Today's Obsessions

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• 7 Facts on Thanksgiving …
• 8 Things To Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving …
• 8 Amazing Thanksgiving Centerpieces …
• 7 New Ideas for Thanksgiving Dinner …
• 8 Courses for the Perfect Thanksgiving …
• 10 Beautiful Thanksgiving Quotes …
• 7 Gorgeous Thanksgiving Décor Items …
• 5 Things to Do or Make for Thanksgiving…

7 Facts on Thanksgiving … Posted: 25 Nov 2010 11:45 AM PST Halloween 2010 is over and it is now time for Thanksgiving 2010. Don't you just love the holidays? I do, starting with Halloween as my favorite. During thanksgiving, it's time to think about the things we are thankful for. There is so much in this world that we have to be thankful for. Some things I am thankful for include my husband, my kids, my parents, my pets and, of course, life. Now, I am going to give you 7 facts on Thanksgiving … 7. Thanksgiving Celebration Photo Credit: cobalt123 In the United States, we celebrate Halloween on the fourth Thursday in November. However, in Canada, they celebrate Thanksgiving as the second Monday in October. So, if you're from the United States and you visit Canada on the second Monday in October, you better be prepared for Thanksgiving celebration. The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted for a total of three days. 6. The First Celebration Photo Credit: IronRodArt – Royce Bair The first Thanksgiving celebration was done in the fall of 1621 at Plymouth, Massachusetts. The drink that was brought in the Mayflower was beer and that is what they drank. 5. Thanksgiving Proclamation Photo Credit: The Library of Congress On October 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation. This is where he officially set the last Thursday of November to the side as the national day for Thanksgiving. Before this, the earlier presidents would make an annual proclamation to tell the day Thanksgiving would be held on.

8 Things To Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving … Posted: 25 Nov 2010 10:18 AM PST Thanksgiving is the time of year to count your blessings. The problem is, most of us seem to get too caught up in cooking and decorating and rushing off to parties and pageants that sometimes we forget to stop and take a moment to slow down and enjoy the actual reason for the season. So what's the reason for THIS season? Thankfulness! Here are 8 things that I'm giving thanks for this thanksgiving year. 1. Family Photo Credit: AcuraZine Dan Yea, I'm stating the obvious. Duh right? But this year, family seems closer to my heart and a bit more vivid than years past around the holidays. I'm getting married in January and moving to North Dakota, which is quite a ways from my southern Kentucky home! And my soon to be brother-in-law is deploying to Iraq in two weeks. I also have a cousin who is leaving for the Coast Guard very soon. Our family is celebrating the holidays early this season so we will all be together, but I expect it to be a very emotional and memorable time for us all. 2. Health Photo Credit: Buy Silver Gold After watching some very dear friends fight cancer and go through some painful surgeries, I'm reminded just HOW wonderful of a thing you have if you have your health. And I do mean health in any form. Health in body, spirit and mind. So many times we take our health for granted, but we only have one body and one life. If we lose the ones we have, there's no replacement! So if you have your health this thanksgiving, be sure to be thankful for it! 3. Good Food Photo Credit: Through Joanne’s eye So what would Thanksgiving be without the traditional foods that we all love? Turkey, stuffing, corn pudding, sweet potato casserole, rolls, green beans, pumpkin pie…you're hungry now aren't you? On a more serious note, there are plenty of others who may not be as fortunate as you and I don't mean people in third world countries. Your neighbor down the street may be struggling to put bread and milk on the table, so if yours is overloaded, be thankful!

8 Amazing Thanksgiving Centerpieces … Posted: 25 Nov 2010 09:41 AM PST I love putting together a gorgeous holiday table, especially for Thanksgiving, because autumn colors are so dazzling and gorgeous. I'd love to be able to make my own centerpieces, but no one allows me around a glue gun and I'm not really adept at arts and crafts. So I'm left looking for awesome centerpieces, and here are some of the most gorgeous ones I've found so far! 1. Leaves of Autumn Cascade Price: $24.99 at target.com True to the product name, I love the way the leaves cascade on this centerpiece. It's like an autumnal waterfall, and the colors are gorgeous. It's not incredibly expensive and would make a great fall piece in general, so you could use it for more than just the Thanksgiving holidays. 2. Floral Scented Candles Price: $54.00 at target.com I like these because of the colors. Although this set is kind of pricey, it does come with 23 pieces, and I think there are so many possibilities here. You could make a really beautiful arrangement with these candles — though granted, I think anyone out there who is good with crafts could do a beautiful job for half the price! 3. Buri Turkey Price: $9.95 at crateandbarrel.com I personally am not a huge fan of turkey centerpieces, because I do tend to prefer something that can work for the entire season. Plus, in spite of their brilliant colors, most turkeys are ugly. I like this one, though. It's different and it's interesting. Spice it up with some gorgeous fall leaves, grasses, and flowers, whether real or artificial, and I think it could be smashing.

7 New Ideas for Thanksgiving Dinner … Posted: 25 Nov 2010 09:23 AM PST I love turkey at Thanksgiving, but is it just me, or does it start to get a little boring after a while? There are so many delicious recipes out there, and the closet chef in me really wants to try something new for the holidays this year. I came up with some standard differences and mixed in some possible ideas — plus I intend to milk y'all for ideas in a hot minute, so don't go anywhere. Here are 7 new ideas for Thanksgiving dinner… 1. Seafood Special Photo Credit: debbiedoescakes My mom and I have a tradition: every New Year's Eve, we go nuts with the seafood. We used to be the only ones who ate seafood, but the Better Half is starting to get a little more adventurous, so it occurred to me that there's no need to wait for the end of the year. You can do anything here, whether you want to make some really great salmon, or if you want to go all out with lobster, scallops, shrimp, and all the trimmings. 2. Roast Duck Photo Credit: Ian Fenn I've wanted to try to make duck for a holiday meal for so long. I know that everyone who would be eating likes it, which is always important, and more importantly I know that I love duck, so it would make me happy. I love duck with wild berries, like a delicious raspberry sauce. Making a side dish of wild rice with dried cranberries is also crazy delicious. 3. Baked Ham Photo Credit: Pillsbury.com For some people, this is already a standard — but it doesn't have to be boring. There are so many delicious things you can do with ham, even if you take the simple route and make it honey baked. You can even incorporate it into the meal some other way, or stick to pork but try a roast instead.

