On Giving Thanks

An attitude of gratitude by the Dalai Lama

Everyday, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I 

have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to 

use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to 

others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am 

going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get 

angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as 

much as I can.

Thankful

*for having people that love me

*that i have people to love

*for people i've never even met that bring me joy through their thoughts and kind words

*for a day when i can sit around and eat food with loved ones instead of waking up early for work

*for the general well being of my loved ones

*Twilight Zone marathons. every year.  count on it.

*stretchy pants.  mmhmm.  i said it.

*THANK YOU.  for reading.

*oh.  yes.  for pie.  yep.  pie. 

{{{{visual inspiration above found HERE }}}}

Tuesday's Tunes

Getting into the holiday spirit.

Um, trying to get into the spirit at least.  

Ill get there.

Nope, I haven't busted out the Christmas decorations yet.  

Have not even eaten a giant blob of everything-on-my-plate-must-be-totally-on-top-of-each-other-hooray Thanksgiving food (the only way to REALLY enjoy mashed potatoes, stuffing and creamed corn is to mix it all up, duh) yet.  

Haven't had the moment where I eat said food, and then sat back and thought that the only possible conclusion to this madness of gluttony would be to top myself off with a giant slice of pecan pie.  Or pumpkin.  Can it be both??  

Nope, haven't even made it though T-day this year.

Yet, it IS approaching quickly...  

and

I did buy a fun Christmas record...

 She & Him can be a little polarizing to begin with. I happen to enjoy Zoey's voice, I find it a little retro and pretty unique.  I also totally get that some who might like a fast tempo pop Christmas albums, may get a wee bit bored by their Christmas-y lullaby's.  

The songs are simple, and I love her voice.  That's all there really is to it.

I'm digging the album, I love the red vinyl record and I can't wait to have a little holiday shindig, just so I can plop the record into my jukebox.  

Yep, we have a working record jukebox again yay!  Now if only I can find some of my dad's old Christmas vinyl...

 The holidays can take their toll on you.  I have definitely felt that this year...  Yes, a part of me grimaces just thinking about dealing with LA holiday traffic, horrid shopping experiences and screaming spoiled children...

 The other part of me loves that it's Christmas spirit time again. This record is definitely helping me feel a little more holiday cheer. :)

Wordy Wednesday - How To Gather More Blog Interest [[ AKA : On Blogging The Truth ]]

What makes anyone's blog truly interesting?  Sure, I try my best to entertain you in with pretty pictures, a little humor, inspirational ideas, DIY projects...   Whatever I find interesting.  Really though, what is it we all want to hear in between these photographs?  Personally I think it comes down to a bit of honesty that only you, the writer can provide.  Anyone can recite a re-cap of their day, and maybe sum it all up with a shiny and overused antidote.  But I know when I am reading a blog, I like to really feel the blogger's individuality shine through.

Call it voyeurism, call it human interest.  Call it what you pretty pretty please, but most of us are reading blogs because there is a real human being on the other side.  With unique thoughts, real problems, true insight and honest opinions.  You can look at someone's fun pictures of their trip to the zoo all day, but it's much more interesting when they they tell you in between the zebras and flamingos about their un-founded fear of giraffes, or how they nearly missed being hit by the gorillas flinging their sh*t.  Oh, poop in general bring's you readers too, people.  It's a proven fact.

When I'm reading blogs, I usually ask myself the same questions without even thinking about it.  In fact, I really had to look a little deeper into my own thought process to realize what it is that drew me to certain blog/bloggers.  In general I ask myself the following.  Who is this person writing this?  What do we have in common?  What makes them totally unique?  Are they entertaining?  Funny/ witty?  What do I 'like' v. 'not like' about their format and design? What do they personally bring to the proverbial blogging table that is unique? 

