QUOTE OF THE WEEK

In Anne of Green Gables, L. M. Montgomery wrote, “Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing.”

Happy Monday, Wildcats, and welcome back! As we approach the end of the semester, with assignments and exams piling up, there will be more and more opportunities to succeed and to fail. With the foreboding pressure of failing, it’s easy to feel stressed out, overwhelmed, and even like you should just call it quits and do the bare minimum.

But if you don’t try, you almost certainly won’t succeed. So, while still being mindful of your mental health, try your best in these last few weeks of the semester, especially in the classes and areas that are the most important to you and your future. And regardless of the outcome, be proud of yourself and your hard work.

THIS WEEK AT FALVEY

Monday, November 27

Mindfulness Monday | 1-1:30 p.m. | Multifaith Prayer Room, St. Rita’s Hall | Virtual Option | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to Villanova Students, Faculty, & Staff

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Tuesday, November 28

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

A New Chapter: Women Writing Northern Ireland Now | 6 p.m. | Topper Theater, John and Joan Mullen Performing Arts Center | Free & Open to the Public | RSVP Here

Wednesday, November 29

Panel Discussion on Dana Lloyd’s Land is Kin: Sovereignty, Religious Freedom, and Indigenous Sacred Sites | 3:30-4:30 p.m. | Speakers’ Corner | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to the Public | Light Refreshments Served

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Philosophy and Film Series on “Creativity and Madness”: Stanley Tucci’s The Final Portrait (2017) | 5:30 p.m. | Room 415 | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to Villanova Community | Light Refreshments Served

Thursday, November 30

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Sunday, December 3

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

HOLIDAYS THIS WEEK

Today, Nov. 27, is National Brand Day. Brands aren’t simply a group of products made by the same company. Brands are an opportunity to support a company with the same values and beliefs as you. Whether you’re in the mood for some retail therapy or are doing some holiday shopping, you can celebrate by buying from a brand that you believe in. If you’re an entrepreneur, this is a great opportunity to celebrate your own brand.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Tomorrow, Nov. 28, is Giving Tuesday, or the National Day of Giving. Celebrated the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, this day is dedicated to the “giving” part of the holiday. To celebrate, you can give money to an important cause, volunteer your time to a local charity, or even donate blood. As Falvey graduate assistant Rebecca discussed in her blog, we are experiencing a blood shortage, and there are currently still spots open to donate at Villanova on both Nov. 27 and Nov. 30.

In the mood for some seasonal sweets? National Peppermint Bark Day is this Friday, Dec. 1. Peppermint bark combines the ultimate winter flavors: mint and chocolate. If you want to get into the holiday spirit, enjoy some peppermint bark.

Got a tight budget this holiday season? Sunday, Dec. 3, is National Make a Gift Day. Although everyone is different, I am of the opinion that homemade gifts are a great way to show your appreciation and tailor the gift to whom you’re giving it. So, if you’re feeling crafty, get out your crochet hooks, markers, recipes, and any other supplies you have and make a homemade gift for someone you love.

Annie Stockmal is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library.

Thanksgiving break. Here’s to some heaping helpings of hugs.

As Falvey’s Cat in the Stax, Rebecca writes articles covering a broad range of topics, from academics to hobbies to random events. All the while highlighting how Falvey Library can enhance your Villanova experience!

Photo by Katrina Frederick

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! It’s almost here, and I want to wish everyone a fun and food-filled holiday. I hope you all are enjoying the break and taking this time off from school to relax, connect with friends and family, and think about everything you are grateful for. Load up on those carbs, eat as much food as you can, and savor every bite.

I was interested about the most popular Thanksgiving foods, and I wanted to see what people were most likely cooking this year. So, I looked on Google Trends to see what people were searching up as the holiday draws closer. Below are the five top trending Thanksgiving Recipes in the U.S.:

1. Turkey Dressing
2. Green Bean Casserole
3. Mashed Potatoes
4. Prime Rib
5. Corn Casserole

Now keep in mind that these are only side dishes. Turkey is the traditional main dish of this holiday, and its annual place at the table in reflected in the Google Trends data. Every year, there is a huge spike in “how to cook a turkey” search interests during the month of November.

