trendsday: december 1

Today is special for many reasons. It's the first day of the last month of the year bringing us that much closer to Christmas (I've yet to start my shopping) and 2011. Today is someone's birthday (including Woody Allen and Lou Rawls) and there's some historical significance to the day as well but the one thing that I found really interesting is that in 1982 at the University of Utah, a dentist named Barney Clark becomes the first person to receive a permanent artificial heart, prolonging his life for another 112 days. This may not grab your attention but my dad underwent heart surgery a few months ago and it's eerily fascinating how they're able to "rewire" the heart.

Today also marks my wishing a "Merry Christmas" to the cashier/server when going to the store or anywhere else. The window for such a greeting is so small when compared to the rest of the year (I guess you could tell someone "Merry Christmas" in June but it just wouldn't be the same) so I want to take advantage of it. And that reminds me, I need to find my jingle bell necklace :-)

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trendsday: turkey recipes

My google trending topic today is about turkey recipes. I'm excited to say that I actually have cooked a turkey before so I feel slightly qualified to tackle such a topic. The instructions were given to me by someone else but the basic jist was put the turkey in an oven bag, sticking four sticks of butter inside it. Cover the turkey with melted butter, brown sugar and honey. Cook for four hours (I think) and baste again every hour. I felt like a proud parent when I finally pulled it out of the oven and it was all golden (I usually try out recipes before making them for others - not always but I try - just in case it doesn't go well the first time. I didn't have a trial run with the turkey so I was super excited it turned out edible).

I heard someone else say to cook a turkey by cooking it for an hour at 500 degrees. You then turn the oven off and let it stay in there overnight.

A few years ago, we deep fried a turkey for our college ministry. This was the same year I learned it takes several days for a turkey to unthaw instead of overnight. I won't even tell how we unthawed it...

I'd love to pick up some new ideas so how do YOU cook a turkey? Wanna join in on Trendsday? Click here for more info.

trending topic: national unfriend day

Jimmy Kimmel is helping advocate National Unfriend Day. This is a time to go through your Facebook friends and clean out the random people you added at one time. Who does he suggest you unfriend? "A random sampling around the Web of who you should defriend: mothers, exes, the guy who keeps posting the political rantings, the woman who takes about her children's bathroom habits" (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2010/11/facebook_unfriend_day_jimmy_ki.html). The whole point of National Unfriend Day is to return back to a simpler time when we aren't so bogged down with what everyone else is doing...

I enjoyed this topic!! While humorous, it's also something to think about. I think some people view it as contest to see who can have the most "friends" on Facebook. To some, more friends = being more popular. Yet why would you want people you either don't know or barely know a personal glimpse into your life through your photos and status updates? Hmmm...maybe less really is more :-) Wanna join in on Trendsday? Click here for info.

trending topic: demi lovato

A blog I follow is encouraging others to grow in their blogging abilities by writing about one of many Google trending topics. The topic I picked is about Demi Lovato checking herself into rehab. I'll openly admit that I watch (and enjoy) Demi's show "Sonny with a Chance" -I know it's cheesy but I like the humor. So the fact that she's now in rehab has me torn. On the one hand I'm glad she's seeking help instead of letting things grow worse but I'm also slightly disappointed that someone who so many children and tweens look up to has shown just how human she is. I've found different reasons as to why she's now in rehab. Causes include she is fighting an eating disorder, she struggles with cutting, emotional issues, etc.

What seems so obvious to me is her need for Jesus. I don't know if she professes to be a Christian or not but I hope she can come to that decision during this time in her life. I'm a very strong believer in kids having positive role models and it's frustrating for me when one by one, celebrities give in to the temptations provided by their status and wealth. I applaud those who are able to withstand those temptations and ARE people kids can look up to. Hopefully Demi will receive the help she needs and will come out stronger when this is all behind her.