Gratitude Gourmet is giving away 10 tickets (5 sets of 2 tickets) to the Global Winter Wonderland Lantern Festival taking place Nov 25, 2011–January 2, 2012 at California’s Great America Parking Lot 4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA. Just tell us on Facebook why you should win a set of tickets.
The Festival is sponsored by The International Culture Exchange Group which is working to promote cultural exchange between the East and the West and celebrates Holiday lights and Christmas traditions from around the world. Over forty giant illuminated structure displays, some nearly 50 feet high, 100 feet wide and made of beverage cans, bottle caps, recycled batteries, CDs, porcelain dishes, metal flatware, and low voltage LEDs will be extravagantly displayed in the Holiday Village, Global Village, and Mini Chinatown! Arriving from China, the elaborate lantern displays are built by engineers of several structures showcased in the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. 
Activities and Entertainment include: 
Live cultural and contemporary music and dance performances at the “Global Stage” and “Cabaret Luna” where you can find Mexican Ballet Folklorico, German Polka dancers, Arabic Belly Dancers, College and High School Jazz bands and a line-up of bands from every era. Arts and crafts, carnival rides, arcade games, a dinosaur maze, and an Igloo Snow Play Land with snow fall and a light show.
When: 
Friday, Saturday & Sunday Dec 2nd, 3rd, & 4th
Friday, Saturday & Sunday Dec 9th, 10th, & 11th
Consecutive Days: Friday, Dec 16th - Monday, Jan 2nd
Event Hours: Sunday – Thursday 4PM – 10PM
Friday & Saturday 4PM – 11PM
Gate Admission: $12 Adult (13-61) $10 Youth (4-12) $10 Senior (62+) FREE Child under 4
Parking: General Parking $10 VIP $20 Valet $30
Remember to tell us on our Gratitude Gourmet Facebook Page why you should win a set of tickets.

You can now connect with Gratitude Gourmet on Google+ in addition to Facebook and Twitter! Let us know how best we can connect with you on Google+!

Here are a list of Studies showing a positive correlation between Gratitude Practice and Health. Neuromuscular Disorders and Heart Health are just some of the examples.
In the book Thanks, Emmons recommends these steps:
1. Keep a journal daily, recording in writing what you are grateful for.
2. Remember the bad. A mental comparison of how bad it was and how much better it is now really helps.
3. Three questions to ask yourself:
What have I received from ______?
What have I given to ________?
What troubles and difficulty have I caused ____?
4. Come to your “senses.” Count bodily related blessings: being able to see, hear, walk, eat, etc.
5. Use visual reminders, like pictures of loved ones or scenes of nature.
6. Make a vow to practice gratitude.
7. Watch your language. Negative talk undermines the gratitude practice.
8. Go through the motions. Feelings follow words and actions.
9. Think outside the box. Think of the non-obvious things to be grateful for.

Hi Everyone, As Founder of Gratitude Gourmet, I've received requests to donate to those in need during the holiday season, and some have health problems that impact their income.
As a result, I've committed to sending Gratitude Gourmet Healthy Vegan Snack Boxes to them. I need your help to donate to this campaign, and any donation is appreciated on this Gratitude Gourmet Vegan Snack Box Donation Page. I'll make sure to keep you updated as the campaign progresses. 
Thank you, Mary Vincent http://www.gratitudegourmet.com
http://www.facebook.com/GratitudeGourmet
http://twitter.com/gratitudgourmet

A recent Study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology shows that if you have a sweet tooth, you may have a sweeter personality. :)
U.S. researchers conducted a series of experiments that compared people's tastes for sweets with their behavior. One test found that people who ate chocolate were more likely to volunteer to help another person in need, compared to those who ate a cracker or no food. Another test found that people tend to believe that people who like sweet foods are also more agreeable or helpful.
"Our results suggest there is a real link between sweet tastes and pro-social behavior," Michael D. Robinson, a psychology professor at North Dakota State University in Fargo, said in a university news release.
Perfect Time To Enjoy Gratitude Gourmet Chocolate! :)

Your Call Radio recently had a Show on the Topic: How Diet Affects Our Health. Guests included: Matthew Lederman, physician and co-founder of Exsalus Health and Wellness Center, Los Angeles, California and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, director of cardiovascular disease reversal and prevention at the Cleveland Clinic.
They had a conversation about the documentary film Forks Over Knives and the book: The China Study. 
Cases of diabetes are exploding, especially among the younger population, and about half of us are taking at least one prescription drug. Dr. Esselstyn mentions that in medical school, students are not given all the tools they really need to help people, i.e. nutrition. So what can be done to reverse these alarming statistics? 
Click to Listen: How does diet impact our health?

Here is a past article on Caldwell Esselstyn for reference:
Video: Caldwell Esselstyn Jr. MD & Dean Ornish MD Explain Bill Clinton's Diet To CNN

It's time again for the Farm Sanctuary 'Celebration FOR the Turkeys' events happening in:
Orland, CA: Nov. 19, 2011 
Watkins Glen, NY: Nov. 20, 2011
Acton, CA: Nov. 20, 2011

It's the 25th Anniversary for the annual Celebration FOR the Turkeys where turkeys are placed at the center of our attention, rather than at the center of our plates. The Orland and Watkins Glen Shelter festivities include special guest presentations, musical performances, delicious Thanksgiving feasts, and of course abundant time spent with rescued farm animal friends, including The Feeding of the Turkeys ceremonies where the rescued turkeys will dine on their favorite holiday treats: stuffed squash, pumpkin pie and cranberries (all served on silver platters, of course). This event sells out fast so register soon.

Here's a recent FDA Listeria outbreak update via Businessweek:
"A dump truck parked near the open-air packing facility is among the possible causes of the contamination, Jim Gorny, a senior adviser for produce safety at the FDA, said on the conference call. The truck had hauled misshapen cantaloupes away from the facility and dumped them at a cattle ranch.
“Cattle are definitely a reservoir” of listeria and can transmit it through their feces, Gorny said. FDA inspectors later found the truck “parked in the general proximity, right next to where food is handled,” he said."