{ tara frey }:: typing out loud

Things left behind...

We're finding them.  The little things in the big boxes left behind for us to discover.  My parents lovingly put little notes and left things they know were always near and dear to my heart.  I probably wasn't meant to find until years from now, but I can't help myself and long to feel their presence, so I box snoop.

And part 1 of my discovery; finding this beautiful journal with my father's initials engraved.   He knows it was my favorite.  Everything is handmade, right down to the paper.  Hand-stitched binding and awesome leather cover.  I'm all tingly holding it in my hands.  It smells like leather and my dad.  The perfect combination.

He's been writing for years.  Stories of his life, journal upon journal, that none of us are allowed to read until he has "gone upstairs". I secretly hope someone turns it into a screenplay before he makes that long journey up those steps because, seriously, he's got some good stories. The only way to describe them is to think Goodfellas meets Seinfeld with an Irish accent.  That should sum up the colorful characters a bit.

So, I eagerly open it hoping to find his words already written on the beautiful handmade paper.  Perhaps this one I am allowed to read?  But, ahh, no.  I open it and I know instantly.  Nothing needs to be said. 

 

He saved it for me all these years.  The blank paper is a message that he wants me to fill this handmade journal with my own words. 

And I will.

Frey by the Bay...

Squeezing in the last bits of summer, we left for a few days to my in-laws home on the bay.  The house (and a boat) were sitting empty, calling our names...pleading for one last summer sojourn

Crabs were the catch of the day (and released within 2 minutes, only to be caught again)

Summer, please stay longer and linger with us...

I wonder what they were talking about? I'm pretty sure it wasn't the upcoming hustle and bustle of back to school and back to work. 

The best part was the family togetherness...

 

and not knowing where I began or they ended, intertwined hands, windy hair and love. 

Remember When...

Thought I would start a "Remember When" Wednesday for mom and dad.  Tweeting memories all day.  Some crazy.  Some sweet.  Only 140 characters allowed, so some might not make sense, but they will know.  Stop by twitter:  www.twitter.com/tarafrey

We'll see you soon...

Today is the day I dreaded for a long time.  At the same time, it's a day my parents have been looking forward to forever.  They have officially "retired" and are making the long journey to their new home down south.  A place where it's sunny all the time, they can golf at a moments notice, and finally, enjoy their retirement years.

It's been dreadful on my end.  My parents have never been more than 5 minutes away.  Mom stops by for coffee.  Dad stops over for tea.  I have an old hankie of his that smells like him that I've been crying into for about 2 hours now.  Dad is never without a "hankie" and gave me some old ones from Italy and Ireland.  My house is filled with their memories, old photos, boxes of keepsakes, even furniture. Their smell is everywhere.  I can't get enough of it. My husband catches me with my head in a box, or my face implanted into a cushion from a couch, just to get a whiff.  Their smell makes me feel better.  It smells like home.  I catch Natalie doing the same.

They left with the clothes on their back and whatever could fit in the car and off they went. Excited, like newlyweds starting fresh.  Me, feeling like a parent worried about their driving and safety.  "Call me as soon as you settle in", I hear myself say like a mother to a teenager.

My kids know the only way to visit Mom-Mom and Pop is by plane.  We can't just stop over their house at a moments notice, no more sleepovers or hanging out, as they sold their home here.  My kids seem to be ok about it.  Even excited. 

Why is no one freaking out like me?  The theme song from "Terms of Endearment" is being played over and over in my head right now. Look at this video of fingers on the piano playing the theme, so beautiful.  I can't stop myself from watching it again and again.

I couldn't say goodbye this morning.  I had visions of throwing myself on their car, screaming "stop stop please don't go"  I'm their dramatic child.  They all know this and you probably have realized it by now too.

So I'm told it's not goodbye, but "we'll see you soon". 

now, where is that darn hankie, and cue up the piano music...

Why do you {heart} Anthropologie?

AA, the new definition= Anthro Addict. 

Are you an Anthropologie girl? If so, I'd love to hear what it is that makes you swoon. 

