Thanksgiving

Jenn again, thinking today about Thanksgiving. It feels so cozy and traditional to pretend Thanksgiving is about being thankful, but let's face it, for most Americans it isn't. For mainstream America Thanksgiving is about shoving your face in preparations for the insane Black Friday shopping extravaganza. Kelli and I may differ somewhat on this topic. I don't doubt that for some people Thanksgiving really is about tradition and being thankful, I am simply pointing out that it is a holiday that was created in the blood of Native Americans and modernized through commercialism and consumerism. Not to mention the cruel meat and dairy based traditional dinner, over consumed while there are millions starving across the world..Now, I hate when people get too preachy so let me get to the point. At the last minute I decided to forgo Thanksgiving. I stayed home, hiked for two hours, did yoga, cleaned the house, made vegan soup and spent time with my dog Neptune, my four cats and my two birds.


Neptune





Venus





Violet





Brutus





Doc





Sunny and Stars





I can't tell you how much better I feel having spent Thanksgiving active and productive; no guilt because I ate too much or didn't contribute enough to the family gathering, no laziness, exhaustion or bloating because of overeating and all day lounging. I didn't even miss the "tradition" as horrible as that sounds. Now, I am no saint nor am I judging those that participated in Thanksgiving traditions (although I am judging you if you are beginning Christmas shopping at midnight). I am just suggesting that sometimes thinking outside the box a little and letting go of the way things have always been or should be in your mind can lead to a new tradition.

Remy

Jenn here--Sharing with you all my future husband! I love this man so much, he is funny and smart, handsome as sin and if you're out there Remy please contact me! I think we are a match made in heaven! Here are a few of his awesome videos:

Arrested Development

Back in the early to mid nineties KennandJelli were young teenagers that loved clothes but didn't have many options so we looked like maniacs that didn't fit into any stereotype.



Circa 1995










We managed to create our style with random thrift store finds, left over fabric, loose glitter and bulk purchases during Halloween. There were no trendy mall stores, no Hot Topics or any of the options that the kids have these days. We were stuck with Halloween pantyhose, hair dye (that wasn't even very good) and band tshirts that were way too big.


Even when meeting our idols at the time we had to mangle together Kmart hoodies to complete our outfits.








We're not saying that you have to "grow up" or ditch your individuality; in fact, it's the opposite of that. Changing with the times, experiencing life, being worldly and relating personal experience to the way one looks is why people evolve from a fashion stand point, and create their own identity by blending the things they've known and loved into the way they look.
People who get stuck in what is lumped together these days as "Goth" (which is completely different from what was considered Goth in the 80s or 90s) are the least unique from a fashion standpoint. They've created a uniform that is more normal than unique and is dated, to say the least. There is no creativity or self expression in their quest to remain what they think is perceived as "weird".


The Uniform


The Platform Boot: Everyone knows you're not 5'7".



The Pink Hair: Pink hair does not make you Goth or weird! It makes you Katy Perry, Gwen Stefani, Rock of Love, but it does not make you unique. No hair color does, but pink is the most overkilled trend...Nicki Minaj anyone?





The Ridiculous Piercings: We had them too! We get it! We pierced our nose with safety pins in the bathroom, but it was 15 years ago and we realized sometimes less is more. That's not to say that you can't be pierced or like piercings, but let's face it, it isn't something significant to subculture. It was and is a trend, and there should be a threshold!





The Badly Drawn On Brows: We did it, we are paying the price, we have pencil thin to nonexistent eyebrows to this day. Not to mention most people fail at drawing the brows on and who actually looks better with liquid eyeliner for eyebrows?





The Raver Pants: THIS is something we don't understand. This was some hybrid of subcultures that makes no sense; it originated with the Limp Bizkit trend in the late nineties, and was also part of the Raver trend. Now these hideous rags are associated with ICP Juggalos and wannabe weirdos who think somehow buying mass produced carbon copies of the same giant, ugly pants make them weird or different. NOT to mention they're EXPENSIVE!





People who follow these trends seem to have an image of themselves as fashion forward or avant garde but they are actually following a cookie cutter ideal of how they should look. It seems these folks continue looking this way from their teenage years into their 30s and even 40s. Being unique is not staying the same, it's evolving as you live life. It won't be long before gray haired grandmas are wearing platform boots and drawing on their eyebrows with liquid eyeliner.