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FresYes Blood Drive Recap

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Jason Farris

Head YES man at FresYes.com
I grew up in Fresno. Relaxed in its calm breezes, listened with my dad to the crack of the bat at little league baseball games when I was a kid and now take my son to do the same at minor league games. I broadened my mind at its schools (I went to high school right here at San Joaquin Memorial, and to college at Fresno State!) I love that if I drive for two hours in one direction, I can be in the mountains. For two hours in another, luxuriating on a California beach. I can enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of San Francisco or Los Angeles, but still be able to come home to relaxation, calm, and quiet.

I love where I live, and I also love what I do. I'm lucky to be able to work in a profession in which I get to build relationships; one that has me meeting new people each and every day and helping them to build new lives in my beloved city. I'm lucky enough to work in a profession in which I can marry cutting-edge technologies and marketing techniques to good, old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that allows me to work as an advocate for my clients; to use every tool at my disposal to get a job done well for them, and with as little stress and expense as possible.

I love my city. I love my job. One inspires my excellence for the other.

Fresno? I say FresYES

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After weeks of hard work and planning the second annual FresYes blood drive turned out a hit. Last weekend you may have seen us out on Palm avenue with the big Central California Blood Center trailer, yup that was us! The drive lasted for a total of four hours and it seemed like the nurses had their hands full the entire time, which is a good thing right?

As a first time donor myself I enjoyed the whole experience. We had snacks, drinks and T-shirts for all who attended along with corn hole to give those waiting a chance to claim the title of “corn hole champion.”

The whole vibe was great, friends were catching up, new friends were being made, and blood was being donated. FresYes was officially able to donate 43 pints of blood more than doubling our total from last years drive. Looks like we’ll have our work cut out for us next year to maintain this rate, with that being said throw us down on your calendar now for December 2017! Lastly a big thank you to all who came out and donated, we couldn’t have done it without you.

 

Fresno Fitness: Gymnastics Beat – Adult Class

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Francesca

Fitness Blogger at FresYes
Francesca is a former NCAA Divison I tennis player who decided to become a fitness renaissance woman after college. In her free time she like to Crossfit, swim, run and bike, participate in Spartan races and do anything that requires her heart rate to spike way up.
She lives in Fresno with her husband and two Boston Terriers, Babushka and Bambino who like to run after soccer balls just like their dad.

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When I was a kid, I was fortunate enough to grow up with a dad who absolutely loved to be active and play sports. He was always encouraging my brother and I to run around the yard, climb trees, rocks and walls, ride our bikes, kick and hit balls, jump in the pool, the ocean and pretty much to get into anything that was “jumpable.” Best part of all, he would be right there with us: teaching us how to play tennis, climbing mountains, telling us not to be scared and getting us into all kinds of outdoor adventures.

Gymnastics Beat

My dad used sports to raise me into a strong confident woman. He wanted to show me, at a young age, that just because I was a girl, it didn’t mean that I couldn’t run fast, jump high, lift heavy, and participate on the soccer pickup games that my brother and his friends would organize. I was the most bad ass little girl out there (got confused with a little boy a couple of times but whatever) I could run fast, I could push, kick and hit hard and was pretty much fearless….except when it came to cartwheeling. God gave me many athletics talents; unfortunately, flexibility and gymnastic ability were not some of them. Growing up I always had one or two friends, who for no particular reason, would bust an amazing backflip while hanging out on the back yard or would start walking on their hands or performed some crazy acrobatic spin while hanging at the local park’s playground structure. I COULD BARELY DO A FORWARD ROLL!!!!!!!!!! I know it is not a big deal…but this really makes me mad, even today 🙁 At 30 something years old I really wish I could do and hold a legit handstand…don’t ask me why but I really want to! Well, I just found the perfect place in Fresno that might make all of my wildest gymnastics dreams come true!! : Gymnastics Beat

Practicing my handstand

Practicing my handstand

Trampoline summersault

Gymnastics Beat is one of the premier gymnastics facilities in the Central Valley. With their state of the art 12,000 square gym, experienced coaches and gymnastics programs for every age (from 1 to 100 years old!) this place seemed like PERFECT place to help me with my childhood gymnastic traumas. So last week I decided to stop making excuses for my gymnastics suckiness and I signed up to coach Jill’s adult’s gymnastics class.

