From Gratitude to Generosity: Thankfulness in Action

Last week, we discovered how generosity would transform our hearts and minds in preparation for this season of Thanksgiving. As we look forward to this week, spending time with family and friends, we should now look to discover how this gratitude will manifest itself in our actions.As I was exiting the freeway today, there was a homeless man holding a sign on the side of the road. I am sure, by now, we all know the feeling. As the red light drags on, not seeming to change anytime soon, you begin to feel a twinge of anxiety, guilt, or discomfort. You may reach to turn up the radio a little louder, you may turn your gaze in the opposite direction, or you may just wait, hoping for the light to turn green a little quicker. But, something transformative happened during those minutes that I was stopped at that light. I saw the man pass by me and as I looked back in my rearview mirror, I saw a person from the car behind me give him some money. Then, I saw him cross over to receive money from another person in the car next to me. You could call it social peer-pressure, but something in my heart changed and within seconds I found myself giving some spare dollars to the man. The decision I made to follow suit of those complete strangers had to be more than social peer-pressure, though. It had to be something deeper, something that has the capacity to transform hearts and remind us of our shared humanity. It had to be the product of generosity. You see, it was the generosity of others that inspired me to be generous with what I had. It was almost as if the hearts of those complete strangers opened up a wave of communication between us all: reminding us of our shared humanness and encouraging us to act out of compassion.It takes only one drop in a pool of water to cause a ripple effect. Whether that drop is monumental or miniscule, it still creates a change in the waters. That is how our generosity impacts those around us. It takes one action, one decision, to affect a multitude of change. It takes one heartfelt response to change the hearts of others. It is this generosity that we share and exchange with our fellow humans around the world that binds us all together. Our actions, then, are a response of the condition of our hearts. What started with allowing gratitude to transform the depths of our hearts finishes with this sense of thankfulness that begins to manifest itself in our actions. When we allow gratitude to transform the condition of our hearts, the thankfulness in thought begins to manifest itself in our actions.A thankful heart does not find itself complete in the confines of our minds, but it is set free in the sincerity of our actions. Then, when we allow our responses to flow out of our thankfulness, when we allow our actions to mimic the gratitude that has transformed our hearts, we will notice a difference in the way that we act towards one another. When gratitude grips our hearts and generosity claims our actions, we will begin to perceive of one another in a drastically different way; we will begin to place the needs of others above the needs of ourselves. This way that we reorient the priorities in our lives, in placing the wellness of another before the wellness of our own selves, becomes our trademark.Whether our action is big or small, it adds to the culmination of all our actions in a way that makes a lasting impact. You see, when we act generously, we inspire others to act generously. The impact of our generosity, then, stretches far beyond its immediate recipient, but it has the capacity to transform communities. Our generosity can also transform selfishness to selflessness, weakness to strength, greed to compassion, hopelessness to hopefulness, and despair to restoration. When we continue to send ripples of change into our communities, we will begin to see the world change. When we unite the total of our ripple effects, the collectivity of our actions, we will make generosity the emblem of our generation.So, as we approach this holiday of thankfulness, as we are reminded of every person and experience that has impacted our lives for the better, let us wear this emblem of generosity with pride, and let us encourage those around us to do the same. With our hearts full of gratitude and our actions marked with generosity, let us inspire others to give freely and love deeply. In light of this year’s holiday, here are some ways that you can send out your ripple effect in your communities:Donate or volunteer at a local mission or food bank:Midnight MissionWestside ThanksgivingFood on FootExpress your gratitude to a soldier serving in our armed forces,And, if anything else, you can simply open your heart or open your home to someone in need of community and friendship this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving to you all! 

