HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

By: Amy Weinberg

'Tis the season for giving, spiked eggnog, and overeating. It's time to chuck the sagging pumpkin face and toss up those holiday lights. Growing up a Jew, I can't speak to the religious aspect of Christmas lights (we stick to 9 candles), but man are they pretty to look at. 

BUT, I am getting a little ahead of myself because tonight is the night that kicks off this 5 week party. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday not because my birthday falls on it every few years, but because of the atmosphere. Delicious aromas fill the air, every imaginable dog breed is on television, and unbuttoning your pants after dinner is no longer 'frowned upon'. Thanksgiving is for everyone! At a time where tensions are high across the world, it's nice to have a true American holiday. Black or White, Christian or Muslim, West Coast or East Coast, Thanksgiving is for you. Whether you love dog shows (me), football (me), or stuffing yourself with food (me), Thanksgiving is for you. The only qualifications for Thanksgiving are a giving heart and an empty stomach.

(Special shout-out to the Native Americans who let us 'discover' their land)

At the risk of sounding corny, one thing for which I am very thankful is My Grandma's of New England. And no, I'm not talking about the coffee cakes (my waistband certainly isn't thankful for those), but the people who make My Grandma's what it is. I am thankful for the wonderful opportunity provided to me by wonderful people. Coffee cakes aside, this is the sweetest job I've ever had.

A few other things I am thankful for:

• All of the beautiful cheese you see on that potato above
• The fact that my entire family somehow prefers white meat 
• The increasing acceptance of sarcasm as my second language 
• The air in my lungs and the blood in my veins

Now that the turkey has been (somewhat) consumed and everyone is in a food coma, is it time to start getting in the Christmas Spirit. Whether you see this time of the year as a religious one or not, one thing remains true: no one is kinder than they are in the month of December. 

With that being said, I'll leave you with this challenge:

Never lose that 'Christmas Spirit', whatever that means to you. I know it's hard because the climax that is the end of each year is always followed by the drag of a long winter (for most of us). The only thing shorter than patience during this time is daylight. I get it. Unless you absolutely thrive in below freezing temperatures and snow-walls the size of my house, the first few months of the year are always the toughest. But don't lose that warm, giving spirit on January 1st. It's so easy for your outlook to match the bitterness of the weather, but never lose that warmth. Never lose the generous, loving, inclusive feeling you have right now.

Your prize? A blog next week on what to do with all of that left over coffee cake!

Charming Crafts- Thanksgiving Turkey Cake

by Maggie Kelleher

It's been a crazy few weeks, but I promise that I didn't forget about you, wonderful readers, and I wanted to share with you my fun Thanksgiving cake-ventures and a chance to win a cake of your own for Christmas 2014 or your late December celebration of your choosing. Scroll to the bottom of this post to enter to win!

Thanksgiving isn't easy, especially when you're hosting. Not only can family make even little things stressful sometimes (I love them to death, but sometimes...) but with all the food you have to make, sometimes dessert doesn't even register on the to-do list.

Delightful Delectables- Sweet Winter Cranberries

by Maggie Kelleher

Have Pinterest and mall soundtracks gotten you into the Holiday mood yet? Well if not this just might.

I found a recipe the other day that just looked too gorgeous to ignore. These Sweet Winter Cranberries are not only sugary sweet, but are also sweet in that they are completely adorable and perfect for the winter season.

That frosty goodness!

A Tasteful Thanksgiving- The Easiest No-Knead Homemade Bread

by Maggie Kelleher

I'm on quite a Thanksgiving kick! Okay, I'm a bit obsessed, I admit it. I love food, how could I not be excited?

And that obsession has come into convergence with the fact that I sometimes like to read about weird holidays and guess what! November 17th is Homemade Bread Day! So I decided to combine the two and share with you my absolute favorite cheap and easy bread recipe, because hopefully it will make your Monday wonderful and your Thanksgiving even more delicious! Check out the bottom of this post to enter to add a delicious coffee cake to your Thanksgiving table, as well!

A Tasteful Thanksgiving- Decor for the Time-Pressed

by Maggie Kelleher

Who's ready for Thanksgiving? I am! The Winter Holidays and their gorgeously decorated family parties are my absolute favorite! Just looking at this table setting is making me excited!

But as much as I love the look of the holidays and creating table settings, like this one, that make guests say "WOW!" I don't have the time to spend hours on the non-food aspects of holiday parties. Who does, with turkeys to roast/fry/or otherwise cook to your heart's desire?

In addition to making your life easier with My Grandma's (cakes that will *WOW* without the work) we have pulled together some of our favorite quick and easy Thanksgiving decoration ideas for all time-constraints and budgets!