Oh, Anthropologie...

I am getting ready to head to Anthropologie today, not to shop, but to work. It is my last day to work there for the summer, and I find myself feeling a little sad, despite the fact that every other Sunday that I had to work there this summer I found myself wishing I didn't have to...Anyway, last week as I was working, I was reminded of the reasons why I chose to take on the task of having a "fun" part-time job there.

I had a short 4 hour shift last weekend, the shortest I have ever had since working there, 11-3. This meant that I didn't have to clean and do other "checklist" chores that are usually done there earlier on Sunday mornings. So I was happy when I walked in, knowing I was getting to do more of the creative things I love to do when I am there. After I got to help rearrange some things in the home department (my favorite by the way) we (the staff that were working that morning) got to take on a project. We were given a partner, and were told to put together an outfit, with all of the side props we would like to use, that describes one of the anthro themes for the fall. You see, each Anthropologie store is given a vision by the higher ups, the vision is usually a girl, a fictional character. Each store (well more specifically, each visual design team at each store) is given a description of the fictional character, and then the individual design teams create, decorate and design the store (each individual store-this is why they are all different) to express the character.

The character I (along with a fun partner) got to outfit is Abigail Truman. Oh, how I wish I was Abigail Truman!! Let me tell you about her story- Abigail Truman is on an adventure. She is traveling with her male companion for the first time-she has never just traveled with a male companion before. (I assume she is traveling all year, meaning, no job for this girl, and I also pretend she and her companion are married in my little mind...) She and her buddy are traveling all across the USA first (Felicity fans-remind you of a certain Ben and Felicity road trip?), then they are traveling across Europe, and finally, they will head to Asia to complete their adventure (let's just pretend this adventure will last a year). Abigail has brought with her a few staple girly, yet easy traveling tops, a chunky, yet stylish travel purse, boyfriend jeans, some boots, a hat, a sweater for colder evenings, and don't forget the basic accessories (this is anthropolgie afterall...). When she comes across something she needs to wear, but does not have with her, she just borrows something that her husband has with him. (But somehow in those anthro catalogs, they still look a little girly...hmmm....) This is the style that Abigail Truman shows us in the Anthropologie stores this fall-and you will be able to notice these things when you shop in a store, usually these styles will be near the front of the store.

Back to my desire to be Abigail Truman-This lucky gal not only does not have to worry about work, a house, bills, and other day to day drama that so often makes my heart hurt. She gets to TRAVEL ALL YEAR-something I sadly did not get to do this summer at all (buying a house really leaves a single teacher with NO money-boo). Despite all of these bonuses, my favorite part of Abigail of all is that she is getting to share all of her delightful travels with her male companion for the first time, something I didn't really realize I was so longing to do until I was putting her outfit together. I will not say anything else about that desire other than this-I hope and pray to spend my next summer just like Abigail is spending her year. Maybe you can pray for that, too.

Here I go, off to work, but today, it does not feel like work. On my last day of working at Anthropologie (at least for the season) I am excited, because I get to go live in a whimsical dream world, which was the reason I ever wanted to work at that beautiful, creative, delightfully smelling (but way too expensive) store in the first place. Maybe, just today, I will get to feel a little like Abigail...