For me, personally it's so many things.  Starting from the 5 minutes I spend soaking in their window display before entering, to walking in the store and seeing something different each time.  The chic urban feel meets french flea market vibe {blending seamlessly} which makes me feel right at home for some reason. (I guess it helps that I'm right at their target median age )  I love their personal attention (right down to my name written in chalk on the dressing room door).

I was lucky enough to visit the new Rockefeller Center store in New York when we went into the city.  Oh my. 

 

While visiting their website online, I always first click on the "Outfit" button.  I love when things are pulled together for me.  Who has time to sit and think anymore?  Also, my other favorite button is "Sale".  I'm sure you would agree.

 

So what is "it" for you?  Their jaw dropping window displays? Is it their creative store atmosphere and vintage french market vibe? 

Shoes?

  

Jewelry?

Bedding?

Home Collection?

 

I found out recently that they are building a store FIVE minutes from me, in my hometown.  I literally could ride my bike there...make that my french blue vintage bike, the one that pedaled the winding hills in Italy, with an antique horn and basket to boot (one can dream?)  

More importantly, with the new store location so close, will I come out alive and can my wallet handle the 15 year lease they signed?  Do you have a store near you? If so, where?  Come on, tell us Anthro Addict, we are all friends here, why are you hooked? Stand up and state your name for the group...

Still Floating...

Dreams do come true.  I am finding out.  I can not even begin to tell you what this week has been like for me. Sort of like an out of body experience.  I was floating ...{like our little boogie boarders above}.  So here is the story of the morning of August 4th...

my BF's kidnapped me on Monday to Atlantic City for a few days of celebration timed perfectly around the official release date of the book on August 4th.

Which by the way, the AC skyline is so beautiful.  Yet you can't help but think about all the money being lost on slot machines?...

 

At around 10:00 am on Tuesday  I received an email on the crackberry telling me to check Amazon > Crafts category. So me and my friend Rachel, {both of us still in jammies}, clicked on the laptop and as the page loads...I immediately see the cover next to the #3 .  THREE!  I screamed so loud and jumped on the bed, Rachel was crying, I was crying, our other friend Kristi comes running into the room and she just started screaming because we were screaming!  She really had no clue... but whatever we were screaming and crying about she knew it was good news and tears of joy..no one died, or was being murdered, she could clearly tell it was good blood curdling screams. 

Cut to @ 3:00pm when we return to our room and started reading all the beautiful posts on the blog roll from Kari's book party.  We read all of them and each one was so incredibly heartfelt, beautiful and inspiring.  I was, and still am, awestruck by all of you.  So were my friends who sat glued to the laptop reading every post..you know my besties with the big hair

After reading the blogs we decided to refresh the page saved on Amazon,  ...and there it was... "Blogging for Bliss" next to the magic #1 .  Right up at the top.  The penthouse suite. The rooftop deck.  Surely you all heard the screams??  I know your ears were ringing.

This is what it would have looked like if my camera hadn't crapped out on me.  But you get the idea, this is Kristi's normal screaming face:

Kari hosted the most fabulous party for the book and while I was out of town kidnapped, it was so awesome to read about your stories and see the bloggers participating in why they blog for bliss. 

You made it number 1 and it continues to be in the top ten, for which I am so grateful.  But numbers don't really matter, it's the support, encouragement and inspiration created that day and still continues on each day while you all keep blogging your own bliss.

There's been so many inquiries on signed copies and I would like to be able to do this, so if you are interested in purchasing a signed copy, shoot an email to:  signme@tarafrey.com then I can get an idea of the number of books needed and I'll post a link to purchase once it's all set up. If you already own a book and would like a bookplate, let me know that as well in the email ! 

Thank you.  There are no words to convey how grateful I am.  I'm going to float away now... Have a beautiful weekend! xo- T

my niece sums up my feelings in her smile..

Below is the official Boogie Boarding "Blogging for Bliss" fan club, don't they look thrilled? They look like they are headed to prison instead of the beach.

