hanukah

Last week was a whirlwind of Thanksgivakah festivities. My little sister and I flew down to Florida for 72 hours of family time at my sweet grandma’s house.  The house swelled with two cousins, two sisters, two aunts, two uncles, and one grandma at peak occupancy.

We celebrated the first night of Hanukkah together last Wednesday with candle lighting, latkes, and skype calls to my cousins in China and Australia.

Thursday was a sunny, relaxed holiday.  Challah french toast got us going and we eventually made our way over to my grandma’s gym where I taught a Dance Conditioning/mat Pilates class to all the women of the family.  We followed our workout with some pool lounging then eventually made it back to the kitchen for champagne, hor d’oeuvres, and a little cooking.  One of the many reasons I adore my family; I was requested to make kale chips as my contribution to the feast.  It was the calmest, quickest, most chill Thanksgiving dinner prep I’ve ever experienced and that was totally fine by me. 

I know most of you are probably thinking more about the holidays coming up than the ones just past but in (belated) honor of Thanksgiving and for eighth day of Hanukah here are 8 things I am grateful for this moment.

1. Good genes.  My grandma and her sister are totally rocking their 10th decades.

2. Good health.  I am pleased to report that my immune system is stronger than it’s been in 15 years and I am sleeping pretty well most nights.  

3. Sweet family.

3.  Barefeet in warm sand. Simple pleasures.

4.  Dance. ‘Nuf said.

5. Girlfriends.

6.  Blue skies on Winter days.

7.  A generally optimistic and healthy outlook on life.

8.  Love and support from my family, extended family, and friends (in real life and virtual!).

Hope each of you had a wonderful holiday.