How was your Thanksgiving weekend?
Our Thanksgiving was lovely–no cooking, no cleaning–I think I’m going to make this a new family tradition.
We lazed around in the morning, then spent the afternoon exploring one of the many parks in San Antonio. The thing is, we’re outdoorsy people & love to take our kids to parks to let them just run around & explore, but it’s just been too dang hot to go out. Finally things have cooled down, so we’re able to get out & enjoy all of the nature around us. This particular park had a wilderness trail. As you can see, things are still green here, & the weather is just about perfect–fresh, crisp, most days in the 60’s or 70’s. We went to a buffet, then later attended a Thanksgiving get together at the home of one of Joseph’s co-workers.
Did you go Black Friday shopping?
I only went to Kohl’s. It was insanely packed & I waited in line for THREE hours. Call me crazy, but because of it, I was able to get all our Christmas gifts (except for the boy’s lego set, which I got at Costco), including extended family for $450, plus $135 in Kohl’s cash, which we’ll use to get a few more gifts, later.
This Christmas we’ll spend about $600 on Christmas–which for a family of 6 + gifts for extended family is pretty good, I think. Kohl’s been our go-to one-stop Christmas store for the past 4 or 5 years. We have a Kohl’s charge & only really use it for Christmas. We get the MVC benefits (you have to spend at least $600 a year), which means we get the monthly coupons for 15-30% savings on anything + we often get $10 gift cards. So I go on Black Friday & get the awesome deals + an additional 15% off + a $10 off purchase + Kohl’s cash. They don’t have a ton of options for toys, but I don’t need very many options at this point, & they carry a lot of Melissa & Doug items, Barbies, Hotwheel cars, & a few other things that my kids like.
The good stuff:
♥ awesome relationship advice from a couple who has been married 81 YEARS. (& watch the video at the end of the article–that man is 102 years old & is so spry & youthful.)
♥ sooo funny– how to talk to parents: a toddler’s guide to communication –if you have or have had a toddler, tell me these 10 points aren’t so true
♥ love Erica’s idea to sacrifice one gift, & give the money that would have been spent, on charity
♥ in case you missed it due to all the Black Friday hullabalo, here’s my best of list for edible holiday desserts (fudge, jam, peanut brittle, popcorn, candy cane patties, & more–I’m drooling)–treats are a way to anyone’s heart this holiday season
♥ My friend Wendy just released her 2013 edition of her Holiday Quinoa cookbook. Wendy is an author of several quinoa-centric cookbooks, this is her latest & greatest.
I contributed this recipe to the edition, an apple cranberry crumble (which I made for our mini-Thanksgiving dinner we had on Thanksgiving Eve):
This cookbook is an awesome resource for the holidays–filled with a ton of delicious festive foods, get this cookbook for loads of festive, healthy inspiration. You can get it here.
♥ confessions:
On the media front, I have to say I’m loving The Mindy Project lately (I hated all the episodes with her quasi-preacher boyfriend & glad he’s out of the picture).
Mindy Kaling is my fave–she’s smart, funny, real (I wish she still updated her blog, which I go back & read her old posts, I like her that much).
And I’ve finally gotten around to watching some of Downton Abbey’s season 2–I’m so behind the times, I know–& Joseph & I watched Iron Man 2 this weekend. Robert Downey Jr. is so likable, & Gwyneth–what youthful elixir is she drinking these days? Isn’t she like, 41? She looks amazing.
♥ bring joy totes are on sale until December 24 for just $9! (Plus, if you’re on my email list, I’ll send you a code for free shipping for orders of 2 or more.)
♥ more evidence that perhaps you should consider using coconut oil as your moisturizer of choice
♥ Have you heard of the app, Between?
It’s an app exclusively for couples (in fact, only two users are allowed per account) that originated in South Korea & is HUGE there (half of twenty-somethings have used it), & is gaining modest popularity in the U.S & Japan.
I first found out about it via this recent article in The New Yorker. Reading the article was a fascinating dive into the world of ever-changing technology, & I have to be honest, I’m not always comfortable with the idea of a tech heavy world. (Handwritten letters, for example–are they now totally archaic? Sigh.)
My fave quote in the whole article is from a Canadian expat, Simon Stawski, who runs the blog, Eat Your Kimchi, who says, “We always describe Korea as having the technology of 2050 with the mentality of 1950.” I definitely got that vibe after reading about this Korean-inspired app, which actually promotes monogamy & fidelity, strong relationships–a good thing, right?
Though, I admit, as non-smartphone user (yes, my cell phone is oldschool, as in, I can use it only to call & text), Joseph & I won’t be using this any time soon.
♥ I’ve always been a huge hat-on-new-born advocate (thanks to my R.N. labor & delivery mother who ingrained in me that my baby should always be warm, especially the head)–but this article gives some compelling arguments why you should drop the newborn hat. (Though I should note I still think a hat when going outdoors or when not next to mama is a good idea.)
♥ For those who are on my exclusive updates list {what, you’re not?!–it’s free (& you’ll get a free copy of my book SIMPLE: 15 plant-based recipes to get you started)–it’s easy to sign up, just go here} I’ll be sending my updates out on the 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month from now on, so you’ll be getting an update tomorrow. I’m sharing why I think you need more beans in your diet (& an easy recipe) + a code for free shipping on bring joy tote purchases this month, & more good stuff!
♥ An update on the ebooks I’ve been working hard on–I’m getting so excited to share these with you & though I had hoped to have them done in November (my overly ambitious nature, I suppose), I really (really, I do) think they’ll be ready for you by the 1st of the year. And heaven knows, I’d better get them done before this baby is born!
to pin:
all recipes are vegan + gluten-free
oil-free sweet potato fudge cake
amaretto “snowballs”
would make an awesome edible holiday gift
versatile nut & fresh herb sauce
perfect for sandwiches, veggie dip, pasta
tomato basil soup
quick & easy!
maple roasted fingerling potatoes
creamy mushroom spaghetti squash
Coming up for tomorrow’s Frugal Tuesdays installment–a continuation of our Frugal Holidays series: Christmas traditions & easy DIY kid-friendly clay baked ornaments.
Happy December–it’s going to be a fabulous month.
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