Merve Ozaslan‘s artwork is a whimsical and thought-provoking collision of photography and collage. Ozaslan is based out of Istanbul, Turkey; as I just returned from Istanbul in September, I found her work all the more fascinating.
Tag: All
-
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
image via gemfound.com On this day of thanks, I am wishing you and yours an abundance of love and overwhelming sentiments of gratitude.
Some of the things I am thankful for, large and small:
- The health and current state of joy that each member of my family is experiencing.
- My home. I get to celebrate Thanksgiving in my childhood home… my parents are still currently living there and they have maintained the place… and our traditions… with a kind of care that has not gone unnoticed. I am so grateful for my parents’ creation and preservation of all of our holiday traditions. Thank you for teaching me what a “home” can feel like, Dad & Mom. You two are the best parents around.
- My friendships with a few women that I hold close. They are my sisters. They are my tribe. They inspire me. They challenge me. I respect and admire them. They are beautiful.
- Leopard print. I am very thankful for its existence.
- Billie Holiday. Without her, I wouldn’t have scratchy jazz filling my soul.
- My mother. The older I am, the more I understand her. Each year, I am filled with ever increasing awe for her feminine, soft, gentle strength. What a role model.
- Each of you reading this. If I had a way to send a thank you note to each and every one of you who support this site with your time, your comments, your messages, and your existence, I would.
- My man. He has taught me that there are men beyond my father and brother who hold the kind of goodness that I knew could exist, but had yet to find. And… he can cook. Gratitude bonus.
- Food. Glorious food. Food. Food. Food. And…. food. Did I mention that I’m thankful for food?
- Freedom. In light of current events, this concept has become something sacred to me. I never want to take all of the freedom I have for granted. Thank you, America, for allowing me access to art, education, a voice, work, opportunity, and exploration. I love this country for that.
-
FEELING DOTTY
Polka dots are playful and timeless. Pair some dots with some skinnies for an easy weekend look.
As always, you can purchase a wooden watch from my favorite wooden watch line JORD. Check them out.
-
THIRTY
photo credit: Scott Cutler I thought thirty would look a little something like this…
Happily married. Two children under the age of five. A 2,200 sq ft “cottage” with a white picket fence, solar power, grey water, and a chicken coop. A career (lawyer, real estate agent, POTUS) that generated considerable financial success. A published book that resulted in moderate national renown. Home-cooked Sunday brunches hosted in the backyard (all eggs provided by aforementioned chickens and produce provided by the yet-to-be-mentioned hydroponic garden) with a mimosa in hand, scratchy jazz playing, and a spattering of the most interesting, accomplished, jet-setting company that one could imagine.
No, no, no, I hadn’t put much thought into it. None at all.
The truth was that I had put so much thought into it that it had become real. I believed that this entire world existed and that the day I hit thirty I would magically acquire all of it. I don’t know if I thought the hard work I had put in would cause it to just appear. I don’t know if I thought it would come my way via osmosis. I didn’t think much about the “how”… I just focused on the “why.”
Why?
Because I believed that was the script that would result in happiness. I hadn’t even considered an alternative script. There was no alternative.
Until I turned thirty.
