Happy Thanksgiving, Friends!!!!!!!!!!! I want to wish everyone a sincerely wonderful Thanksgiving Day, and a wonderful kickoff to the winter holiday season. I want to take this time to thank each and every person who reads my blog, who leaves me positive & uplifting comments, who tells me that my blog has helped change them for the better, and thank you to all of you who write me telling me that you love my recipes and that I am helping you transform your dietary choices and your life.
Such high praise, and thank you, sincerely. Without all of you who read my blog, I wouldn’t have a blog. So thank you, and I am grateful for you all!!!!!!!!!!!
I wanted to write a list of some things I am grateful for on this holiday and I will get to that, but first…
I’m glad you enjoyed my Everyday Eats post yesterday. Keeping things simple the day before the big cooking & eating fest was the name of the game. Foods like overnight soaked oats
And Kale Salads with Fresh Veggies for dinners were where it was at.
And either Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Or Raw Vegan Almond Butter Cookies for dessert
All these foods comprise the simple, easy, pleasurable, stress-free way of eating I like best. Not just the day before Thanksgiving, but in general, easy, simple, fresh, short ingredient lists, straightforward recipes, home-made, but not kitchen-enslaved, foods are how I like to cook and eat.
For Thanksgiving, I made a turkey for Scott. He’s not vegan, but 95% of the time goes along with my vegan fare. He requests very little culinary-speaking but did request turkey, so I wanted to honor that request and I made one. It was a very conscious choice, not just mindless eating nor embarked upon on whim. I made a small bone-in turkey breast. (It was not appetizing for me to handle the raw bird, but I cloth-diapered Skylar so there is very little that makes me squirm anymore. Sorry, about the TMI).
I also made Gravy, Stuffing, Sweet Potato Fries, Baked White Potatoes, Salads, and Dessert. We had enough food. No worries there. And I will post pics of everything in the next day. For now, I am trying to keep this post really simple because not gonna lie, I did bust a hump in the kitch today and don’t have it in me to get all the pics up now. Tomorrow, they’ll be up, promise.
Here are some of the things I am grateful for:
My Husband
My Daughter
Being a homeowner
Having a body that I can use to do yoga, run, dance, walk, and move freely about the world
My yoga practice
Being hired to teach yoga
My blog
My blog readers
Finding the path that’s right for me in terms of dietary choices
Friends I’ve made in the blogosphere
Friends from my childhood
Having plenty of “stuff”
Not having to worry about how to pay the electric bill or pay for groceries
Being able to take vacations with my family
Learning & being able to cook in a whole new way after food intolerances
Being appreciated by my readers
Living in a warm climate
My brain
My creativity
My sensitivity
Meaningful connection with others
Blue skies
Sunshine
Clean Water
Clean Food
The People Who Love Me
I could go on and on and on about what I am grateful for but my Tip of the Day is to Practice Gratitude. Be grateful for that which you do have, focus on that. Do not dwell or obsess on that which you don’t. It serves no purpose and will hinder you from seeing, feeling, observing, and being grateful for all that you do have.
Yoga today is full backbend, Urdhva Dhanurasana. Open your heart center and let the love flow in. Let yourself receive healing energy, peaceful vibes, and love from the Universe. And then give back. Be grateful. Be giving. Be loving. Be Thankful. Namaste Friends!
I think everyone ’round the Blogosphere has been asking What are you Grateful For? And I will ask you now, too. Tell me something you’re grateful for. Do you have an easy time practicing gratitude or do you find yourself dwelling on things you don’t have or things you wish you had? I think we’d be lying to ourselves if we said, oh, it’s always easy and I never compare, I never have a hard time just accepting that which I have and not wishing for something else. How do you get past this? It’s so important to realize we’re only human, take a quick minute for your pity party, but then get back on track with a positive mental attitude, being grateful, and welcoming in the love and light that surrounds us. That’s my strategy at least, tell me about yours.
Stay Tuned For My Thanksgiving Food Spread Photos & Recipes…
Ohhh I love the blogosphere because not only do I get food inspiration, and new friends, I get school lessons as well!
This moon stuff is so interesting! Last year my best friend and I kinda went through some highschool drama together at the same time, and I swear every month, I'd be like, Oh yep- its a full moon! I wonder what will happen this time around?! And no joke- something always happened!
Good to know.:)
Hi Averie,
I have been lurking around your blog for a while now and truly am inspired by your recipes!
I have always believed the full moon has an effect on my mood and sleep patterns. As I have become more intuned to my body, I really notice it. Very restless sleep this week and extremely anxious. Makes for a really good work out:)
I also need to be where there is a lot of sunlight. I feel so tired by 6 PM because its already been dark for an hour:(
I love reading your blog!
Mary
Thanks for the full moon facts. Now I know why I haven't been able to sleep. I've been wired at night.
I need to try that tea. I drink a lot of that stuff this time of year. I already had the gingerbread one. Yum!
Thank you so much for the moon astrology tidbits. I really needed that and I didn't even know it.
Can I just say that yoga pose is INSANE! You rock!
I am feeling the let down of not enough sun. I too, need to be around nice full sun/clear skies. I moved to Portland 3 years ago. I have been so sad lately because I know I can't live here much longer. It is to dark and cloudy to often for me. It effects so much; body and mind.
That's a DEF on the energy. Sometimes my husband thinks I'm crazy when I talk about intuition and energy. I just tell him to listen to his heart. It's all about being "intune."
Those are interesting moon facts. I have a lot of insomnia and the other things you cited also, so I hope the full moon does not intensify it :)! Have a nice day Averie.
Aww yea I didn't know you moved to Arizona–that would have been nice! Well please let me know if you come back to visit San Diego…we'll have to get together for some healthy eating! :)
Thanks for all the full moon facts! That could explain why work was such a drama-fest last night (carbon monoxide, hospitals, etc.).
I prefer your cookie dough balls too! Thanks for the noochy explanation – I still need to get my hands on that stuff.
I just had a balance bar. Feel the same way, love the protein, not the laundy list of ingredients :-/
ha! i love those full moon facts :) i'm glad that next time im bitchy and it's a full moon i can blame it on that.
on the other side get it gurrrrrrrrl when its a full moon haha
Love all your full moon info! It was so beautiful early last evening! I knew it was going to be a full one so I didn't answer the phone when my mother in law called! HAHAHAH!
Your blog made me hungry, as usual!
Hmm, interesting info about the moon. I have trouble sleeping too, next time I'll check the phase to see if it's a full moon!
I totally believe the moon has an effect on us. It was so freaky last night because it was cloudy.. looked straight out of a movie!
Im not a fan of bars with more than like 5 ingredients.. im doing a Luna Review tonight.. blah too much stuff!!
Im a huge fan of Skylars snack plate.. too cute. :)
Gotta love the "full moon" effect :-D
This info was awesome about the full moon. I could see it last night and it was freaky!!!
I do like the cookie dough balance bars, even tho I dont eat bars very often. But I think I'd love the cookie dough balls!!!
Have a wonderful day love. :) <3
Hey girly! I used to love those balance bars until I looked at the ingredient list (10 miles long). No thanks! Cool info about the full moon- I never knew any of that!! Glad to hear your yoga classes are going well. I want to take one!
Confession time: Cookie Dough Balance Bars are on my list of non-vegan foods that I'll eat. I think they are just nostalgic for me because I ate them in law school on a daily basis. The girls love them too. We don't eat them everyday, but man, they are a treat to us.
My girls were acting CRAZY today. We are talking tantrums about putting on a shirt. I'm blaming it on the moon!