets me every time." With tears streaming down her cheeks.
I guess there are worse things right?
I will leave you with this little number.. Just try and see if you can make it through the jazzy intro without puking in your mouth a little..just try.
I have not blogged for a while about thrift store shopping. I'm such a sucker for the thrill of the hunt! While shopping at cute boutiques and Anthro run right up there with my fav's..I still crave Goodwill..such mystery..such possibilities!
Have I ever told you how I found a pair of Prada shoes at the downtown Seattle Goodwill?? It was several years back.. I let out a gasp..and looked around kinda like Gollum guarding his precious ring.
"It's mine, my precious." I hissed at the lady in the aisle across from me.
I turned around and sold those bad boys on e-bay (before craigslist) for a TON of money..I paid 8.99 for em..now I wish I had kept them..shoot.
I also have lots of stories about the "colorful" people that I've had the pleasure of meeting at various thrift stores through out the years..
Once there was a janitor that had been kinda creeping me out and following me around the store. It was a very rare evening out with The Dish and my newborn. At the time I was really really postpartum and burst into tears when I realized my new baby's heirloom blanket must have fallen off the car seat and was missing.
"I know that bad janitor stole it Trisha!" I sobbed.
"Ok I'm going to get it..and him!" She then turned heel, made a beeline to creepy janitor man.
"Give me the blanket..now!" The Dish firmly said, all puffed up like a cat trying to make herself appear larger.
The man then sheepishly reached into the rack of clothing where he had for some strange reason stashed the blanket.
Creepy.
But please don't let this deter you from all the treasures you might just find.. the good out weighs the uncomfortable..like 95% of the time.
Ok dear bloggy peeps tell me your favorite thrift store story.
I will post my favorite story along with some link love to your blog next Tuesday.
