Fun Thanksgiving Facts!

Hey Everyone! I hope you are enjoying your Turkey/Thanksgiving Day! 
I know I am. My belly is already full and I'm loving all this family time. If you get a minuet with the family and have nothing to talk about. Here are some really awesome fun Thanksgiving facts! Enjoy! 
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 Fun Facts about the First Thanksgiving

The Plymouth Pilgrims were the first to celebrate the Thanksgiving.

The Pilgrims sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to reach North America.

They sailed on the ship, which was known by the name of 'Mayflower'.

They celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day at Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The Wampanoag Indians were the people who taught the Pilgrims how to cultivate the land.

The Pilgrim leader, Governor William Bradford, had organized the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621. He invited the neighboring Wampanoag Indians to the feast.

The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days.

Mashed potatoes, pumpkin pies, popcorn, milk, corn on the cob, and cranberries were not foods present on the first Thanksgiving's feast table.

Lobster, rabbit, chicken, fish, squashes, beans, chestnuts, hickory nuts, onions, leeks, dried fruits, maple syrup and honey, radishes, cabbage, carrots, eggs, and goat cheese are thought to have made up the first Thanksgiving feast.

The pilgrims didn't use forks; they ate with spoons, knives, and their fingers.

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Thanksgiving Facts throughout History

Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States.

Sarah Josepha Hale, an American magazine editor, persuaded Abraham Lincoln to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday. She is also the author of the popular nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb"

Abraham Lincoln issued a 'Thanksgiving Proclamation' on third October 1863 and officially set aside the last Thursday of November as the national day for Thanksgiving.

The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade tradition began in the 1920's.

In 1939, President Roosevelt proclaimed that Thanksgiving would take place on November 23rd, not November 30th, as a way to spur economic growth and extend the Christmas shopping season.

Congress to passed a law on December 26, 1941, ensuring that all Americans would celebrate a unified Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November every year.

Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation has presented a live turkey and two dressed turkeys to the President. The President does not eat the live turkey. He "pardons" it and allows it to live out its days on a historical farm.

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Fun Facts about Thanksgiving Today

In the US, about 280 million turkeys are sold for the Thanksgiving celebrations.

Each year, the average American eats somewhere between 16 - 18 pounds of turkey.

Californians are the largest consumers of turkey in the United States.

Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States.

Although, Thanksgiving is widely considered an American holiday, it is also celebrated on the second Monday in October in Canada.

Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, where it is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season.

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Fun Turkey Facts

The average weight of a turkey purchased at Thanksgiving is 15 pounds.

The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog.

A 15 pound turkey usually has about 70 percent white meat and 30 percent dark meat.

The five most popular ways to serve leftover turkey is as a sandwich, in stew, chili or soup, casseroles and as a burger.

Turkey has more protein than chicken or beef.

Turkeys will have 3,500 feathers at maturity.

Male turkeys gobble. Hens do not. They make a clucking noise.

Commercially raised turkeys cannot fly.

Turkeys have heart attacks. The United States Air Force was doing test runs and breaking the sound barrier. Nearby turkeys dropped dead with heart attacks.

A large group of turkeys is called a flock.

Turkeys have poor night vision.

It takes 75-80 pounds of feed to raise a 30 pound tom turkey.

A 16-week-old turkey is called a fryer. A five to seven month old turkey is called a young roaster.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Giving Thanks

Wow, where has this year gone? I literally seems like yesterday we were celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year has gone by in the blink of an eye! It is so hard to slow down when life is coming at you so fast. But, I'd like to take these next few minuets to just slow down and really think about what I have been thankful for since last year.

I am thankful for:
-a car the runs and takes me place to place
-the ability to afford the gas that it takes to get me there
-car insurance
-a good job
-a good job with benefits
-health insurance
-being healthy
-having a healthy son
-having a healthy husband
-healthcare
-a house over my head
-money in the bank
-clothes on my back
-shoes and socks on my feet
-food in my belly
-food in my fridge
-food in my cabinets
-blankets on my bed
-a heater when it's cold and an a.c. when it's hot
-a coat, gloves, and a scarf for when it's cold
-my sister
-my parents
-my grandparents
-my sister-in-laws (well most of them)
-my brother-in-laws (most of them)
-my parent-in-laws
-my grandparent-in-laws
-my whole family
-my cell phone
-my computer that helps me make money
-my schooling
-my Erin Condren planner
-my awesome friends
-Benefit Runs that help me give back to those in need
-Jesus
-Christmas music
-Halloween music
-Pandora for bringing all my favorite music together
-makeup (because lets face it I need it from time to time)
-lotion (both face and body)
-good recipes
-scented candles
-Christmas ornaments
-snow
-fall leaves
-a good summer breeze
-thunderstorms
-sunny days
-hammocks
-bonfires
-camping
-a camper to sleep in
-fishing -going floating with friends and family
-geocaching
-a good GPS
-photoshop and illustrator
-HTML guide books
-the W3 school website
-patience that God has granted me so I can do my job
-hot tea
-sweet potatoes
-sweet moments with Stratton
-Stratton being potty trained!
-Stratton