Jill helping a student

I am not going to lie, I was kind of nervous when I got there: “what if everyone in class used to be an Olympic athlete and I can’t keep up?! What if I break my neck trying to do some crazy flip? What if I look like an idiot?”

Stretching at Gymnastics Beat

Fortunately Coach Jill nipped all my fears in the butt as soon as she introduced herself. She told me that in fact there are some students who have been doing gymnastics for a long time but that there were also people, like me, who had decided to give it a try later on in life. Either way, she said, the class is flexible enough for everyone to have a good time and learn a few tricks. She also mentioned that a few people had in fact felt intimidated by the more experience students and had decided not to continue, but that the ones that had stuck with it were now able to do some tumbling and cartwheeling and other stuff they never thought they could do. She had me at “doing stuff they never thought they could do.”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got really excited right then and there 😀

We started the class with a few stretches then we moved onto the trampoline. There, some of the other students warmed up by flipping in the air and leaving me with my mouth wide open. I on the other hand got strapped in a safety harness and guess what, I did some aerial flips (with a lot of help) of my own!!!!!!!!

Getting strapped into the trampoline harness

Getting strapped into the trampoline harness

After that we moved onto the spring floor where we got our booties kicked for about 20 minutes with some tough core and full body exercises. Afterwards the experienced students continued to do some amazing things and I practiced on my handstand. Coach Jill split her time between everyone equally and I left the class with a huge smile on my face and a big sense of accomplishment. Before going to Gymnastics Beat, I can’t remember the last time I jumped on a trampoline, or rolled on the floor or did a headstand without the fear of breaking something. I left feeling like my old fearless-butt kicking little girl again. IT WAS AMAZING AND SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!!

Trampoline at Gymnastics Beat

At no point I felt intimidated by anyone; I was having such a great time and getting such a great workout that I didn’t have time to think about what other people thought of me (plus honestly I didn’t care). Plus Jill and the other students were really nice and fun to be around; we were all just playing around, trying things and having a great time.

back flipping at Gymnastics Beat

Gymnastics Beat is a great place for everyone to get fit and get a great workout. For the past 7 years they have been voted “Best Children’s Gym” and “Best Children’s Birthday Parties” in Fresno by Central Parent Magazine.  The funny thing is that on their website they list the top reasons to sign up your child for a class (and they are all very true)…I personally would add that these are the same reasons you should sign up “your adult” for a class here as well!!!!!!!!!!!

Top 10 Reason to sign your child (and adult!!!) up for classes at Gymnastics Beat!
1.    Coordination
2.    Flexibility
3.    Strength
4.    Learn to Follow Directions
5.    Self-Esteem and Confidence
6.    Social Interaction
7.    Set Goals
8.    Learn Fundamentals of Movement
9.    Develop Skills to Enhance Other Sports
10.  IT’S FOR THE FUN OF FIT!

You have to check out this place. Gymnastics Beat is the only gym in the valley with so many programs under their roof: Gym Beats Jr. (Ages 1-5), Recreational Gymnastics (Ages 6-18), Tumbling (Ages 6-18), Urban Gymnastics (ages 4-Adult), Adults (16 & up), Private Lessons (Ages 2.5-100) and Power All Stars Cheerleading.

They also have a ton of fun events coming up:

  • Turkey Camp: November 23rd – 25th
  • Pilgrim Playdate: November 20th
  • Winter Camp: December 21st – January 8th
  • Open Gym: Every Friday and Saturday (all ages) 7:30 – 10PM

If you want more information you can check out their website at www.gymnasticsbeat.com where you can find out more about the classes and sign up for them.

I personally can’t wait to go back to Gymnastics Beat. I almost have my handstand down and I am debating whether my next trick should be a cartwheel, the full splits or some sort of back flip. Either way, I am up for the challenge!

