Plaid has been all over the fashion pages this season….

And…I’ve really not seen it done any better than our wonderful friends, 3JWorkshop and For love & Liberty.

No matter what the trend…they add a twisted classic vibe that is so irresistable.    Here is a favorite in this gray-black plaid blazer with their notorious embroidery that distinguishes them from the rest.

I would so put this piece with a great little black dress….a ruffled top and jeans….or layered with one of the new infinity scarves and jeans.

For casual attitude …pair with a great tee and some of the new oxidized and black metal jewelry.

Luv the bird embroidery on the sleeve!

And then….just because one is not enough…here’s another choice for you…

This one is a little dressier fabrication…Gray Pinstriped but still with signature embroidery.

How’s a Girl to choose?!?

Rudolph’s lesser known brother sans red nose.

Holiday “TO DO” List
Rather than just “survive” this holiday season, may you “thrive” throughout it.  There will be, no doubt, a few stressors that blow in with the holiday cheer, but with all that you have learned during your Genesis Transformation process, you are well equipped to handle any challenges that may arise.  Below is a list of a few things “to do” this season that just may help you feel a little more sure-footed about stepping into the season.
•     DO take the time to recognize all that you have accomplished over the past year and hold firm to your commitment to the new lifestyle that you have adopted.  You have been working hard all year to instill new, healthier habits into your life – don’t toss them in light of a few holiday parties or family gatherings.

•    DO have some inspirational literature on hand to assist you in your “less than inspired” moments or before you walk into any situation that may tempt you to stray from your new found path.   The support forum is a great outlet for sharing frustrations and successes during the season.

•    DO manage holiday stressors with your favorite activities and workouts.

•    DO get creative with your family recipes.  Cooking cleanly is no reason not to enjoy prepping holiday meals.   Get your family involved, so they can learn by “doing”.

•    DO be prepared with a healthy dish that you can enjoy when attending social gatherings or be sure to eat a clean meal before you arrive.   No plan is a plan to fail.

•    DO give yourself a permission or two to enjoy a small serving of something you really enjoy that may not be on the top of the “clean eating list”, but set boundaries for yourself and stick to them!

•    DO be an inspiration to your family and friends by walking the talk.  Undoubtedly many of them have heard about your Genesis process, so now is the perfect time to show them what living this lifestyle actually means!

•    DO treat yourself with respect and love this season, which is really what Genesis is all about.  You SO deserve it!

Thanks.  This week is all about the thanks.  I’m a lucky person, and have much to be thankful for.  Every day I read about others’ hardships and know that my blessings are so many.  For starters, I’m thankful for my husband, my children, our families and friends, the health of those that I love, my puppies (and all the puppies I’ve ever loved!), my home, my job (sort of …) ok yes, my job,  too.

I’m thankful for freedom, the wonderful country we live in, and for those who have in the past or who are currently securing our freedom, and the sacrifices they make in doing so.  With all of it’s flaws, I’m still thankful to be in the U.S. of A.   I’m thankful for the beauty that surrounds us all every day, and which I fail to see most of the time.  It’s times like this that make me stop and take notice.

I’m thankful for the turkey that will feed my family this Thanksgiving.  I’m thankful for Red, Hot & Blue and the employees that will dutifully smoke said sacrificial turkey to perfection so that I don’t have to pretend I know how to cook such a big bird.   I cannot dwell on the poor turkey’s demise, for I do not feel good about that, but I must move forward with my turkey plan lest we all be forced to eat tofurkey for Thanksgiving.  In case you’re wondering, tofurkey is real … sort of.  Real pretend turkey. 

Yeah, don’t forget the gravy.  … and don’t be looking for those giblets!

Another thing I am thankful for – I’m thankful I will not be eating tofurkey this Thanksgiving!

I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving isn’t a big holiday for me. Growing up in the Philippines, we didn’t celebrate it (for obvious reasons). When we moved here, my family didn’t start our own Thanksgiving tradition. We just went to every year to an aunt’s house.

