Thanksgiving Dinner

(I decided to do a second post for Thanksgiving, since the previous was getting lengthy!)

After the parade, we headed home to make some carrots and sunday pudding for a Thanksgiving potluck!  There were a few couples from our ward and a couple people that go to Columbia law school with one of the guys.

*Special thanks to Kristy for the Pictures!

We had all the classics: Really good turkey, glazed carrots, sweet potatoes, fruit salad, cranberry glaze, green been casserole, mashed potatoes, soup, and  gravy!  It was delicious!  Dan and I both really enjoyed getting to know everyone, and become better friends with people in our ward.

And of course, we finished up with PIE!  And sunday pudding, because well, it's a Forbush tradition!  Yes, those are my boots in the corner, waiting patiently for the picture to be done so I could start in on dessert.

Thanksgiving has a way of making you feel grateful.  Imagine that.  I would describe our feelings this Thanksgiving as a "content" gratitude.  We couldn't be happier with our life lot right now.  We love being in New York and the adventures it is bringing, and we couldn't be more blessed by God and by our family.  We're best friends, we're in love, and we have literally nothing left to ask for.

Our wonderful Thanksgiving was followed by a wonderful weekend.  Cleaning, hanging pictures, Christmas tree buying, and decorating!  And some good ol' fashion hangin' out.  Doesn't get much better.

~Feeling Nothin' but Lurve this Thanksgiving~

Thanksgiving Parade

We had an awesome Thanksgiving weekend here in the Hanks household.  Due to Dan's test, he only worked on Wednesday, so it felt like a super long vacation!  Well... maybe not for him.  But we did enjoy our super-long weekend!

Since we're in New York, we decided we couldn't pass up the opportunity to go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  We woke up at 4:45am (did we go to bed early to compensate?  Of course not), bundled up, and headed out to find a spot with our friends Kristy & Bryson.  

Dan entertaining himself, waiting for out train.

After a couple spot switches, we found front-row seats!  Not that we got to sit.  I swear the number of people quadruples once the parade starts.  And I tell you, you have to be tough to hold your spot.  It's one thing when little kids are trying to sneak in...they make you feel guilty.  (Though, not guilty enough to surrender your spot.  I may or may not have thrown a few elbows.)  But what about an old dude with a folding chair?  Oh yes, he squeezed through to the front 30 minutes before the parade was supposed to start and tried to park it right where we were going to be sitting.  And was insistent. Luckily, the guys (and the overprotective mothers surrounding us on all sides) were more insistent. 

Waiting for the parade to start.

Bryson & Kristy

Bundled up!

The coolest part, though, happened at the very beginning of the parade.  The very first person in the parade, a clown helping pump up the crowd, asked to take a picture with Dan!  Everyone was taking pictures of him, and he wanted one with Dan!  Apparently he is from San Francisco, and Dan was wearing his SF hat.  And he wasn't the only one who found Dan irresistible.  For whatever reason, every single parade walker decided they wanted to throw confetti at Dan.  Seriously, in his face, in his mouth, right at him, every time.  It would have been more hilarious if I wasn't standing right next to him.  You can see plenty of confetti on me in the picture below.

Lots of pictures of our favorite balloons and floats!

* "Hey Dan, I think Kermit wants to tell you something!" * Oh yes, that is Niel Diamond looking straight at us! * Dan, watching the smurf * 

The NYPD Mount, Band, and Motorcycles, along with Dan at the very beginning of the parade!

And of course, SANTA!!!  This was the "classic" part of the parade for me, since it's featured in Miracle on 34th St.  I loved the "Believe" balloons.  Perfect way to transfer from thanksgiving and usher in the Christmas season. 

Kitchen Cart

I've been scouring craigslist for several weeks for a kitchen cart to put next to our fridge for more counter space (and storage).  I love craigslist.  It's like going garage-saleing...online.  So much nervousness when you find one that looks perfect, and so much excitement when you go see it and it is!  And then more nervousness when you try to haggle a lower price...and then excitement again when you succeed!

Can you see where I'm going with this?  I found the PERFECT kitchen cart last week!  It was the last real piece of furniture on our list (and it was a definitely a want, not a need) so I'm feeling pretty spoiled.  Here is a quick "before" of our makeshift counter-space and storage:

...and AFTER!!!

Yes, I made the "after" picture bigger.  Why not?  It's the more exciting one!  We got a steal of a deal too, 45 bucks!  Similar ones are usually at least twice as much, and new ones are four to five times that much! 

Oh, you're curious how we got it home?  We did debate trying to take it on the subway or bus, but decided to go with a taxi.  Dan lured one in from the main street, and convinced the guy to let us put it in the trunk, promising a good tip.  The trunk didn't close, but it worked.  Plus we had an awesome conversation with the cab driver about religion and New York.  (Dan is very friendly, and great at talking with people).  And even after delivering on our hefty-tip promise, the cart was still less than most (and better than all) other carts I'd seen. 

I love it. I can prep meals, get things out of the fridge, have all my baking stuff handy, use my crockpot without putting it on the trashcan... the list goes on!  It looks pretty spiffy, too.  I took some inspiration from Pinterest and hid the organized-yet-appears-messy rolly-cart on the far side of the fridge. Rolls out when I need something and back for out-of-sight storage.

Anyway, new things are mostly only exciting for the person who gets them, so thank you for letting me share.  I promise one day I'll have pictures of our entire apartment, but for now at least you're getting pieces!  

Chili Cook-Off

Our ward hosted a Chili & Pie Cook-off last Saturday, and I figured, what better way to ensure I make myself go than to commit to bringing Chili!?  We have an amazing family recipe, so I couldn't really turn it down.