I am thankful for so much! I think this list is a good start. I read something yesterday that made me really think about how thankful we should be. It said "how much would you have if you only got what you thanked God for yesterday?"

I confess that I can not wait for the next 5 hours to go by so I can go see Breaking Dawn Part 1!!!

I confess I have had that date written in my planner since last year.

I confess it took me over 30 minuets to get dressed this morning because nothing seemed to fit right. I wound up putting on a baggy t-shirt and tying one of Derek's flannel shirt around me.

I confess I have put myself in a food coma three times in the last 2 days. It is definitely Thanksgiving time.

I confess I have been looking into firearms. Not just buying but safety and shooting ranges and what not. I think it would be a fun hobby that Derek and I could get into together. (plus, I'm pretty sure I would be a much better shot than Derek)

I confess there is one item that is on my Christmas list that I don't think anyone else would want on theirs. I want this book.



I confess the only reason why I am ready for the weekend is so I can clean my house and do my laundry!

Hope everyone had a wonderful week and hope you have a wonderful weekend!

LilyWhite. Designs

Hey everyone! Holy Moly it has been a WHILE since I have blogged! Yuck! I hate the feeling. I really wanted to blog but I have been a) way too busy to do anything other than work or school and b) I haven't really had anything important to write about!

Tuesday of this week I had the opportunity to take some amazing pictures of some really great people. I have been working directly with a Christian clothing company called LilyWhite. Designs. Check out their facebook page here. Their blog website here. And Lastly their website here. I am working with them on making their website new and better. This week we did the photo shoot to take pictures of their clothing and some of their accessories. Enjoy the pictures I took and if you need a good Christmas present please look to them for it. They are amazing and I love their clothing. My friend Leslie has a dress from them as well that is absolutely adorable.  Check out here blog post about her dress here.

Anyway, back to the photo shoot...please enjoy the pictures that I took and please go to their blog or website and give them some love. Abbie and Jordan are such God loving women and it is so nice to get to work with them. They truly are beautiful both inside and out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Blogger!

Hey All! I know it has been FOR-EV-ER since I have posted anything but today I was the guest blogger for my friend Leslie! Please head over to her blog here and check out today's post that I wrote about my
FIRST BIRCHBOX OPEN!

Thankfulness

This video is one of the reasons why people now a days should never take anything for granted and always be thankful not just around Thanksgiving but all year long. If there is one thing that I have learned it's to always make sure the people around you know they are loved. I appreciate my family so very much and I hope they knows that I am SO thankful for them.

My mother has taught me so many things just by being who she is. She is one of the hardest working women that I know as she burns her candle at both ends. She is so selfless and is always willing to go that extra mile even when it's only a few feet that those people deserve. She has taught me how to love even when it's really hard not to hate. She has been such a great friend and teacher to me and my sister and I'm tankful every day for her.

My dad has also been a beacon of light in my life. I have been a daddy's girl ever since I can remember. He taught me how to be like one of the guys when it came to hunting and fishing. He taught me that even though you still may be mad it's ok to say I'm sorry. He also taught me when it was better to keep your tongue between your teeth instead of saying what you felt. I will always be a daddy's girl now matter how old I get.

My sister is now one of my best friends and I'm so very thankful for that. When we were younger we did NOT get along. I think it was because we were such complete opposites. She is very much so a Type A personality while I am very much so a Type B personality. She has to have everything orderly and in it's place. I on the other hand live in a constant world of "lost" objects and "small messes."  She truly is one of my best friends not though and I'm glad we could finally see past how different we are from each other and really appreciate each other for the person they really are. I love her to death and I'm so glad she is and forever will be in my life.

