Kay = Adorable

This came in yesterday's mail and was just the thing to make me feel all warm and squishy inside, plus a true feeling of gratitude that I have this lady in my life.

Hey Sunshine!

My advisor handed out cards and said to think of someone we wanted to thank, and I thought of you. ♥
Not only are you an amazing aunt but an amazing friend as well. I want to take the time to thank you for allowing me to be in your life, to hang out, and take little road trips. They all have a special little place in my heart. I want to thank you for the 100's of postcards and holiday cards you send because they always make my day. And I want to thank you for giving me a completely different outlook on myself and life entirely. I hope to have you in my life forever and ever! And I hope you know just how much I love you.

love always, 
Kay ♥

P.S.Have a fantastic vegan thanksgiving! LOL!

Rebel Girls

It finally arrived!!! I am so excited to start reading this book - for me and to Jackson, Lucy, Kayla, Bailey, Isabella, Syd, Zach, and anyone that will sit still long enough for me to school them on the truly incredible ladies that have inhabited this earth.

Sunday Self Portraits on South

Sunday at noon I met up with big brother Wayne at the Ritz East parky garage. I instructed him beforehand to save his appetite, as we would be hitting Blackbird Pizzeria for a couple slices of The Haymaker, then Govinda's for vegan chicken cheese steaks and Sweet Freedom Bakery for brownies and cookie s'wiches. Walking up South Street we came upon Philadelphia's Magic Garden. Lo and freakin' behold - there was no line! This is unheard of. Ten bucks each later (which was Wayne's treat!) we finally got a chance to check the place out. It so did not disappoint. The entire afternoon I took oodles of pictures and here are the ones featuring lil' ole me!

Selfie Saturday with Bella

Had such fun yesterday with Lady Miss Bella! We went to Gold Million Records to donate some albums, then to Sweet Freedom for yum yum treats and finally hoofed it to MOM's Organic Market for some Naked Lunch. Oh my God!! - the cauliflower steak was to die for! Anyway, in between stuffing our faces we discussed human anatomy, The Gift of Fear (I gave Bella her copy), Edinburgh, Dublin, boys - good guys vs. rats, choosing the right college (Boston University is holding the number one spot with NYU following a close second), and the difficulty of remaining true to yourself amidst the unseen pressures of society and especially friends. We even did a retake selfie in Old Navy like the one from January 2015. Bella and I pretty much can't stop daydreaming of our trip in April and I know we are gonna get along so well. Although Bella sucks at directions, which frightens me since she's supposed to be navigator when we drive to Wicklow...

Away

It seems of late that I can't stop daydreaming of escaping to a small cabin far away - of solitude, warm glowing lights, candles burning, and a deep, peaceful calm.

(photo kidnapped from @cabinlust - photo credit iggy_strbac)

noodle

Little Anthony & the Imperials - Goin' Out of My Head
Chris Isaak - Notice the Ring
Original Broadway Cast of Jesus Christ Superstar- Superstar
The Who - Pinball Wizard
Joni Mitchell - Help Me
Boston - Feel Like Makin' Love
INXS - Never Tear Us Apart
The Stone Ponies w/Linda Ronstadt - Different Drum
Original Broadway Cast of Rent - One Song Glory
Peggy Lee - I've Got the World on a String
Hall & Oates - Sarah Smiles
The Yardbirds - For Your Love
Van Halen - I'll Wait
Beastie Boys - No Sleep 'til Brooklyn
England Dan & John Ford Coley - I'd Really Love to See You Again
AC/DC - Shook Me All Night Long
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Mannequin - Take Me to the Club
Lindsey Buckingham - Surrender the Rain
Billie Holiday - Stormy Weather
Bob Marley - Could You Be Loved
Garth Brooks - Every Now & Then

Thankful

Today I'm thankful for these two super rad ladies being part of my life:

I'm so excited about how close Bella and I have gotten these past few years. I am certain that our travels in April will bring us even closer and continue throughout her future in college, then med school and all the days that follow. She's so opposite from me in so many ways, but we get along like gangbusters. I love that she texted me first today!