I love to make this chili!  It's got everything that makes cooking fun...adding a bunch of chopped stuff to a pot, sprinkling in spices straight from the containers, tasting as you go, the satisfying "schlurp" as you stir, a heavenly smell, and an amazing end product.

I don't know how to compare the satisfaction.  It's like making "concoctions" in the mud as a kid, adding all sorts of whatever, stirring it all up, and having a heaping pile of stuff!  No pressure of exact measurements, and having a tangible creation... am I sounding crazy yet?  Maybe I just get rush off of cooking in bulk.  (But most likely it's the "schlurp".)

Mushrooms are slippery little buggers!  I figured out the easiest way to slice them... on my second to last mushroom.

Yeah, I have the Slap'N Chop.  It doesn't get better for dicing. Especially for onions.  (Though, I still where my swim goggles when I cut them.  Go ahead, you may laugh at the picture in your imagination.)

Yums, turning into Noms!

Here's the recipe if you are interested.  It's a family classic, but not a family secret.  We love to share the goodness with the world!  I was too lazy to type it, so let me know if you can't read the picture. 

A few notes... this chili makes a TON!  As you can see, I had to use two pots since I don't have a huge chili pot.  Unless you're feeding an army, I'd suggest halving the recipe. You will still have plenty for leftovers.  Also, this is an "add what you want" recipe.  Tweak as you like!  My mom actually had to sit down and figure out quantities few years ago, as it's kind of a "dump and go" deal for her.

Luckily, I put some in the fridge for Dan and I before the cook-off.  The ward managed to finish off my 6-qrt crockpot, along with the other 20 chili's and 12 pies. Never seen such a turn-out.  But hey, it was free food.  Apparently we have a smart ward!

Date Package

My mom is notorious for sending me packages. Always has been, starting at girls camp and continuing all through college. The majority of them containing a pair or two of socks. And...I LOVE it! Luckily, this habit of hers hasn't changed since getting married!

Seriously, not much can make you feel more special than a surprise package...where there could be ANYTHING inside. It's excitement. In a package. Every time.

Here's out latest. Date Night, delivered right to our door.

There were two packs of M&Ms too... those didn't last 5 minutes.

Thanks Mom!

9/11 Memorial

Last week (2 weeks ago?) my cousin Malissa come in town. We had her and her friend stay with us, because really, what good is having family in a cool city if you can't crash with them to save on hotel costs!? (Please, take that as an open invitation!)

Awesome cousin that she is, she reserved tickets to the 9/11 Memorial for us. Even MORE awesome cousin that she is, she waited with me for an hour so Dan could come after getting off work earlier than expected. Check out this site for an overview of the design.

It was really a neat experience. And I'm actually glad we ended up waiting for Dan (besides the obvious reasons). It was beautifully mesmerizing at night. The lights from the memorial, surrounded by the lights from the building; it was awesome. 

And the memorial itself was humbling. You can see in some of the pictures that the names of those who died are engraved around the edges of the memorial pools. There is no particular order, and no other identifier. Dan and I were both struck by the equality and the perspective represented. There was no way of knowing which was the CEO and which was the janitor. The only thing you could know about each name was that they were a person, a person who lost their life in that very spot where we stood. A person who left behind a life and loved ones. Those names serve as a blazing reminder of a bigger picture, a larger perspective. One that places no meaning on social status and job title. 

Here are a couple pictures of the waterfalls, flowing into a square void, over the foundations of both towers. (One you can see the names lit up around the edge). Below is a description of some of the symbolism of the pools.

   

"The massive reflecting pools surrounding the footprints of the twin towers serve a two-fold function. They highlight the voids where the towers once stood and, they provide a soothing backdrop, as the water falls down from one level to another, providing an appropriate contemplative aura. At the pools' edges, the victims' names are etched in bronze.

Michael Arad explained his intention and the importance of the highlighting the voids with water in Places magazine: "My idea was that you would be able to stand on the plaza above, and look down into the north and south pools. I thought the edge of this void would be where you would come to understand the enormity of the event, and of the destruction." (Places, May 2009) The impact, indeed, is just that. The depth and the breadth of the voids are impressive and visitors cannot help but be struck with awe, standing at the edges of the dramatic waterfalls.The water falling down from the ground level pools recalls ancient symbolism and the connections between water, death and memory. As Phillip Kennicott of the Washington Post informs, the ties between water and death go back to the ancient times: "Without reference to any single myth, the flowing waters suggest the River Styx, the boundary between life and death in Greek mythology. They also suggest portals, or whirlpools, through which one might pass to some unknown beyond, or the waters of death crossed by Gilgamesh in the old Sumerian epic."" -Source

All in all, a wonderful evening. Thanks Malissa... you da best!

Halloween

 I decided last minute to throw an impromptu Halloween party for Dan and me. We already had plans watch Hocus Pocus (he'd never seen it! Gasp!). But I walked by a 99 cent store in the morning, decided to check it out, and became inspired. A few cobwebs, streamers, and home made decorations later...

Yes, we even had a pumpkin patch on our bed! Due to a certain movie due back at midnight, we didn't have time to carve our pumpkins (aka draw faces with black marker). But we still have pumpkins floating around... maybe we'll save them for Thanksgiving decor. 

Funny story, a girl buzzed up and came to my door looking for donations for a charity. Part way through her shpeal she looks inside and says "cool decorations". Ha, I felt silly admitting I did it all for my husband and me. I let her think I was throwing a party... for more than 2. 

 Hope you all spent the evening doing something you enjoyed. We sure did!