Thanksgiving is going to be different for me this year. We’re going to two family parties, and oddly enough, neither are going to be on Thursday evening. So no Thanksgiving dinner for us.

Wednesday evening – V’s cousin’s house. We’re not sure why it’s on Wednesday though.

Thursday lunch – My sister’s house. My sister is ordering from Whole Foods and we’ll bring a side dish or dessert or something. This won’t be a traditional Thanksgiving meal as most of my family is vegetarian and the ones who do eat meat don’t like turkey.

Friday morning - Black Friday shopping!

Friday evening – We’re attending a wedding!

…but then for some annoying reason Monday had to show up and make a mess of things.

I saw New Moon on Friday night and it was the perfect start to my weekend of awesomeness. I love over the top cheesy love stories. My life is average I don’t need to have average movies full of “reality”. Thanks, but I live through reality every day. Movies/books/TV should be a bit of an escape.

Unless they are telling a true story and then they should reflect the reality of the situation.

Saturday, 7am found me incredibly groggy (thanks to that late night movie) and at 8:30 I was sitting in on a marriage course at my church. Yes it was awkward being that I am single, but since I am about to go into a ministry career I am attending all these different events at my church to get a good feel of all the things we offer. Also I am about to be a “greeter” for my church and, once again, it helps to know what one can get involved in at Holy Word.

At lunch I left and went home where I proceeded to clean house and prepare a feast. Ok so I only provided the booze and some sweet potatoes, but I prepped for other people to supply the feast. My co-host arrived with his ingredients, and he and my chef sister cooked while I set a particularly lovely, though simple table. This included some basil and fennel flora arrangments that I picked right from my garden (at least I’m harvesting SOMETHING!)

The others arrived and we finished off warming things up then sat down to the best Thanksgiving Potluck of my life. We sat…and drank…and ate…and sat…and ate…and drank….and talked…and laughed….and laughed…and laughed.

When every one left, I felt sad because I did not want the fun to end. But I guess that is a mark of an amazing dinner party.

Sunday was church then I helped set up for Advent by Candlelight — a special dessert party for the ladies at church. We review the Christmas story, the mood is set up almost for a romantic date. It’s quite beautiful with all the candles and the glass and silver place settings.

It was a great way to start off the holiday season! Almost too good! I just don’t know if I can have a better weekend than I just did but I’m sure going to try!

Peace and Blessings.

It’s time for the Holidays!  And for some of you that means lots and lots of parties and shopping to find you an inexpensive but very cute dress. Well I hate to add another party to your list, but this one is sure to get you (and your friends) ready for all of those holiday celebrations. Throw a Swap it Out Party! This new craze in shopping is all the talk and lots of fun! So how does it work? I’m glad you asked! Invite your friends and have them invite their friends to wherever you plan to host your party and the catch is, everyone has to bring a dress or dresses that they are willing to GIVE away. Then everyone SWAPS IT OUT and exchanges their clothes! Sounds fun right?!? Gather your girls and begin searching your closets. And don’t forget when everyone RSVPs they need to give their sizes. Now you’re on your way to begin partying for the season! Have fun and most importantly look fabulous! Remember one woman’s trash could be another woman’s perfect outfit!!!

Deena

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/momfashionality

I can’t believe this week is here. It’s Thanksgiving week folks, and there is so much to be done. I’m so excited about seeing family and spending time with them for the first time in months!

Image source

(Small shout-out to my husband…Happy 6 months of Married-ness!)

Image taken by Amanda Meyer

So, since I’m taking a break from the house cleaning and dusting, here’s what’s going on in the household of the newlyweds!

Today – finishing dusting/cleaning living room and kitchen/dining area

Tuesday

• bake cornbread for dressing
• bake cake for cutesy Turkey Cake Pops
• wash/iron cloth napkins and placemats

Wednesday

• make cake pops
• make cornbread dressing so flavors can meld overnight

Thursday (YAY TURKEY DAY!)

