I want to wish all Americans a happy and splendid Thanksgiving!! And to my friends in other parts of the world, have a happy day as well! ^____^
I started Thanksgiving cooking a little early, for I baked a butternut squash and apple gratin last night that will be a side for tonight's dinner. I figured I'd give my mom a little helping hand, since she'll be working on the turkey all day today!

I woke up rather late this morning, but still got to enjoy some of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (though I missed the Rick Astley performance...grrrrrrr.....I'll youtube it later tonight...) while sipping a giant mug of cafe au lait. I love watching the giant balloons and humming to the marching bands that go through Broadway. *sigh* Oh how I wish I was there...watching from my penthouse suite! I guess a girl can dream...
I'll be having my Thanksgiving dinner at my cousin's house in Princeton. Initially, it was supposed to be at my house, but some plans have changed and we'll be having it in Jersey instead. I don't mind, I won't have to clean up the house. :P But I'm rather excited for tonight. In fact, I don't plan on eating anything today so I'll have room for all the delicious food I'll have tonight! I'm sure the coffee can last me a few hours, no?
I bought a dress the other day that I plan on wearing for tonight's dinner. I can't bring myself to be too casual for big dinners like these, and it's always more festive when everyone looks nice. I actually saw the dress in H&M a week ago, but my conscious told me to not buy it. Needless to say my conscious changed its mind over the course of a few days and I finally bought it! I don't regret it, even though I have been spending quite an amount of money on clothes. It was love at first sight, and I absolutely adore the fit and the structure of the dress. It's very 'Herve Leger' if you ask me, or even Roland Mouret-esque, like the famous moon dress Victoria Beckham wore upon coming to America. Anyways, it's adorable and I can't wait to put it on! Though I think I'll have to loosen the belt buckle a little as I begin to eat tonight...

I have rather odd lighting in my room, so if you are asking it's a purpley/wine color...
Thanksgiving is not just about the scrumptious food that could possibly be the reason behind America's enlarged guts, but also but being appreciative of what life gives to us. Despite going through a few rough patches in my life, I know that underneath it all I have a lot more to love and be thankful for than dislike. Whether it be the bigger picture appreciations or the little pleasures life contains, I know that I have a lot to love and be happy for:
♥ Having a house over my head that I can return to
♥ My family, although they can be the biggest pain in the arse and ruin my happiness sometimes
♥ Friends who, although sometimes don't understand me, stick around anyways and make me feel a little worthwhile.
♥ My job; sure I have to deal with the rudest of people, but I love putting a smile on some of the customers' faces with my sincerity!! And the money doesn't hurt either.
♥ Going to a school that gives me a lot of opportunities to achieve what I want and be successful. I know a lot of kids don't really have that, and even though the workload can be huge and tedious, I know deep down it'll be worth it one day.
♥ Living in a nieghborhood where I don't have to watch my back and make sure no one is going to shoot me. Sounds a little wonky, but with Philadelphia being the #1 homicidal city in America, I'm lucky that I'm away from those messes.
♥ Knowing that there are people from all around the world who care for me and are so nice, and gives me some hope for humanity.
♥ Books and how they open up my mind and make me happy. And Borders for being my books supplier.
♥ How music changed my life for the better; I would not be the same person I am now had I not found Coldplay.
♥ Coldplay themselves. Those guys are the greatest, and I wish that more people took to their example.
♥ Fashion; from H&M to Galliano haute couture. It's a great way for me to express myself and my creativity.
♥ Freedom of speech. As a writer, I am completely grateful for this right, and I hope that one day the whole world will get this right as well.
♥ Movies that are so heartwarming and touching, or just plain entertaining. Whenever I am in a horrible mood, I know that I can pop a DVD in and smile.
♥ The internet. There are many reasons behind this, but I'll say that it is hugely important to me, hehe.
♥ The art of cooking. It's another outlet for my creativity, plus it's always a lot of fun to experiment with different recipes and make others happy with my cooking.
♥ Football. The beautiful sport, the sport that keeps me going as I watch with happiness. Whether it's watching my club or a world tournament, it never ceases to put a smile on my face.
♥ Arsenal FC. The greatest club the world has ever seen! The reason I wake up early on weekends, the reason I sometimes skip after school activities. The reason why there is hope for 'sexy football!'
♥ The world. Although there is so much bad in the world, from terrorism to global warming, the world has so much to offer. I am thankful for the beauty that it contains, that I can explore a place so magical and breathtaking in just a plane ride away.
That's just the beginning! I have loads more that I am happy for, but I'll leave it at that. I hope everyone acknowledges all the things that they are thankful for, and live life with happiness!