8 Courses for the Perfect Thanksgiving … Posted: 25 Nov 2010 09:01 AM PST It's the same every year — I swear I'm going to let someone else host Thanksgiving, and by the middle of September, I'm already planning the menu myself. It's just that I've got the dinner down to a science now, so it's a habit now, and I actually really enjoy it — except for the cleanup. I have all of the courses planned, and ready to go… as well as a list of helpers to do the dishes at the end! Here are 8 courses for the perfect Thanksgiving… 1. Appetizer Photo Credit: pvcpvc – protrait mode! While everyone's still milling around, getting caught up and chatting, it's a great idea to have a few appetizers out. You don't want anything heavy, or too sweet, since your marvelous dinner is on the way, so just set out a pretty tray of crisp fresh veggies or a cheese and cracker tray. Although… what do you think your family would say to fresh oysters with caviar and shallots? 2. Salad Photo Credit: Betty Crocker Recipes Once everyone sits down, pass around a big bowl of salad, something simple, like mixed green and tomato, and leave out a selection of dressings and toppings, like cheese and croutons. With a plain salad but lots of optional toppings, everyone can make a starter salad they love. 3. Bread Photo Credit: pvcpvc – protrait mode! Fill a wicker basket with warm bread to pass after the salad has gone around. It doesn't have to be a home-made artisan bread, but it shouldn't just be sliced Wonder Bread, either! Even a bag of oven rolls will do nicely.

10 Beautiful Thanksgiving Quotes … Posted: 25 Nov 2010 12:47 AM PST The following 10 beautiful Thanksgiving quotes are ones that I find to be beautiful, in their own special way. Many of them remind me just how thankful I am for all that I have and others are simple and sweet. I hope you find a few of these to be inspiring. Feel free to pass them on to someone you are thankful to have in your life. 10. If the only prayer you said in your life was, "thank you," that would suffice. – Meister Eckhart Photo Credit: Nancy Rose I'm surprised at how many people don't say these two little words. I try to say them even for the smallest things in life. I want people to know I appreciate something they have done and that I don't take their actions for granted. 9. We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. – Thornton Wilder Photo Credit: Pink Scarf Have you ever been truly elated about something being a part of your life? It doesn't have to be a material possession, but maybe a person or even the adoration of someone else. When I feel blue, I try to think of all I have to be thankful for and this usually cheers me up in no time at all. I'm happiest when I think about all the "treasures" in my life. 8. There is a calmness to a life lived in Gratitude, a quiet joy. – Ralph H. Blum Photo Credit: Mike Cohn I've noticed that people who are grateful for what they have are usually very relaxed individuals. They also don't tend to get stressed-out by much at all. These people take life in stride and enjoy everything that comes their way. They find at least a bit of good in everything.

7 Gorgeous Thanksgiving Décor Items … Posted: 24 Nov 2010 11:30 PM PST I love fall, and all of the holidays that come along with it, from Columbus Day to Halloween to, of course, Thanksgiving! It's the ideal time to celebrate the season with friends and family and to (as the name implies) give thanks for all of the wonderful people in your life. 1. Pottery Barn Birch Pillar Candle Price: $15.00 to $69.00 at potterybarn.com These candles must have been designed for the season. They remind me so much of real birch trees, slender and delicate, with leaves that turn deep yellow like shimmering gold coins. If you love birch trees too, these would be such a gorgeous addition to your Thanksgiving, and fall, décor! 2. Pottery Barn Mini Indian Corn Vase Filler Price: $19.00 at potterybarn.com Indian corn, with its deep jewel-tone colors and grainy texture, have long been a symbol of Thanksgiving, but it can be a hassle to buy it every year, but with these faux mini-cobs, you won't have to. They're very realistic, and will keep for years to come. 3. Pottery Barn Feathered Turkeys Price: $54.00 at potterybarn.com Ah-ha! Finally, a handsome make-believe turkey that will give even the most glorious Tom a run for his money! These little guys are colorful, with real feather plumes and a jaunty design. Gather a small flock along a mantle for a unique seasonal display.

5 Things to Do or Make for Thanksgiving… Posted: 24 Nov 2010 08:57 PM PST 1. Banner Of course you need a pretty Thanksgiving banner. Check out the link for a printable pattern. I love the vintage feel of these letters! 2. Sweet Potato Sides I love me some sweet potato. If you do, too, you will no doubt love the sweet potato Thanksgiving recipes after the link. The photos alone are making me hungry! 3. Pack for Home If you are away for college but is coming home for the holidays, this link is your ultimate packing guide. I love this: “Maximize eating capacity – the stretchier the clothes, the better.” 4. Stay Fit That’s right, the holidays are no reason to forget about working out. Check out the link for some amazing tips on staying fit this Thanksgiving. 5. Labels Planning on giving away treats this Thanksgiving to your neighbors or relatives? You know what would make your “gifts” complete? A beautiful label or tag! Got more ideas on things to do or make for this coming holiday season? Hit us up in the comments section! Top Photo Credit: Second Street

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