Thursday, November 22, 2012
What my kids have taught me about gratitude.
It's the time of year where I reflect on all the things that I am grateful for. Being a parent has helped me to not take things for granted and to appreciate many simple moments in life. Here is a list of the top 10 things that I've learned to be thankful for since I became a mother. 1. The value of a good night's sleep. Seriously, I had never known true exhaustion until I became a parent. Now that my children sleep soundly through the night, I thank my lucky stars for 8 hours of uninterrupted bliss. Without it, I turn into a crazy person. 2. A closed bathroom door. It's rare that I spend time powdering my nose without a child following me in there. Oh, but those moments that I do escape are so beautiful, even if both of my children throw …
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Enjoy music, exercise and Thanksgiving fun while helping fight poverty at MUST Ministries' 10th annual Gobble Jog.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- Angela Chao
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Wednesday, November 21, 2012
This week's Cobb, Douglas and Paulding Weekend & Community Spotlight features the 10th Annual Gobble Jog by Marietta-based MUST Ministries. The road race on Thanksgiving morning raises money to fight poverty. This year’s theme, “It’s kind of a big deal,” heralds the Nov. 22 event that will hopefully attract 10,000 runners, building on last year’s 9,453 attendees. Proceeds from the race help MUST Ministries provide 34,000 individuals each year with food, shelter, education and employment opportunities, clothing and access to healthcare to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness and foster long-term change. Visit Patch's Event Calendar for more details on the Gobble Jog and how to register. Got a great event coming up in your community…
Monday, November 19, 2012
Want a great deal? You may have to spend part of your Thanksgiving to get it. Tell us what you think about retailers pushing the start of the holiday shopping season onto Turkey Day.
Looking to grab some great Black Friday deals? Better be prepared to scarf down the turkey and put away the pumpkin pie quickly. It’s becoming a tradition for the holiday shopping season to start well before the Thanksgiving leftovers are gone. But your holiday food might still be warm by the time retailers offer the first “Black Friday” deal. Take, for example, Walmart. The retailer is rolling out its first Black Friday deals Thursday—that’s Thanksgiving night—at 8 p.m. Not to be outdone, Target is inviting customers to grab its Black Friday deals at 9 p.m. Thursday. The early deals means those hoping to save money during their holiday shopping will be spending part of another holiday heading to stores, fighting the crowds and waiting in …
Friday, November 16, 2012
Want to warm up for Thanksgiving and support a good cause? Head to the North Cobb area this weekend for the 2012 Acworth Turkey Chase.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Angela Chao
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Friday, November 16, 2012
This week's Cobb, Douglas and Paulding Weekend and Community Spotlight features a holiday themed event in the North Cobb area. The 4th Annual Acworth Turkey Chase 5K Fun Run and 2K Walk will be held this Saturday in Historic Downtown Acworth (5K Fun Run at 9 a.m., 2K Walk at 9:15 a.m., and Little Pilgrim Trot at 10 a.m.). Participants of all ages and abilities can walk, jog or run. Get a head start on that New Year's resolution to shed a few pounds. If you register on the day of the race, the cost is $30 for the timed run, $20 for the untimed fun run (ages 13 and up) and $10 for the untimed fun run (ages 6-12 years old). Kids who are 5 years old and younger participate for free. Got a great event coming up in your community? Upload it onto…
Sunday, November 4, 2012
It's not too early to pick up some tips help you plan for the big feast.
It’s that time of year . . . the Thursday we’ve all been waiting for is starting to draw near. Diets go by the wayside, and budgets fly out the window. Only at Thanksgiving does it seem perfectly normal to have four desserts and 15 side dishes atop the groaning table, and the cost can be staggering. So, in preparation for the Black Friday sales, I offer my take on the “Black Thursday” Budget Thanksgiving.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Have your own suggestions on how to survive the upcoming shopping frenzy? Add them in the comments.
