1. What is an aspect of your job that brings you joy and leaves you feeling very thankful?

I am beyond thankful to work with the women of CHAR co.  It is a joy to be a part of a workplace that supports both my professional and personal growth. 

2. Favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

Thanksgiving morning is a favorite of mine ; sleeping in, staying in pjs, and watching the Macy’s Day Parade with a cup of coffee in hand. 

3. What is your favorite part about working during the holiday season? 

Although it can be a bit of a hustle and bustle, there is an underlying excitement that this season brings. There is unique sense of accomplishment and joy that comes with ending another year. 

4. What is a tip you have for practicing gratitude all throughout the year and not just around Thanksgiving?

I’ve been learning that gratitude goes deeper than listing off material things or circumstances that have gone my way. True gratitude is unshakable regardless of circumstances. Choosing each day to be thankful plants a seed that grows over time. 

5. One Thanksgiving dish you can’t live without? 

As much as I love the Thanksgiving meal, dessert is number one in my heart. A sampling of pies and cookies paired with a cup of coffee is just so perfect.

 – lindsay, project manager

   1. What is an aspect of your job that brings you joy and leaves you feeling very thankful?

The PEOPLE. Team, clients – there in lies so much fulfillment and joy.

2. Favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

Going to grandma’s house and all that homemade Dutch country goodness. 

3. What is your favorite part about working during the holiday season?

The festivity in the air – and the Christmas tree in the studio! 

4. What is a tip you have for practicing gratitude all throughout the year and not just around Thanksgiving? Pausing and remembering the all that we have to be thankful for – because it just takes a pause to change my perspective. 

5. One Thanksgiving dish you can’t live without?

Baked sweet potatoes, homemade noodles, and grandma’s filling – oh wait, did you say one? Impossible. 

– char, founder + ceo

1. What is an aspect of your job that brings you joy and leaves you feeling very thankful?

Being able to create things with other creative people brings me a lot of joy.

2. Favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

Making and eating dinner together as a family. After dinner activities always involved spending time outside together and then going inside and watching hockey.

3. What is your favorite part about working during the holiday season?

People get a little spring in their step and there’s a crisp excitement in the air.

4. What is a tip you have for practicing gratitude all throughout the year and not just around Thanksgiving?

Keep a journal and write a few things you’re thankful every day. It helps to refocus!

5. One Thanksgiving dish you can’t live without?

Pumpkin pie with a little dollop of whipped cream :)

– amy, studio intern

1. What is an aspect of your job that brings you joy and leaves you feeling very thankful?

I love to be able to create beautiful things. Photographing weddings for Char Co. gives me the opportunity to create beautiful images for brides and grooms over and over again.

2. Favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

Well, Thanksgiving is basically my favorite holiday. As far as traditions, we usually go to my mom and dad’s and they make most of the dinner. I get to eat and lounge. None of the hustle and bustle of gift-buying frenzies. 

3. What is your favorite part about working during the holiday season?

There is a warm fuzzy feeling and nostalgia when that Christmas music starts to pump, you wrap up in your favorite sweater and hot chocolate becomes an acceptable beverage to sip while plugging away at your task list. Although I still always choose coffee ;)

4. What is a tip you have for practicing gratitude all throughout the year and not just around Thanksgiving?

Focus on what you have instead of what you don’t have. Be intentional about remembering all that you are blessed with. Also, practice being present with the people you love. Not just in body but in mind. 

5. One Thanksgiving dish you can’t live without?

I just discovered this recipe that I made last weekend for Friendsgiving. And it. was. incredible. 

 – claire, photographer

1. What is an aspect of your job that brings you joy and leaves you feeling very thankful?

Sometimes, to get a design/photo/story strategy  just right takes back and forth, edits and revisions – I am thankful that after that back and forth, we perfect it and the client appreciates the end result.

2. Favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

Prepping the Thanksgiving stuffing because we use a recipe from my husband’s grandmother. She passed away several years ago so using her handwritten recipe card brings back beautiful memories. And of course the scents of the butter, onion, celery and bread cooking together smells amazing throughout our home!   

3. What is your favorite part about working during the holiday season?

Everyone is in a festive mood and there is always food to snack on.

4. What is a tip you have for practicing gratitude all throughout the year and not just around Thanksgiving?

My three children remind me to live in the moment and be present. So being thankful in that exact moment is my best tip.

5. One Thanksgiving dish you can’t live without?

Pumpkin pie.

– heather, chief operating officer

 1. What is an aspect of your job that brings you joy and leaves you feeling very thankful?

Working with so many amazing people! From co-workers to clients, I feel like I have some pretty golden people in my life. 

2. Favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

Going to my grandparents place for an amazing homemade Thanksgiving dinner! It’s a time to reconnect with cousins and catch up on everyone’s lives… and eat a ton of mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie of course :)

3. What is your favorite part about working during the holiday season? 

I love the excitement and coziness of the holiday season. Especially when our studio is lit up with the soft glow of our Christmas tree.

4. What is a tip you have for practicing gratitude all throughout the year and not just around Thanksgiving?

Be intentional. There is ALWAYS so much to be thankful for. It’s simply a matter of choosing to see it and focus on it. And gratitude grows gratitude. The more we choose to focus on what we’re grateful for, the bigger the list grows. 

5. One Thanksgiving dish you can’t live without? 

I love pumpkin pie and pecan pie! It wouldn’t feel complete without a little taste of either.

– crystal, studio manager

1. What is an aspect of your job that brings you joy and leaves you feeling very thankful?

I love that our team is a part of empowering other businesses and helping them tell their story. It’s really a sacred thing to be a part of someone else’s story in such a capacity. I am so thankful that we get to be a part of such an amazing process!

2. Favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

Gathering with my family, napping & reading in front of the wood stove, cuddling with my husband after a day of full hearts and full stomachs.

3. What is your favorite part about working during the holiday season? 

The excitement and wonder of the holiday season only grows when the whole team is all really excited and talking about it. We listen to all the holiday tunes in the studio, talk about shopping for gifts, our plans for the holiday – its all just so good!

4. What is a tip you have for practicing gratitude all throughout the year and not just around Thanksgiving?

I sometimes just sit or walk around in my home and just look around and am honestly in awe and deep gratitude for the things that we have. Many of the items that bring me the most joy were given to us or made for us by dear family and friends. Simply looking at how many things I have been blessed with and linking that back to wonderful people in my life brings about so much gratitude.

5. One Thanksgiving dish you can’t live without? 

My grammie’s butternut squash pie ( its honestly insane how good it is ).

– bethany, community creator

We hope you have a beautiful Thanksgiving!