Stop comparing your blog to other's.  If you post as often as you can (strive for daily), and talk to people on your blog and theirs, people will visit your blog more often.  Content is more important.  If you post frequent honest and heartfelt content, don't take yourself too seriously, but take interacting with other's seriously, people will stop by.  Maybe more than once or twice if you're lucky.  I would love to say I have tons of daily readers!  Who wants to write into space?  But truthfully, I know I've got some amazing followers right now (I got the most amazingly sweet message from a lady a few weeks ago that made my day), and I also spend a lot of time following some other amazing bloggers that make my days brighter as well.

Regarding content.  Some days I'm talking about making rings, or making messes, and the next it's about the most amaze bottle of wine that I enjoyed the day before.  Sure, the woman who likes the recipe I posted yesterday, may not want to know about my last vacation, or how to make a memory box... But who cares!  I write about what I am thinking most about, that day. That is the way MY brain works...  If I tried to focus on keeping my subject matter more cohesive, I would not be writing genuinely.  I would also need to create many separate pages for each topic!  Lame.  I don't want anyone having to jump around from site to site for my content...  I personally don't want to log-in and out of different pages to write.  I'm me, and I'm random, and I write about everything I find interesting.  I also think that if I just keep keep writing about the things I enjoy, as a whole, there have got to be other's out there who can relate to my life, enjoy my recipes, crafts and enjoy the pictures I post.  I don't even worry about losing readers because I can't focus on one subject.  I enjoy a variety of things, for a variety of reasons.  I'm sure there are a lot of you out there that do as well.

Blog about whatever you want, keep it real, keep it fresh, and write often and most importantly honestly.  Readers will sense that you are a fun, real person and they will appreciate that.


Happy Wednesday!

{{{{visual inspiration above found HERE }}}}

Happy Tuesday

No time to write today.  Jermaine, my little desk gnome and I were very busy all day at work. I am excited to say there are some new, fun things coming GGA Blog's way...  Do the rest of you have any fun holiday projects you are starting to think about?  Happy Tuesday!

Music Monday - I Dig A Pony {{Beatles Cover}} [[[[St. Vincent]]]]

I'm not usually a fan of cover songs.  I find myself reflecting more about the original artist, and thinking that they didn't change the song enough, or the way it was changed has turned it into something cheesy, common or overly embellished.  Not this one...

This video I wanted to share with you today?  The only Beatles cover I can listen to over, and over, and over again.  To be honest?  I have a total girl crush on her.  She is an amazing guitar player, super experimental, and her voice turns what should be just another Beatles cover, into something that strikes me justtttt right.  I won't pretend that I can give you the best music reviews.  I have a friend to share with you for that, and she is super great at the whole, 'talking about the musical elements and stuff' parts too.  Her name is Allegra, please check out her blog HERE.  I will bring you a video now and then that really floats my boat.  Why?  Because, I like you.  M... O... U...  S...Eerrrrrrr...  Yeah.  Hope you enjoy today's sounds by St. Vincent.

I was raised with music in mahh bones.  Granted, at least 50% of that was primarily JUST the Beatles, but there was hardly EVER a quiet or boring moment in my house.  My dad was an avid memorabilia collecter throughout my childhood, and his name is still referenced in many books available today about music related collectibles.  I grew up as a kid who would have to ask my dad to turn down HIS music when I was doing my homework, and not vice versa as is the norm, or so I've been told.  ;)  It was super fun though, especially the evenings and weekends spent listening to my dad jam on the guitar with with our family friends/ his bands, or just sitting on the ground and listening to my mom play the piano.  I'm even thankful for the days when I remember being dragged by NO will of my own whatsoever shuttled to my weekly piano lessons as I whined and complained the ENTIRE way there, that 'I didn't want to gooooo that week, because I didn't practiceeee, and I wasn't reeeadddyyy...'  I'm a little lot rusty these days, but I have a few songs in my repertoire(that I play over, and over, and over), and I can read most intermediate pieces of music kinda super slowly decently.  I'm really glad they kept me in those sometimes dreaded lessons for about 8 years though, even if at the time I didn't see the 'big picture'.  I can't wait to have a little one of my own to drag to their own music classes  inspire greatly on a super deep and meaningful level.  Happy Monday!