• make sweet potato casserole
• make roll dough and let proof throughout the morning
• reheat all sides/smoked turkey/bake rolls/make gravy
• just enjoy the day with family

Friday

• chillin’ out maxin’ relaxin’ all cool (name the TV show theme song!)

This week is gonna be fabulous!

By the way, if you have a minute, could you vote for me in a foodie related photography contest? It’s just a clicky poll and shouldn’t take more than a few seconds. I know my photography skills aren’t amazing, but I’m learning and would appreciate the support! Thanks so much!

And, I just can’t hide it! It’s been an “Oh, goody, goody” day here today!  For weeks, Miss K, Kristen Leigh Bell, creator of Aromaleigh Cosmetics and Aromatics, has been teasing, and taunting her Facebook, and blog fans with gorgeous images, of the new, Retro Hi-Fi Matte Eye Shadow Collection.  Like Miss K herself, I like me some sparkles in my eye shadow, but this collection has plenty of spark for matte eye shadows!  While sparkles it may lack, it has no lack of pizazz, and hot, shockingly glamorous colors.  Take a look:

Aromaleigh Retro Hi-Fi Matte Eye Shadow Collection

Glory, glory!  Look at those colors!  Have you ever seen such beauty in a matte eye shadow collection, I ask you?  Me neither.  But, here is the big news–Miss K just opened up the Retro Hi-Fi Matte Eye Shadow Collection tonight for sale–so you can begin to shop for these outstanding, stand-out colors, just in time for that Holiday party!

Now, if that is not enough excitement, Miss K announced over the weekend, on Facebook, that she had eight sample sets for beauty bloggers to try and reviews, and to send her an email.  Luckily, because of my work, I never leave my computer, so I emailed her at once, and I go word today from Kristen that a full sample set is already winging it’s way to me to try and review!  I feel like I won that lottery!

This is a big, 40 eye shadow collection, so those samples are a big gift to me, and to all of you, once I can start to review!  Oooh!  Goody, goody!  I can’t wait–can you??  I suspect that the samples may arrive on Wednesday, and if not, Friday.  Good gravy, Marie–I am going to have a lot of fun with these samples, as will my two test subjects, my lovely daughters.  They are pretty happy, too.

Now, if you want to go ahead and order samples now, before I can start to review these smooth, sweet, swanky, matte eye shadows, I will understand.  After all, the Holiday gift giving season is almost upon us, and what better gift to give yourself?  I will let you know when they arrive, and I can begin to play with them!  I may not sleep tonight from the excitement–but then I will have under eye circles when the Retro Hi-Fi Matte eye shadows arrive, and that just wouldn’t do!  Night night, and oh, goody, goody!

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And if you want to hear more from the Best Buy Twelpforce Carolers, check this out.

OK, let’s face it. Mashed potatoes are one of those basics that everyone loves and for which we all have our own standards. I like mashed potatoes, before this batch I didn’t LOVE them. I do now. The potatoes themselves are just standard issue mashed potatoes. I think the difference is in the topping. See, what had happened was…

I wanted to make confit (I did, post to come) and in order to make it I needed to render some fat. I got some pork fat and rendered it, I was left with what I’m guessing are cracklings. That’s the topping. OMG! You could sub bacon for the cracklings, so don’t freak out.

5 medium Yukon Gold potatoes
1-1/2 tsp sea salt
3/4 cp heavy cream
1/4 cp butter (yeah, I know)
black pepper to taste
Dash of nutmeg
1/3 cp cracklins or bacon

Peel and quarter the potatoes and put them into medium size pot. Fill with cool water just to cover the potatoes, add salt and bring to a soft boil. These potatoes are very tender, a hard boil may cause them to break apart. They will need to cook for about 20 minutes or until a knife goes through easily.

Once they’re cooked, drain the potatoes. Place the pot back on the burner with the butter and cream, until the butter begins to melt. Put the potatoes back in the pot and begin mashing them immediately, stirring in the cream and butter. Check the salt, add pepper and nutmeg. Stir and serve topped with the cracklins.

