Posts Tagged ‘black Friday’

The Morning After

November 29, 2013

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Whew, it’s over! Whether you spent the last day ( or two ) cooking or just hanging with family and eating like there is no tomorrow, lo and behold, that tomorrow is here. What to do now?
Take that turkey carcass, toss it in a big pot with carrots, celery, onion, and water, and cook it into submission, until you have a rich, flavorful stock.

Eat a light, but healthy breakfast, like some fresh fruit, or a smoothie. Tempting as it may be, pumpkin pie is not the breakfast of champions. (Yes, I am talking to you!)

Get active! Go to the gym, go for a run, play football with the fam, or at the very least, shop the Black Friday sales until you go anaerobic from the sheer frenzy of it all. Turn all those excess carbs into fuel, and burn them off, any way you can. You will feel much better afterwards.

If you hosted the dinner, put your house back into some semblance of order. You will be able to relax and enjoy it, if it is neat and all signs of chaos are eliminated.

Assess the leftovers. Do you want to eat them as is, make sandwiches, or turn them into something else? Leftover turkey can be used to create a variety of dishes from turkey salad, to turkey crepes and turkey tacos, just to name a few. Get creative, and turn those leftovers into something new that everyone will want to eat.

Monday is the absolute last day to eat those leftovers safely. Stretching that turkey and dressing through next week could result in your stomach rebelling. Eat them, freeze them or donate them, but do it within the first 3 days or so.

As the week progresses, and the stress of work and school set in, don’t forget to reflect on all of the things you are thankful for. Stretch those positive thoughts out to keep you grounded and grateful for weeks to come.

photo: Glasshouse Images

We would be very thankful if you would:

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GIving Tuesday

November 27, 2012

The day after Thanksgiving is thought to be the biggest shopping day of the year. The term “Black Friday” comes from a time when the boost in sales helped businesses move from being in the “red” to being in the “black,” or achieving profitability.

Black Friday is the kick off to holiday shopping. Consumerism runs rampant this time of year, and it is difficult to remember why we are celebrating the holidays in the first place.

Stores opened as early as Thanksgiving Day, setting off a barrage of criticism from workers who wanted, justifiably to spend the time with their families.

Black Friday has spawned other shopping days, such as Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.

In an effort to step back and embrace the true meaning of the season, Giving Tuesday has been created to encourage people to give to others in need.

Statistics show that in 2011, the average shopper spent almost $400 on Black Friday, with almost 25% of them hitting the stores by midnight.  What if just a small amount of that money was spent on giving back to their communities?

Today, I ask each of you to think about what you are grateful for, and find a way to express that gratitude by donating time or money to a worthy cause.
As for myself, I would like to take this opportunity to ask you to help me raise money for the treatment of rare cancers through Cycle for Survival.  Each year, I ride in a charity indoor cycling event, which has raised over $18 million dollars for the research and development of treatment protocols to aid those suffering from rare forms of cancer. A friend of mine, Jennifer Goodman Linn, whose 7-year battle with cancer ended just over a year ago, founded it. She was an inspiration to everyone whose life she touched, and her legacy has helped fund over 53 clinical trials at Memorial Sloane Kettering Hospital.

Please click the link below to donate to my team, Shari’s Spinners to help us find a cure for this devastating disease.

www.cycleforsurval.org

If you are in New York City, and would like to join the team, or would like to form a satellite team in your town, please contact me directly at indigojonesnyc@gmail.com for more information.

I am thankful that I am able to do something I enjoy and truly make a difference in the lives of others. What will you do to give back today?

photo:Glasshouse Images


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