Day 18: In which Thanksgiving just....doesn't happen. And I am a curmudgeon.

Hi guys. So, my family is having kind of a tough time right now, and we weren't able to celebrate Thanksgiving the way we usually would, with all the feasting and hanging out. Hopefully we'll be able to do so next week. Initially, I was pretty bummed out; on perhaps the most quintessentially American of all holidays, the emphasis is on gratitude for the many ways in which we are blessed, on spending time with family, and on blessing ourselves even further with copious amounts of delicious food. And, in theory at least, I love it. But I don't love what it so often becomes. (Huge, roaring rant coming up. If you're solely here for the outfit post, I recommend skipping to the end.)

I don't love the fact that there's usually a football game on all day, and then another one, and another one, each of them stealing away time we could have spent talking, cooking together, or...I don't know, playing board games. I don't love the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, with its endless stream of mediocre performances by mediocre pop stars, punctuated with grating commentary by un-funny news anchors, all of whom are making more money for that one event than the average American makes in a year of honest work. I don't love the constant barrage of Black Friday commercials, or the fact that over the last few years, stores have started opening on Thanksgiving night, when we should be taking family walks, napping, or, I don't know,  playing board games. I don't love how easily we are encouraged to forget the tragedy of last year's Black Friday tramplings and traffic accidents, and the terrifying lack of social conscience that led to them. I don't love the story we mindlessly tell our kids about the origins of Thanksgiving, and the terrifying lack of social conscience we display in telling it. When I really stop and think about it, the origins of Thanksgiving, and of America, are inextricably entwined with colonialism, white supremacy, and mindless consumption, be it of land, techno gadgets, or mashed potatoes. And that kind of freaks me out. And by kind of, I mean A LOT. So, like most Americans, I try not to think about it too hard, and have another helping of pumpkin cheesecake, and obsess about my Christmas list.

I know, I know, I'm COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY bumming you out, right? Don't worry, it gets better, I promise. See, Thanksgiving didn't happen in my family yesterday. Instead, I went over to my grandma's and watched the dog show (Which was awesome, because dogs are awesome!), and Miracle on 34th Street (The real one, with Natalie Wood). Then we turned the TV off. My mom, instead of slaving away in the kitchen all day making the traditional feast, whipped up some butternut squash biscuits with cranberries, walnuts, and candied ginger, and we shared a big pot of tea, and just enjoyed each other's company. It was simple, and easy, and delicious, and heartfelt. It felt like what Thanksgiving should be. Except, we've really got to get some board games. Baby steps, people, baby steps.

Vintage tweed coat, made by Grandma; Faux fur collar, self made; Vintage dress, thrifted; Psychadelic tights, Spartacus (Ignore the whips, focus on the amazing selection of legwear.); Vintage Frye boots, thrifted; Studded belt, thrifted; Vintage celluloid bangle, Mom's; Vintage rhinestone apple brooch, thrifted; Amazing hair, woke up with it. Ha!

Here's to a lovely and heartfelt holiday season, for all of us. I'll try to be less of a grump, and more of a mindless consumer, I promise. Well, ok, not really. I'm planning on avoiding the big box stores as much as possible, and finishing up my Christmas shopping on Hawthorne or Alberta instead. Which I guess you could call being a mindful consumer, doing my bit for the local economy, and spoiling my loved ones with handmade goodies, which, in my family at least, trumps techno gadgets every time. Because we are cave people. In other news...You guys guessed right! Its the shoes! Its always the shoes ( I'm saving up for the Emerson Made jeans, though. And also the years of therapy I will need to help me handle the guilt associated with spending that much on a pair of jeans. And you better believe that if those gloves are still around after the 30 is over, they are MINE. How cute would they be with my Grandma's coat, above?). I almost bought the Danys last year, when they only came in brown suede or black leather, but something told me to hold off. Then I saw those grey ones, and it was love....The salesgirl at Nordstrom said they were selling like hotcakes...and I'm sure she was laughing all the way to the cash register. But hey, I wanted 'em. Reeeeeeeeeeeeal bad! UPS says they'll be here by Monday....