There’s nothing I love more than holding onto memories, watching people at the gym, and holiday traditions. Honestly any traditions at all, but holiday ones really takes the pie… For lack of better terms.

I’ve been looking so forward to reading my Thanksgiving post from last year to compare it to this year. This year’s a little different from last. The only changes are absolutely everything has been flipped turned upside down, compared to November 26th 2015.

• Our first Thanksgiving as a married couple.
• Our first Thanksgiving living together in Asheville.
• Our first Thanksgiving we’ve had the opportunity to visit our whole family on actual Thanksgiving Day.
• Our first Thanksgiving completely meatfree and healthy.

Needless to say, it’s been one for the books!

To start today off we kind of have to explain what yesterday was like, which was me driving 10 hours from Florida to North Carolina getting home at about 1 a.m. I went to visit my Florida family for Friendsgiving for one day, turning around and coming back. It sounds crazy and unnecessary, I know. But it was much needed after 4 years of having them everyday.

This morning I woke up to none other than my husband attacking me in full-blown sexy time, welcome to married life! It rocks! Afterwards, I look at the clock and it says 5 a.m. About an hour earlier than we planned on. WTF Brad! I could have gotten an hour more sleep! Don’t let it fool you, we ended up sleeping in until 8, whoops. We immediately get up Brad goes and fetches us Thanksgiving espresso (which means he went in the grocery store, and it was packed to the rim with procrastinators) and I start on the Ann-safe avocado brownies and Ann-safe butternut squash.

Everything finished on time looking tan and beautiful (the food looked pretty good too), and now it is 11 a.m. and we are making our way to Brads grandparent’s house for our first round of Family cheer! The day started off with family pictures and in-law bonding. But it didn’t last long.. Brad had to leave for Black Friday HELL, and I had to make my way to my family’s dinner!

So off I go down the curvy mountain in record time. I’m greeted by my nieces, and nephews, and grandparents, and my mother, and siblings, and all of my favorite people! It’s been many years since I’ve been able to be home for Thanksgiving, and I think my mother was making up for lost time… SO MUCH VEGAN FOOD! It also helps that my brother was also participating in “No Meat November”.

The day was spent filling our bellies and hearts with real facetime. Such an glorious feeling it is to me sitting with all of the people who made me who I am today.