THANKSGIVING AT BIVS

So if you haven't been following me on Instagram, I guess it's time I tell you that... I'VE MOVED! I most definitely plan to write a whole blog post about it and my process, but I am just not there yet at the feelings level. I really can't explain all the emotions inside of me from this move.

If you don't know me, then Hi, I'm Brittany. I'm originally from Brick, NJ and have ben working in New York City BEFORE I even graduated from college. The commute is brutal. It's two and a half hours one way (so total of above 5 hours commuting each day on a GOOD DAY). I'll talk more indepth about this later on in another blog post.

ANYWAY! I am extremely thrilled to say that I have finally moved and have been in this apartment for almost two months already. If we're honest, the time is flippin' flying. I cannot believe Thanksgiving is over already and we are moving on to Christmas already. WOW.

I am also excited to say that I have hosted my first Thanksgiving! Can you believe it? I moved into this apartment in October and I knew from that moment (even from August, when I knew I was moving) that I wanted to host like every single holiday in this apartment. I knew I wasn't going to get away with every single one, but I think I definitely at least wanted to start off with Thanksgiving.

There are a lot of things I have already learned about being a host. My dad had suggested that I keep an ongoing list of things throughout the day that I will need. As we started cooking and preparing, there was something that would pop up that I never thought I would need, but did. To be honest, I was pretty proud, there weren't many! It was good to have that list though, it will certainly help in the future.

I wanted to share a couple of photos from the day with you. They aren't the most professional photos because I really was focussed on having a great time and hosting in general. I don't care though, it was all worth it. Come along! >>

IRVINE THANKSGIVING | #HITTIHOLIDAY

Happiest Thanksgiving to absolutely everyone who reads this blog.  I am so happy and thankful to have everyone in my life that I do.  I couldn't think of living this life without each and every single one of you.  I am so excited to share with you some sweet photos from our Thanksgiving here in the Irvine Residence.  Check out the photos below:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING | #HITTIHOLIDAY

Happiest Thanksgiving ever to all of you!  I am looking so forward to tomorrows post with all the minor details.  I hope you had a great day celebrating with your families and ate lots of great food.  

Who is catching some great deals tonight? Tweet me and let me know and check back tomorrow!

'THANKSLIVING' | GIVE THANKS #HITTIHOLIDAY

Giving some major thanks to health today.  Especially because I am so sick, more than I have been in a long time.  I got this gorgeous Thanksgiving inspired garland at Target and fell in love right away.  See if you can find it at your Target.

For now, I'm using some oils and drinking tons of tea to see if I can shake this cold.  How do you get through the rough patches of sickness?  Tweet me!

'THANKSLIVING' | #HITTIHOLIDAY

It's that time of year again, time to start thinking about Thanksgiving!  I cannot believe how fast this year has gone and once again we find ourselves at the holiday season.  I wanted to show you all a couple of ways to celebrate thankfulness, so I came up with four different activities.  One for each week this month!  Here's how to get started.

Thanksgiving 2014!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!  I just absolutely love this time of year.  There's something to be said about getting together with family, celebrating the good (and the bad) that the past year has brought us and just eating, drinking and being merry.  Without the bad, there wouldn't be the good and I am just so thrilled to be able to spend times of reflection like this with the people that I love.

    

My Thanksgiving morning started with a bang at 8:30ish.  It was the CLASSIC Thanksgiving emergency.  My neighbor is texting me frantically telling me that she cannot fit her turkey in her own oven so she needs my oven.  I know that doesn't make her very happy but for some reason, it just makes me giggle.  It makes me feel like I'm in some Thanksgiving movie.  Classic.

Thanksgiving preparations began a couple of days before of course.  My uncle was hosting it at his house and I asked my aunt what she wanted me to bring and she said dessert.  I was so happy because I am normally not a great cook, so when she said dessert I knew my baking specialties could shine.  

I went to Costco to pick up a cheesecake and some cookies as well though.  Reason for this (Does there have to be one?) is because I feel like the holiday time is an excuse for Costco cheesecake.  If you have never had a Costco cheesecake, it's simple - you haven't lived.  They are the best, so are their cookies.  I wrote THANKSGIVING in Sharpie marker on the package of cookies so that no one would eat them and the next day they were all gone!  I honestly could not believe it.  So naturally, I made more.  Whatever, you'll see the photos below.  

Oh and when I was done making everything, I put little pink post-it notes with messages on each thing making sure the boys knew that they shouldn't eat it until Thanksgiving.  It kind of worked.

