Yesterday, I was sent a group email asking me to list things I’m thankful for that aren’t traditional, like: "my family," "food on the table," etc. Other moms on the email tree were coming back with beautiful sentiments about new friendships, the help of strangers, and averting disasters.

I didn’t respond because everything I thought of seemed trite, superficial, and a tad less profound.  However, I did write a list, and frankly, I'll share it with you because these things totally deserve thanks in my book -- just refrain from saying them around the dinner table.

1. I am thankful for the dimmer switch in my bedroom.

2. I am thankful that I keep a pair of tweezers in my car.

3. I am thankful my daughter has not lost faith in the tooth fairy, and my son goes along with it.

4. I am thankful I didn't have an affair with the head of the CIA.

5. I am thankful for Homeland -- somehow that red-headed guy is really sexy?!

Many of us are having a few people over for Thanksgiving -- maybe five or six guests. And then there are the generous, ambitious hosts who are having many, many more guests than that. As in ... 20 people! How do you manage a Thanksgiving circus like that? So much potential for chaos and food poisoning.

I've been having this conversation with a group of friends, and some of them came up with advice so creative and useful I just had to pass it on. Take it from a few women who have hosted massive dinners (not me!): This is how you organize a BIG Thanksgiving dinner without losing your mind.

Who wants a juicy, flavorful turkey, raise your hands! You, and you, and you, and you? All righty then, let's talk turkey brine. Brining is one of a Thanksgiving chef's best secrets. Done correctly, it can give you one mouth-wateringly juicy roast turkey.

When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, I'll obsess over the menu and fantasize over eating those leftovers. But actually planning how to store those leftovers -- that's something I'll usually leave for the last minute. I mean, who daydreams about food containers? But it's worth planning ahead for that. After all, food safety experts say you should refrigerate your leftovers within two hours -- so it helps to have a plan. 

Storing those leftovers can seem daunting right after that big meal. But you know what? We're here with a game plan that'll make putting away Thanksgiving a snap! Now get ready to divide and conquer.

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes have a cult-like following. Even though the coffee chain seems to be bringing them out earlier and earlier every year, pushing pumpkin on us when we're still in flip-flops, they definitely hold a special place in my heart. Forget falling leaves, chillier temps, sweaters ... It's almost as if we rely on this one flavorful, cozy drink to ring in autumn.

Think that may be taking it too far? Well, think again! Starbucks fans on Twitter went berserk when some locations reportedly ran out of the drink's signature pumpkin spice syrup due to unexpectedly high demand. A couple sample tweets: “Starbucks is out of Pumpkin Spice Latte. NOW WHAT,” wrote one fan, while @TheFakeCNN poked fun by tweeting, “BREAKING: Fights between soccer moms on the rise after Starbucks announces Pumpkin Spice Latte shortage." Geeeze! It was enough to think, "OMG IT'S THE PUMPKIN SPICE LATTEPOCALPYSE!"

Even though I'll admit I'd given plenty of thought to my wedding well before getting engaged this past spring, I never really thought too too much about the wedding cake. (I know, ironic, being that I'm a total foodie!) All I knew was I wanted a buttercream cake, because in my opinion, fondant isn't nearly as heavenly.

Now that my fiance and I are actually planning and we'll soon be "saying yes" to The Cake, I've been looking at designs, and sheeeze, wedding cakes really are an incredible artform all their own! Well, guess that's because it is, literally, the pièce de résistance of the Big Day. Here, extravagant, eye candy-tastic wedding cakes -- like this whimsical "Vintage Bird" wedding cake by Colorado-based cake designer and owner of Intricate Icing Designs, Rachael Teufel -- you're sure to drool over ...  

The countdown is on to the 2012 Olympic games, and I couldn't be more excited. I can't wait to hear the inspirational stories and see all that hard work and determination play out on the field, trampoline, or other venues that will be the stage for the various games.

In preparation for the competitions, I've been thinking food -- awesome Olympics-themed food.  I've collected a host of recipes to serve throughout the games for various gatherings and to make viewing more fun. These festive dishes may not be the fuel of champions, but they will certainly feed your Olympics fever.

Well gag me with a hot dog bun. That gosh dern Joey Chestnut gobbled up a gazillion franks (okay, more like 68) for his 6th straight title today in the annual Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island. (Man, that's more of a mouthful than all those wieners.) 

Meanwhile, Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas won the women's championship again, putting away an impressive 45 hot dogs and looking like she'd just had a little nibble of a tea sandwich. 

Before we go cheering and slapping them on the back with hardy har har congratulatory guffaws, just -- no. This might be a funny, cute little tradition and all but IT IS TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY GRODY. It encourages horribly unhealthy binge-eating habits, is harder on the body than pregnancy (almost), and involves ingesting what is probably the worst food you could probably eat one of, let alone 70 (sorry, hot dogs).

Oh, who am I kidding?