Hello, and I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because I feel like I am an executive chef in my private kitchen. The hustle and bustle of timing everything just right to be ready for the determined mealtime is my jam. This year, my Mom and I decided to do a bit of prep work the day before Thanksgiving, and let me tell you, that is the way to go! Thanksgiving this year was relaxed and not rushed - and the bag for the turkey didn’t have a hole burned in it like last year so that was a blessing!

If you are wondering what I mean by “bag for the turkey” - Reynolds makes these amazing large oven-safe bags that fit everything from a chicken, to a ham, to a 20-pound turkey. All you do is throw in a tablespoon of flour (so the bag doesn’t explode), place in your turkey, close the bag, place a few holes in the top of the bag, and place it in the oven. Just like that. No basting the turkey, just letting it cook until the appropriate temperature. The turkey comes out moist, with all the juices contained so that you can make an amazing turkey gravy!

Has anyone reading this ever used a turkey bag? I tell you, you will never go back once you do!

My evenings were spent working on a variety of different things - mainly on the computer. And while I was working, I observed my 10-year-old make stop-motion videos with his Lego Avengers. He patiently snapped photo after photo, moved each piece, and then we turned it into a mini-movie on Canva. My 7-year-old sat behind me, my little “editor” I called him. Thought I’d share the first finished video with you here:

A new month also means a new wallpaper for my computer desktop. A sort of goals and vision board for the month. Most of the time it looks like a crowded collage, but this time, I just needed something simple. Also, the last couple of months have had my research questions plastered right on them. Very handy to have those front and center instead of always having to search for them! Although, honestly by now, I probably should know them by heart!

Speaking of my dissertation, that has been taking up a lot of my free time lately. I completed my data collection in the middle of October, and have since then been analyzing the qualitative data. And wow, I underestimated how long it would take to do that. For some reason, I thought that it would be super duper easy. Well, they call it a doctorate for a reason I guess! It has been very interesting, and so far, I am very happy with the results that are turning up. Now it's time to get down to the brass tacks - and get some serious writing done. Well, maybe not too serious. This research has been so much fun for me. I need to carry that feeling into the writing phase!

Although really, when are doctoral dissertations going to be more than a massive chapter-based paper that very few people will read? There were a lot of us going into this doctoral program who wanted to do something “innovative” for our dissertations. But somehow, we are all doing the standard five-chapter paper. Tradition? Probably. But I could think of 100 different ways to present the information that would be way more interesting than a paper. Couldn’t you?

And, of course, you know that I’ve launched Collab des Collines, a tour company offering both online and in-person experiences. Over the years, you’ve heard me talk about Benin, and now I’d be honored to take you there—virtually! On January 6, 2025, I’ll be leading an interactive, four-week online tour of Benin, where we’ll explore its rich culture, vibrant history, and daily life—all from the comfort of home…without the jet lag! ✈️😴

Here are the basics:

🗓️ Dates: January 6 – February 1, 2025 (we meet twice a week)

💻 Where: Online, so you can join from anywhere!

💰 Cost: $297

🎟️ There are only 7 spots left!

I even have a special offer where you can invite a friend at a reduced price—perfect for that one person who’s impossible to shop for! Or maybe you just watched the Netflix documentary Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy and are on the hunt for more meaningful gift options?

Anyhow, I am just very excited about my new adventures and that I have people to share the news with! So thank you for continuing to be a part of this community 🙂.

The weather here has Jack Frost visiting the last couple of nights - crisp mornings. I hope that all of you enjoy the beginning of the holiday season!

Stay warm!

Debra

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