We started 'dinner' a little earlier this year because my older cousin Patrick had to leave earlier.  He works as a security manager at a mall and the Black Friday deals start on Thanksgiving.  You know how that is!  He had to eat and was gone by about 2:30-3:00.  It stunk that he had to leave early but it was great to see him and I'm happy we got the chance to catch up.  See my cousin in the background up there sneaking in some fruit from our tiny fruit tray BEFORE dinner?  So bad, hahaha.

I guess this is the best close up I got of the bird.  It has a bacon cross on it.  Umm, hello.  ALL HAIL BACON.  Makes me so happy.  Who DOESN'T worship bacon?  We do in the Irvine family.  Thank you and goodnight.

The full, delicious spread for dinner.  Ugh, can we all just take a moment.  My uncle is such an amazing cook.  No wonder he chose to be a chef as a career.  There's no one like him when it comes to making such awesome meals.  I am so thankful to catch a tip or two here and there.  Whenever I have a question about something when it comes to cooking, he always knows the answer. #Happiness

   

I guess these are just a couple of random action shots of things happening?  Just please enjoy my aunt standing on a chair taking a photo of the food.  She definitely didn't want me taking a picture of her at the time because there's more than one bird on the thanksgiving table (ahem).  On the other side, Ean is just oddly smiling and eating more of that fruit.  Ugh, he's so damn cute.  My dad is mid-thought?

Here is the dessert spread.  Another moment of silence for the godliness that is desserts.  If you can tell, there are a couple of shot glasses there to the side.  You know we indulged.  Also as you can see the fruit is almost completely gone (thank you Ean).  I made chocolate chews, there's the cheesecake, my aunt made a pumpkin pie, I made rice crispy treats, and I made cookies.  As you can also tell, everyone likes their hot beverages differently.  For me: black coffee.  My 11 year old cousin: jasmine green tea (omg).  For my aunt: 8 MILLION spoonfuls of sugar and some cream.  My dad: a little cream.  My uncle: a little cream, a little sugar.  My brother: who the hell knows.  

Clearly we are THRILLED about this photo here.  I don't know what we were thinking or what we were about to do but we were just ya know, lookin' great.  I know my aunt took this because I was just standing there with my hands around the boys feelin' thankful on Thanksgiving.  For some reason, the faces just say it all here.  Love them more than you know.

Here's a random shot of my dad, Pat and my uncle.  They were watching some random video on my dads phone and enjoying some random ale that my uncle brought out.  They were happy so I wasn't asking any questions.  This was pre-dinner, I think we were munching on the delicious Charcuterie platter my uncle had out, it was the best.  Um, can we talk about the wall color in this room?  Ugh, I dieeeee for it!  

I cannot say enough how thankful and happy I am to have my beautiful family in my life.  You're handed lemons sometimes, but just make lemonade and get your family to help you.  Be thankful for and bask in the joy that you're given, and if you feel like that's lacking - make your own joy to be thankful for.  Okay, enough is enough.  I love my family.  How was your Thanksgiving?  Send me a tweet and let me know.  I hope it was GREAT.  Thank you for reading.  -Brit.

Thanksgiving Eve: Facebook Reflections

Facebook has this uncanny ability to remind us of things that we don't want to know.  On this eve of Thanksgiving, I sit here browsing the FB feed and seeing what my friends are up to, because I DO care about SOME of them.  I mean, it's honestly true.  Some people on my friends list I do care about, others I honestly couldn't care less. 

Yes, there have been bumps in the road, yes there have been times where things are absolutely amazing, but it has all been part of the journey.  Without the downs, I feel like I would not have had the opportunity for the ups.  Nothing is ever easy and I feel like I have TRULY been tried, especially in this past year, but there is always something great just around the corner and I'm always working and waiting for that.

If there's ever a chance in life when I am feeling down, I look to my close friends and family for help.  I usually always find someone to talk to, someone is always there but if in that rare case everyone is busy, I always find myself.  This is what is MOST important and why I always say that its super crucial that you are honest with yourself because at the end of the day what YOU put out and how YOU act around people, is the image you'll see in the mirror at the end of the day.

When all is said and done, I question some of the things people post on Facebook everyday.  At times, the demons inside some of these FB friends of mine allow them to go off on tangents that I know they'll regret.  At other times, beautiful people share beautiful moments of their lives and it's a great thing.  There are also things I know for sure people post and will definitely feel embarrassed about; but that realization comes way too late as I feel INSTANTLY embarrassed FOR them.  I think it's important that these extremes meet and in that moment, Facebook may exist as this 'Post MySpace Dreamworld' or something.  I don't know.  After all people do have the right to post whatever they want on Facebook and mostly no one (except the Facebook police) are there to stop them.

What are your thoughts about the things people post on Facebook?  I know you have opinions.  Leave a comment below or send me a tweet, I am interested to know how you feel.  Also, make sure you stay tuned for my Thanksgiving post!  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  -Brit.