Favorite Thanksgiving Table Settings

Hey y'all! Happy Monday! How were your weekends?

As I mentioned on Friday, I'm prepping for an epic series of handmade Christmas ornaments that starts on Wednesday. It'll be 12 bloggers sharing 12 ornaments a piece for 12 consecutive days...eek! That means I won't be able to talk a lot about Thanksgiving-related things this year, which I'm actually rather sad about since it's one of my favorite holidays, but I wanted to be able to share at least one post with you before diving into Christmas ornaments on Wednesday.

Over the past couple of weeks I've been so inspired by pretty Thanksgiving tables. Table settings aren't something I've done much of in the past, so it's like a whole new world to me. There are so many creative and talented people who have a knack for this kind of thing and I wanted to share a few of my favorite tables with you today.

Ok, let's begin!

I love the mix between the fancy gold china and the casual kraft paper name tags from this table from The Glitter Guide. (And yes, this photo is from a Mother's Day Brunch, but I think it's perfect for Thanksgiving too!)

{The Glitter Guide}

For a more muted (and less shiny) table, try natural elements like pumpkins, linen and green plants.

{The Daily Basics}

Mini white pumpkins are a perfect little thank you gift for guests to take with them and they look adorable sitting on the plates.

{HGTV}

I love the use of wood elements in this tablescape. The wood slice chargers, pillar candles on top of wood stumps and place card holders are super cute.

{The White Buffalo Styling Co}

This simple table would only take about five minutes to put together once you have the supplies - it doesn't get any easier than that!

{Dream Green DIY}

More gold? Why not. Those plates are from West Elm, by the way. I checked and I don't think they're available anymore, sadly.

{A Place For Us}

Do you have plans for decorating your Thanksgiving table? What do you think of these ideas?

Holiday Planning Printables (November & December)

Apologies for the radio silence this week so far, friends. We were busy having a blast hosting some of C's family this weekend and I got a little behind on things for the ole blog. We traipsed all over Philly in some not-so-nice, unseasonably cold and windy weather, but thoroughly enjoyed it just the same. What that means I'm just now getting to my first post of the week (which is totally fine in my book). Life is meant to be enjoyed, right?

This past weekend marked both the start of a new month and the loss of daylight (ack!), and it means that we're well on our way to one of the busiest times of the year. I don't know about you, but my brain starts to go a little haywire this time of year with Thanksgiving and Christmas prep, holiday parties, traveling, gift-giving, etc. Time starts to slip away and before I know it, we're into the new year! I always need a little extra help staying organized during these two months, so I decided to do myself a favor and made myself some tools to help stave off the craziness.

I thought maybe some of y'all might be feeling the same way, so I'm excited to share the launch of a brand new set of FREE holiday planning printables! There are some cute little pieces here that I hope will be useful for you - and me - over the next 60 days. There's a link to download them at the end of the post.

Let's start with the basics: monthly calendars for November and December. These at-a-glance calendars help with the big picture stuff. I'm using mine to keep track of when we're traveling, due dates for blog projects, upcoming parties and regular life things :).

Next up? A daily schedule and to-do list. I find that I don't need a daily schedule or to-do list every day, but there are days when I feel like I'm going to lose it if I don't make a detailed plan and list off what I need to get done. Sometimes there's nothing more satisfying than checking off those boxes. If you feel that way too, all you need to do is print one of these out on those harried days, write the date at the top and go to town. Plan away!

Thanksgiving is a unique holiday that's pretty heavily focused on food (duh) and calls for a special planner. There's a lot to keep track of, so I'm hoping this guy will help keep things straight with its designated places for listing the dishes, items to shop for and notes!

Lastly, in an effort to get my shopping done early, I created a printable for organizing gift buying/giving. Never hurts to get a head start!

I hope these will be helpful in planning out the coming months. I know they'll help me! You can download the whole set HERE. It's a PDF that you can print at home. Print out as many as you'd like (for personal use only).

Here's to successful planning and organizing over the next two months!

Five Helpful Hints for Non-Hosters of Thanksgiving

Let me preface this list with a big, fat disclaimer: everyone approaches large gatherings like Thanksgiving differently. There is no right or wrong way to do things. Some hosts/hostesses like to "do it all" (what craziness is this?!), and want to be left alone in the kitchen, some love having people over, but hate cooking and dread getting all that food on the table, some are too nice to ask for help, etc. etc. Thanksgiving is a time, first and foremost, to be thankful for what we have and unfortunately, all too often, it turns into a frenzied day of trying to get. it. all. done.

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm not in charge of or hosting Thanksgiving this year, but I like to be helpful in making it happen. Thanksgiving is a huge undertaking, and I think non-hosters like myself can play a huge role in pitching in to help take some of the pressure off of the main host/hostess (let's be honest, that's usually someone's mom) and make Thanksgiving go smoothly and be enjoyable for all parties. So to remind myself (and you, too?) to be helpful on Thursday, I've come up with a list of five practical suggestions. Just 'cause you're not hosting doesn't mean you're off the hook for helping out!

1. Volunteer to bring or cook something.

Before Thursday arrives, check with the host/hostess about what you can bring or do to help. Often, the host has planned out or made a list of dishes/drinks/desserts ahead of time, so if you have something you'd like to bring, check in ahead of time to see if that works with the plan that's already in place.

