Tis the Season – 40 Days of Thankfulness

Our Nature Christmas Tree!

The great American day of thankfulness is upon us. Lincoln made it official and the stories began.

I have many wonderful Thanksgiving memories and stories to match. From being a little kid and trying to patiently wait for the pumpkin pie (which I ate even though I was incredibly full) to spending a couple Thanksgivings by myself taking time for solitary meditation and exploration of the true meaning of the holiday to many parties and trips to New York and the beach for festivities that encompassed many families to today – a quiet day with my husband.

It is our first Thanksgiving as a married couple and we are excited about starting new traditions. Watching the Macy’s Parade on TV has morphed into putting up our Christmas tree and decorating it in a woodland theme. Last-minute runs to the store have turned into a long walk after our meal (which also changed from gorging ourselves to healthy portions and saving some for later). Cocktails at brunch and throughout the day have become a bottle of champagne shared as the sun sets.

My life has become quieter, but that’s not so bad. I have a loving husband, enough food to feed us both for days, cuddling puppies and a warm house to escape the cold. I am very thankful for all of these blessings and wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving. 

What Inspires You?

When I have a few moments, I like to see what other bloggers are up to and get inspirations. This of course, can turn into hours when you find an interesting blog that won’t let you leave. Here are a few of the most enticing blogs I uncovered this week. Warning: you could get sucked in and might possibly feel the need to be creative!

 Overall Interesting

http://culturedcivility.com/

I’ve known Wendy for a while and she has always been a very classy lady, and her blog is full of great recipes and helpful tips. As an interior decorator, she is a library of knowledge about what looks good, what feels good and what goes well together for all personality types. Check this blog out and see what inspires you.

 Happy Salad Days

http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2011/03/recipe-for-crunchy-napa-cabbage-asian.html

I’m always looking for a great salad recipe and this one is amazing. The hardest part about this recipe is that I want to eat the whole thing instead of portioning it out properly so I only make half. With spring right around the corner, I can’t wait to add even more salads to our dinner menu. What’s you’re favorite salad veggie??

Updating My Wardrobe

http://www.henryhappened.com/sequin-heart-diy-t-shirt.html

I actually spotted this heart tee before Valentine’s and wanted to make it then, but life was in such chaos, that I am revisiting this inspiring design now and since it’s a heart, I can really wear it anytime.

Creativity Inspired

http://howdidyoumakethis.com/blog/2013/1/24/two-in-one-bag-make-this.html

I love making bags, and this is a great tutorial to help even a novice bag maker like me. As I unpack my craft boxes, I am finding fabric that would be great for this piece, plus I was told that there is a craft store on our little Main Street that has remnants of fabric for really cheap. I may just need to have a purse for every season, or week.

 For My Jewelry Box

http://www.operationoverhaul.com/2012/11/braided-thread-bracelet-tutorial/

Sometimes a girl just needs a touch of spring and a new jewelry piece to show off. This is a great project if you only have an hour and need to update your outfit, but don’t want to spend a whole lot of cash.

Healthy Inspiration

http://aromatic-cooking.blogspot.in/2013/01/chilli-garlic-quinoa.html

I am always looking for a new quinoa recipe and this one sounds delightful. I have it on my menu list for next week as the perfect lunch treat on a cold day. I especially like the addition of cabbage to the quinoa and I am thinking about adding some sliced red and orange peppers as well for color and, of course, bulk. I may also spruce it up with some lime zest and juice.  Delicious!

Puppy Prints

http://www.ownedbypugs.com/index.php/pugblog

Our puppy Polly is a pug mix and even before I got her (March 1 marked 4 years),  I have been addicted to pugs. If you’re a puppy person, pug person or just into cute pictures of animals, take a gander at these oh-so-lovely squished-in faces!