Links to cheer us all

Also in here: something special coming tomorrow + your gift guide thoughts

Hi my dears. It’s a big day. Handpicked has ALWAYS been about cheering us up, and today is no different.

Here are my thoughts on the election results, if you’d like.

If you voted for Mr. Trump, please understand that the devastation and anguish many of us are feeling right now is very complex and very real, so I ask you to be gentle today and always.

If you didn’t vote for him, may I recommend looking at photos of the most joyful moments in your life. Here’s one of mine:

Giants Meadow in Sequoia National Park was the most calm, magnificent place I’ve ever been. I was pregnant with Mick and I felt like my soul was sparkling as I walked this path with my kids and my camera on my 32nd birthday.

And now, a few nice links that don’t matter at all.

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painting

I’ve decided to create two collections, featuring the two subjects I photograph more than any other — can you guess? Flowers (shocks no one) and my little hometown of Manhattan Beach. I can see the path forward! Feels good.

what painting pink flowers looks like

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“Make the most beautiful thing you can. Try to do that every day. That’s it.”

— Laurie Anderson

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today’s bouquet

• Kinda can’t believe it — this week, we’re celebrating FIVE YEARS of living in Manhattan Beach. So in honor of this milestone… Drumroll please: tomorrow my Manhattan Beach city guide is coming! Hopefully it will convince you to move here and be my neighbor.

• Charlie asked for this for his birthday, haha.

• Oh my gosh, this is me in a cardigan.

• Annndd here we have me in a shoe. Fun fact: in high school, I used to paint my friends’ Vans. I’d forgotten about that until I saw these!

• Finally watched Fall Guy, and y’all, I loved it. My sister Emily said, “It’s the first action movie made for women!” Have you seen it?

• Thinking of starting a new Thanksgiving tradition with my sisters and nieces while the boys play football: wreath making.

• Putting this on as soon as the Thanksgiving dishes are done.

• These guys always make me and Nate laugh so hard, we play their videos twice. (FYI, some cursing at the end)

• Adding the most charming shop to my Seattle list next time I visit my grandparents’ house. Do we have any Seattle readers??

• Go on a walk and make leaf crowns today!

• Glimmers are the opposite of triggers. I’d add to this list: my baby’s voice, childhood photos of your significant other, the feeling you get when you’re shopping for a nice candle and you smell the perfect one.

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“What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult to each other?”

— George Eliot

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Gift guide season is here and I want to helpful as possible!! THANK YOU for shopping and clicking my links, you’re supporting a micro business.

I’d love to know: what do you want for yourself this year?

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last thing

• Most popular link from last week: the pearl-covered cardigan.

• Readers today: 1,782

• Grateful for you. Take care today.