From Gratitude to Generosity: A Thankful Heart

In Southern California, it takes a while for it to begin feeling like fall. But, ever-so-gradually, the weather begins to shift, the leaves begin to change, the air starts to get crisper, the Santa Ana winds start blowing in, and the nights get cooler. Despite some 80-degree days here and there, by mid-November the spirit of fall is in the air. With fires in fireplaces, pumpkin spices filling recipes and fragrances, and fantasy football leagues underway, the spirit of fall is just about as palpable as a pumpkin spiced late. Today marks a week from Thanksgiving, and just as the holiday swiftly approaches us, calendars may start to fill up and schedules may begin to get hectic. There may be errands to run, dinners to prepare, arrangements and décor to create, homes to fill, and mouths to feed. In a hectic and maybe chaotic time, I want to prepare our hearts for the meaning we may find in the holiday.Thanksgiving is a time when we can surround ourselves with family and friends, and when we can open our homes to be filled with love, joy, and gratitude. Often, we associate the day with this sense of gratitude: we take time to reflect on what and who we are thankful for, we express our gratitude to our loved ones, and we act out of that gratitude that we have for others and for all the things that have filled up and have added meaning and significance to our lives. In this time of reflection and of thankfulness, what should our response be? How could our actions create a cradle of influence around this holiday, so that our actions are not just attributed to one day, one time, or one family dinner, but towards our every-day? How can we respond and act out of our gratitude?That is where generosity comes in. You see, gratitude and generosity go hand in hand. Our state of mind most certainly influences our actions. Having a heart and mind that is rooted in thankfulness, then, nearly dictates the way that we treat those around us. The feeling we associate with gratitude, “a feeling of appreciation or thanks” or “the state of being grateful”, gives way to the action of generosity, “the quality of being kind, understanding, and not selfish: the quality of being generous”. Being generous, then, is the action in which we are “freely giving or sharing money and other valuable things; providing more than the amount that is needed or normal; showing kindness and concern for others”.Over this next week, I hope to create a discussion in which we realize what gratitude and generosity mean to each of us, and in which we realize how this sense of gratitude empowers us to live out of a state of generosity. But, if we wish to see an outpour of generosity through our actions, we must first focus on the state of our minds and our hearts. You see, it is the state of our hearts that dictates our actions and impacts the profoundness of our actions. If we create a condition of gratitude in our hearts, then our actions will display that sense of thankfulness and kindness towards others. Eventually, we will see that thankfulness transform into generosity. We will notice that through our expression of thankfulness, we begin to put the wellness of others before the wellness of ourselves.But, first, we must focus on the condition of our hearts and we must prepare the state of our minds. We must allow gratitude to be rooted in the depths of our hearts and become prevalent in the workings of our minds. If we want to see a transformation in the way that we treat others, we must inspire transformation in the way that we think of others. When we allow gratitude to rule our hearts and our minds, something changes. We begin to rid ourselves of selfishness, of self-seeking ambitions, of vanity, and of pride, and we, instead, assume selflessness, compassion, and empathy. When we reorient our thoughts through this prism of gratitude, we begin to place the condition of others before the condition of ourselves; we begin to think of others before we think of ourselves; we begin to care for others before we care for ourselves. When we allow gratitude a foothold into the workings of our hearts and minds, when we allow it enough room to reorient our hearts and minds, we may find that what started with one thankful thought and one generous feeling has transformed into an entirely new outlook and a wholly different attitude. The spirit of Thanksgiving, then, does not just become one day of thankfulness, but an entire lifestyle of thankfulness.As we prepare for this season, let us deeply assess the workings of our hearts and minds so that we do not just assume this sense of gratitude for one day, or one holiday, but that this sense of gratitude begins to dictate how we live our lives. Let us allow gratitude to make its home in our hearts and minds so that our actions will instantaneously and organically follow. Let us realize that this day of thankfulness is a mere instant in a lifestyle of thankfulness, and let us allow this lifestyle of thankfulness begin to transform the way that we treat all those around us.

3 Days of Thanksgiving

There might be 12 days of Christmas but there are 3 days of Thanksgiving: travel day, turkey day, and black friday. All of which require their own distinct outfits! Have you planned yours out yet?Travel day: Whether you'll be in a car or on a plane, comfort & layers are key. I love this legging pant because it can still look dressed up but they are comfortable enough to sleep in! Nordstrom snood // Milk & Honey plaid shirt // LOFT skinny ankle jean // / Ray ban sunnies // Michael Kors Watch // Steve Madden riding bootsFor Turkey Day: We all want to look our best on Thanksgiving Day with all our loved ones, but also need something that allows for lots of turkey and lots of lounging. I love this sweater dress look below from Madewell because it looks so chic but so comfortable at the same time![show_shopthepost_widget id="396080"]For Black Friday: If you dare brave the crowds on black Friday, you're gonna need your sneakers on. Lo's favorite sweatpant jean is now 50% off and would be perfect for black Friday shopping! Pairing these jeans with a white tee & Vince sneakers is the perfect comfy/chic look[show_shopthepost_widget id="396088"]