Another Thanksgiving food staple is pie. While one might think a typical pie served for this holiday to be either pumpkin or apple (or maybe pecan pie), the trends show that people are considering different kinds for their holiday meal. The picture below shows Google’s most searched for pies in each state:

As you can see, the types of pies being searched vary quite a bit, though there are a few common ones. According to this map, the top five most searched for pies are 1) apple pie, 2) pumpkin pie, 3) key lime pie, 4) sweet potato pie, and 5) pecan pie. Does this ranking surprise you? How about some of these outliers?

No two tables look the same! The data here shows that certain ideas we might have about Thanksgiving foods are different across the nation. Families might have different traditions during this holiday, and every household serves different dishes. Even if you are planning for a more “traditional” meal, the recipes used are not the same across the board. Every dinner this holiday will be unique in its own way!

Rebecca Amrick is a first year graduate student in the English Department and a Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

In Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Ferris Bueller said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Happy Monday, Wildcats! With the semester flying by, Thanksgiving break will begin in just a few days. While everyone’s plans for Thanksgiving might not look the same, I hope everyone will be able to enjoy some time with your family, with your friends, and with anyone else that you care about. Life flies by us pretty quick, but it’s important to slow down and cherish the little things, the good moments that make us smile or laugh or take a breath of relief.

So, even if you’re working on projects, studying for an exam, or cooking for a large group of people, enjoy some down time and recharge your mental battery.

THIS WEEK AT FALVEY

Monday, November 20

Mindfulness Monday | 1-1:30 p.m. | Multifaith Prayer Room, St. Rita’s Hall | Virtual Option | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to Villanova Students, Faculty, & Staff

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

HOLIDAYS THIS WEEK

As you likely know, two major holidays, Thanksgiving on Nov. 23 and Black Friday on Nov. 24, are coming up this week. Here are some other holidays to brighten up your week:

Photo by Jingxi Lau on Unsplash

Today, Nov. 20, is the beginning of National Book Week. With Thanksgiving Break coming up this week, it’s the perfect time to crack open a book and read (and don’t worry if you don’t have one, Falvey’s got plenty of options). After reading for class throughout the semester, sometimes it’s nice to remind ourselves what it’s like to read something actually enjoyable. After spending most of the semester reading for my thesis, I might re-read Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology to enjoy some leisure time.

Not a big reader? Tomorrow, Nov. 21, is World Television Day. Although it’s not quite break yet, this is still the perfect excuse to watch a couple episodes of your go-to comfort show or to start a new show currently on your watch list.

Thursday, Nov. 23 isn’t just Thanksgiving. It’s also fittingly Eat a Cranberry Day, and because of the holiday, you have plenty of choices. Enjoying some fresh cranberries is a nice way to celebrate, but cranberry sauce (or “relish”) and cranberry pie are both two delicious and festive options.

If you’re not pie-d out after Thanksgiving, Sunday, Nov. 26, is International Cake Day. If your sweet tooth hasn’t been satisfied, enjoy a slice of your favorite cake (with bonus points if it happens to be your birthday).

Annie Stockmal is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library.

Falvey Library Service Desk Hours: Thanksgiving 2023

Monday, Nov. 20: 8 a.m.—12 a.m. (book stacks close at 11:30 p.m.)

Tuesday, Nov. 21: 8 a.m.—10 p.m. (book stacks close at 9:30 p.m.)

Wednesday, Nov. 22: Service desk and book stacks closed.

Thursday, Nov. 23: Service desk and book stacks closed.

Friday, Nov. 24: Service desk and book stacks closed.

Saturday, Nov. 25: 12 p.m.—5 p.m. (book stacks close at 4:30 p.m.)

Sunday, Nov. 26: 12 p.m.—12 a.m. (book stacks close at 11:30 p.m.)

Villanova students, faculty, and staff may enter the Library building 24/7 with a valid Wildcard. Library services are available to the University community during posted service hours. Electronic collections (articles, e-books and more!) are accessible through the Library’s website 24/7. For a full listing of service hours, visit our website.

Happy Thanksgiving, Wildcats!

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Library. Her favorite Thanksgiving dish is green bean casserole. 

Photo courtesy of Kallie Stahl, Communication & Marketing Specialist.

