Holidays are the best! Since tomorrow is a BIG day, I thought I’d share my thoughts on making the perfect thanksgiving dinner plate. The following goes for any size plate…

1/3 Stuffing

1/3 Mac and Cheese

1/3 Green Veggies

1/3 Turkey

1/3 Gravy

1/10 Yams (not a big fan, but I’m forced to take them)

Now, you may be saying to yourself… Brook, you can’t add. Untrue! The secret to this blueprint are the layers. Gravy goes on top of the stuffing, turkey goes on top of the green veggies and the yams… well…I try as hard as I can to keep them from touching anything.

Oh and I forgot to mention my favorite thing…

SPARKLING APPLE CIDER!!

Also, many of you will be filling out your holiday cards soon. When you do, please consider mailing one to recovering soldiers at the address below:
Holiday Mail For Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

These soldiers won’t be able to have a traditional dinner, or time with family, because they’re in the hospital healing. **Update Here are a few guidelines…

Card Guidelines:
Every card received will be screened for hazardous materials by Pitney Bowes and then reviewed by Red Cross volunteers working around the country.
Please observe the following guidelines to ensure a quick reviewing process:

• All cards being sent in for 2011 Holiday Mail For Heroes program should be postmarked no later than Friday, December 9, 2011.
• Ensure that all cards are signed.
• Use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.” Cards addressed to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program.
• Only cards are being accepted. Do not send letters.
• Do not include email or home addresses on the cards, as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.
• Do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.
• We encourage participants to mail as many cards as they are comfortable sending. If you are mailing a large quantity, please bundle the cards and place them in large mailing envelopes or use a flat rate box from the post office. Each card does not need its own envelope, as cards will be removed from all envelopes before distribution.
• Please refrain from sending holiday cards with glitter. Many of these cards will be delivered to military and veterans medical facilities and the glitter could interfere with a patient’s recovery

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday, the company of family and friends, and the brief reprieve from worrying about eating healthy. Now it’s time to get our grub on, give back and be Thankful!

~Thankful