My sister in law Steph. She is another one of my best friends. She is such a wonderful and loving person that anyone could learn something from her. She doesn't judge and she is always willing to help in anyway that she can. She is a great mother and an awesome aunt to Stratton. She has taught me how to be a better person when it comes to forgiving and forgetting. Especially when we were having the family issues with our other sister-in-law and brother-in-law. She was the last to judge and the first to forgive. 

My Grandma Marge is the woman in my life that I have truly learned the most from. She has loved and lost and still maintained her faith and love for Jesus. She lost both my Aunt Linda and my Uncle Mark within a few years of each other but from that loss she has stayed strong and kept her faith. I have learned to never take anything for granted because of her. She is such a giving person and I have learned to be gracious because of her being such a wonderful roll model. If there is anyone in my life that I would like to be most like, it would be my Grandma Marge. I am so lucky to have her as a grandma.

My wonderful husband Derek. He has taught me more in the last 4 years than I could have ever learned in a lifetime without him. He has taught me how to be patient in even the most stressful situations. He has taught me how to forgive even when I'm still mad. He has taught me that it's ok to be mad but it's not ok to not say "I Love You" before we go to bed. He has also taught me how to look past the "little" things in life that make me mad and appreciate the good things. He taught me that it's ok to jump in head first because sometimes the water is deeper than you thought and if you have a little faith you'll always be able to come to the top for air.

My little man Stratton. I would have never appreciated the love I have for my mom if I had never had him. He has taught me how to truly love unconditionally. In my eyes he is the definition of heaven on Earth. He is my whole world and I am so thankful for him because he truly made my life complete. I'm so thankful for him too because I wouldn't have the relationship that I have with my family now without him. He has brought my entire family together and I'm so thankful for that.


What are you thankful for and why are you thankful for it?

Friday Confessions

I confess I have been in a bit of a writing/attitude slump. I just have not had anything to talk about and I don't want to just get on here and bitch for the sake of bitching.

I confess I am thankful though. I'm thankful for everyday that I get to wake up next to my best friend, be greeted at 5:30 in the morning by the cutest most snuggly little man ever and getting my face laid on by my loving and adorable hairless wonder.

I confess that all though I have been in a bit of a slumpy attitude, I'm trying and succeeding in being grateful.

I confess I love this time of year (but really who doesn't). I love that I get to celebrate my and Stratton's birthday, then weeks later Halloween, then weeks after that Thanksgiving, then a few weeks after that Christmas then a week after that New Years! It's like the best most awesome time of the year!

I confess I like the holidays the most because I get to see my family. As much as Derek complains about my "family time" that I have with my family...I wouldn't give it up for the world. I love my sister and Marcus, Mom and Dad, Grandparents, Steph and Garret, Dale and Lisa, and I cherish every time that I get to spend another day with them.

I confess that I bit a gigantic chunk out of my bottom lip and it has been causing me to be cranky for the last week. It just will NOT go away.

I confess I am SO happy for my friends Lauren and Alex. Not only are they expecting a little bundle of joy but they moved into their new house this week! Derek and I are SO blessed to have such great friends like them and we are so happy that they have a new and beautiful home.

I confess I am more than excited to go to Breaking Dawn Pt. 1 next week with my sister-in-laws and Lauren. I have been having dreams about Edward Cullen and Jacob Black.

I confess I'm almost finished with my Christmas shopping and it feels SO good to almost have it done!

Being Thankful

This morning I was given some news about a girl that I worked with at one of my favorite jobs. Her name was Brittney Seabaugh. We worked together as cashiers at Buchheits. She was always a sweet girl and always super nice.

She passed away this morning.

If you could take just a minuet today send a prayer up for her family. I know they are hurting really bad right now. Also be thankful for the family and friends that you have. You never know when it might be your last day with them.

Rants in my Pants

I haven't done this in a while and I am in dire need of a little ranting.

-Today I was told that because I was of the female persuasion that I would not be able compete with the male web developers out there because women aren't as good at mathematical equations like men are. I should probably just stick to design and not try to actually code the beautiful websites I design.

How's this for not being able to code? Actual screen shot from yours truly thank you very much!

-I was pulled out in front of by a woman on her cell phone today while her son was in the front seat turned COMPLETELY around in his seat! I could have killed him if we would have actually gotten into an accident!

GET OFF YOUR CELL PHONE AND DRIVE!! Not to mention put your kids butt IN their seat with their seat belts ON!

I'll keep this Rants in my Pants short today.
I just had to get that off of my chest.
Thank you for reading.
This now concludes today's Rants in my Pants.