Thanksgiving Donation Drive: Villanova’s Thanksgiving Outreach Program is in full swing! Members of the Villanova community are asked to support local families and those in need by pledging either food or a monetary donation. Donations will be collected on the Monday before Thanksgiving, and volunteers are needed to count donations, load meal boxes, and drive university vans to deliver the donations. Click here if you are interested in volunteering. Please consider making a difference in someone’s life during this holiday season!

Rebecca Amrick is a first-year graduate student in the English Department and a Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.

The People’s Home Journal, v. X, no. 11, November 1895. Photo courtesy of the Villanova Digital Library.

The 1895 cover of The People’s Home Journal is this week’s TBT (Throwback Thursday). Looking for some recipes for the upcoming holiday? Check out this dish featured in the aforementioned journal: Fried Squash—“Cut a crook-neck squash in slices and soak them in cold salted water one hour. Wipe them dry, dip them in batter and fry brown in a little butter, or dip them in egg, roll in fine bread crumbs and fry in boiling-hot fat.” Other recipes include: “egg plants, fish cakes, egg salad, devilled almonds, and chocolate cake.” Read the full journal publication here.

What are some of your favorite holiday dishes? Drop them in the comments below.

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library. Her favorite Thanksgiving dish is green bean casserole. 

Happy Friday, Wildcats! Falvey Library is delivering you another semester of Weekend Recs, a blog dedicated to filling you in on what to read, listen to, and watch over the weekend. Annie, a graduate assistant from the Communication department, scours the internet, peruses the news, and digs through book stacks to find new, relevant, and thought-provoking content that will challenge you and prepare you for the upcoming week. 

Yesterday, families across the country celebrated Thanksgiving. For many, the holiday involved traditions like a roast turkey, cranberry sauce, baked mac and cheese, pie, and football. I’ll admit, Thanksgiving is by no means my favorite holiday, but one Thanksgiving tradition has my full support: Thanksgiving specials on television and in film. For this weekend’s recs, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best, or perhaps my favorite, Thanksgiving-themed specials (that aren’t the obligatory A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving) to wrap-up the November holiday season.

If you have 18 minutes and 36 seconds…and want to take part in a Thanksgiving musical tradition, listen to Arlo Guthrie’s song “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree.” Although the song’s length makes it somewhat of a feat, it’s worth one listen around the Thanksgiving season. (Although if my mom had it her way, it would be on a continuous loop on Thanksgiving Thursday).

If you have 21 minutes…and are a Constance Wu admirer, watch Fresh Off the Boat’s first Thanksgiving episode, “Huangsgivng.” It accurately portrays some of the pre-Thanksgiving stress, and Randall Park and Constance Wu are, as always, great.

Photo by Mahrous Houses on Unsplash

If you have 22 minutes…and love Friends, watch “The One with the Football.” As a sitcom, Friends has a host of Thanksgiving episodes, but this one shakes it up a bit by focusing on Thanksgiving’s football tradition.

If you have another 22 minutes…and are a fellow Bob’s Burgers fan, watch “Dawn of the Peck.” The Thanksgiving specials of Bob’s Burgers are always worth the watch, but “Dawn of the Peck” features some less standard Thanksgiving conventions, including a Thanksgiving race, vengeful (living) turkeys, and Donna Summer.

If you have 1 hour and 24 minutes…and want a sprinkle of romance in your Thanksgiving queue, watch Spike Lee’s first feature film, She’s Gotta Have It. It’s an offbeat comedy, quirky in that signature Spike Lee way. (Lee also made a Netflix series version of the film).

If you have 1 hour and 34 minutes…and want to watch a relatively anti-colonialist take on Thanksgiving (at least for the 90s), watch Addams Family Values. The privileged youth summer camp’s Thanksgiving play gets quite the Wednesday Addams reckoning. (Plus, Joan Cusack is an absolute treasure in this movie).

If you have 2 hours and 9 minutes…and want to watch something only tangentially related to Thanksgiving, watch The Blind Side (also available in Falvey’s DVD Collection, if you’re currently on campus). It only has one brief Thanksgiving dinner scene, but it’s brimming with family and football.

Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and graduate assistant in Falvey Library.

Whiteboard art created by Joanne Quinn on November 17, 2017.

Falvey Library is thankful for our Wildcats! Happy Thanksgiving, Nova Nation!