I know I don’t need to say this, but I will anyway. ENJOY!

I read about this holiday wishlist thing on Essin-Em’s site and thought it was a really cute idea so I’m creating a list, yay!

Step One
- Make a post (public, friendslocked, filtered…whatever you’re comfortable with) to your LJ or Myspace or Blog. The important thing is to make sure these wishes are things you really, truly want.
- If you wish for real possible things, make sure you include some sort of contact info in your post, whether it’s your address or just an email address at which you can be contacted by potential wish-grantors, real or imaginary.
- Also, make sure you post some version of these guidelines in your post, so that the holiday joy will spread.

Step Two
- Surf around your friends list/blogroll/RSS feeds (or friendsfriends, or just random journals) to see who has posted their list.
- If you see a wish you can grant, and it’s in your heart to do so, make someone’s wish come true. Sometimes someone’s trash is another’s treasure, and if you have a leather jacket you don’t want or a gift certificate you won’t use–or even know where you could get someone’s dream purebred Basset Hound for free–do it.

You needn’t spend money on these wishes unless you want to. The point isn’t to put people out, it’s to provide everyone a chance to spread the joy. Gifts can be made anonymously or not–it’s your call.

There are no rules with this project, no guarantees, and no strings attached. Just…wish, and it might come true. Give, and you might receive. And you’ll have the joy of knowing you made someone’s holiday special.

My Wishlist (and by ‘my’ I mean a combination of things Andreas and I both wish for)

Sex related stuff first:

-A Fascinator Throe from Liberator. I squirt. I squirt a lot. Every time I get off, I gush lots and lots of fluids. I love it. But it’s sooooo messy. I hate sleeping in the wet spot. I get coooold. And the last thing I want to do after having multiple orgasms is clean a lot of shit. So I need one of these badly.

-Lube. Any lube really. I need lube but being relatively poor have never gotten around to actually buying any. Preferably water based.

-Male-centric sex toys. A cock ring, stroker, prostate stimulator, whatever. I have literally no exclusively male toys and it makes me sad for my boyfriend.

-Any alternative material toy. Anything made of glass, wood, steel, aluminum, etc.. I love the idea of all these different materials but sadly haven’t had the chance to experience many of them.

-A set of strong, sturdy policeman’s handcuffs.

So that’s enough for the sexy stuff. Now onto other stuff.

-A bus ticket to Minnesota, one way or round trip. I cherish my long distance relationship but travel is expensive. Bus travel is one of the cheapest (if most grueling) ways. But making what little money I do working the shitty hours I do at the shitty job I work it’s hard to save up. Getting away from this town and to Andreas, for even a few weeks, would be the ultimate gift for both of us.

-A scanner. New or used, so long as it functions. I make art. I like to put this art online. It’s very hard to do so without a scanner.

-A digital camera. Mine died. And that makes me a very sad goose.

-BOOKS. This is a big one, important to both of us. Books about sexuality, books by Neil Gaiman, the Dresden Dolls Companion books, books about art, books about film and animation, classical literature, weird books, all kinds of books! And GRAPHIC NOVELS. Starting out with the insanely fucking unattainable shit: Lost Girls by Alan Moore. And to follow that, anything by Alan Moore (except Watchmen and The Killing Joke, I already have that). Any of the Sandman series by Neil Gaiman. Any Batman graphic novel (Arkham Asylum, The Dark Knight Returns, etc), I fucking love me some Batman. Anything by R. Crumb. Or Kim Deitch. Or Daniel Clowes. Or  There are so many good graphic novels and graphic novel writers/illustrators that it would take forever for me to post about all the ones we like here. But there’s just a few examples.

-Anything plaid or argyle. Like seriously, anything, I love it that much.

-Art supplies. I want to dabble in different mediums but paints and brushes are so expensive. Any old art supplies that may be lying around unused I will gladly enjoy them.

