This is my new term for “fail”. And that is what happened in November. I had the best of intentions for posting gratitude posts but, just like last year…I failed. And the reason I failed was a couple of jam packed weeks. Between work, Broadway shows, a social life that has exploded, the arrival of my Wii, out-of-town visitors, and just the day-to-day that is living in New York city, posting every day was not going to happen. Hopefully next year I’ll remember this and find a different approach to my gratitude postings (like maybe one really long one or something?).

And now, to the term “boot sandals”. (Oh, and I will post something about all of my busyness soon.) Tonight some of my favorite ladies were over at my apartment. My darling and hilarious friend Jenna was working on a blog post that had some reference to wins and fails while there was a conversation going on about the ugliness of boot sandals, and so…the term boot sandals will now represent fails in my mind. A little ridiculous? Perhaps. But every time I think about boot sandals I laugh. And part of my laughter is due to the fact that I was probably this (imagine I’m pinching my fingers almost together) close to buying a pair because, yes, I sometimes feel the need to be just that trendy.

Anyway, all of this to say that I should have blogged more in November.

White Chocolate Brownies – taken with my iPhone because this blog needed some pictures and dealing with downloading from my real camera was not something with which I could be bothered. Also, notice the Turbo Jam DVD in the background…comical really.

1. I am sooo grateful for a mother who was never in such a rush that she couldn’t be bothered to let us help her bake. I think about the extra hours and hours and hours she probably spent cumulatively over the years with us in the kitchen when she probably could have done things so much faster without us…although I suppose it paid off in the end when she could just tell us what to bake without having to participate at all.
2. I am grateful for the joy that a homemade baked good can bring. Especially when it’s a treat they can’t get anywhere else. (And tonight, that Kelly gave me a reason to bake…you know, because she was coming over.)
3. I am grateful for the many, many family favorite recipes. Both my mom and my sister have been collectors of delicious recipes (and I suppose I’ve contributed a few). The white chocolate brownies I made tonight were a discovery of my sister and they are seriously one of my favorites and always a hit…and no, I’m not sharing the recipe because these will be on the menu of the bakery that my sister and I are going to open someday. It’s the ten year plan.

1. I am grateful for ethnic neighborhoods like Little Italy and Chinatown and all of their deliciousness.
2. I am grateful for all of the cultural experiences available in my fabulous city. Seriously–plays, concerts, musicals, a stroll through Little Italy. Whatever. It’s all amazing.
3. I am grateful that there is always more to do than there is time to do it. It makes for difficult choices, but it’s better than being bored!

1. I am grateful for floating holidays (Veterans’ Day being one) because working on those days mean a nice quiet day at work AND a day off when I actually want it!
2. I am grateful for everyone who has fought for the freedoms I enjoy every day and all those in the armed services, even if they didn’t fight…like my dad who was an officer in the army’s finance corp. 
3. I am grateful for subways that don’t have any school kids in them because they have the day off. A much better commute for all!