today, and everyday, i am thankful

i think that pretty much sums it up! (via swissmiss)

i am so excited to be traveling with my awesome husband to go visit my wonderful family for thanksgiving! this is a most amazing holiday and i am truly blessed to be spending it with my loved ones. i am very thankful for all of my family, near and far, my friends and all of the love i feel each and every day. i’ll be m.i.a. till we return, so enjoy the silence for now.  i hope you all have a splendid thanksgiving!

…what are you thankful for???

have a lovely weekend

i hope you all have a truly enjoyable weekend. if you’re looking for some good reads, i’m newly addicted to smitten.  and if you’d like to see some lovely photos, i found this gem on the new blog le love.

à bientôt!

city lights - tonight!

i have never been happier to live downtown than i am right now.  holiday season is the best! tonight they are unveiling the neiman marcus holiday tree and windows, and shortly after they will light the official downtown holiday tree in pegasus plaza.

here is some more information from the downtown dallas site:

Neiman Marcus Downtown and City of Dallas are thrilled to host another exciting year of City Lights on Friday, November 14, 2008! Join us beginning at 6:30 p.m. for this street-wide extravaganza and kick off the holidays Downtown, in the heart of Dallas. Festivities begin at Neiman Marcus Downtown, 1618 Main Street, then extend throughout surrounding streets all night.

On this special evening, the grand spectacle of the legendary lighting of Neiman Marcus Downtown extends throughout the Main Street District. Retailers and restaurants throughout the area creatively light their storefronts, keep their doors late and invite all of Dallas to celebrate the season. In addition, the Downtown holiday tree will be lit at Pegasus Plaza (Main @ Akard) by special musical guest, Eddie Coker!

Throughout the evening attendees are encouraged to shop with promenades led by street performers, and enjoy extended holiday hours and in-store promotions at each participating retail and restaurant location. At 7 pm, Neiman Marcus Downtown will light the store and unveil the Neiman Marcus Holiday Windows and one-of-a-kind Holiday Tree, the ideas of which have been in secret vaults for months…then keep an eye out for a special visitor from the North Pole, who will most certainly steal the show!

here is the schedule of events:

6:30 p.m.: Activities on the streets surrounding Neiman Marcus with music and refreshments; entertainment, face painters, street performers and much more!
7:00 p.m.: Lighting of Neiman Marcus Downtown; unveiling of the Neiman Marcus Holiday Tree and Windows; arrival of a special visitor from the North Pole; promenade down Main Street led by the Hardin Simmons Cowboy Band!
7:30 p.m.: The lighting of the official Downtown Holiday Tree at Pegasus Plaza, 1 block west of Neiman Marcus at the corner of Main and Akard; performance by Eddie Coker!
ALL NIGHT: Special activities and discounts at participating retail and restaurant locations.
Click here for a list of specials!

i am SO excited to see this!  it’s like our own little version of the rockefeller center tree…minus the cold weather, ice skating and al roker…

national protest against prop 8

as i mentioned before, i am very much against prop 8 and now there is something we can do about it! this saturday, november 15 at 12:30 pm (central) there is a national protest against prop 8.  proposition 8 eliminates the right of same-sex couples to marry and is an initiative constitutional amendment.  i won’t get into how wrong it is, just know that i believe that equality is a basic right, not a privilege that the government gets to pick and choose who gets it. i will be participating in the protest in dallas - it will take place in front of city hall at 1500 marilla dr. if you are in dallas please, please join me and many others to show that in EVERY state it is not OK to discriminate so blatently against our friends, neighbors, brothers and sisters.  maybe this will have such an impact that we can make this a change in many other states, and eventually make a huge national impact.

for my tulsa readers, they are also trying to get a group together.  read about it here. if you are elsewhere, a list of states and cities participating along with contact information for organizers can be found here.

please also remember that this is a peaceful demonstration.  thank you for the support! and for those who don’t support, i appreciate your silence =)

veteran’s day

i am thankful for those who fought and continue to fight for our country.

thank you steve, eric, sean, tony, christina, austin, justin, chris, jessica, michael, drew, becca and many that i can’t name by name. i am honored to have known you and have you in my life.

grandpa and peepaw, i am so proud of both of you and am honored to be the granddaughter of such outstanding and amazing men. i hope you are both in peace.

i’m in love

with this bookshop

from zach schrock.

and this calling tearsheet

from bliss.

and of course

he makes me smile so big.

attention california!

i know i’ve been a little politically fueled in my posts lately - i promise to get back to normal soon - but i just cannot let this go.  as you may have heard, the majority of california has spoken and voted to approve proposition 8 to ban gay marriage (again…). this is disgusting. every person should have equal rights; liberal, conservative, gay, straight, black, white… equality is a RIGHT not a privilege!

there is a petition to re-open prop 8.  you can go here to sign it. if you are a resident of california 18 and over, you can sign it. please, please if you believe in equality, sign this petition. if you are not sure where you stand on this issue, please read about it here.

thank you.

new day

and now let’s look forward to a better future and a better america.

“the road will be long. our climb will be steep. we may not get there in one year or even one term, but america, i have never been more hopeful than i am tonight, that we will get there. i promise you: we as a people will get there.” -president elect, barack obama.

image from design for obama.

VOTE

please don’t forget to get out there and vote today! i don’t care if you vote for who i’m voting for…but just make your voice heard! and in case you were wondering…

poster by casey brooks, found on a cup of joe.