I feel most grateful for my relationship with Ashlee. Once all of my friends and family members got married and had children, they all turned their focus toward those things and suddenly I ranked very low on their list of importance. However, Ashlee has married, had Bailey, moved to Jville, takes care of the entire house and two pups, but she has somehow managed to have a life and keep me a part of it. We text nearly every day, usually nonsense, but aren't those the best texts? The ones that say, Wtf my ig logged me out and now it won't let me log back it or By the way, it was 70 yesterday. Today it's 45 degrees. How does that happen?!?!! We FaceTime as often as possible, even if only for a few minutes. We ask advice and give it with honesty. When I wanna tell her about a book I'm reading or a silly show I'm obsessed with, she listens. She pays attention. She doesn't pretend to care, she sincerely does. There's no one I feel closer to in my life.

Precious...

"Hey Jackson, what's your favourite movie?"
"Lord of the Rings"

Honey, I'm home...

The tall trees, the large side patio/deck, the lovely seclusion - it's not A-Frame, but man, oh, man, it sure is lovely.

(another fab photo kidnapped from @mountainstones IG account - photo taken by @jhamil_bader)

Sunday Yummies at Heart Beet

Last Sunday I took Godmommy Gina to Heart Beet in Westmont. She scored a delicious pizza while I went for the lentil tacos. Lord, if you get the chance, I totally recommend this place. Everything I've had there is delish. Oh, except for the Pumpkin Pie smoothie. Dreadful - far too much cinnamon and clove. Live and learn!

ps - FYI, the lentil tacos were unreal!

Holding Out Hope...

...that the petition started on change.org by Daniel Brezenoff will put an end to the overwhelming fear that millions of us feel just imagining what will happen if that monster takes office. My fingers are crossed and I'm chanting that December 19th lives up to my dreams.

Sometimes I can be hateful...

I can be a real bitch sometimes, but seriously though, The Rock? Am I in a time warp? Is it 1999? 

Hello there handsome...

When everything is overwhelmingly disgusting and hope seems lost forever, a handsome fella like this is a lovely distraction. Bishop agrees!

(This gent's name is Daniel Zigler, by the way.)

Look who's...

...still out there fightin' the good fight! Ani, sweetheart, you never let me down.

I need these. Like now.

(i heart gemma correll and her stickers are the very best. my fave is the "Didn't pretend I was fine when I wasn't" - i always pretend that i'm fine when i rarely am.)

Sebastian Maniscalco

Mama Rosie introduced me to this cat a few months back and I am so grateful to Netflix for having Aren't you embarrassed? available to stream. It was seriously funny and right about now, I need all the funny I can get.

(photo kidnapped from usa.nownetflix)

Thanksgiving Card Recipients!

I love this kid.

And this cutie-pie as well!!

Comfy, Cosy, Quaint

I'm grateful that everyone I know and come in contact with has pretty much ignored what happened last week. So many of us are in denial and that seems like the safest place to be. The other place is clearly this warm and inviting a-frame cabin. Ah....to escape...

(photo kidnapped from @mountainstones IG account - photo by @andrewtkearns)

Colour My Life w/the Chaos of Trouble

I loved this post on IG by everyone's favourite stylist, the Princess.

She said, "I'm lucky enough to live in a city full of open minded amazing people that are allies to all different walks of life. I hope that soon the rest of the country can say that too, not just a few." Keep on truckin', America. We've been through shit times before and survived. We can do it again. 

Dogeared

This shop's Maya Angelou Collection is seriously fabulous.

(the cuff reads: Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.)

Things That Make Me Happy Right Now

It's been very, very difficult to feel happy about much of anything but here's my list:

- The fact that girls can now grow up knowing that they can run for President and be taken seriously. Oh, and win the popular vote and be wanted as a leader. 

- The high jinks of Jonathan and Jennifer Hart. 

- Earning oodles of overtime pay by working 62 hour weeks. 

- Escaping all my cares in less than a month and spending most of December, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, in beautiful, glorious, dog-poo-on-the-streets ridden Dublin!! With three days in Antwerp, my favourite city. 

- LaCroix sparkly water. Oh my goodness, this bev has replaced sodie-pop as my dinner drink of choice. Top five flavours are Melon Pomelo, Lemon, Peach-Pear, Mango, and Coconut!

- Spending time and getting to know Jackson as a person and not just as a cute kid to oooh and ahhh over. 

