Saying Thanks

Thanksgiving this year, for me, was a rushed affair. I was scheduled to work Thanksgiving Monday, but had the Friday to Sunday before free. So, I decided to join my parents at my brother’s place near Quebec City.

I took the train to Kingston, then drove with my mom and dad. Hella long travel days. Packing last minute. Montreal traffic. It was worth it. It always is, to travel to see family. I hadn’t seen my brother in a while and I gather as many opportunities as I can now to see my parents.

This Thanksgiving was like the ones before in that my mom and I destroyed the kitchen after working in it for hours, I ate far too much and I fell asleep during the movie we watched afterwards, with the top button of my jeans undone. My food baby was twins.

This Thanksgiving was also like the ones before in how I counted things I was thankful for. It seems cliche, maybe a bit tired, but in theory it’s what the holiday is about now, more or less. Once a year when we think of things we’re thankful for: a home, a job, good friends, loving family. These things we have all the time, that we sometimes take for granted, we recognize once a year.

(Other things I am thankful for, such as Netflix and Jared Padalecki’s arms, while very sincere, are not things that affect my daily life so much as my basic relationships.)

I think Thanksgiving should happen more. Not the feast or the holiday, but the openness towards thankfulness. The recognition of the people and things in your life that help make it all bearable. Even great.

It’s a very small thing, but something that I think is important to always keep in mind. Try never to lose sight of who you are and what you have accomplished, and be thankful for all of it.

That being said, Thanksgiving is still a holiday. An event. A meal with family and friends. A gathering. Whatever you want to call it, you need to wear something to it.

Staying true to form, I brought too many clothes with me on this trip, and packed within all of that were two outfit choices for Thanksgiving dinner. One more casual, one a bit more dressed up, both keeping within that sweet autumn colour palette.

Warm tones.

I ended up wearing the casual option for a couple of reasons:

The top makes me look like a glittery pumpkin. Not only festive, but very on-brand.
Dinner was a casual affair, with close family.
I was wearing it most of the day already while cooking with my mom.

I live in these jeans now. You can’t tear us apart.

The shirt was an impromptu buy from H&M. I saw it, and immediately needed it. The girl at the cash gave me a weird look when I got only that shirt and Star Wars socks, but I maintained I was making an investment. How perfect would that top be for Thanksgiving? Even my mom and dad loved it, though I’m sure that may be because it is awfully reminiscent of shirts I used to have as a kid.

I wore socks within my brother’s house, but when I was thinking about shoes for this outfit, I thought a pair of light brown brogues I got on sale from Urban Outfitters years ago were the perfect accessory. They keep the outfit really casual while also being a step up from a sneaker. (Those shoes are really old. I got them for $10 back in 2012, I’m pretty sure. Definitely no longer available.)

Not to say the other option isn’t perfect for Thanksgiving. A soft long-sleeve knit with a mock turtleneck. A faux suede a-line skirt. Ankle boots.

If it’s colder, you can easily throw on tights, change the shoes, accessories, etc. Whatever is done with it, the basic combination definitely gives off “Queen of Stuffing and Gravy” vibes, which was more or less what I was going for.

This was actually the look I wore to work on Thanksgiving Monday. So, if you think about it, they were both my Thanksgiving outfits. One for the meal with the family, one for the Friendsgiving with the entire store and every customer who came in. Who says retail can’t bring people together?