Shop 'til You Drop!

bright and early Thanksgiving morning

No long post today. But, then again, who reads blog posts on Black Friday? Not me.

No. I'm not shopping. I have Black Friday shopping issues...

no Barefoot Hippies this morning

Yes...the most memorable time I shopped on Black Friday was nine years ago. I was 7-1/2 months pregnant with Freckles and wanted to get some of the dollar a yard fleece on sale at JoAnns. I was there at 6:00, found my fleece, and waited in line almost an hour to get it cut. As my turn was approaching, I fainted. Yes, fainted. In line. At the fabric store.

How embarrassing! "Pregnant woman down in aisle 2..."

abundance

And, I've only ventured out Black Friday shopping once since then. Later in the day. No more early mornings for this Barefoot Hippie Girl.

our friends who graciously shared the day with us!

The Barefoot Hippies are round trippin' to the other side of the state, to visit one of our favorite museums.

Meres trying out a mashed potato mask. Look out Mary Kay!

We did have a marvelous Thanksgiving. Starting with our race. Using our feet before we eat, and all that.

turkey ready for the oven

The church service was the opposite of the race. Busyness and rush to reflection. I got to sit, and reflect on my blessings. I just sat and prayed. And even cried. "God is so good! He's so good to me."

my attempt at a center piece

I crashed early afternoon. Getting up early to prepare a turkey, and running a race, made me tired. I slept almost two hours. It was amazing!

Then I finished whipping dinner together, while visiting with the bff. The misters talked origami while we talked everything else.

chop the cranberries

Dinner was fabulous! How could it not be? Hauling out old and new recipes for a delicious, stuffed dinner.

add pineapple and lots of sugar

I will leave you with the recipe for our favorite cranberry salad. We got to enjoy it yesterday, for Thanksgiving, and there are lots of leftovers for the next few days. Yum!

and the marshmallows. and let it sweat overnight.

This is a make ahead recipe...like the day before. Cranberries are really tart. Anytime you use fresh cranberries, you should "sweat" them in sugar, to combat the tartness. Other than having to make it ahead, this is a really simple recipe. Hands on time is less than 20 minutes. And that includes chopping cranberries.

Cranberry Cream Dream Salad
1 pound fresh cranberries
10 oz. mini marshmallows
2 cups white sugar
1-20 oz. can crushed pineapple
1 banana, sliced
8 oz. whipped topping

*Roughly chop cranberries. Add sugar, pineapple and marshmallows. Cover, and refrigerate overnight. Just before serving, add banana and whipped topping.

Don't shop 'til you drop. Or if you do, drop in a good place.