So that’s all I can think of. If you, gracious sweet soul that you are, can or want to give us any of these  things email me at zesty_4515@hotmail.com or Andreas at stoehra@carleton.edu. Happy holidays, blogosphere.

I had the best weekend. And I didn’t spend all of it in bed or in front of the television! (Surprise!)

I sold $115 in clutter today and Sunday. The best part about getting rid of clutter, to me, is that I’m able to make money while doing it. It’s a double whammy! I no longer have to clean the things or store them or see them, and I get paid to do all that!

I’m going to do a more detailed post on my clutter selling and what de-cluttering has meant for our lives so far later.

This weekend, of course, meant the opening of New Moon: Twilight Saga. I went with my mom on Saturday. I actually mixed the show time up so we had an hour and a half before the movie started.

We walked around our downtown area and visited a bunch of shops that I’ve previously wanted to visit but never found the time for. I found some great stuff. But I didn’t buy anything. One shop was a home decor shop that had some photos by a local photographer that were just breathtaking. But they’re $135 each. I really want to hang them above our bed. They’re black and whites of our downtown area.

I also found some shops with handmade things imported from third world countries. It’s just so cool to find stores that aren’t chains with typical goods. I like the idea of buying things for our home and having a story to tell behind each object.

New Moon was fantastic, a huge improvement from Twilight. I can understand why people who haven’t read the books (or who tried to read the books but didn’t like them) wouldn’t like the movie. But, to me, it was the perfect embodiment of the book on the big screen.

Yesterday, D and I spent the day with his family. They have their Thanksgiving dinner on the Sunday before Thanksgiving so everyone can come. I feel so at home with his family. More at home than I do with my father’s side of my own family. His grandmother is over 80 years old, but she still works full time and runs around like a 30 year old. She is truly amazing.

We also went to the mall so I could show him an example of what I wanted for Christmas. He decided to go wallet shopping alone so I offered to give him an example of the style I liked. Okay, I admit it. I was just terrified I was going to look in the stocking on Christmas morning and see a puke-green pleather wallet.

But once we got to the mall, we found the perfect wallet. It’s Aigner with all of the compartments I desperately need for a wallet (for cash, change, check book and lots of cards). And! It was only $40! Plus, it was on clearance! I was in heaven. So he bought it while I was there.

I’ve already got his Christmas gifts all planned out. I’ve bought the concert tickets. Then I’m going to buy this goofy copy of Star Trek on DVD that comes with a space ship and some personalized M&Ms with his picture on them. Ha ha ha! I’m so excited.

We also bought Christmas decorations this weekend. Instead of having a Christmas tree, since we can’t have a real one and I’m adamantly opposed to fake trees, we’re going to hang garland on our windows and hang Christmas tree decorations from them.

We decided to buy a cat condo for the kitties to play and sleep on since we have more space now that I’ve gotten rid of the DVD shelves. Yesterday, we switched around some of our furniture to make room for the condo in the corner by the window. I hope the cats enjoy it.

I finished my paper today. It’s not due until Wednesday so I’m really shocked that I finished it so early. It’s definitely not like me. I’m usually up until the wee hours of the morning the day the paper is due, furiously typing.

I’m so ready for Thanksgiving dinner with my family this Thursday. I love the holidays. And all the leftovers I get to take home as a result!

Total spent this weekend:

Friday: No spend day!

Saturday: No spend day!

Sunday: Wal-Mart, $18.47 (Christmas decorations)

Amazon, $60 (my half of a cat condo, for the cat’s Christmas present)

Total spent: $78.47

The Holidays are up.  Thanksgiving is in a couple of days and the next thing we know it’s Christmas!  I never really liked Thanksgiving, but this year is very different.  I have a new found love of the kitchen and everything in it…and there’s no hard feelings between and any part of the family.  I even think I’m gonna wake up early to get into Target at 5am before work for some BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING!

