Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone stuffed themselves silly and had a wonderful day of thanks!

Like Jessica, I too have a lot to be thankful for. I look forward to this time of year not only for the gifts, decor and carols, but for just the general feeling of good will and happiness in the air. And all of the time we get to spend with family and friends.

Before I get serious, I wanted to share something on the lighter side... Though not the most traditional fare, both dished below were so VERY easy to prepare and met with great reviews.

Baked Apple & Cranberry Tart


1) Layer 4-5 sheet of phyllo dough with butter and cinnamon, bake for 10 min. 2) Brush on maple syrup and cover with apples and cranberries and brush on butter, syrup and sprinkle with sugar. 3) Bake until fruit is cooked, about 25 min. 4) Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Mushroom and Israeli Couscous Salad


1) Toss mushrooms (portabella, oyster, button) in cilantro, dill, truffle oil and a little salt. Put in oven 15 min and cool. 2) Prep couscous by simmering in butter, then chicken stock until cooked. Add extra finely chopped mushrooms and cool. 3)Mix both cooked mushrooms and couscous in a large bowl, chill and serve.

And in the spirit of Jessica's Post and the spirit of the season, wanted to share another charitable effort that a friend of a friend is supporting. Although I do not know her and her family very well, I do know that they are all quite down to earth and actively support many charities and non-profits. This is from an evite for an event she recently hosted in her home for the charity:

Robert, Knolton, and I have been supporting a foundation in Haiti for many, many years that support the needs of underprivileged kids in Haiti. They are a foundation that provide schools, housing, food, and various other needs. On Robert's last home-building trip to Haiti, he tells of how he had a group of kids begging near him as he was going on a walk. Sharing what he had, all that remained in his pocket was a small packet of peanut butter sandwich cookies. Giving it to the smallest, hungriest looking boy, he watched the selflessness of these people in this child's actions. This little boy who needed a full meal, let alone one small packet of cookies, carefully broke each cookie in half, and passed it around to 11 other kids, taking only a small half of a cookie for himself. They've forever been in our hearts after, and we love the idea of providing what we can for them.

One of the fun things that we've recently started doing is the Christmas Shoebox Drive that go to these children. Often, these shoeboxes are the ONLY gifts these kids receive for Christmas (compared to the mountains and piles of gifts under our children's trees each year.) This year, Knolton will be doing his first shoebox by himself, with the money he's saved up from allowance and chores.

We will be having an early Thanksgiving (style) meal at our home on Saturday, November 21st, and would love if you could join us. It'll be a great chance to see you all before the crazy holiday rush begins! All that we ask is that you bring a Christmas Shoebox if you are able.

Here's the deets!
What you can put in it: coloring books, crayons, dolls, cards, jump rope, balls (deflated with small pump), yoyo's, stuffed animals, stickers, marbles, checkers, etc, pencils, pens, sharpener, notebooks, solar calculator, ruler, eraser, socks, underwear, tshirts, sundresses, shorts w/elastic bands, braided belts, flipflops, caps, sunglasses, toothbrush & paste, bar soap, washcloth, hand towel, hairbrush, comb, nail file & clippers, deodorant, flashlight & extra batteries, watch, compact umbrella, christmas card, family photos, etc.
PLEASE DON'T SEND: medication, vitamins, candles, perishables, chocolates, liquids, lotions, breakables, glass, aerosol cans, toy (or real) guns & knives, rubber snakes, etc.
Write boy or girl & age on top of the box.

So they hosted a full on Thanksgiving dinner at their house and collected over 125 shoe boxes that they Fedex-ed to Haiti. (I wasn't able to attend, but sent a box. Apparently it was quite a party and there were like 6 home cooked turkeys and some how I ended up with a leftover whole pork loin in my freezer!) Although it seems like such a small thing, it makes the biggest difference for a child. And it was quite fun going around Ikea and Target collecting little things to fill a box with.

Check back soon: I'm going to get more info on the charity and post here soon so if you're interested in creating a box of your own, you'll be able to.

Thanks Giving Back

(Image from anitagrant.com)

These days, we (and by "we" of course I mean "I", but let's just go with it) get so overwhelmed with stress and work (like working on Friday, not that I'm bitter) and all the manufactured drama that goes with my life o' relative privilege that we forget that there is actually quite a lot to be thankful for. I am thankful that all my friends and my family are healthy. I am thankful for being able to see some of my cousins last weekend, and seeing my other cousin next weekend. I am thankful that my mother will be here in a few short weeks, and that both Kelly and I will be able to spend the holidays together with our mothers, Kelly's extended family, and Casey and Molly(!).

I'm thankful that Jason and I decided to start this blog, mostly for us, so that I can keep up with what is going on in his life even though he now lives behind the Orange Curtain. I'm thankful that my friends are all safe and sound and employed (mostly). That no one is hurting for basic necessities (food, clothing, shelter), and that families are growing larger with new little ones and weddings, and not smaller.

I'm thankful for Nancy, who gives us candy, cards, and compliments, and lets us walk Foxy; and Foxy, who is always so happy to see us, even if we aren't carrying doggie treats, and even when we are rushing out the door and can only stop for a second to rub her belly or behind her ear.

In addition to recognizing all that we have to be thankful for, I also think that this time of the year is a good time to give back to our communities, our societies, our world, to help others that do not have as much to be thankful for. This could be a donation of goods, money, or time - whatever you have to spare. The best thing about giving back? Is that every bit (no matter how small) counts. Here are some things I'm thinking about:

Donating bedding and food products to the Los Angeles Mission. It is just amazing to me that we are one of the most prosperous and advanced countries in the world, yet we still have homelessness and people going hungry and falling through the cracks in the system.

Clearing out the closets and donating gently worn, re-sellable items to the American Cancer Society Discovery Shops.

We can't forget our animal friends too, both in our communities (by donating to the ASPCA) and to preserve their habitats on our planet (by donating to the WWF). If the wallet and budget are tight, please consider volunteering some time at an animal shelter. Many of the positions just require one orientation and then you can set your own hours as a volunteer (in case your schedule, like mine, is up in the air all the time).

Literacy and writing are THE MOST ESSENTIAL SKILLS for children (and adults) to have to enrich their lives, enhance their critical thinking, and empower themselves. Get involved in a Motheread-type program, which provides literacy programs for children and adults, or WriteGirl, which mentors high school girls in the art of creative writing and story telling.

We can also share some of the love and joy we feel this season with those that may not be as lucky. One of my favorite Christmas memories was spending a day at a domestic violence shelter wrapping donated Christmas presents for the women and children residents. But you could also volunteer at a hospice center to provide some much needed companionship to those that may feel forgotten and alone.

So this Thanksgiving, I will remember all that I have to be thankful for, in my life, in my community, in this world. We're all in this together, after all.

I will also look forward to eating turkey, stuffing, and pie. Yum.