This week of thanks (ha! do you like how I just changed to "week of thanks" instead of daily, to accommodate my horrible dedication to this month's practice? yea. I did that.)....

This song (and the band in general). Makes me bop around the house like a little wild one. It was on repeat during our road trip.

This book of soul aching, heart melting, truth speaking poems. She is incredibly profound in such few words, and her work moves me deeply.

These afternoon pick-me-ups. Fizz Sticks have taken coffee's place come afternoon slump hour, and though I never have liked soda very much, I now never have to touch it again. It really is just so incredibly bad for you. (And yes, I can hook you up, so let me know if you want to sample them! I'd be happy to mail one your way, so be sure to message me here!)

This revival. Duh. Like every other 20/30-something woman I know, my Friday consisted of a turkey hangover, sweatpants, and all 4 episodes of GG. Fingers crossed they come back one more time, because sheesh did they really leave us hanging!!

This recipe. I brag about it every single year at this time, and every year many people give me a wrinkled nose + side eyed response..."Shrimp? In stuffing?"...and then every year at least some of those people actually try it and they are hooked for life. As my mom says, it sounds weird but it is so so yummy.

In Gratitude,

Trish

​Oh, my heart.

Grateful for surprise trips and loving partners who plan them.

A pack of supportive, silly friends.

Wolf rescues.

Wolf cuddles.

Wolf howls.

Travel, adventure, and checking off bucket list items.

You guys.

I have a problem, and I need to confess.

I have an....obsession, if you will, and I want to come clean.

Last year, around this time, I accidentally stumbled upon a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie staring our beloved DJ Tanner...I mean, Candace Cameron Bure...and it launched me into a frenzy of Hallmark (or Lifetime) holiday original film bingeing each evening that has only increased this season.

This season, I came prepared.

This season, I pre-researched all of the new options.

This season, my DVR might actually be smoking from the overtime work it's doing to ensure I don't miss a single one.

This season, I know my favorite stars by heart and purposefully seek them out by talking their names into my fancy Xfinity remote, so that I can double, triple, check I'm not missing any other gems of theirs.

The flicks are...how do I put this gently....not great. They are basically the same storyline, told over and over, with the characters and locations ever-so slightly tweaked. They are most often cringe-worthy levels of cheesy, and have ultimately been vetoed by even my traditionally Rom-Com and Holiday movie loving man. (When B recently saw our DVR line up he looked at me with a mix of concern and pity and said "You need help, girl", if that gives you any indication of the severity.)

But honestly, I love everything about them.

I love how they make me want to walk outside down a festively lit street, bundled up in the cold, with a mug of fancy hot chocolate. 

I love how they each reinforce the potential magic of the season.

I love how the decorations in every single scene are pure Christmas perfection, like I spent just enough hours inside of the Pottery Barn on my street to manifest my very own living room decor of absolute Martha Stewart-level dreams.

I love how they make me want to eat sugar cookies until I exude sprinkles from my pores.

And, I love that under the multiple layers of cheap, feel-good ploys, there is a simple message of love, or hope, or belief in goodness.

It's all so silly and glittery and warm, and I am grateful for it.

With love,

Trish

Well this 30 days of thanks project sure did get away from me. Oopsies? Haha? ....My bad?

It's been a mix of both really incredible days and a few very tough ones (ahem...election...ahem...). I'm still wrapping my head (or, more accurately, my heart, around all of that).

But, through it all, much to be grateful for.

Sunsets, the sea, and sand.

Giraffes, floats, and boats.

Laughing, laughing, laughing.

Clams, oysters, crab, scallops, seaweed salad, calamari and basically anything that comes from the ocean and can be put in my belly.

Group texts, supportive tribes, and friendships both restored and deepened.

​And, the spreading of hope amidst a rush of hate.  Please, friends, keep the hope.

In Gratitude,

​Trish

Spent an incredible two nights with our dear friends, A + E, along the Mendocino coast. Lots of beach hikes, beers, Skip-Bo, bbq oysters, and absolute hysterical laughing ensued. With cool Fall weather and classic California coastline views, I was one happy (and grateful!) little lady.

Gosh, I love an adventure.

In Gratitude,

​Trish

​This is a terrible photo, of terrible quality, on a terrible angle, and terrible filtering.

But my gosh, this was so much fun. Starting RHONY from the very beginning with Skinny Girl margs, fresh guac, and Mexican flavored Buddha bowls (rice, spices, veggies, love).