FresYes Places: North Fresno Batting Range

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her twelve-year-old son, husband of 17 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works in the field of education and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.

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A couple of weeks ago, I shared information about Future Prospects indoor batting cages and baseball training facility here on FresYes. A fantastic facility with lots to offer, and the advantage of being entirely climate controlled – Future Prospects is a great place to sharpen your skills before hitting the diamond. However, there is another hidden gem in the Fresno baseball world that I feel deserves mention as well. Even if there isn’t anyone in your immediate family who plays baseball or softball, I think almost anyone can enjoy hitting some balls for practice or pleasure at the North Fresno Batting Range.

Though unassuming from the road, North Fresno Batting Range is a nostalgic and functional hidden gem

Though unassuming from the road, North Fresno Batting Range is a nostalgic and functional hidden gem

The North Fresno Batting Range is located at 5365 N. Parkway Drive in Fresno, and you’ll see it just before you hit the entrance to the Island Waterpark. Unlike the Island, North Fresno Batting Range has been in this location for as long as I can remember (and I used to ride in the car with my parents or on the school bus down Parkway Drive daily as a kid – so, that’s a fairly long time). Pulling up to the dirt lot parking area, you won’t be blown away by modern amenities like free wi-fi and leather chairs like you would at Future Prospects, but there’s a certain laid-back charm to North Fresno that makes you feel nostalgic walking in. The shady trees, friendly people working the token window and spacious viewing area make North Fresno pleasant for families and other spectators and the varied pitching speeds, ball types and multiple cages make North Fresno a very functional and enjoyable place for players to practice their hitting.

North Fresno Batting Range

 

If you find yourself on the Northwest side of Fresno on a Friday evening, I’d encourage you to make an evening of going to dinner then hitting some balls at North Fresno Batting Range. We did that with our neighbors and their kids a couple of weeks ago, and even us grown-ups got in the cages for fun. I’ve never played softball in my life (well, once, in junior high for the youth group – but anyone on that team would agree I didn’t truly “play” softball…) but I had a blast swinging away and happily even making contact every few pitches. I’d even suggest hitting this batting cage as a fun part of a date night or as a way to release stress on your own!

North Fresno Batting Range

North Fresno Batting Range

North Fresno Batting Range offers affordable pricing and token-based pitching machines. Helmets and bats are available for use and the range is open 7 days a week. (I took photos of the pricing and hours signs for your convenience.)

I hope you’ll go enjoy some batting practice – either to get ready for the next big game, or just to have some fun at North Fresno Batting Range soon. I’ve been twice in 3 weeks, and look forward to going back again (even if it’s with my little-big guy who’s copping some attitude in the photo below ;-)).

North Fresno Batting Range

 

The River Center

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Mark Sasser

Outdoor Writer at FresYes.com
Having been born and raised in the Valley and spending his complete adult life exploring the outdoors gives Mark a unique look at what we all see each day. From cycling to backpacking, solo or with friends, Fresno proper to the mountains above can at any time be where Mark is found living his life outdoors.

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Sitting quietly at the end of the Lewis Eaton Trail is the prize of the San Joaquin River Trust and Conservancy in the form of the River Center. The people of FresYes drive up and down Friant road day after day with many not even knowing that with just a glance out the window they would find one of the most important outdoor destinations in the valley. No matter if you walk the trail or drive you will find waiting for you a living history lesson of the valley and the mighty San Joaquin brought to you by one or several of the volunteers. The more you walk around the more you are gently pulled into a place of peace and best yet its free to visit.

The River Center

 

The River Center hosts events most weekends so this past Saturday I surprised my wife with a morning trip for a guided hike to Owl Hollow and a little pre walk pancake breakfast. Considering how yummy it was lets talk the food first. I had seen posted on Facebook that before the walk there was a $5 pancake breakfast and being a man who loves a good pancake I planed to have us out there a little early. Standing in line smelling the sausage and cakes being grilled outdoors on a fire made me wish I had left earlier to put it plainly. I would have gladly if we had the time paid the $5 2 or 3 times more to keep the pancakes going but as it was we only had time for one serving and a cup of coffee before we had to sign in for the walk. Pro tip for the pancake feed = show up as soon as it opens for mass carbo feeding.

