Everyday I try to get it right.

I just got back from a wonderful trip to L.A. where I was lucky enough to not only go to Shareen's Vintage, but I also got to meet her.

she.is.awesome.

I scored this sweet ass vintage fur vest. $70. {perhaps a bit hungover in this photo}

I'll be pimping this bad grrrl out this weekend in the Chi!

Not only does she have one of the best vintage stores in the country, she's also a ridiculously cool woman. In her newsletters, she signs out with THE LETTER _____ such as the one below.

Everyday I try to get it right
And every day I fail.
That is what it is to be human,
I guess.
If I got it right all the time I would
be divine.
I would have no reason to be here.
Here is where we struggle and
Here is where we fall
And here is how we learn to love and to
forgive.
Not just ourselves but others.

The best thing I can hope for is to know what is right and to keep
reaching for it.
The best thing I can hope for is to admit my failings and
to ask for forgiveness,
The best thing I can hope for is to forgive myself.
Right away.

When we experience a failing we feel
as children do.
A bit lost and a bit scared and often
an awareness of our own innocence comes
forth.
We didn't know
We didn't mean it.
We are left smacked with a feeling of shame
and then regret.

If you were a little girl and were standing
before yourself, shamed and sorry, what
would you say to your little self.

So important to sit beside the child in you.
So powerful to put your arms around her
little shoulders and to soothe her with your
understanding and acceptance.

Its Ok.
You are doing your best
You are just a human being.
And life is beautifully difficult
And love is painfully beautiful.And no matter what, I love you.

{Sigh}...I love her...

Real Men of Genius

so i get an email from someone at work that reads:

"steve and i found these awesome works of art at an "antique mall" yesterday in kimberling city, missouri - near branson. this is probably the coolest thing i have ever purchased anytime, anywhere. (we are framing these and putting them in our bar, fyi.)"

then....these pictures appeared.

life is good. life is really really good.

that is all.

Paul McCartney told me I shouldn't live in the past.

So I went to the Vintage Bazaar. Um, it was kind of a disaster. I was there at 12:00pm on the dot and it was already packed. It was packed so much, you couldn't even see what the booths had to offer.

Awful.

I got pushed. I pushed. And then I had an anxiety attack.

Crazy crowds freak me out, big time. So I went and sat at the bar (!?) and waited for my friends that I was meeting. After 30 minutes recouping from the experience, I agreed I would 'wing man' as they pushed their way through the vulture's nest . When push came to shove, I was happy to leave, and, sad to see the line to enter went out the door.

The Vintage Bazaar

The idea- wonderful.

The reality- not cool.

Let's hope they do it again, but reformat...everything...

I was able to score a broach and a fabulous lions head gold belt.

$8 each.

{photos via my iphone}