Pic of the Week.

YES! Thanksgiving is the day after tomorrow! I went shopping for my feast last night and I’m SO excited about all the delicious food I’ll be chowing down on Thursday. Below is the menu… and don’t let me fool you, I pretty much bought everything already prepared.

• Turkey breast & drumsticks
• Cornbread stuffing
• Green beans (with shallots & bacon)
• Corn
• Sweet potato casserole
• Cranberry-orange sauce
• Twice-baked potatoes
• Pumpkin pie

And wine, wine, wine!

Now, in my family, growing up, we always had Thanksgiving at dinner time, so we would snack during the day, and THAT is probably what I love most about this holiday. So, I decided to build a fantastic cheese board to snack on. Here’s what I’ve got:

• Pepperdews & goat cheese
• Various Greek Olives
• Summer sausage
• Prociutto
• Smoked, aged gouda
• Various soft cheeses
• Cranberry preserves
• Grapes
• Raspberries
• Hot mustard
• Water crackers
• Nuts & dark chocolate

YAASSSSS!!!

I would love to hear what’s on your Thanksgiving menu this year, what your favorite traditions are, or what your plans are this year.

Also, I got lots of great messages yesterday regarding my post on giving back during the holiday season. I wanted to share part of one of the messages with you to fill you in on an effort driven by social media:

Last year, over 30,000 corporations partnered with 92nd Street Y and #GivingTuesday to give back during the holiday season.  Held annually on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving and Black Friday, #GivingTuesday is fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. This year, in its fourth consecutive giving season, 92Y has set out to work with partners to expand the impact of this global movement. .  

Major, national corporations and non-profit organizations have committed to participating in this year’s efforts, including Salvation Army, Honest Tea, Hispanics in Philanthropy, Squarespace, Smile Train, Cole Haan and more. Possible Health, for example, a global health organization that delivers healthcare in rural Nepal, has committed to rebuilding the healthcare system in Nepal since the devastating earthquakes this spring. On #GivingTuesday, they’ll be launching a special way to get involved not only once, but for the entire year, in order to support a long-term healthcare system that can be resilient against future natural disasters.

Since its inception in 2012, there has been an estimated 470% increase in online donations on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and 40+ civic campaigns around the U.S.However, financial donations aren’t the only way to give back to the community. Through this annual tradition, #GivingTuesday hopes to inspire and encourage acts of kindness – big or small – just as a local Baltimore resident demonstrated last year by donating her piano to a local school for their music program.  

Alright, y’all! So, let’s hear it… what are you going to be eating this Thanksgiving?