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Bellies full we walked to the meeting point to find our guide had already located a Bald Eagle to share with us and we hadn’t even started the trip yet. This was looking good. As a less than beginner bird watcher it was fun to have someone who was an expert so excitedly teach us the ins and outs of our flying friends on this hike.

My wife as usual made a quick friend in the form of a retired teacher who in his spare time does presentations as John Muir and conversations about the high mountains, Yosemite and the river took over as we casually walked through the easement on the Vulcan property to Owl Hollow.

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Owl Hollow itself is a river oasis only accessed via the water or during a guided event from the river center due to its being land locked by private property and because of that its the perfect resting spot. It was fun to just stand in the sun talking to our new friend about days gone by while secretly watching the other members of our hike explore this river hideaway. Families played, children looked for clues to what animals may be living close by and everyone enjoyed the cool breeze.

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During the walk back to the River Center I stopped and pointed out some trees to my wife up on the bluff.

“You see those 4 trees” I said “that’s where we live”

We both grinned at the idea of having this amazing outdoor resource within walking distance of our home, one that many families share but only a few explore.

We finished our time at the River Center with a tour of the home, a little shopping in the gift shop and picking though all the pamphlets of upcoming events before leaving the peace and quiet and heading to Clovis for Big Hat Days and a completely different experience.

While most people don’t realize it FresYes is in fact a river city and The River Center is open and ready to teach you all about it.

Places to go: Fossil Discovery Center

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her twelve-year-old son, husband of 17 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works in the field of education and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.

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Last Thursday I had the opportunity to chaperone my son’s class field trip to the Fossil Discovery Center in Chowchilla, CA. I’d heard of this place a number of times previously, but had this idea in my mind of what I thought it’d be like, and wasn’t in a huge rush to visit. I thought it would be a small place with lots of models of fossils – more of a tourist-y experience that appealed to little ones and sought to empty parents’ pockets on souvenirs. I was so, so wrong.

The Fossil Discovery Center is SO very cool. Our tour started in a theater room where we watched a video that explained how the center came about and what we’d be seeing. It explained that the Center was built across the street after fossils were found next to the Madera County landfill, at what is called the Fairmead Dig Site. Thousands of fossils have now been unearthed from Fairmead (and expect to continue to be found for decades) and through the study of these fossils, it was determined that there had been a watering hole that attracted all kinds of species to the area. There were saber-toothed cats, a flat-faced bear who stood over 12 feet tall and could likely run at speeds of 40 miles per hour, a large wolf called the “dire wolf” and even camels – which apparently originated right here in the Central Valley and later spread to other parts of the world (who knew!? not me!).

After the video, we began our tour of the center checked out a huge Columbian Mammoth skeleton. Turns out they were even larger than Wooly Mammoths!

Fossil Discovery Center

We also got to see saber tooth cat skulls and compare their teeth to other animals.

Fossil Discovery Center

The awesome fossil displays continued into two other large rooms in the center. There were so many creatures to check out, some set up as full size skeletons. We also got to see a mammoth bone that was still being carefully removed from the ground that had been surrounding it.

Fossil Discovery Center

Outside the center, we toured a (replicated) Yokut Indian hut and shade structure as well as a watering hole created to simulate the one that once was present at Fairmead. Our tour ended with all of the students having the opportunity to experience what it’s like to dig up a fossil at a large model dig site complete with real tools and markers.

Fossil Discovery Center

My son and his classmates had such a great time at the Fossil Discovery Center, and us grown ups all seemed to as well – we kept commenting to each other about things we had never known prior to our visit and how surprising some of the facts were.

I highly recommend taking your family or class to the Fossil Discovery Center soon! Located at  19450 Avenue 21 1/2, it’s just a short 30 minute drive from Fresno. Currently the Center is operating on Winter hours, so it is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 to 4 and Sundays from 11 – 4. Tuesdays are available in Spring and Summer. The cost of admission is $8 for adults, $4 for students and $6 for seniors. Children 3 and under are free. For more information visit the Fossil Discovery Center or call     (559) 665-7107.

