The Things We Would Blog

Thanksgiving Roundup

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Jason and I will be spending the day in Houston with friends. I am going to miss my family though, my parents, nana and aunt in Washington and my sister in Korea. Also, sad that Teresa & my pie baking tradition has to be on hiatus this year.

Who else has the tradition of going around the table to say what you're thankful for? There is a ton of things I'm very thankful for this year, not least of which is this blog, thanks for reading!

And now, some pre-Thanksgiving entertainment for you to click as you're basting that bird or baking a pie!

Beautiful labels for leftovers and they are free to download.

If only cool people like this could photobomb wedding photos when I'm shooting!

Anjelica Huston is awesome

Podcasts to enjoy if you're traveling to your turkey

Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi & Prince William sing Livin' on a Prayer, really. This really happened.

An interesting perspective on gender roles in Hunger Games

Thanksgiving table ideas

Curly hair help

Mohammed Ali's tribute to Nelson Mandela

Image: Modern Family's take on Norman Rockwell's Freedom from Want

Why I Won't Shop at Walmart

"Oh, you're too good for Walmart?" is the response I generally get when I've expressed my preference to never shop at a Walmart. I promise you, my aversion to Walmart has nothing to do with thinking I'm above it. Who doesn't like great prices? But Walmart's prices come at a higher cost and as we are on the eve of Thanksgiving and the beginning of the season of shopping, I wanted to take a moment to speak out.

Did you know that many of Walmart's employees are living below the poverty line?

This study, released in May by congressional Democrats, found that just one Walmart Supercenter in Wisconsin was costing taxpayers $900,000 a year. It's summary states:

When low wages leave Wal-Mart workers unable to afford the necessities of life, taxpayers pick up the tab. Taxpayer- funded public benefit programs make up the difference between Wal-Mart’s low wages and the costs of subsistence.

So while you're saving at a Walmart register, chances are your tax money is going to help Walmart employees stay afloat.

To me, it isn't just about money, it isn't about taxes or welfare, it's about the principle, it's about people who are struggling to support their families and a corporation choosing do do nothing about it.

Here's a story of Walmart employees encouraged to donate goods to be given to other Walmart employees unable to provide Thanksgiving for their families. The article states that Walmart doesn't contribute on a corporate level.

Comparatively:

"A half century ago America’s largest private-sector employer was General Motors, whose full-time workers earned an average hourly wage of around $50, in today’s dollars, including health and pension benefits" says to Richard Reich, former Secretary of Labor, in this great article on his blog entitled "Why You Shouldn't Shop at Walmart on Friday".

Currently, around the country Walmart employees are attempting to take a stand, striking for better wages and I choose to support them by not shopping at Walmart.

*If you shop at Walmart, no judgement is intended, I merely seek to share my perspective on an injustice I see. I realize there are other companies I could put on blast for similar practices, but I felt the need to write this post as I continue to see Walmart in the news not only for it's employees attempts to strike for better wages but also it's CEO's stepping down after that whole bribery in Mexico scandal, and continued alligations of poor factory conditions where their products are made.

Myles: Four Months Old!

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Guess who turned four months old? My child! I can't believe he is the same baby as this tiny skinny-mini. He is around the 90th percentile for height and weight now, big boy! Four months is my absolute favorite age so far. As our pediatrician said, "Four month old's are like crack." Pretty much. We spend most of our time sitting around acting ridiculous so we can see him smile and listen to his hilarious laugh. Here are a few of my favorite things about his emerging personality:

- He loves to eat (obviously) -- we are excited to give him solid foods in a few months

- He has never liked to be constricted so he is thrilled that he can now push himself up, stand and bounce in his saucer, and hold himself perfectly straight on our laps.

- He thinks his dad is the most hilarious person on earth. Pretty much everything he does cracks Mylo up.

- He has started babbling and "singing" a lot during the day and in his crib when he is trying to go to sleep. We of course think he's very advanced. ;)

- He is not much of a cuddler but loves to have his soft blankies right on his face when he is going to sleep. He loves cozy things just like his mama.

- He adores spending time with his Grammy and Mimi (my mom and MIL) while I'm working -- he has a huge smile in the morning when he comes out and sees they are at our house.

Rafa wanted to get in on the fun, I found him sleeping in my photo shoot after I'd put Myles down for a nap.

Jenny's Favorites: November Addition

Here are the things that have kept me amused, happy, clean and well through the month of November, while living on a tour bus.

1. I've been wearing this TNA hoodie from Aritzia practically every other day on the tour. It works really great to layer under a jacket.

2. When I do get a night off of the bus, it's fun to take a nice bath with this amazing natural soap, made by women in Zanzibar.

3. I sent my mom Nunu Chocolates for her birthday, made in Brooklyn.

4. I've been carrying a yellow Moleskine notebook to encourage myself to journal the old fashioned way.

5. A couple of people on tour swear by Wellness Formula vitamin supplements and introduced me to them when I was starting to feel like I was catching a cold. Perfect for making it through cold season, especially if you're living in close quarters.

6. I've been on a 90's nostalgia kick and bought myself a scrunchie. I'd forgotten how awesome they are.

7. I can't stop listening to Youth Lagoon, if you watched our latest tour video, you'll recognize the song "17" as the one near the end that you'll be humming the rest of the day. Love love love this.

8. BOOKS!
This month I finally got around to Gone Girl, I have to admit, I was putting it off because whenever I hear "thriller" I think it's going to give me nightmares, not the case with this, it's definitely physiological and is a perfect airplane/tour bus read.

When We Were on Fire is a wonderfully honest memoir about surviving 1990's Christian culture. If you ever wore a WWJD bracelet, you might relate. This one really resonated with me.

I'm half way through the mystery The Cuckoo's Calling (by JK Rawling's alter ego Robert Galbraith) and really enjoying it thus far.

9. Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes- I wouldn't recommend face wipes over washing your face, but they are great for lazy nights or if you've attempted to wash your face on a bus in stop-and-go traffic only to come out of the bathroom with wet pants and bruises on your forehead from ramming the mirror.

10. Shout out to my wonderful mother in law who knew that kitty slippers would be the perfect way to make a tour bus more homey for me.

Cozy Cat PJ's

Monday, November 25, 2013

I've been wanting to buy all sorts of cozy things lately with the cold weather settling in. I linked these adorable cat slippers on the Friday Roundup last week. How cute are the above cat pajamas from the latest Nordstrom catalogue? I want them. The leggings and sweatshirt are made by Cozy Zoe. These moccasins and bunny pajama pants are also super cute from Anthropologie. What do you like to wear when the weather gets frigid?