- Listening to the excitement in Bella's voice when we discuss our trip in April.

- The Rockford Files because I love James Garner and his beautiful way of turning a phrase or cracking a smile. He makes me feel at ease. 

- Having wifi at my place and being able to FaceTime with Ashlee whenever we want!

- Le at work and how happy he makes me when his sweet lil' face pops up in the corner of my monitor in an instant message asking me to leave the phones and help out in OHD. I so miss the days when I never took calls and felt useful in my work. 

- Michael Faudet's poetry. 

- Cheesey romance novels. They are the ideal escape from my hum drum life. I never, ever thought I would like pulp fiction or romance novels, or silly paperback mysteries, but it's so nice to crack open one of those books and just tune out all the garbage in my life. It's like reading Harry Potter. Those books were a wonderful refuge after 9.11 because nothing that occurred in those stories related to my life at all; therefore I could become completely absorbed with wandering the halls of a castle behind witches and wizards and never be taken out of that world by the mention of something real. 

- Ya know those microwaveable heating pad things, the ones filled with herbs and crap? They are my bestest best friend on cold nights. Throw it in, nuke it for two and a half minutes, dive under the covers with it and I feel like a girl in a Jane Austen novel where they put heated bricks under the blankets to keep warm. Delightful!

- Bea Arthur's spot on delivery of some of the best written quips and one-liners ever uttered in season one of Maude. Oh my gosh, it's so comforting to know that there's still laughter in this really, really dark future of ours. 

Did this really happen?

I'm still reeling from everything. Marina and I were in a mirrored state of confusion last night. I just cannot believe that this happened. I am truly terrified for the future of my country and the world.

This email made me cry and feel a little comforted, but still so very sad.

Lisa -- Thank you. Last night, I congratulated Donald Trump and offered to work with him on behalf of our country. I hope that he will be a successful president for all Americans. This is not the outcome we wanted or we worked so hard for, and I’m sorry we did not win this election for the values we share and the vision we hold for our country. But I feel pride and gratitude for this wonderful campaign that we built together –- this vast, diverse, creative, unruly, energized campaign. You represent the best of America, and being your candidate has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I know how disappointed you feel, because I feel it too. And so do tens of millions of Americans who invested their hopes and dreams in this effort. This is painful, and it will be for a long time. But I want you to remember this: Our campaign was never about one person or even one election. It was about the country we love -- and about building an America that’s hopeful, inclusive, and big-hearted. We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought. But I still believe in America –- and I always will. And if you do, too, then we must accept this result -– and then look to the future. Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead. Our constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transfer of power, and we don’t just respect that, we cherish it. It also enshrines other things –- the rule of law, the principle that we’re all equal in rights and dignity, and the freedom of worship and expression. We respect and cherish these things too -- and we must defend them. And let me add: Our constitutional democracy demands our participation, not just every four years, but all the time. So let’s do all we can to keep advancing the causes and values we all hold dear: making our economy work for everyone, not just those at the top; protecting our country and protecting our planet; and breaking down all the barriers that hold anyone back from achieving their dreams. We’ve spent a year and a half bringing together millions of people from every corner of our country to say with one voice that we believe that the American Dream is big enough for everyone -- for people of all races and religions, for men and women, for immigrants, for LGBT people, and people with disabilities. Our responsibility as citizens is to keep doing our part to build that better, stronger, fairer America we seek. And I know you will. I am so grateful to stand with all of you. I want to thank Tim Kaine and Anne Holton for being our partners on this journey. It gives me great hope and comfort to know that Tim will remain on the front-lines of our democracy, representing Virginia in the Senate. To Barack and Michelle Obama: Our country owes you an enormous debt of gratitude for your graceful, determined leadership, and so do I. To Bill, Chelsea, Marc, Charlotte, Aidan, our brothers, and our entire family, my love for you means more than I can ever express. You crisscrossed this country on my behalf and lifted me up when I needed it most –- even four-month old Aidan traveling with his mom. I will always be grateful to the creative, talented, dedicated men and women at our headquarters in Brooklyn and across our country who poured their hearts into this campaign. For you veterans, this was a campaign after a campaign -- for some of you, this was your first campaign ever. I want each of you to know that you were the best campaign anyone has had. To all the volunteers, community leaders, activists, and union organizers who knocked on doors, talked to neighbors, posted on Facebook - even in secret or in private: Thank you. To everyone who sent in contributions as small as $5 and kept us going, thank you. And to all the young people in particular, I want you to hear this. I’ve spent my entire adult life fighting for what I believe in. I’ve had successes and I’ve had setbacks -– sometimes really painful ones. Many of you are at the beginning of your careers. You will have successes and setbacks, too. This loss hurts. But please, please never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it. It’s always worth it. And we need you keep up these fights now and for the rest of your lives. To all the women, and especially the young women, who put their faith in this campaign and in me, I want you to know that nothing has made me prouder than to be your champion. I know that we still have not shattered that highest glass ceiling. But some day someone will -– hopefully sooner than we might think right now. And to all the little girls watching right now, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world. Finally, I am grateful to our country for all it has given me. I count my blessings every day that I am an American. And I still believe, as deeply as I ever have, that if we stand together and work together, with respect for our differences, strength in our convictions, and love for this nation -– our best days are still ahead of us. You know I believe we are stronger together and will go forward together. And you should never be sorry that you fought for that. Scripture tells us: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season, we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.” My friends, let us have faith in each other. Let us not grow weary. Let us not lose heart. For there are more seasons to come and there is more work to do. I am incredibly honored and grateful to have had this chance to represent all of you in this consequential election. May God bless you and god bless the United States of America. Hillary