FresYes Outdoors Top Ten

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Mark Sasser

Outdoor Writer at FresYes.com
Having been born and raised in the Valley and spending his complete adult life exploring the outdoors gives Mark a unique look at what we all see each day. From cycling to backpacking, solo or with friends, Fresno proper to the mountains above can at any time be where Mark is found living his life outdoors.

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As I sat and wrote this at the Sea Shanty in Cayucos closing out the Thanksgiving weekend I thought it would be fun to look into the best things about FresYes Outdoors in a Late Show top ten fashion so without further hesitation here we go!

Starting off the list is a FresYes great and one I visited for the first time as a kinder gardener in 1975 ………….

Number 10. The Fresno Chaffee Zoo.

Every time I visit today with  my kids I think back to a simpler time when Nosey was the main attraction and popcorn was under a dollar. Today the Zoo has grown leaps and bounds, popcorn is way more than a buck but the feel and good times are just as great as my first time as a kid and because of that I land the Zoo solidly on this years list.

 

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Number 9. Oso De Oro Park.

A quiet neighborhood park with a top notch play area located in NW FresYes. If you have small kids or just want a place to sit and relax Oso De Oro or Bear Park as my kids always called it is a no brainer as the best small park in FresYes.

Number 8. Woodward Park’s Dog Park

This place is the bow to the wow of dog parks. Set up on a small hill in the north end of the park its an easy walk from the closest Starbucks and the local group of regulars is as colorful as the cast of Cheers. If you don’t have a dog, borrow one, its that fun.

 

Number 7. River Park Farmers Market

Held on Tuesday nights  near the fountain is the Farmers Market. While its not the only game in town it is the only one where you can buy some fresh local grown foods then go see a movie all in the same trip.

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Number 6. Christmas Tree Lane – Walking version.

A FresYes tradition dating back to the 20’s is stepped up in fun with the closed to cars walking nights. Its quieter, you see more and people watching is on another level. Dec 2nd………TOMORROW is the first one of the year so don’t miss out.

xmas tree lane 4

Number 5. Fresno State Farm Unit.

Have little kids ( or big kids ) and need a close to home destination to entertain them at a low cost? Take them to the Fresno State Farm and you have a ready made field trip and the price of FREE is right on target.

Number 4. Fresno State Football Tailgating.

For every person I meet who has never gone camping I meet at least 5 who have tailgating down to a science with what could be called urban camping by some of the setups I see every year. The RED WAVE brings it in a big way and rain or shine they love their Dogs.
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Number 3. Simonian Farms.

From locally grown produce, the collection of old FresYes  equipment, monument to the interned Japanese Americans and my wifes favorite the bike collection Simonian Farms is a great stop. When a President visits and gives it his seal of approval it makes it easy for me to do the same.

Number 2. Woodward Park and the Eaton Trail.

I’ve written about both the Trails and the Park before and love them equally which lands them together right near the top of the list and only second because my lists number one so far out performs the rest it was a land slide.

Number 1. The People of FresYes.

Growing up in a small town it was normal to feel like the only person who did an activity or at best one of a very small group. Here in FresYes we have such an amazing collection of outdoors groups that no matter what you are into you can find a group or club to join. If you want to try fly fishing, you have company. Want to ride bike, run, canoe, roller blade, play disc golf, hunt, walk, lay roller derby, bird watch or just about anything else you can find instant friends and expand your FresYes world. While I love the stuff of our fair city it is the people that make FresYes a winner in the outdoors game.
The Lou

FresYes Families: How to host a stress-free holiday

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her twelve-year-old son, husband of 17 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works in the field of education and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.