 

Now they are walking the plank.. with instructions to tell everyone on the beach to buy the book, and don't come back until all are sold...

Ok, he's definitely tired Fired ! ...

Book release party...

Kari, from Artsy Mama, is hosting a Blogging for Bliss book release party (did I mention she is super fabulous?)  The party is online, which means EVERYONE is invited to attend and you can even wear your jammies and no one will know!  Cool?  It's Tuesday August 4th, click here for more info. 

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send emails and encouraging words, and joined the FB fan page.   The response has been so overwhelming, I never expected this in my wildest dreams.  I'm humbled and honored .  Thank you. Thank you. OH and by the way, thank you. It means so much to me and I hope you enjoy the book, learn something new, discover a new blog or friend and are inspired in some way to start your own blog for bliss, or motivated to keep on blogging for bliss and inspiring others. I've had so many inquiries of interest on purchasing signed copies, and I hope to post some info on this soon.  Thank you for your patience and continued enthusiasm.  Here are some sneaky peeks inside the book...

 

I love this photo below from Amanda Soule who is featured in the book...I think her post title is so true, especially about all of you, the creative bloggers (or croggers as I like to say), who inspired me me to write this book in the first place..remember this post many moons ago? yep, it was all research for the book. 

 

and a big thank you to my high school friend, Jason Black, who snapped the photo below from his iPhone of the book in the window display at a Barnes & Noble in Florida! How cool?

 

And to add to the excitement, my best friends are kidnapping me and loading up their trunks with copies of the book to celebrate and have a party at this hotspot.  I''ll have my laptop and crackberry with me, so I can stay connected to everyone and I'll be sure to let you know if I run into any of these girls who have been known to shop there (and tan outrageously poolside..they obviously didn't get the memo) xo ~T 

Dressed to the nines...

This is Mama Bev, age 11 or 12.  Not sure,  but I can only assume on her way to church.. or possibly Easter dinner? I'm sure she'll clarify in the comments.  But isn't she dressed to the nines?  I looked up that reference meaning, click here if you are interested

This photo reminds me of a trip I took down south to Nashville for a convention a few years ago with my sister ( by the end of the trip, we didn't have names, they just called us the "yanks" a term we both thought was hilarious, happily adopted and had fun with)

I came to the conclusion that Southern women really have their act together.  As my sister and I sipped our morning coffee from the balcony, mascara running down our faces, ripped t-shit and jammie bottoms, (and of course I had on my signature pink fuzzy slippers),  we would look down below at the women going to breakfast, dressed to the nines.  Full makeup, hair perfectly coiffed, even a hat or two, high heels, everything coordinated..AT SEVEN O'CLOCK  IN THE MORNING.

Here is where we would watch them walk by..the hotel had balcony rooms overlooking the inside atrium, so cool!

 

View from our room

These southern ladies meant business.  I loved hearing their accent floating through the hotel.  These ladies were not only the best dressed women I ever met, but the friendliest as well.  As soon as I opened my mouth to talk they would say "oh you are from New York! "  I guess the way we hear a southern accent and immediately ask "are you from Texas?"   But they were so intrigued about our lives "up north" and would ask lots of questions and were generally interested in us.  They were gracious and welcoming. 

A memory from that trip was overhearing a woman at our dinner table, with a thick southern accent, ask a waiter for "sweet tea"  My sister and I whispered to each other "what's that?" A woman next to us said "I think y'all call it iced tea up north". The waiter said there was "no sweet tea being served this evening ma'am" and I'll never forget her response in a deep, thick beautiful southern accent, while fanning herself "Good Lord son! No sweet tea in a room filled with 900 southern ladies?! You better run for the hills honey!"   

Anyway, this old photo of my mama [and the only southern bone in her is from south Philly] but it makes me think of those beautiful southern women who wouldn't dare leave the hotel room without lipstick and a perfectly ironed skirt.  I, on the other hand, am happy if I drive my kids to school without wearing my mama robe.   This yank has to get her act together y'all.-  xo T