Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

It snowed for a lot of the day yesterday. Am I the only one who didn't really mind? I kind of love the snow, and the fact that I got to spend the day at home with my love bug just made it all the more sweet. I can't believe that another Thanksgiving is upon us. I really love Thanksgiving so much. It's a holiday that revolves around all of my favorite things; Food. Family. Cool weather. And no gifts. Don't get me wrong, I love giving gifts, but it's nice to have a holiday with no pressure to prepare anything other than some food to share.

Over the last month, I took some time to take note of something I was truly thankful for each day. Whether big or small, there are so many things to appreciate everyday. I hope to continue this throughout the year! I hope you'll share the things you are most thankful for as well! And most of all, I hope you all have a wonderful and safe holiday!

xo,

Rachel

Nov. 1: A rainy and cold day turned fun after seeing Penelope's pure joy at Field Station Dinosaurs.

Nov. 2: Daylight Savings awesomeness. All of us in bed at 8:40PM = Mom gets to watch Scandal in bed with a pile of Halloween candy.

Nov. 3: Dinner plans to celebrate Christine's birthday; so lucky to have my family.

Nov. 4: So much Mom solidarity on today's blog post. Mom acceptance starts with small steps of support!

Nov. 5: The realization that lattes are just $1.99 at Dunkin' for the entire MONTH of November! Woot!

 

Nov. 6: The most amazing sunset over the Hudson. 

Nov. 7: A man who peels 15 pounds of potatoes on a Friday night {and still likes me afterward}

Nov. 8: Our annual Sweatsgiving feast with good friends

Nov. 9: So thankful for my cousin, his pick-up truck, and his willingness to help us move our old couch to make way for the new one!

Nov. 10: In complete denial about my work trip to Denver but happy that my presentation went well today.

 

Nov. 11: A great travel companion for the Colorado trip; and we made it safely despite the snow!

Nov. 12: A good meeting, a safe drive to the airport, and a successful flight home from Denver.

Nov. 13: Not quite the reunion I'd hoped for {P was kinda mad at me}, but just so happy to be at home with her.

Nov. 14: The best co-workers ever who willingly went to Philadelphia on a Friday night for an early morning 5K the next day.

Nov. 15: Bottles of wine and chatting around the kitchen table with my parents and sisters until late in the night.

Nov. 16: Morning snuggles and Frozen viewing in bed with Penelope. But...since when does she wake up at 6:30 on a Sunday morning?

Nov. 17: Feeling bleary-eyed but thankful for a weekend filled with friends and family.

Nov. 18: Scott Foley. (I was unwaivering Team Noel!)

Nov. 19: Idina Menzel & Michael Buble's Baby It's Cold Outside...is it too early for Christmas music? I don't think so.

Nov. 20: A decadent treat on my way to work: the Dunkin' Donuts Snickerdoodle Cookie latte.

Nov. 21: My mom, who steps up at the drop of a hat to care for Penelope when I need to be at work.

Nov. 22: So much love! Celebrating the wedding of dear friends and the engagement of my sister and future brother-in-law!

Nov. 23: Celebrating life! My best friend's baby shower.

Nov. 24: A tough day that is testing the will of this working Mama. We made it through, though, and accept the things that can't be changed right now.

Nov. 25: A husband who cooks! Steaks and red wine for dinner.

Nov. 26: the gloriously cool weather and snow outside while I'm cuddled up indoors with my love bug.

Nov. 27: Feeling blessed and thankful today and everyday for my daughter, husband, family and all of the good things in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Weekend.

We had quite a whirlwind weekend with {mostly} great things to speak of.

On Thursday, I received a call from Penelope's school that she had a fever. By Friday night, her fever spiked which really threw me for a loop. I know it's just the time of year for colds and sickness, not to mention that she is in daycare which is just a festering ball of sickness that gets passed around non-stop. Regardless of why...it sucks.