[ h a p p y b i r t h d a y {{{{ in heaven }}}} ] {{ Mom }}

     If my mom was alive, today would have been her 60th birthday.  Wow.  It seems oddly perfect, that today is a Saturday and everything.  I know that RIGHT NOW we would all be getting ready for a big party with friends and our family that was very dear to her...  I can't stop imaging it.  Instead, I sit here remembering her, missing her wretchedly, and looking for any words that exist in my vocabulary that sound at all satisfying enough to use to describe to the world the remarkably warm, classy and kindhearted person she was.

     There are few losses in life that hit you to the core as deeply and immensely, as a young woman losing her mom.  I wont pretend to have absorbed the immense tragedy felt by a parent losing a child(at any age), but I know there's a big possibility I am runner up to one of the great losses in one's life, when one was as young as my sister and I were. Losing someone hurts.  Losing anyone hurts.  I have experienced losses on different levels..  Grandparents, friends in high school, pets...  Yet to lose the person who first held you in their arms, and is supposed to be able to be there to nurture you and guide you through your life leaves a void in you, that changes you forever.  I am a strong person.  I don't complain much, and because I have felt such deep sadness, I have gained the ability to be really, really happy.  Honestly. When you learn what really matters early in life, and you have felt real sadness, for so long...  It's actually pretty easy to live a life where you don't sweat the small sh*t.  Could also be why I have a low tolerance for people who prefer to be negative.

     All my mother ever wanted to be was a really good mom.  She was the room mother, PTA leading, bake-sale hosting, crafting and cooking sort of lady who just loved her babies.  When working a full time job when I was in elementary school, she made it to every one of my school recitals, and managed to drop off my lunch when I forgot it at home(okay, like a lot).  When she was able to be a stay-at-home mom when my sister was born, she was ecstatic to be there for us even more.


     My mom was diagnosed with an agressive form of cancer when I was 14, and fought hard for over two years, before I devastatingly lost the most nurturing person in my life.  Years ago when I was reminiscing I had a friend look at me and say something along the lines of 'Your mom died years ago, I just didn't think you got sad anymore.'  Um, yea.  Right.  Sure, I don't talk about a lot anymore, but I still miss her all the time!  I think some people have a harder time comprehending loss, and while their ignorant comments are frustrating, I'm glad that person still has her mother to complain about talk to.  ;)  And then there are the new friends I get to know through the years, and when I tell them they immediately look like they're going to burst into tears...  They get it.  They get that it still sucks.  But I just get that I was lucky to have the mom that I had. More than lucky.  The older I get the more I understand what an amazing person she was.  And it's nice to talk about her sometimes.  Even here, and especially here where I can speak thoughtfully and freely~ it just feels really good to pay her tribute.  I just wish she was right here so I could sing her happy birthday and give her a big hug.


Happy Birthday, Mommy :)

     

Happy Birthday Eric!

Eric joined me in the Three-Oh club this week!

Made me a little reminiscent of our teenage years together..  Thought I would share with you one of my favorite pictures of us of all time.

[My husband and I, at about 17 years old]  

{{{So young}}}  {{So bleached}}  {So ...skinny}. ;)

We had a great dinner at a very nice place near the beach.

We love to eat our filets still bleeding...

 [[[[[And the truffle butter on top?  OMG.]]]]]

[Treasuries] featuring GGA {The month of October}

GGA is honored to be among these other beautiful handmade items :)  Thanks for the love, guys!

{{{{{ [[ Click on any of the above treasuries to view them in Etsy! ]] }}}}}

{{ [ {October Recap } ] }}

[{[[    Hellooo November    !]]}]

{{ Below [the most fun posts from October ]}}