It’s a lovefest on Effortless Anthropologie this week! For the next several days we’ll be celebrating that warm fuzzy feeling with guest posts, features and — of course — contests. I’ve asked a ton of people to contribute their own personal things they love tales and I hope the community will share in the comments over the course of the week. Valentine or no, EA wants to help celebrate the loves of your life.
This post, which will run each day, contains personal stories from community members and blogs. I asked each person: what is something you love? Could be serious, superficial or sublime. Here are some of their stories.
Tien
adiaphane.com
The thing I love is not a thing at all. It is Steve, without whom I would not be able to do half the things I do. I don’t talk about him much on my blog beyond the superficial “We did this today” because it is hard for me to open up about him. He is personal–so, so, so personal. I guard that part like a secret not because I don’t want to share it, but because I can’t bear to let it go. He looks at me without judgment, and gives me all the encouragement I could ever ask for without having to ask for it. Our life together has begun to form into this little world where we are not just merely participants, but the creators. We are travelers, adventurers, lovers, risk-takers, unafraid and unrestricted. There is nothing we can’t do. What we want is attainable. And we don’t want much. Well, not much in the way of things, but a world without limits and time without end. Every second is precious, and every moment significant; we do not squander one bit. Whether we are snorkeling in tropical waters making heart signs with our hands, pointing out sea turtles and strange looking fish or we are searching for a grove of ancient redwoods titans while coming up with words unknown before in the English language or we laying in the sun making up a story about an evil Squirrel King who has decided to thwart us by making time race quickly by, we enjoy each other’s company. It is a world of two. A world where we take each other just as we are. Two imperfect beings who together become perfectly happy.
Valentine’s Day is not for me. It has never been my thing. But don’t think that a day goes by that I do not cherish him, that I do not tell him every opportunity I get how much he means to me, that without him, life would only be a pale and dull imitation. It is a world and a life that we have worked hard to create and built, and anyone else even thinking of coming inside will immediately feel like an intruder. And it is exactly this that I wish for everyone else to have: a partner with whom love is electric and radiates in little hearts shooting from the head.
Laura
anthroclosetchaos.blogspot.com
Eeny, Meenie, Miny, Mo…
My first thought was…I LOVE ANTHRO! But wait! I LOVE CANDY TOO! Uh-oh! I feel one of those lists coming on. The kind where you write your options on a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle, then list your reasons so you can make an intelligent choice.
CANDY – Sweet, yummy, fattening, rot your teeth sugary CANDY.
ANTHRO – Read, write, blog, talk, stalk, shop, buy, style, organize, photograph, admire, dream, share, friends, where all my money goes…ANTHRO.
Anthro clearly came out the winner. But when I thought about all those reasons I listed, there was something much deeper in that list of words.
Really! If I were stranded on a dessert island with a box of Candy and a suitcase of Anthro. Neither would mean that much. The Candy would be eaten the first day. I would burn my Anthro for warmth and tear it up for shelter. So really, do I love Candy and Anthro. Certainly I like to eat candy. There’s do doubt I enjoy wearing Anthro. But I’m really more addicted to both.
I suddenly remembered something I wrote in a comment that most of my Readers never had a chance to read. I would like to share it with you, because it’s the epitome of how I feel about this community.
To All My Readers, Fellow Bloggers, Family and Friends,
You never fail to surprise me. Especially today. Reading all your thoughtful Happy Birthday Wishes and Get Well Comments was better than a bowl of Chicken Soup. Several unexpected gestures were made that brightened my entire day. Despite the fact that most of us have never met, You continue to show a willingness to share and give whenever possible. Something that is often difficult to find in our daily lives.
You inspired me to get my Holiday Spirit. You make me laugh, frown, wonder, and want to share my crazy ideas right back. We are different and alike in so many ways. We share a need to explore, search, solve, and create whatever makes us who we are. And if it’s color, texture, beauty, form, cut and style that inspire and bring joy, then more power to us.
The most burning questions I have for every blogger is, “What Brought You Here?”, and “Why Do You Stay?”
This is my answer to what brought me here.
I found the blogs almost a year ago by accident in a search. It was Roxy’s EA post on Tips and Tricks. It was several months old. I read to get more information. I commented to share my own. The burning desire for more held me. One thing I am, is filled with constant questions and the need for answers.
There was an instant connection. Here was a community that I would never tire of listening to. Here was a place that let me express what consumed me at times. Then I pushed the “Create A Blog…It’s Free” button. My reasons evolved into something entirely different, and so much better than I had planned.
This is my answer to why I stay.
I found COMMON GROUND. YOU! I was astounded when members of this community offered to go out of their way to help a complete stranger. I was surprised that I too had information to share. When you came to read my ideas I was floored. When I asked for help you gave. When I gave help you appreciated.
Thank you for being here to listen to me grumble about the bad, rave about the good, and throw all my crazy ideas at you any time I feel the need. I am here for you anytime.
Eeny, Meenie, Miny, Mo…
…I pick this Community. Not Just Anthro!
~You are all my Valentines!~ Anthro Sister Love, Laura
Alicia
likelybadger.com
www.likelybadger.etsy.com
There are so many things that I love: my partner-in-crime, my fur babies, my little beetle car (so cute!), I could go on and on. But I thought that I should be a little more focused and concentrate on what gets me through my day.
1. My Bed
Whenever I’m sick, tired or just want to read and listen to music, I can count on my comfy bed to be there. It tries to keep me from leaving in the morning with soft pillows and warm blankets. It entices me to sleep at night. Plus, what’s better than reading in bed with the boy and the fur babies?