 After Penelope went to sleep and we settled in for that truly heartbreaking episode of Sons {I think I cried like five times throughout...}, I saw my phone light up with a call from my sister Kimberly. Though we talk over text or chat almost everyday, it's rare to receive a call, especially at 10:00PM.

Kim was calling with news that she and her boyfriend Nick had gotten engaged!!!!!!

I have been waiting for this moment and was hoping that it would happen this year. We are so beyond thrilled for Kimberly and Nick. They are truly a perfect pair and I'm so happy to welcome such a great person into our family. I'm so happy for my sister and cannot WAIT to begin planning these celebrations!

We headed into Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon to see them and our families for a bit and get ready for a friend's wedding that evening, also in BK.

The wedding was at the Brooklyn Winery and it was truly beautiful. After a long night of eating, drinking and dancing, we made our way back to Kim & Nick's to crash for the night.

On Sunday, we were up bright and early with Penelope and took her for a stroll around Brooklyn and for a lovely brunch at Farmacy (complete with copious coffee and Advil). Such an adorable little spot. Penelope spent the rest of the day with her Aunt Kimmi & Uncle Nick where they spoiled her with lots of park time.

Meanwhile, I headed out to Long Island to celebrate my best friend Lindsey and her impending baby girl, due in February!

Lindsey and I have been friends since college and I'm so so so excited for her to become a Mom. Her baby girl will be born right around Penelope's birthday!

I swung back through Brooklyn, picked up Penny Bird and blasted some Frozen tunes for her on the ride home. Poor nugget is still not feeling 100%, but she is on the mend and was really a champ this weekend with being shuffled around from place to place. I think we are all looking forward to a quiet, long weekend coming up!

We arrived home last night, settled in and watched what was perhaps the greatest catch in football history. Too bad it was in vain since the Giants lost anyway!

Here's to a great, short work week! I hope you are still following along with the 27 Days of Thankfulness Challenge! I'll be posting mine on Thursday morning...

What are you making for Thanksgiving?

We are just about a week away from the biggest eating holiday of the year (rivaled only in my family by Christmas Eve and summer barbecues...), and though we don't host, I never show up empty handed for either of the events that we attend. We will be having dinner at my in-laws and dessert at my aunt & uncle's house. It's a bit of traveling, but nice to be able to spend time with everyone on such a great occasion. As I'll need to shop and prep this weekend, I've been doing some serious recipe searching to get my creative juices flowing --->because, you know, I can't simply just follow a recipe that I found, need to make it my own #ihaveproblems.

Since we have 2 events and there are more main and side dishes than could ever possibly be eaten, I am trying to come up with some new ideas for dishes that will likely not be present at either Thanksgiving table. Here's what's on the brainstormed list:

Appetizers/Side Dishes:

Parker House rolls with compound butter (herb, honey cinnamon, cranberry...)

Maple glazed sweet potatoes (as pictured above; so amazing but not sure how they will reheat)

Baked brie with cranberry sauce & walnuts (via a nutritionist eats)

Warm honey fig dip with blue cheese & garlic pitas

My grandmother's cranberry sauce/mold

My cheese ball bites, but with some new flavors

Desserts:

Pie pops --->filled with an assortment of apple, cherry & pecan pie filling (currently the front runner)

Pumpkin s'mores cupcakes --->look amazeballs, but not sure how much work these would be...

Roasted butternut squash pie w/brown sugar marshmallow topping --->so interesting and beautiful

Apple cider cupcakes w/nutmeg frosting (these just scream cozy & warming)

Salted pretzel marshmallow blondies (maybe I'm just having a love affair with marshmallow)

So that's what I'm considering just from poking around online...I haven't even gotten to my cookbooks yet! Tonight, that is my couch-time mission!

What are you making for Thanksgiving? Do you find the same joy that I do in prepping for the holiday?

PS - Are you still doing the 27 Days of Thankfulness challenge? I am! I hope you'll share some of yours with me next week!