The Best of Helen's Inktober

Gee-zoo, this lady is so talented and creative. Check out Ms. Coldwell's art that I kidnapped from her IG page. I put them in order of my faves, BTW.

Saturday Errands

I do so love to make lists and even more than that, I love the overwhelming feeling of accomplishment when I ssshhhhhrrrt the pen across a task or a to-do knowing that it is done.

Saturday, I decided to forego sleeping late and went to vote early. Yeah, I went to the wrong mother-effing building and wandered around for 35 minutes until the lovely gent upstairs took a close look at my voters form and pointed out that early voting is three towns away. I wanted to cry. I felt like such a friggin' idiot, and I said so. To which this fab fella replied, "No you aren't. You're a good citizen, miss." I nearly skipped to my car. Do people realise that simple compliments can completely change a person's entire day and their outlook on life? I doubt it. Anyway, I went and voted, which took less than ten minutes total, then I dashed to the bank to trade in 1900 bucks for £200 and a little more than 1400 Euros. Check one and check two - completed!

Next up was to pick Jackson up at about noon and squeeze in a quick discussion with Sydney and give her a copy of The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker. I was greeted in the drive by Zach, now almost as tall as me and so not the lil' four year old that I used to smother with kisses. He's not a little cutie patootie anymore, now he's a super handsome teenager with the best smile ever. Syd was home and she and I talked and I think she's really going to read The Gift of Fear and pass along some of the info to the young girls group that she volunteers at. Syd and Zach are always so busy, but it was nice to get just a few minutes alone with each of them. I love them both like crazy!

Then I tossed Jax in the car and off we went. So many parents say they get so much more done without kids, but for me, having Jackson totally helped me get all my errands done for the day. He was a HUGE help. He helped me pick out paint samples for my place and found the perfect navy blue, slate grey, and whites. Then we hit AC Moore to get yarn (as if i need more) for winter-time scarves. I also needed help selecting new eyeglasses and he was oodles of help! He was so honest that it was refreshing. I told him I wanted glasses that didn't show my dark under-eyes and he said things like, "I can still see all of your eyes and stuff," "those are too big," "they look like the ones you already have," "I don't like those," and when he liked the Kate Spade glasses he gave me a simple thumbs up. Then for funsies, Jax tried on some kids specs and damn it, he looked awesome in every pair. 

Next up was the library to grab a copy of The Hateful Eight from the hold shelf and as a reward we made a pit stop at Sweet Freedom Bakery in Cwood for cookies and cupcakes!

Then we arrived back home at 4ish for our silly selfies. I've met my match in Jackson as far as taking fun and goofy pictures. It's super fun to hang out with this kid and I'm already excited about late November when I can kidnap his behind one night and take him to Wilmington to check out the house on Silverside. Oh my goodness, he is gonna freak out!