Just an update on food and what’s on my mind right now…first…I feel like baking…right now, but I’ll wait till my honey comes over, maybe we’ll have some bonding time.  But here’s the menu for Thanksgiving…for now, anyway.

Hors d’œuvres  :  Wine and cheese (not sure what kind exactly…the DeLeon’s are bringing it)

Appetizer  :  Waldorf Salad (probably  salad course rather than an appetier)

Main Course  :  Roasted Turkey with Brown Sugar Brine

Honey Ham

Crab

Sides  :  Mashed Potatoes

Turkey Gravy

Rice (we’re Filipinos!)

Dinner rolls (or Pan de Sal)

Stuffing

Dessert:  NO CLUE

I baked for most of the year and I’m blocking during the most important season.

Anyway…pictures up soon.

The following is a true story. The names and locations have been changed in order to protect those involved…

The year was 2008. The day: Black Friday. Someone (let’s just call her “Messica McMandless”) innocently suggested that it might be fun to take a little road trip in order to hit up the Midnight Madness sales at the outlets  in Williamsburg, VA (OK, so technically the locations have not been changed…).

Like all ideas that end badly, this one seemed foolproof in theory. We were to arrive at midnight and beat the crowds, pull up to the front of the outlets, cruise into a parking spot and spend the next couple of hours working our way through each store while saving hundreds of dollars and completing our holiday shopping.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. I can literally feel you judging us. And you’re totally right. The actual morning went a little something like this:

• 30 minutes into the drive- hit traffic. Still hoping for the best, someone inquires whether or not there is an accident ahead. Nope. Just Midnight Madness traffic. For miles and miles and miles…
• Brilliant idea #2: “Let’s cross the median to turn around and take another exit!” Car stuck in median. Two Kiwi Tree girls and three random strangers later, the car is pushed out of the median and a glimmer of hope returns.
• Fast forward to another hour later- stuck in traffic in the opposite direction. Two Kiwi Tree girls can no longer hold their bladders and decide that the shrubs on the side of the road will have to do. Of course, traffic decides that now would be a good time to move…
• 45 minutes later- pull into the parking lot and try not to hit any of the people darting out in front of our car while desperately searching for a parking spot.
• 20 minutes later- park.
• Next two hours spent pushing through mosh-pit like crowds in search for discounts. None found.
• Cue sunrise and our cue to get the hell out of there.
• Next hour- silent car ride home (while secretly blaming “Messica McMandless”…)

Clearly, this event taught us one thing: Black Friday blows. So, this year, The Kiwi Tree is celebrating Cyber Monday! We are offering FREE SHIPPING on all purchases starting Monday, November 30^th through Friday, December 4^th! Just enter promo code KTXMASFS and enjoy FREE SHIPPING from the safety of your own home.

And don’t forget, Emergency Card Packs and Secret Santa Box Sets make the perfect gift!

Keeping in mind that I don’t care to cook, tonight I made:

• Pumpkin fudge for the office
• Chocolate cake for Hubby
• One large loaf pumpkin bread – ’cause I had extra pumpkin
• Two small loaves pumpkin bread- ’cause I had extra pumpkin
• 24 mini pumpkin muffins- ’cause I had extra pumpkin and no more loaf pans
• Dinner for the  family – ’cause they get grumpy when they haven’t eaten
• My first ever pumpkin pie for the office Thanksgiving lunch tomorrow

If you like pumpkin, you need to try this recipe.  I have never had better.  Oh.My.Goodness!  I wish I could eat it every single day! Yummy!

Perhaps you’re beginning to panic because you’ve already committed to hosting Thanksgiving dinner and now realizing you’ve bitten off more than you can chew? Unfortunately I can’t wave my magic wand (must be out of batteries, so sorry) and make it all come together, but I can give you a few [inexpensive] ideas. Tip #1: alcohol = everyone will be thankful.

Need a last minute place setting idea? Well here ya go (props to Martha Stewart). It’s simple, inexpensive and something I would most likely start eating right before I dive into the pumpkin pie.

