Dear Gap Inc.,

It's okay. We all go through periods in our lives when we make bad decisions. You took awhile, but it's nice to see you coming out of that. We really need to talk, though. See, I was a loyal customer even throughout your poor decision making (i.e. You didn't produce any cute clothing.), and I still came to your store just to check and see if you'd brushed up on your skills a little. You never did, but I continued trying. Last night I went to your website. Just checking again. You know. And there it was. Cute clothes. Everywhere. And you know what? They were overpriced. And I couldn't afford them. And since I've been such a good friend and all, I think you should do something for me. Just make all the items in my cart go on super sale. Okay? That's called compromise. It's an important part of every successful relationship.

Love your faithful customer,
R.

happy birthday.

Yesterday was my mom's birthday. Let me refer you to multiple posts where I talk about how much I love her.

{1} {2} {3} {4} {5}

Thanks for letting me talk about my mom all the time. She's a muse of mine. lovelovelove, R.

a letter.

Dear Mom and Dad,

Thank you. Thank you for giving me a childhood -- one full of dreams, magic, and laughter straight from the belly. A room to call my own that could be decorated and messied and lived in. Thank you for manners, pleases and thank yous, and smiles that go a long way. Thank you for old movies on rainy evenings that beg for grilled cheese sandwiches. Thank you for letting me play in the rain, run down the street barefoot, and for asking me to wear my helmet. Thank you for dogs and the total adoration they gave to me. Thank you for fresh fruit, vegetables, and family dinners every night. Thank you for building the treehouse in the backyard. Thank you for Thai food on the beach and marathons of Northern Exposure reserved for summer nights. Thank you for an imagination -- the time and freedom to think, create, dream, be. Thank you for good music. For the Beatles. Wilco. Coldplay. Thank you for pursuing passions, which gave me the strength to pursue my own. Thank you for showing me that love trumps money, and that love comes at the most unexpected times. Thank you for showing me what good love is, what role a parent can play, how to turn something negative into something positive. Thank you for letting me know that crying is okay, good even. Thank you for letting me paint my room often. Thank you for style and grace and the power of forgiveness. Thank you for teaching me that vacations are worth more than any price tag that may be placed upon them. Thank you for teaching me that knowledge of the world around me is more valuable than most things. Thank you for exposing me to the history of this great country of ours. Thank you for letting me make mistakes even when it was hard for you not to interfere. Thank you for helping me to recognize the value of friendship and for allowing me to be myself. Thank you for loving me.

Love, Rox

image.

for a friend.

I believe that my friends deserve the absolute best. Don't you? Their happiness is of the utmost importance to me -- because they've been there for me through the best and worst times. They've known me for most of my short life and we're still the best of friends, even though we landed in different places and have to make rare trips to Coldstone to catch up on each others' lives. So it's obvious that I want the absolute best for my friends, need the absolute best for my friends. Here's to a good friend of mine.

I wish I could find him for you, that guy. I wish I could tell him that I know the perfect girl for him and he'll chuckle and tell me he's been waiting. You'll start dating and it will be perfect. He'll buy you flowers on a Monday, and not because it's your birthday, or even your six month anniversary, but just because he loves you. He'll remember important dates like the anniversary of your first kiss. And he'll tell you to put on his favorite dress so he can take you out for dinner to celebrate. He'll tell you to get the wine, if you want it. And then he'll take you out for ice cream, because we all know it's your vice.

He'll dance with you in the street, and he'll appreciate your years of training, your superb form and talent. He'll love your friends (obviously) and he'll go to Coldstone with us, pushing tables together so we can all hear each others' pointless stories. But they won't be pointless to him because they aren't pointless to us.

He'll be in love with your family and his family will adore you. His friends will wonder how he got so darn lucky and he'll just smile because he wonders, too. He'll give you kisses on the forehead and he'll sit through the romantic comedy (and enjoy it) because it's what you wanted. He'll even sneak in a candy bar because it's more fun than buying from the concessions.

And at the end of the day, everything you've gone through will be worth it. Because he's worth it, and he always has been. I wish this and so much more for you.

*image.

why i'm not allowed to watch scary movies.

I can't watch scary movies.

I'm going to let you in on an embarrassing secret: The first Harry Potter movie scared (and still scares) me. Because Voldermort was totally coming to get me in the middle of the night after I saw that movie. And Harry wasn't going to be there to save me.

After seeing the Sixth Sense I could not walk to my room alone.

After seeing Psycho, I couldn't take a shower for weeks. Sometimes I still have to take baths.

In order to watch scary movies, I have to psyche myself out. For instance, after watching Harry Potter, I had to remind myself (multiple times) that people don't live on the back of other peoples' heads. On top of that, they do not conceal those people with turbans.

So when Gaslight came in the mail this week, I wanted to watch it, but I knew it was going to be rough. I'm not joking, people. I get seriously freaked out.

And here's the good news: The movie was really great (and it was also scary/creepy).

Here's the bad news: I had a dream that I could see dead people after watching it.

(Gaslight really doesn't have much to do with dead people, just so you know.)

I think I probably fulfilled my scary movie quota for the year, but I really think you should watch Gaslight. Ingrid Bergman is a true gem!


Have a great weekend! xo, R.

jeffrey, my artist.

When Jeffrey decided to make art his career, I was thrilled. Growing up in a household of artists was one of the most enriching experiences of my own childhood, and I was excited to think about the future for our own (future) children. There's something very personal about art -- bringing a vision in one's mind into fruition for an audience to see. Not only does that take commitment, it takes a great deal of courage. And whenever Jeffrey embarks on a new creation, I find myself swelling with pride.

The path of an artist can be uncertain, and in some ways that scares me. As much as spontaneity excites me, I'd be lying if I said I don't like to have some kind of plan. But in all honesty, I can't help but believe that Jeffrey and I were paired together for a reason -- that somewhere, Someone thought it might be a good idea for me to journey down a road that is unmarked and unseen. When I see the light in Jeffrey's eyes, and when I hear him gush about fellow ceramicists (and they're really! great! ideas!), I know this is right for me. I know I'm supposed to marry an artist.

And I couldn't be more proud to marry a man who is living proof that following a passion is good for the soul. Whenever I worry about the future, I remember the passion I feel for my own future career and the passion Jeffrey feels for his future career and I know that that will nurture us, and drive us, and bring us to a place of complete and absolute contentedness. xo