Happy Veteran’s Day everyone! I am fortunate to have the day off. Unlike Columbus Day (which I also get off), today actually means something! I couldn’t let today pass by without acknowledging the sacrifices our military and their families make every day. So here’s my Friday 5:
1. Taryn Davis & the American Widow Project. I watched Taryn on the Today Show this morning and was immediately moved by her story. Taryn was widowed at 21 after less than a year of marriage. Feeling somewhat ostracized by other survivor programs due to her young age and by family who thought she should quickly recover, Taryn founded the American Widow Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to the new generation of those who have lost spouses and fiances. Although open to widow’s of any age, the average age of members is 25.
“We do not hold seminars or have speakers, we have each other. The widows come together to enjoy life the way they did when their spouse was still alive. From surfing to ziplining, we are here to enjoy each others company and share some of our fondest memories.”
This organization is a great reminder of the sacrifice and resilience of the families of our armed forces. Taryn took an incredibly painful situation and vowed to help others in need. If you would like to learn more or donate to the American Widow Project, please click here . You can also read more about Taryn and her nomination for a 2011 CNN Heroes award here .
2. Three-day Weekends! Who doesn’t love three day weekends?! You may have noticed that this post is rather late today. I admit it; I got up at 7am, ate breakfast, watched Grey’s Anatomy (oh man, what a cliff hanger this week!), and then went back to bed for over an hour! Hey, that’s what a bonus weekend day is for, right? I still have two days to get everything done! (In case you’re concerned, I did go to the grocery store and am heading to the gym shortly, so it’s not a total loss).
3. Terrapass Your Gas. As I mentioned, I went grocery shopping today. That means a trip to our neighborhood MOM’s Organic Market, which you know is one of my favorite places . Today I learned about a new program MOM’s is participating in Terrapass Your Gas.
At checkout, MOM’s collects zipcodes from customers to estimate mileage driven to and from the store. MOM’s then purchases carbon credits from TerraPass in direct proportion to the emissions released from its customers’ shopping trips. TerraPass will use funds received from MOM’s to sponsor four types of leading–edge clean energy and efficiency projects such as wind power, dairy farm methane digesters, landfill gas capture and coal mine capture. I have to go grocery shopping regardless, so why not do it at a place like MOM’s that is so environmentally conscious?!
4. Pumpkin Seeds. I know, I know, Halloween is over, but I never got a pumpkin this year. One of my coworkers heard me lamenting this fact and brought one in to work for me! Apparently when you have young kids you accumulate pumpkins, so she had an extra that was still uncarved.
I will be toasting the seeds from this beauty this evening! So as not to waste a decent pumpkin, I will also slice it in half and bake it. Fresh pumpkin meat! Yum! (Also, this is my way of sneaking my favorite picture from our wedding into the blog. Don’t we look happy?. Sigh.)
5. Vegan Ginger Cookies. My husband LOVES the fresh vegan ginger cookies from Whole Foods. I am determined to create a satisfactory substitute. I purchased molasses and fresh ginger today, and my first batch will be tonight. It’ll probably take me a few versions to get it just right, but when I do, you’ll be the first to know!
QOTD: Did you get the day off today? What are you looking forward to this weekend?
Happy Veteran’s Day everyone! I am fortunate to have the day off. Unlike Columbus Day (which I also get off), today actually means something! I couldn’t let today pass by without acknowledging the sacrifices our military and their families make every day. So here’s my Friday 5:
1. Taryn Davis & the American Widow Project. I watched Taryn on the Today Show this morning and was immediately moved by her story. Taryn was widowed at 21 after less than a year of marriage. Feeling somewhat ostracized by other survivor programs due to her young age and by family who thought she should quickly recover, Taryn founded the American Widow Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to the new generation of those who have lost spouses and fiances. Although open to widow’s of any age, the average age of members is 25.
This organization is a great reminder of the sacrifice and resilience of the families of our armed forces. Taryn took an incredibly painful situation and vowed to help others in need. If you would like to learn more or donate to the American Widow Project, please click here . You can also read more about Taryn and her nomination for a 2011 CNN Heroes award here .
2. Three-day Weekends! Who doesn’t love three day weekends?! You may have noticed that this post is rather late today. I admit it; I got up at 7am, ate breakfast, watched Grey’s Anatomy (oh man, what a cliff hanger this week!), and then went back to bed for over an hour! Hey, that’s what a bonus weekend day is for, right? I still have two days to get everything done! (In case you’re concerned, I did go to the grocery store and am heading to the gym shortly, so it’s not a total loss).
3. Terrapass Your Gas. As I mentioned, I went grocery shopping today. That means a trip to our neighborhood MOM’s Organic Market, which you know is one of my favorite places . Today I learned about a new program MOM’s is participating in Terrapass Your Gas.
At checkout, MOM’s collects zipcodes from customers to estimate mileage driven to and from the store. MOM’s then purchases carbon credits from TerraPass in direct proportion to the emissions released from its customers’ shopping trips. TerraPass will use funds received from MOM’s to sponsor four types of leading–edge clean energy and efficiency projects such as wind power, dairy farm methane digesters, landfill gas capture and coal mine capture. I have to go grocery shopping regardless, so why not do it at a place like MOM’s that is so environmentally conscious?!
4. Pumpkin Seeds. I know, I know, Halloween is over, but I never got a pumpkin this year. One of my coworkers heard me lamenting this fact and brought one in to work for me! Apparently when you have young kids you accumulate pumpkins, so she had an extra that was still uncarved.
I will be toasting the seeds from this beauty this evening! So as not to waste a decent pumpkin, I will also slice it in half and bake it. Fresh pumpkin meat! Yum! (Also, this is my way of sneaking my favorite picture from our wedding into the blog. Don’t we look happy?. Sigh.)
5. Vegan Ginger Cookies. My husband LOVES the fresh vegan ginger cookies from Whole Foods. I am determined to create a satisfactory substitute. I purchased molasses and fresh ginger today, and my first batch will be tonight. It’ll probably take me a few versions to get it just right, but when I do, you’ll be the first to know!
QOTD: Did you get the day off today? What are you looking forward to this weekend?