Happy Thanksgiving to all my USA readers, and I hope everyone else is having a lovely day, too!

I’m about to leave for my sister’s for our yummy Thanksgiving dinner. My immediate family has so many people in it that it’s just us for dinner. We’ll meet up with aunts and cousins later for dessert. I wanted to quickly share my OOTD and the top 5 things I’m thankful for this year.

First my outfit.

I’ve been wanting this dress from Macy’s for a loooong time. I ordered it months ago, but apparently they didn’t have my size (3x) when they said they did, and Macy’s canceled my order. I was upset about it for awhile, but once I saw that it was on clearance for under $30 , I knew I needed to give the 2X a try. I’m glad I did. It’s a jersey so there is a lot of stretch, and I am just so in love with this lace detailing.

I wore my first-ever pair of comfortable tights from We Love Colors. I really like how nonrestrictive these tights are, but I wholeheartedly agree with Cupcake’s Clothes review that they fall down some while wearing them.

I also wore a black cardigan from Old Navy, a braided belt from Torrid, and my black pumps from Torrid.

I’m actually surprised I got decent pics. I forced my 21 year old brother to take the pictures, which is why I’m cheesing in this next photo. He kept saying “You’re a tiger! A tiger!”

Ohh, siblings.

5 things I’m most thankful for

1. My family has had a calm year. After a few years of deaths in the family, surprise pregnancies, and money troubles, my family has finally experienced a semi-calm year. I hope we continue down this positive path.

2. The students I met this year. I’ve studied to be a teacher for three and half years, and I swear, that one semester in front of my students I learned more than I have in my entire life. I got to meet 71 amazing 14-15 year old students, and for a large part they were the best part of my day. I’m so lucky that they shared themselves with me.

3. Learning I can be independent. When I went to my undergraduate university, I lived with my best friend from high school. I was constantly surrounded by people I already knew. I definitely met a lot of new people, but I also was never truly independent. Coming to this new university has taught me that I can do amazing things on my own

4. Plus size blogs. Seriously, I never knew there could be such great support for the plus-size community. I wish I had known of these blogs 4 years ago, when I really needed it.

5. Graduating from college. I’m thankful that I had amazing professors and support to graduate college. I almost failed out my freshman year, so I was very proud when I walked across the stage.

I hope you are all having a wonderful day 🙂