2. Music
I’m the type of person who will drive a lap around my block just to listen to a great song. My car is always loaded with cd’s, my iPod is full to the brim (does it have a brim?) with music. I take music everywhere. I can’t paint without it. I’m listening to music now (REM, as per usual).
3. Art
Making art makes me happy. So happy that it has helped me through bad times (parents divorce, bad breakups, etc.) and makes good times better. I’m proud to call myself an artist, and even happier to be working on my master’s in studio art. Following my artistic dreams has made me so happy lately, that I have lost a TON of weight. Money can buy things, but following your dream is what will make you happy.
4. Red Velvet Cupcakes
Enough said.
Kim
anthroholic.blogspot.com
Simon Birch
4 little legs that run to greet me each and every day. 10 little toes that you don’t like to be touched. 2 floppy ears that you listen to my loving voice with. 1 wet nose you give me Eskimo kisses with. 2 big eyes you look at me adoringly with. 1 long tongue you give me sloppy, puppy kisses with. 1 loud bark you talk to me and protect me with. 1 scar down your back that shows your past, strength, and will to overcome with.
Love isn’t a strong enough word to express how I feel about my dog Simon Birch. I know I’m a sap, but he was the obvious choice when Roxy asked me to write about something I love. He’s the light of my life. He has changed my life. He’s everything to me. Honestly, he brings more joy to my life that I ever could have imagined. I’ve had dogs my whole life, but Simon holds a special place in my heart. He’s my first dog that wasn’t a family dog. We bonded the moment we met. He’s my baby, and he’s truly just like a child to me. What he adds to my life is indescribable. Simon gives me unconditional love. He’s there for me when I’m happy, sad, sick, or when I just need to snuggle him. He’s always happy to see me. He follows me everywhere I go. He sleeps cradled in my arms every night. He has been through so much in the last year, slipping a disc in his back, having major surgery, and a long recovery, and he’s taught me so much about the will to overcome and get past hurdles When I look at his face, I know all is right in my world. Amazing for a little guy who can’t even talk. He’s one of the biggest joys in my entire life, and I can’t imagine a life without him. Thank you Simon for bringing so much love and happiness to my life.
Anjali
goldenmeans.wordpress.com
It’s an almost embarrassingly stereotypical admission to make, but: I love shoes. I know, I know, what a cliché. But it wasn’t always this way. I grew up deeply resenting my awkwardly big, wide, size 11 feet and the inevitable fact that any pretty, exciting, or delicate piece of footwear I spied was never made in my size. I resigned myself early on to a life of ugly, orthopedic-like shoes and spent my high school and college years clomping around in Doc Martens, elevated flip-flops, and clunky clog sandals that made my mother cringe. I did find and buy the occasional pair of heels in my size, but my unfortunate experiences with them left me firmly convinced that all stilettos were merely instruments of torture in disguise.
But slowly, over the years, shoes and I started developing a healthier relationship. Thanks to the internet and the wonders of online shopping, I discovered retailers that sympathized with my plight and carried shoes up to a size 12. Of course, even then they would only have 2 or 3 pairs of these coveted sizes in stock so you would have to hurry to snatch them up before all the other desperate big-foots out there, but still, for the first time, I finally had a way to obtain the types of shoes I had only dreamed of! I also eventually learned that all heels were not actually evil; a few weeks practicing my walk on the carpet and I got the proper gait down, and a host of little foot pampering tricks I’ve picked up over the years like blister block and padded insoles, have made blisters and aching soles a thing of the past.
Being able to obtain shoes that actually excite me instead of merely settling for acceptable has totally transformed the way I dress. Footwear is no longer just an afterthought where I desperately try to find a shoe that semi-coordinates with what I’m wearing; rather, it is where my outfits begin and end. Bright, fun shoes are my inspiration for dressing, the tools that allow and encourage me to experiment with color and infuse it throughout my outfits. The rainbow array of heels I’ve carefully collected through the years allows me to perfectly color-coordinate my ensembles, or, alternately, add just the right contrasting accent for a bit of extra pop. Great shoes have made me think of dressing as a fully head-to-toe experience, and a joyous, fun experience at that. The brights on my feet make me feel powerful, creative, and free to come up bold and jubilant combinations in the rest of my wardrobe. So yes, I do love shoes. Not only can they be beautiful and arresting in and of themselves, but they also make me feel beautiful, confident, and empowered.
Dea
beachfloatabroad.blogspot.com (The Dea Diaries)
We met in a pub celebrating a birthday for a mutual friend. It was a day that would change the rest of my life. I don’t claim to know much, but I could understand then that crossing paths was meant to be. From there we saw each other again, and again, and then slowly began to share moments and closet space. It wasn’t easy at first because I was accustomed to and preferred my independence. I had big plans of traveling the world while chasing my dreams. I wanted to leave that town as fast as I could to find myself, out there somewhere.
But once we met I slowed down. Somewhere between late-night Thai and star gazing I faced the one thing I did not know I would ever truly discover: love.
With each passing year memories are created and much joy and laughter is shared. There are times when I still can’t believe that I want to share so much of myself with another individual. I’m amazed at his thoughtfulness, his mind, and his handsome good looks. When I saw him with a dictionary in hand, composing a note in my native language, my heart melted and was overwhelmed with emotion. It’s not picture-perfect every day, but the affection and respect never stray.
I look forward to our future of an upcoming marriage and preparing to add to our family. I see him as my partner, confidant, comedian, lover, handyman, advocate, philosopher, doctor, and above all, my voice of reason. He is my Valentine.
