My mother is a great baker. Everything she bakes is a huge success with everyone. I happen to know her secret but as long as she is around I leave the actual baking to her. I'm just a helper and a taste tester in the kitchen.

Yesterday she baked a wonderful bread pudding and I don't even like bread pudding but this was amazing. Cinnamon bread and pumpkin... it was too die for. Right away we start thinking about who we can give it away too. Anyone that walked in the door at the moment was leaving with a container of delicious bread pudding, trust me. We sat there and made a mental list of the people we knew would enjoy it.

Finally I realized something. If the big container of bread pudding stays in the house my mind says I need to eat it three times a day until it's gone or I can't eat it at all. It's just the way I'm wired when it comes to things like this- FOOD. It's all or nothing for me, do or die binge or with hold. Giving it away seems like the safest way and then I frantically want to give it away. Isn't that crazy?

I learned a long time ago that a holiday is just one day and one meal to get through. I honestly treat every holiday like any other day and I promise you holidays don't bother me in the least. As far as eating goes, if I take it one meal at a time I see no reason to gain a ton of weight around the holidays.

Today I am grateful for many things. I have a truly blessed life and I'm always the first one to admit that. I'm off from work and I plan on sticking around the house today because the weather is horrid. Tomorrow, I may venture out (Black Friday) and check out the sales revelling in the fact that I can sleep in on Saturday. Life ends up being about the simple pleasures doesn't it?

Health and Happiness to you all on Thanksgiving 2006,

~Liz XOXO

Photo by: cvwhipple