Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hope you have a wonderful day filled with family and lots of yummy FOOD!

I will praise the name of God with a song,

and will magnify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

DAY SEVEN

I am thankful for:

Family.

I am thankful for every single one of them. I am thankful for their never ending love and support. I know you don't get to pick your family, but I sure am glad I was blessed with BOTH of mine!

DAY SIX

I am thankful for:

Garrett

God has blessed me richly with an amazing husband whom I am very thankful for. I am thankful that he loves me unconditionally. I am thankful for his silly-ness and sense of humor. I am thankful for his hardworking spirit and that he makes living healthy a priority. I am thankful that he often offers to cook dinner and always helps with clean up (I told you I was blessed). I am thankful for his love of the great outdoors. I am thankful that he loves new adventures. I am so thankful that I could go on and on about how thankful I am for Garrett, but I think I will stop now.

DAY FIVE

I am thankful for:

The Little Things.

Because they mean SO much to me...

I am thankful for baths because it means time for me to unwind from my day and escape into the pages of a book. I am thankful for runs around Green Lake with my husband. I am thankful for friends, new and old. I am thankful for music and singing in my car on the way home from work. I am thankful for pictures and cameras and memories.

I am thankful for Garrett's and my parents. And our siblings and grandparents and aunts and uncles and our precious nephew, Liam.

This is one of Liam's 18 months photos. He just keeps getting cuter and cuter!

I am thankful for this blog. I am thankful that it has provided a creative outlet, and that I can write as much as I want about absolutely nothing, or serious somethings. And I am thankful for all the blogs I read and each and every one of you who reads mine.

I am thankful for phone calls to my Mom in the morning. I am thankful for Gain laundry detergent because it makes our laundry smell so nice. I am thankful for all my friends who are engaged or soon to be engaged because I just love weddings. I am thankful for sunshine and summer days. I am thankful for airplanes because transport me so quickly from one part of the country to the other. I am SO very thankful for the little things.. because aren't those what matter most in life?

DAY FOUR

I am thankful for:

Food

I am thankful that growing up my family always had fresh home cooked meals on the table. I am thankful that my Mom took my sister, brother and I to the farmers market and included us in the cooking, weather it was the actual cooking, cleaning or even setting the table. Because of this, I have a deeper appreciation for home cooked meals and understand the importance of healthy eating. And I just really love FOOD! This morning, I prepared my first Slow Cooker Pot Roast. It is currently smelling delicious and I can't wait to see how it turns out! Here is the recipe:

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

8 Servings

Ingredients:

4lbs Chuck Roast (I used 2.5lbs cause the store didn't have anything bigger than that)
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 Packet of dry onion soup mix
1 Cup water (I used 1/2 C. water and 1/2 C. beef broth)
3 Carrots, chopped
1 Onion, chopped
3 Potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 stalk of Celery (I used 2, for kicks)

Directions:

1. Take the chuck roast and season with salt and pepper to taste. Brown on all sides in a large skillet over high heat.
2. Place in the slow cooker and add the soup mix, water, carrots, onion, potatoes and celery.
3. Cover and cook on low setting for 8 to 10 hours.

DAY THREE

I am thankful for:

Health

I am thankful for my healthy friends, my healthy family, and my healthy husband.

DAY TWO

Today, I am thankful for:

My job.

This year, with the unstable economic climate and all the company downsizing and layoffs, I am especially thankful for my job. As much as some of you may hear me complain about my job, I really do enjoy what I do (especially this time of year when I get to plan holiday parties)! And even when I don't feel like going to work, I am thankful that there is work to go to.

Seven Days of Thanksgiving: DAY ONE

I am thankful for:

My warm house.

I am thankful that I have a roof over my head and a warm place to call home. I am thankful that I am able to walk outside snuggled up in a cozy jacket or scarf. So many people do not have this luxury. They may have a home, but no heat. I have been blessed to have both and cannot wait to snuggle up with my hubby in front of the fireplace!

What are you thankful for?

I have the best running buddy!

Christmas in November Benefit Sale

Hey guys. As most of you know I work at a small non profit called World Impact Network. Well this weekend we are having our big ‘Christmas in November Benefit Sale’. So, if you’re going to be in the Factoria area today or tomorrow, please stop by! We have lots of great new and used items for sale. Big Lots, Target, Starbucks and Macy’s donated a bunch of Christmas decorations - from nativity sets to wrapping paper - and we also have many many toys, books, clothing, home décor, etc. All proceeds benefit WIN's Renewal Food Bank! Here is the address:

Bellevue Foursquare Church
2015 Richards Road
Bellevue, WA 98005

Friday 12 PM - 4 PM
&
Saturday 9AM - 3PM

Shop 'til you drop for a good cause!

Dinner Tonight :: Chicken with Cherry Tomatos

This is one of mine and Garrett's all time favorite go-to suppers. It's called Chicken with Cherry Tomato and Olive Topping. It's super fast and easy to make and oh so yummy! Did I mention how easy it is... we almost always have the ingrediants on hand ready to go and it really only takes me about 30 minutes with prep. It became an instant favorite at our house plus it's a Cooking Light Magazine Recipe, so it's good for you! Bonus points! :)

What are you having for dinner tonight?

Chicken with Cherry Tomato and Olive Topping

Yeild 4 Servings.
Serve with Angel Hair Pasta

Ingredients:

4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (I usually only cook 3 breasts)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
12 kalamata olives, chopped and pitted

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle the chicken with black pepper and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Add oil to pan. Add chicken; cook 5 minutes on each side or until done.

While chicken cooks, combine tomatoes and remaining ingredients. Serve over chicken.

Enjoy!

Attitudes of Gratitude

I love this list. I think I will print it off and put it on the fridge to keep us focused on blessings!

20 Little Attitudes
of Gratitude

1. Mind your manners. Say please, thank you and excuse me.
2. Smile when you see your family. Turn your frown upside down.
3. Pick up after yourself.
4. Notice when others do kind things for you, show gratitude by action or words.
5. Say I love you before going to bed.
6. Give hugs daily.
7. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Focus on what you are happy about today.
8. Create gratitude journals to keep track of daily blessings.
9. Show thankfulness for even the little things others do for you.
10. Leave love notes in unexpected places like lunch boxes and under pillows.
11. Encourage someone with a compliment.
12. Verbalize what you are grateful for when you feel like complaining about life.
13. Keep a basket of small slips of paper on the table. Write notes of thankfulness during the week and read them to each other during a family meal.
14. Remember to thank God for blessings each day.
15. Surprise your family (or friends) with little gifts or treats to show you thought of them.
16. No grumbling about minor annoyances around the house.
17. Do special things to cherish time with your family. You never know what tomorrow will bring.
18. Reflect on happy memories regularly. Make inspiration boards of special times.
19. Help someone out without them having to ask you. Watch for someone in need.
20. When you are doing household chores, be grateful you have a home to clean.

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