Thanksgiving may be the great feast day, but for many, it’s the day after that has moms celebrating. Black Friday carries the anticipation of hitting Merchant's Walk stores such as Kohl's and others in the neighborhood and getting your entire Christmas list knocked out cheaply and efficiently in one day. Or maybe not. I’ve had successful and unsuccessful Black Fridays, and trust me, to get the former, you need to strategize. Here are some tips to remember before hitting the aisles: 1. Gather all the pertinent information you need to effectively shop. Who needs a gift? What are their preferences? Where do they shop? 2. When it comes to clothing, what are their sizes, favorite colors and most complementary styles? (It's not a good idea to…
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
In this special holiday edition of Let's Get Cooking, John shows you how to prepare the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving feast.
Here's your turkey grocery list: Turkey (determine size based on Tip 1 below) Stuffing (see package for amount needed based on turkey weight) Chicken Broth Onions Celery Butter Spices: Sage, Thyme, Poultry Seasoning, Basil, Salt, Pepper Aluminum Foil Thermometer (if you don't already have one) Roasting Pan Tip 1: When purchasing your whole turkey, figure 1-1-½ pounds per person, which allows ½ pound for leftovers. Tip 2: Frozen turkeys should be defrosted in the refrigerator for 2-5 days prior to cooking depending on the size. Figure approximately 1 day for every 4 pounds. Never defrost at room temperature. Tip 3: Always remove the neck and giblets and rinse your turkey inside and out with cold water and pat dry. Tip 4: When prepping …
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Despite our troubling times, it's important to express gratitude for the basics of everyday living.
It almost seems trite in the midst of hard times to tell folks to be thankful for the small things in their life. Seems kinda like offering gravy without the turkey, dressing or potatoes. These are tumultuous times in America and throughout the world. Even more so are they hard on individuals and families. Many Americans have not seen times these hard in their lifetime. And while appreciating even the small things can offer comfort, it seldom offers the hope, strength and endurance needed to not only survive the hard times but to thrive despite them. Certainly, I’m glad for those things that many of us take for granted like a car, a place to sleep and food to eat. But those things merely get you by. Getting by, though, just doesn’t seem to…
Sunday, November 13, 2011
What's one more place at the dinner table...or under it? Adopt a Pilgrim cat, they would be oh so thankful! Plus, vet tips on pet obesity.
Many changes are happening and many more are needed at the Cobb County Animal Control shelter, but for this week I decided to concentrate on the holiday season soon to begin. Thanksgiving, a day for giving thanks and for celebration, is the perfect time to add a new family member. Perhaps one of these Pilgrim kitties would be welcome in your home this Thanksgiving Day…and everyday after that. If you would like to help make these animals stay at the shelter a bit more comfy, you can order a kitty bed for a donation of $15. These beds are made locally and with much love for the animals. For a dog bed, donate a Kuranda bed. They can be purchased and donated to the shelter by ordering online. The beds will be sent directly to the shelter www.…
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The Cobb Center for Family Resources is providing 1,500 Cobb needy families with boxes of food items needed to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal at home.
The Center for Family Resources (CFR) has been providing Thanksgiving boxes to families in need in Cobb County for 26 years. As families prepare for a holiday with loved ones surrounding a Thanksgiving feast, many of our Cobb neighbors must stretch their budgets, making it difficult to afford a Thanksgiving meal for their families. It will take nearly 70,000 food items to ensure every family served will receive everything they need for Thanksgiving. The coordination of Thanks for Giving 2011 would not be possible without the support of local individuals, schools, businesses and civic organizations. CFR relies entirely on these groups to make the Thanksgiving food distribution possible. Please consider helping the effort by hosting a food …
P D Murray
8:21 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012
It leaves nothing for kids to get excited about, by the time you start decorating and putting out displays in the store the same time as halloween, it's confusing. Let us have the opportunity to "Give Thanks" with our families. The poor folk who work retail deserve that time for themselves. Enough already! more ›