Two sparkly moments of human kindness
Also in here: my first mini wedding + pink suede sneakers
You guys, in the past seven days, I’ve had not one but TWO incredible moments where the world stopped for a split second and the best of humanity shined its spotlight right on me. I have to tell you:
It’s the day before Thanksgiving. My four kids and I are in line at Home Goods. They are extremely thrilled by everything in here, which they share repeatedly, loudly, simultaneously. We conclude our shopping and enter the long line. I remind them that we are not buying anything from this area. Charlie, still at max volume, yells over Mick, who is now also yelling, about some green M&M’s he wants very very very so so so bad. I plead with him to please speak more softly. A woman in line in front of me, probably about my mom’s age, has now turned around and looked at us multiple times. I accidentally make eye contact with her and can see she’s about say something, undoubtedly about how full my hands are. I brace, but she looks me right in the eye and says,
“Hey. It’s okay. It’s okay! And – they are beautiful.”
It’s the Monday after Thanksgiving and I take the three youngers to Trader Joe’s while Eleanor is at art class because we are “dangerously low on milk,” as Nate reminded me at breakfast. We get through the store with minimal yelling, undoubtedly due to the guarantee of a lollipop at the register. We leave. We pick up Nora and drop off a plant at a friend’s house. We return home, and as we pull into the garage, my elderly neighbor walks up the driveway, holding my wallet: “Hi Alexandra, someone found this at Trader Joe’s and brought it over, they saw your address on your driver’s license. Didn’t say who they were but wanted to leave it with me since you weren’t home.”
And then, just because life is funny sometimes: the kids accidentally dropped the milk while putting away the groceries and the jug started leaking. We tried and failed to patch the leak with duct tape. Nate walked in the door in the midst of the clamour and I asked him to please go get a new gallon. But then, because is the The Best, he thought of this.
mini wedding
After eleven years photographing weddings, I had a new first: a mini wedding! Lily and Cameron sort-of eloped and just wanted photos of their family and friends who joined them in a private temple wedding ceremony. We spent an hour-ish taking pictures, and I decided mini weddings are my new thing!
More photos here, if you’d like to see…
If you’re having a mini wedding in the Southwest, I’d love to be your photographer.
today’s bouquet
We finished Lessons in Chemistry this week – what an incredible show! The story is breathtaking, both for profound love and for ragey sexism, and, you know me, I love it when the city is quietly the main character (see: me crying at all of the Chicago b-roll in The Bear). Here’s one of my favorite quotes from Brie Larson’s complicated character:
“Courage is the root of change, and change is what we are chemically designed for.”
– Elizabeth Zott
Spectacular 125-year-old portraits of Indigenous folks.
Indispensable advice on surviving/ thriving on international trips with kids.
5-minute detox latte. This sounds delish (and nutrish).
Recently discovered cento poetry, thanks to Maggie Smith on Rethinking. I can’t wait to try it!
All of a sudden don’t you just need a tulip shower curtain? (via Youngna)
Grabbed this sweatshirt while it was on sale, happy to see that it still is! Meanwhile trying to style my beloved sweatshirt collection as non-pajama-y.
Gifting Nate a couple of my favorite guys’ tees (w/ plans to borrow).
You know when you see someone wearing something and you instantly know you like it/ want to copy them? That happened to me with these pink suede sneakers the other night.
deck the halls
Stop what you’re doing and secure a package of Grinch kisses.
Beyond lovely: a baby’s breath Christmas tree. (via Ali)
Gosh, this is helpful: a guide to children’s Christmas books from kids lit expert Sarah Miller. **Well worth** the $10. Her newsletter is fantastic, btw.
Head over heels for these etched glass ornaments!
Breathtaking nativity oil paintings by an artist I’ve admired since college. (via Emily)
three gifts
One favorite from each gift guide! *Don’t forget your free $40!
Smiley face socks! Would pair well with this O BOY tee, which I just got for Mick’s faintly Mickey-Mouse-themed birthday. // $30
Slightly weird, super beautiful sticker book // $24
Photo album, very affordable, very meaningful // $9 to $35
from my camera roll
last thing
Most clicked link from last week: the ridiculous ballet flats
Readers today: 1,367
Coming next week: our Christmas ornament tradition
“There are more ways to see than with our eyes, more ways to feel than with our hands, more ways to hear than with our ears.”
– Dieter Uchtdorf (via)
Once, I was scrambling in the check out line in the grocery store - as we do - and a nice lady behind me kindly smiled and cooed at my 2-year old son, keeping him busy while I paid. I thanked her and she just smiled kind of wistfully and said "My boys used to drive me crazy too, but now I have to grocery shop alone." This is five years ago and I still feel the bruise in my gut from the emotional punch.
Thanks for sharing these moments. It is difficult to see anything but the difficulties and awfulness in the world right now, but these little kindnesses are everything. Especially for any parent in line at Home Goods.
The photo of the snail is magical, too. I'm reading a book all about a woman's observations about a snail right now and that photo could be the cover.