I heart sweet potatoes. If I had the option, I could probably eat them for every meal. OK guilty, I have [once] eaten them for every meal.

Roasted Sweet-Potato Rounds with Garlic oil and Fried Sage Recipe

For Sweet-Potato:

3 large garlic cloves

1/4 cup olive oil

2 1/3 lbs of sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/2″ rounds

For Fried Sage:

1/3 cup olive oil

24 sage leaves

Directions

Preheat 450 degrees. Puree garlic and olive oil with 3/4 tsp of salt in a blender until smooth. Toss sweet potatoes with garlic oil in a large bowl, then spread in 1 layer in a shallow baking pan. Bake until golden in patches and cooked through 20-30 minutes. (I usually bake them longer until they’re a little bit crispy)

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium/high heat until simmers, then fry sage leaves in 2 batches, stirring until crisp, 30 seconds to 1 minute per batch. Transfer with a slotted  spoon to paper towel to drain

Serve sweet potato with sage leaves scattered on top.

Serves 8; Total time, 1 hour

You can always count on Thanksgiving leftovers so why not send everyone home with one of these stylish goodie bags? Just make sure you save enough for yourself (i.e. your husband who won’t be happy to hear you gave away the last of the Turkey)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I am really sick of all this bad news.

First thing in the morning, I went to speak to Mr. Smith… and essentially, I can’t go to Ottawa. Nope. It’s because I have three IB exams that week. I’m still trying to figure out how to accept the fact that I’m not going. This was the biggest thing that happened to me all year… and I guess I’ll have to go let Michelle Pham know sometime in the next few days, too. Sigh. On the bright side, at least I get to be the first person to congratulate her?

And of course, because of Music Man last week, I completely forgot about schoolwork. I have five tests this week… and my TOK essay, TOK oral, EE, Korean War timeline, and… one other thing that I can’t even remember… are all due next week.

Then, of course, there’s the Christmas banquet. People are all upset about tables, so we need to figure something out about fixing it. Huge headache for about two hours. I THINK it’s been worked out now, finally.

Finally, there’s that thing that I did that I mentioned yesterday.
I still don’t know what the results are, but I wish you’d just tell me already. If it’s more bad news, at least then I’d have something to properly cry over.

Thanks to Gracia and Melissa who noticed that something seemed “off” and asked me about it. I appreciate that you cared.
This is just another one of those days when I wish I were a bit more fragile. I wish I COULD cry. But instead, Dueck gave us a task, and immediately, my “let’s get this done” side took charge and I started giving commands again. Is it conceited of me to say I’m a bit too emotionally strong?

Yes Thanksgiving!

Can’t believe a holiday dedicated to eating is getting overlooked in the United States… and I believe this year would be a great year to emphasize the patriotism ideals of Thanksgiving… guess the advertisers pushed any ‘I’m an American’ (think the song…) thoughts out of our heads to shove in ‘I’m a consumer’ thoughts. My favorite Thanksgiving dish? Green Bean Casserole! http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Campbells-Green-Bean-Casserole/Detail.aspx What’s yours?!?

————————————-  Giving:

I ‘came up’ with this idea a few weeks ago; I’m just glad someone else is doing it. A woman I work with was telling us how the catering company her boyfriend works for just tosses any left over food after an event. I’m talking TONS of food… so, I think we should start a branch of this company in Cincinnati. Anyone want to help?!
http://www.cityharvest.org/about/

Maybe Cincinnati already has a ‘food rescue’ organization. I haven’t looked that deeply into it because there were so many things in the way of it even seeming like a plausible option. However, I’d love to become involved if we do!

Another very awesome way to give during the upcoming holidays = Give  the gift of giving to those in need. http://www.tisbest.org/Default.aspx

And a cool gift to get? http://store.theflip.com/Ultra.aspx

One of my favorite earrings

Christmas Trees with polka-dots
Enamel charm of metal, plain on back
Sterling Silver earwires & pins

1″ in length

$10 (includes tax & shipping)

I want these!