It's the most wonderful time of the year! The holidays, that is. I absolutely love Thanksgiving, mostly because I'm a foodie. You can't really go wrong with Thanksgiving food. That being said, there is so much more to this one day than food. Thanksgiving is a day to reflect on what we're thankful for, which can be any number of things. I've compiled a list of my Thanksgiving favorites, some of which you may agree on. Take a glance at my list and it may just remind you of some things you can't wait for either!

1. Stuffing

Need I say more? This delicious Thanksgiving side dish brings the whole meal together. Even better? There is almost always leftovers, which makes for tasty meals for the whole weekend.

2. Family time

Being away at college for months at a time can be emotionally exhausting. I’m thankful that I’m going to go home and spend this wonderful holiday with not only my parents, but my entire extended family.

3. The parade

Ever since I was a little girl, waking up on Thanksgiving Day has always been complete with mom’s homemade cinnamon rolls and watching the parade on TV. Several hours worth of beautiful floats and entertaining Broadway numbers keep us all occupied.

4. Black Friday

Alright, so this could be just my thing, but I love Black Friday. I’ve never been one to go insane for sales, but for me it has always been a bonding experience for my sister, my best friend and me. I, for one, think that stores closing on Thanksgiving is wonderful, as this time is meant to be spent with the most important people in your life.

5. The weather

Unfortunately, this Thanksgiving appears to be one that will not have snow. However, I’ve always loved to wake up and see some snow on the ground. It’s a reminder that Christmas is on the way. Speaking of that…

6. Christmas is that much closer

I love holidays. All of them. Christmas is an even better holiday for different reasons. Thanksgiving is like the official kick-off of the Christmas season, which means you can officially play the holiday music all day long!

7. Football

What’s a better way to burn off all those Thanksgiving calories than yelling at your TV screen cheering on your favorite team?

8. No school

This doesn’t only go for college kids. Some time away from school is great, even for teachers and professors.

9. Tradition

Every family has their own little holiday traditions and quirks. Thanksgiving only happens once a year and I know that I’ll appreciate my family’s quirks as much as anyone. If you want a laugh, here’s one of my family’s traditions: watching Punkin Chunkin. This ridiculous TV program is a competition of pumpkin-hurling contraptions. After watching, you may even want to build your own.