Shop our 3 days of looks here:[show_shopthepost_widget id="396104"]

10 dresses < $100

When you think of Thanksgiving, "new dress" might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But a lot of us go to Thanksgiving dinners, or "friendsgivings" that solicit/justify a new dress. Not just any new dress, but one we feel great in, yet can still be comfortable. Relaxation meets sophistication. Lo rounded up 10 great dresses for Thanksgiving for ya'll that are all less than $100! Hover over the image to get the links, or shop her top picks at the bottom of this post.[show_ms_widget id="9046485" image_id="9425901" width="1195" height="898"]
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Worthy of Seconds: 3 Scrumptious Thanksgiving Sides!

Grilled Sweet Potatoes and Maple Vinaigrette

Why I like it: They are a little sweeter than my normal sweet potato regime, but they are not loaded with unnecessary processed marshmallows and loads of brown sugar. With the perfect amount of pure maple syrup and a hint of lovely cinnamon, this dessert-like veggie with have you all running back for seconds (with no shame!).Ingredients

• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper

For the vinaigrette

• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 Tbsp creole mustard (or any spicy brown mustard)
• 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• Dash of cinnamon
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• Small handful of fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat grill to medium.
2. Toss potato rounds with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Grill 8-10 minutes on each side, until the potato is lightly grilled and fork-tender.
4. Whisk together the garlic, mustard, vinegar, cinnamon, and maple syrup.
5. Slowly stream in the olive oil while whisking.
6. Salt and pepper to taste.
7. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the sweet potato slices and top with parsley.

NotesYields: 4 servingsEstimated time: 25 minutes

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Why I like it: Brussel Sprouts could be called the epitome of a fall dish! These veggies seem to have a bad rap, but now with modern creativity in cooking, they don't have to be one of those nutritious superfoods that sacrifice flavor for health benefits. Now you can enjoy all of their advantages! Start with this recipe to see what I mean. LOLO Note: I like to use coconut oil instead of olive oil. They are delicious with a little lemon juice too!Ingredients

• 1 pound brussel sprouts
• 3 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
• 3/4 teaspoons Kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Prepare Brussels sprouts by cutting off the brown ends and peeling off the yellow outer leaves.
3. Place Brussels sprouts in a bowl with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix all of these ingredients together.
4. Pour Brussels sprouts on a sheet pan and roast for 35 to 40 minutes or until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. It helps to shake the pan every 10 minutes or so to ensure even browning.
5. Remove from the oven, pour into a bowl, sprinkle a little more kosher salt over the Brussels sprouts and serve warm.

Maple Infused Butternut Squash and Apples

Why I like it: Apples and butternut squash are each loaded with antioxidants, so when they are blended together, not only do they taste glorious, but they become a power-side! The combination of this fruit and veggie is such a fall delight!Makes: 3-4 cupsPrep Time: 10 minutesCook Time: 3-4 hoursIngredients

• 1 small (~3 pounds) butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks
• 3 apples (I used tart – granny smith)
• 2 tbsp. Earth Balance (or any other vegan margarine)
• 3 tbsp. maple syrup
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. nutmeg

Instructions

Start by peeling your butternut squash before you cut it. Once your butternut squash is peeled, cut it in half lengthwise and scoop the seeds out. Then proceed to cut into smaller portions and cube in 1 inch pieces. Spray the bottom of a slow cooker with cooking spray and add your squash and margarine. Set to high for 2 hours before adding the apples. After two hours have passed, dice or slice your apples and add them to the slow cooker with 3 tbsp. maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir the ingredients and lower the slow cooker to “low”. Cook for an additional 1-2 hours or until the squash and apples can be easily mashed.Serve as a side dish, on top of yogurt or ice cream, or alone!

Happy Thanksgiving! Try these recipes, and be thankful!

Source 1, Source 2, Source 3

A Lovable Campaign: November is for Hugging!

Hey LOLO friends! Join us in our November Hugging Campaign by hugging someone you are thankful for in your life! Here's how you participate: Upload a photo or video of you hugging a loved one onto our Facebook page for a chance to be on LOLOmag.com. We will pick a winner at the end of the month to be featured in December on the magazine (super cool). Get to hugging people!xoxo,Shannon & Lauren (Your LOLOmag.com Editors)