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I have hosted my family’s Thanksgiving dinner for the last five years. I don’t claim to be Martha Stewart. I don’t make themed place card holders or pilgrim hats for the youngest attendees (my kid is the only young child in the family, and I probably would have to pay him to wear a paper hat), but I have had people tell me they enjoyed themselves,  loved the food served and felt relaxed and comfortable in our home, which is exactly what I shoot for. If you’ve followed me over from my personal blog, The Thinking Blonde, you’ve likely seen some semblance of these tips before, however, seeing as I’m using them myself as reference in planning my 6th Thanksgiving dinner – I’d say they remain relevant.

7 Steps to Hosting a Stress-Free Holiday 

1. Make sure you have seating, table space, silverware, cups/glasses and plates for everyone attending. One year, I ran out of forks, and a few adults ended up using plastic toddler forks. It worked, but it wasn’t ideal. My mom was kind enough to pick up some inexpensive extra sets of forks for us, and they’ve come in handy on many occasions. You don’t have to own folding tables, but be sure to plan to borrow some or rent them. This time of year, they are frequently on sale at Target, WalMart and Costco.

2. Decide what dishes you’d like to prepare, then ask others to fill in the rest. Most families enjoy a good potluck meal, and most guests are happy to show off a favorite dish. If you want to cook the entire meal yourself, go for it! However, in our family, it’s always worked well to have the host make the main dish and a few sides and maybe a dessert and request favorite recipes from others. Everyone likes to know that you enjoy eating something they make — ask them to bring your favorite from their repertoire. My mother-in-law makes a delicious salad with crisp apples in it, my mom makes the best candied yams. My sister makes the greatest gingersnaps and my aunts always know how to make a good cranberry sauce. Everyone loves these dishes, so when I’m hosting, I just request them (with plenty of polite, advance notice). By requesting specific dishes, you’ll know which meal pieces are still needed too.

Another thing to consider: How many dishes will require simultaneous baking/cooking? If you’ve got four stove burners and one oven, you may want to dole out a number of the baked dishes (and request your guests bring them serve-ready if possible) to avoid an oven traffic jam. Or, consider buying a stacking oven rack*, such as this one: Oven rack ($17) *Please note, while a tiered oven rack will increase your oven’s capacity, it may slow cooking time some, due to the number of dishes baking — prepare to add a few additional minutes to all baking times.

3. Make a list of all dishes for the meal, then create a shopping list of the items you need for your contributions. Shop a few days in advance of the holiday, not the day before. Everything will still be fresh but you bypass the crowds and picked over aisles. Here’s a helpful chart, by Good Housekeeping that provides information on quantity needs based on the number of people you’re serving: Servings chart

Thanksgiving Dinner

When everyone cooks and contributes variety, our taste buds are the winners!

4. Prep everything you can the night before the holiday. Chop vegetables, prep casseroles to the final step before baking, cover, and keep in the fridge. Make cookie doughs, prepare pies to the point just before baking — do anything you can do, the day before. This is absolutely key to enjoying a relaxing holiday. Be sure to read the defrosting directions on the turkey if you’re roasting one that’s been frozen. Some will take days or almost a week in the refrigerator — you need to prepare for this — you can’t just nuke it! 😉

Bacon Wrapped Turkey

Last Thanksgiving’s Bacon Wrapped Turkey

5. Use recipes you know are winners. If you’re making anything for the first time, be sure you read the recipe all the way through to account for any unexpected issues (do you need hours to allow dough to rise? overnight refrigeration? a rare ingredient or kitchen tool?) and if you’re using a recipe from the internet, read the comments and reviews first to be sure you’re working with a winner and not a dud. No one wants to serve failed food to guests.

My favorite Thanksgiving recipes (that have been requested by repeat guests):

Bacon Wrapped Turkey

This is the recipe I use:

(was from Humble Gourmand, has since been taken down)

  1. Remove bags of “stuff” from inside bird. Rinse the turkey and pat dry.
  2. Place 1 apple (quartered), 1 onion (quarted) 2-3 stalks of celery and 1 cinnamon stick in 2 cups of water and heat in the microwave for 4 minutes (or until boiling)
  3. Add the entire mixture to the turkey cavity along with a few sprigs of rosemary and sage
  4. Season the turkey with salt and pepper (kosher salt is preferred)
  5. Drizzle with olive oil and rub to coat.
  6. Cover the entire turkey with bacon. (I weaved the bacon into a big rectangle on a cookie sheet, then plopped it on top of the turkey and used toothpicks to secure. I then used additional strips to wrap the legs and wings.
  7. In a very preheated oven, cook the turkey at 500 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until the bacon starts to crisp, then, without opening the door, reduce the oven temperature to 325 for the remaining cooking time.
  8. No need to baste, the bacon grease will take care of it for you!

