OUR FIRST THANKSGIVING.

yesterday marked our very first thanksgiving together, and the first time we had spent the holiday away from our families. per usual, b was a pro in the kitchen and whipped up an amazing turkey, with all the sides.{yes, yes, i know how lucky i am.}

we got to skype with all our loved ones back in ohio, we said a prayer for all our blessings and then we napped for way too long.

it's back to work for me today, but i am still feeling just so grateful.

I AM THANKFUL.

2012 has been a year of much change. last year i did an entire series on things i was thankful for. those things have all remained, plus my life was opened up to so many more experiences and people than i could have imagined 365 days ago.

happy thanksgiving to you blog friends!

ohio.

i'm home, i'm home!

no offense to my partner in the backseat, but 10+ hours one way made me a little stir crazy.

a look through the bridge at foggy cincinnati, homeland of many of my best friends. and delish skyline dip, which will be one of the first things i eat if/when i cross back into meat eating.

my hometown.

my sister! my favorite part of ohio.

buehler's holds SO many childhood memories. everytime i go home, a maple creamstick is on the must-have list. there's something about a small-town grocery store that gets me every time.

my bff tricia. who moments after this photo was taken asked me to be her maid of honor. i cried, she bought her dress, i got to say, "are you saying yes to this dress?", and i cried some more. so honored and excited!

and the best of the truly awful family photos we attempted to take. a horrified cat, blinkers, non-smilers (side eye at you, dad), dog sniffing, mom hiding.



awkward family photos: what the holidays are all about.

currently craving: a veg thanksgiving.

{via vegetarian times, which i have a subscription to!}

 {via one of my fav food blogs, peas and thank you.}

{via daily garnish, another great blog.}

so, this will be my first thanksgiving as a vegetarian. last year, i gave up meat in october and up until the day before the big holiday. i was commuting up with my parents to ohio and we stopped for dinner at quiznos. {which, sidebar, i think has all but gone defunct.} i was so excited to eat a sandwich with meat and ordered my usual turkey sammy. upon eating, i felt totally fine, but couldn't shake the "meh" feeling. like, maybe i hadn't missed meat that much after all. and that's the first time i thought that i could maybe do the veg thing for real.

so, here we go. i think i'll miss the turkey, but it's worth it to me.