thanksgiving 2015.

We used 3 ovens and 2 hot plates. 

Oh the noises and faces this guy makes—so funny. 

Mmmm!

Carving like a boss.

Our spread.

The Zhangs ;)

Our first Thanksgiving as a married couple and I was so excited to host!

"How do you feel about me wearing your shoes?"

While out on our weekly date last Wednesday night, Melissa and I decided we would have a Thanksgiving dinner this year. We even ordered a turkey! (I've had some kind of Thanksgiving dinner every year since I've been in Beijing, but none of them have felt fully authentic or traditional and only one included turkey.) 

We decided to keep it really small and family-like, so it was just me, Tony, Melissa, and Ken. On Saturday afternoon (the only day we were all free), we went grocery shopping and that evening, Melissa and I cooked while the boys played the Wii and drank beer. 

Along with our 600RMB ($123 CAD!!!) turkey—now you know why I've only had one Thanksgiving dinner that included turkey—we had dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, squash, green beans, and dill pickles. For dessert, apple pie with ice cream! Well, three of us had apple pie; Tony had chicken feet :) #crossculturalcouple

Melissa and I enjoyed kicking back afterwards and watching the boys do dishes. And then I kicked their butts at Mario Kart. And then I kicked their butts at Monopoly ;) 

Maybe the best part... hot turkey sandwiches a couple days later! It was Tony's first; he asked, "Do I toast the bread?"

China is really starting to feel like home. 

words for the weekend / 40.

I couldn't resist. 

Download the wallpaper.

happy Friday!

This week feels like it zoomed! by and it was filled with happiness:

I am loving Autumn. I am embracing it whole-heartedly (as if you couldn't tell). I catch myself grinning as I shuffle through leaves, thinking happy thoughts as I pull my sweaters tighter, and getting excited about piling extra blankets on my bed. 

Supper at The Garrison with Alex, followed by hot chocolate from Second Cup.

Mulled Cider and Pumpkin Pie scented candles.

I switched my Google Chrome theme to Kate Spade. The colourful and sophisticated stripes make me smile.

A night out at Snooty Fox with BEd friends.

I won Sheree Fitch's book, Toes in My Nose, in my Elementary Language Arts class. The magical part of it: Sheree had read this post and tweeted me right before class! I sent her an e-mail to tell her about winning and she replied right away.

Wearing candy corn earrings in anticipation of Halloween.

A downtown date with Lauren, followed by Grey's.

I am now the proud and over-the-moon happy owner of three Kal Barteski originals!

Room arrived for me at the library and I'll actually have time to read it because...

As of today, I am officially finished the first term of my BEd. I passed in my last assignment yesterday, after finishing all of my work on Wednesday! It's off to Kindergarten for me until Christmas break!

(Image via Pinterest) 

hunter brothers' farm.

On Saturday, my friends and I went on an adventure to Hunter Brothers' Farm. It was the perfect day: best friends, lots of fun, and weather that felt like autumn.

The farm's main attraction is their giant corn maze. The design of the maze is different every year. This year's design features Thomas the Tank Engine because it has been 65 years since the first book in The Railway Series was published. 

Here we are just before entering the maze. It took us a while, but eventually we found all 10 questions and answered them correctly! (We may have had the help of an iPhone.)

The farm also has what the Hunter brothers call a "Field of Fun." We battled to see who was king of the hill on bales of hay and bounced on the "Jumping Pillow." Yup, we acted like kids and had a blast!

Two of my favourite parts of the day were the hayride and the pig race! The race contestants were Kevin Bacon, Lindsay Loham, and Shania Swine. Kevin won by a snout, but I cheered for Shania, who placed second!

Simple adventures like this make me excited to have children. If I have this much fun, can you imagine how much fun a kid would have?

nan's pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are one of my favourite kinds of cookies. When I called Nan to tell her I'd definitely be coming home for Thanksgiving, I asked her if we could bake some. After all, it's autumn, and what is more autumn-y than pumpkin? Add chocolate chips and bam!, you have the perfect autumn treat!

Nan's pumpkin chocolate chip cookies: 

3 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
3 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
3/4 cup canola oil
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
package of chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375°F. Sift flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, and baking powder into a bowl and set aside. In a mixing bowl, beat sugar, pumpkin, and oil together. Add eggs, milk, and vanilla; mix together. Add the dry ingredients that you've sifted and stir until well-mixed. Finally, add the chocolate chips and stir until they're evenly dispersed. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto cookie sheets. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Let them cool on the sheet for a minute or two and then transfer to cooling rack. Makes approximately 5 dozen cookies.

Edited to add: They taste even better on the second day!

P.S. We baked these the day we had our Thanksgiving dinner. And the package of chocolate chips was left beside the slow cooker that our ham was in. Nan rescued them but it was a bit too late; some of them had melted together.

She tried breaking them up with her hands but when that didn't work, she got out the hammer (at my suggestion).

When the hammer didn't work, she got out a knife. We're nothing if not resourceful. We laughed and laughed. And then laughed some more.

Then, when the first sheet was in the oven, my Nan peeked at the cookies, burst out laughing again, and exclaimed, "You're your grandmother's granddaughter!"

Slightly confused, I asked, "Why?"

"Because you can't make a round cookie either!"

happy thanksgiving!

So thankful. That's what keeps running through my head. Not just today, but so many days. I am so thankful for so many things. My bedroom and my blankets. The art on my walls. The hot coffee and tea and lattes I sip. The sun shining down. The rain, sprinkling or pouring. The emotions that make my heart swell. The friends I cry and laugh with. The family who is always there. TV shows. Books. Music that makes me feel or get up and dance. The pretty leaves and magical dandelions. This list could go on forever and ever. So I'll just sum it up by saying that I'm so thankful for life!

(Image via Pinterest)

I heart autumn.

My friend and I had an autumn adventure yesterday:

First, we went to Harvey's Big Potato, where there was an abundance of fresh produce. I loved the piles of pumpkins! We also found our way through the corn maze. (It was my first time!)

Then, we continued a little ways down the road to visit the Country Pumpkin. Not only did they have pumpkins, other fruits and veggies, and baked goods, but they had animals, too! The llamas were funny looking and the goats were cute, but this guy was my favourite. He followed me along the fence, letting me pet him, and licking my hand.

We're only a week into autumn and I'm in love already.

my saturday.

Amy (above) and I went to Starbucks this morning. We both had the caramel apple spice. Guys, you have to try this drink. It's the perfect drink for Fall. Run, not walk, to your nearest Starbucks and order one right now. Or tomorrow. You know, whenever you get a minute. 

Since I've already been to Starbucks today, I'm settling in for a long afternoon of homework and laundry. Or napping. Yah, napping sounds better. 

happy first day of fall!

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree." - Emily Brontë