6. Plan ahead for space in the fridge, on counters and for desserts. For me, clutter = chaos and stress. Having a bunch of pies shoved in my prep space makes me twitch a little bit. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the pies, because I really, truly do! But, I really don’t want to risk dripping turkey juices on one, ya know? If you plan ahead places you’d like people to place desserts, emptied serving dishes, and other items, as well as space in your fridge for storing leftovers after the meal, everything will simply go smoother.

7. Adjust your post meal space to be conducive to the rest of the evening’s activities. Eating typically requires more space and more room on tables than post-meal relaxing. Once everyone’s done eating, assess the continued need for all folding tables and such, and eliminate anything blocking the flow of rooms and post-meal couch lounging or Wii playing. (Or whatever it is your family enjoys post-giant feast.) Leave a stack of board games and cards out, set up a dessert buffet, and use thermal carafes to keep coffee warm so you can leave the kitchen and spend time with your guests.

Places to Go: Trick or Treat Edition

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her twelve-year-old son, husband of 17 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works in the field of education and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.

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Few American traditions are as highly anticipated by children as trick or treating on Halloween night. Personally, I love the concept of neighbors young and old participating in making the night fun, welcoming young ones to their home for a gift of candy and a compliment on their clever costume. However, in some neighborhoods – this may not be the norm. As the years go by, it seems there are more houses with their porch lights off on Halloween, indicating “this is not a place to trick-or-treat” due to a number of reasons. Perhaps the family doesn’t like/celebrate Halloween, can’t afford to buy candy to give out, doesn’t like having guests or is out trick-or-treating with their own children. Having neighborhoods with spotty trick-or-treat participation can be a bummer for kids, and though we’ve all heard the stories of vans full of kids being dropped off in well-to-do neighborhoods in hopes of scoring king-sized candy bars, we all know that’s probably not the best solution either. So, what’s a candy-loving, costumed family to do on Halloween, if their neighborhood isn’t the most trick-or-treat friendly? FresYes has got you covered with four great local event options.

Halloween Costumes

Trick-or-Treat the Mall

Both Sierra Vista and Fashion Fair malls are welcoming costumed trick-or-treaters to go store-to-store showing off their costumes and collecting candy from 4-6pm this Halloween Friday. Both malls have requested adults not wear masks to ensure a safe a fun event for the kids. Sierra Vista also offers a decorated Halloween gazebo with photography and a ticket booth for purchasing Hobb’s Grove combo tickets if you’d like to enjoy heading out there after trick-or-treating (or even the following evening, as the Grove’s last night is November 1st).

Halloween Candy

Trunk-or-Treat

Two local churches are hosting large-scale Trunk-or-Treat events for the broader community this year (if you know of others, please feel free to leave the information in the comments – thank you!). Northpointe Community Church located on Milburn just South of Herndon will be offering hayrides, concessions and a parking lot full of decorated cars with their owners offering candy to costumed children. I’ve personally taken my son to this event more than once and he had a great time. Those who volunteered to decorate their cars and hand out candy really went all out (an undersea themed car sticks out most in my mind, and was perfect seeing as my son was big on Nemo at the time). New Covenant Church on Nees between Cedar and Maple is also hosting a Trunk-or-Treat with over 100 cars expected. New Covenant is also offering concessions as well as a pumpkin patch play area for children ages 6 and under and a cake walk for everyone. Both Trunk-or-Treat events will take place from 6-8pm on Halloween and are open to the general public – you do not need to be a church member to attend.

We at FresYes hope you and your family have a very fun and safe Halloween, however you choose to spend your evening!