Bountiful

Outfit Details:

Sights to Season Dress: ModCloth

Cardigan: Forever 21 (old, similar here)

Tights: ModCloth (similar here)

Shoes: Stylish Surprise from ModCloth

Leaf crown: Sterling Renaissance Festival

Bow ring: Urban Outfitters (similar here)

Belt: from another dress

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  I love this holiday (let's face it: any holiday that involves eating a ton of yummy food is going to be at the top of my list).  Our Thanksgiving is going to be pretty low-key this year -- I'll be with my parents, my grandparents, and aunt at our house -- but I always look forward to my mom's cooking.  She always makes everything (except the lime jello, which my grandma always brings... I have no idea how this tradition got started).  I need to learn how to actually cook things.  But for now, I will be stuffing myself full of her mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top.  

This fall has obviously been pretty difficult for me, and because there are so many holidays that focus on family, it's been hard to ignore the fact that a person I considered to be an integral part of my family is suddenly gone.  It's hard to come to terms with that, especially when there are still a lot of things that cause confusion and pain for me that stem from that situation.  But I am determined to not wallow in self-pity (since not only is that an unattractive quality, but it's also in poor taste to do so during a holiday that's about counting one's blessings).  And in the spirit of counting one's blessing, here is a short list of things I am thankful for, today and every day:

- my supportive parents, who generously let me live at home until I can figure out my next steps (and who also drive me around constantly, until I can get my license)

- being able to work as an actor and singer, in any capacity

- a day job that I actually enjoy

- my cat, Pumpkin (and poor old Pepper, my dog)

- kind, funny and talented friends

- music

- plays

- pumpkin pie

- pretty dresses

- my heritage

- my health

- hot drinks on cold days

- Friends reruns

- paychecks 

- shopping

- snuggling

- warm fuzzy blankets

- laughing really hard

- quirky, charming movies

- text messages

- feeling pretty

- my degree and my knowledge

- my good ear (for pitch and dialects)

- people who love and care about me

- being an emotional person, even when it hurts

- everything that has stemmed from this blog: readership, sponsorship and blogger friends!

I know I'm forgetting a ton of things... but these things definitely make me smile (oh, and smiling!  I'm thankful for that, too), and that's a very important quality to me these days.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

xox Sammi