I am so so grateful for friends who can perfectly balance the combo of delicious heart-to-hearting and absolute, ridiculous smut -- folks who can keep it real, and also appreciate pure la-la land.

Caricature of life, yea?

Love it all,

Trish

Day 2 Thanks: My right to vote.

I woke up oddly early today at 6:30, after having a kick ass dream where I was singing and playing guitar for a totally captivated, but intimate crowd. I sounded freaking awesome, and boy were they feelin me. I'm not even trying to be humble here -- I had a croony, indie rock vibe that was majorly on point, fleek, whatever the hell kids are saying now. God, I was a hit. I reached for my phone to text B how sad I was to wake up in the midst of my musical fame, to which he replied "Lol. Go back to sleep". If it were only that easy, amirite?

But I digress.

Look, less than 100 years ago my fellow chickadees and I were "granted" (there is something oddly offensive about the use of this word within the context of what should be no-brainer equality) the right to vote. Suffragettes were seen by many as absolute heretics during the multiple decades they fought for this perspective shift, while now I'd bargain the trending opinion (with a few, sad, exceptions, of course) on this piece of history falls primarily under the categories of "courageous heroes" and "Duh, what took us so long? Why was this even a thing?" It makes me wonder how our children's children will view those labeled "extreme feminists" of our time. I mean, what parameters even determine that, ya know?

So, I woke up at 6:30am today and the very first thing my OG girls and I did (well, 2nd, after making coffee) was rock the vote.

I don't take this lightly. Especially not this year. I am practically giddy to mail this puppy in. I think my heroes would be proud.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, to those who came before me,

​Trish

It's here, it's here! One of my favorite months of the year has arrived (2nd only to June, which is pure summer heaven), and thus the season of extra gratitude-focused introspection is upon us. The Universe just feels especially receptive (and reciprocal) to our thank you's this month, don't you think?

My "intention" for November 2016 was set eleven months ago as Boundless Gratitude, and oh mylanta does that deeply resonate with me now.  Each day for the last year+, a dear friend of mine and I have exchanged gratitude emails. This practice has been instrumental in keeping me focused, no matter what may be happening in life, on the abundance of good (or hope for good) that surrounds me. Some days, my list is long and detailed and takes no time at all to create. Others, I really have to push through the crunchiness of circumstances just to bang out 3 measly bullet points. I fully admit that once or twice I totally phoned that sh*t in, keeping it so basic it might as well have been the world's most boring grocery list. But, meeting our practices where we are with great honesty and humility holds its own special kind of power, and our goal with this daily exchange focuses on progress over perfection, always. I absolutely adore receiving my friend's emails in return. Her perspective is valued and appreciated more all the time; it's an honor to hold space for where she is, too. 

To kick up these gratitude vibes over the coming weeks, I've committed to jumping back into my beloved blogging with 30 days of thanks. I would so love for you to join me at any point, by sharing your own words of thanks in the comments :) And, I'll be throwing a fun, free give away or two into the mix, so hopefully you'll stick with me for the next 4 weeks!

Today, on November 1st, I want to start by expressing gratitude for the bearded babe in the photo above, and for our shared, joy-filled life in general. To say that just 9 months ago we were in a pretty tough spot would be a huge understatement (good grief, can the word "understatement" be an understatement?) and I do not want to miss the chance to acknowledge the efforts we have each made. I recently heard that the people closest to us are our healing partners, and healing does not come hurt-free. Or, as my friend Kim says, it's not in the way, it is the way. {insert humble, Namaste-esque bow}

I also feel that perhaps what happened was meant to shine a light for us.... to peel back a few painful layers no longer serving our growth, so that we could choose each other again, and move forward from a stronger place.  An inspired life starts with being truthful with ourselves, and the people we hold close to us. Even when it hurts. Especially, when it hurts. This often takes a kind of courage which first disguises itself as "rock bottom". And when we hit the bottom, there ain't no where to fly but up.

Bubba, there is so much about you that inspires me. Thank you for working towards an incredible future, while being so very alive in the now. Thank you for looking beyond the opinions, suggestions, advice, theories from outsiders (both good and bad), to move more steadily, patiently, more wholly within our truth. I deeply believe we are both better, more inspired people because of this. 

And, thank you for being so freaking weird, (Dude. You are so, so weird in all the right ways )and thus making me crack up on the regular. Please don't ever change that side of you! When they finally come to lock you up with the rest of the coo-coo's, I will be strapped in right beside you.

We sure do have a lot of fun, eh? Drop down and get your Eagle on, baby. I love your guts.

In Gratitude,

Trish