Hey you!

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Remember how I donate the proceeds from traffic to my website on Thanksgiving? While I didn't meet my goal, I'm happy to report that I'll be donating just over $10,000 to Feeding America. It's truly such a privilege to be able to use The Stay At Home Chef to feed people, including those who need a little extra help.

Thanksgiving also marks the anniversary of "The Gray Hair Video" that altered the trajectory of my life story. 9 years and over 1 billion views later...

I have to confess, I cringe every year when I post it. Maybe cringe isn't even the right word. It's a little like holding my breath too. It's the same way I felt when I originally published it. I didn't want to. The video itself was never meant to be published. It was just a personal project. [full background story here if you are interested]​

So why do I still share it every year? The same reason I published it in the first place. When my husband first saw it, he said, "You know that is going to go viral, right?" I nodded quietly. He continued, "If you are willing to do it anyway, there are people who need to hear it."

He was right. Hundreds of thousands of comments and messages have rolled in over the years from people who were moved by that small piece of my story. To be able to connect with that many people on such an intimate level is life-changing. I still don't know what to do with it and I still don't know how to respond to any of it.

All I know is that the world probably needs to hear it more than ever. Whether you dye your hair, or go natural, or anywhere in between. No matter what you look like, or how you present yourself, it's about learning to embrace who you are and the life that you have so that you can truly live.

So many people never live to be old. Don't take the life that you have for granted.

See ya later!

Rachel

P.S. On a fun note, tomorrow I'm kicking off 12 days of edible Christmas gifts on social media! Be sure to follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, or YouTube.

This show-stopper is so easy to make, even though it looks so fancy. I promise! Even my kids have made it. Cinnamon is the classic flavor, but I've got 9 flavor options for you, from sweet to savory.

We can barely drink store-bought anymore because homemade is just so ridiculously good! You can make it right and decadent, or lighten things up and it's still just hands down better than anything I can buy at the store.

Another absolute showstopper. This one has been a favorite ever since I hit publish. It's super moist and the flavor just screams Christmas. It's the centerpiece of any holiday event for sure.

It's not just the season for treats. It's also dip and appetizer season! Jalapeno Popper Dip is always a hit for those who like to add a little spice to their holidays and heat things up. Which is totally me. Bring on flavor!

If you want to make your house smell like Christmas, make a batch of slow cooker apple cider. You'll be sipping on warm deliciousness all season long!

New YouTube Videos

And here are the two new video demonstrations for you this week over on YouTube! Always appreciate you watching and sharing.

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