If the host says not to bring anything, see if there's something else non-food or drink related you can do instead, which brings us to my next few hints!

2. Be proactive.

Hooray! It's Thanksgiving day! Once you arrive and get settled in, ask how you can help. If your host says, "Oh nothing! Go relax!" go do that. For a little while. Check in every once in awhile and ask again. Needs will certainly change throughout the day.

Oh, and you may have noticed, but people tend to congregate in the kitchen, which drives most cooks crazy. Take some initiative and lead people to another room to hang out (take some snacks and drinks to lure them with you...) or go outside if the weather's nice enough!

3. Entertain the kids (or adults).

Thanksgiving takes awhile to pull together, so there will inevitably be down time throughout the day. People, especially kids, tend to get a little restless. Come prepared with some ideas to keep people entertained and occupied until the main event. Games, crafts, prepping the table with place cards/food labels (shameless plug), running around like banshees outside, and plain, old-fashioned conversating (yes, I know that's not a real word...) are good places to start. Check out Ashley's round up of ways to get your kids involved in celebrating Thanksgiving to get you started.

{The Handmade Home}

Oh, and involve the kids in some of the cooking activities as well!

4. Help clean.

After your food coma has worn off a bit, grab a couple of people and take charge of the clean up. If everyone does a little bit, it'll be done in a flash. Also, ask the cook if you can clean while he/she is cooking. Sometimes it's helpful to clean as you go, especially with big meals like this!

Cleaning can also include packaging up leftovers. If any leftovers are going home with guests, check out these cute ways to package them. Or, use tried and true tinfoil if it wears you out just thinking about making leftovers "cute" :).

{A Feteful Life}

5. Come armed with a list of ideas for leftovers.

While we're on the topic of leftovers, it could be fun to come ready with a list of creative ways to use them. Maybe start with this pizza. Or you could just do Thanksgiving all over again and have a little bit of everything :). Mmm.


Happy Thanksgiving y'all! I hope you have a great one wherever you're celebrating :).

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linking up to: DIY Showoff, Rain on a Tin Roof, Home Stories A to Z, Uncommon Designs, If It's Not Baroque, Liz Marie Blog, Blissfully Ever After, Design, Dining and Diapers, Crafty Scrappy Happy, Craftberry Bush, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Tatertots and Jello, Serenity Now, It’s Overflowing, House of Rose, Love of Family and Home, Dear Creatives, Madigan Made, First Home...Love Life, Simply Dream and Create, Whipperberry, Sparkles and A Stove, Making Home Base, Naptime Creations, Southern Hospitality, Living Well Spending Less, Remodelaholic, The Happy Housie

Thanksgiving Table Printables

I'm not hosting or in charge of Thanksgiving this year. I guess that's one of the perks of being young, not having kids and living in a tiny apartment (that's SO not ideal for hosting a big ole Thanksgiving feast). We love going to my in-laws' home for this holiday, and I've been brainstorming ways that I can help since hosting/cooking/prepping Thanksgiving is a huge undertaking!

I've got a list of "ideas" for you tomorrow on how to be helpful when you're NOT hosting Thanksgiving (I'm preachin' to myself here too!), but I wanted to go ahead and share one of the practical things with you today.

For many hosts and hostesses, getting food on the table is the most important part, but this is also the most time-consuming and involved task! Prettying up the table and buffet area may not be the first thing on their minds, so this is where you, the non-hoster, can help out. This is definitely not something that's mandatory, but I think that can be a nice way to get involved so they can focus on the food aspect of things and not worry about making the table all purdy (if that's the plan - I know things work differently for different families).

Place cards and food label cards can be really helpful, especially if you've got a crowd coming. People like to know where to sit and what they're eating, so adding these two simple things this takes the guesswork out of that.

To make it easy for you, dearest non-hoster, I've created some free "fall vines" place cards/food label cards and some "what are you thankful for?" lists that you can use at your feast. Both are included in this PDF for you to download. Make sure you ask the host or hostess if they've already planned for this though - no stepping on anyone's toes!

Here are the place cards/food label cards. They come six to a sheet, so print out as many sheets as you need :).

Print them out on card stock, cut out the individual cards and lists using scissors or a paper trimmer and write names or food on them. Fold in half and place on the table or buffet. Simple as that!

The "what are you thankful for?" lists come three to a sheet. Again, print as many as you need! Sometimes getting the thankfulness conversation started around the dinner table can be a bit of a challenge, so if you give people some time to think and write things down before sitting down for dinner, you'll already have a conversation starter in place!

Print the sheets out on card stock and cut into thirds. Place them in a bowl or basket by the door with a cup of pens and have people grab one as they come in and fill out at their leisure while watching some football or hanging out.

If you take the initiative and do a few simple things, I'll bet the day will go a lot more smoothly and the host or hostess will be very thankful for you on turkey day!

What are your Thanksgiving plans this year? Are you playing host/hostess, and do you think it would be helpful having someone take care of some little things for you? 

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linking up to: DIY Showoff, Rain on a Tin Roof, Home Stories A to Z, Uncommon Designs, If It's Not Baroque, Liz Marie Blog, Blissfully Ever After, Design, Dining and Diapers, Crafty Scrappy Happy, Craftberry Bush, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Tatertots and Jello, Serenity Now, It’s Overflowing, House of Rose, Love of Family and Home, Dear Creatives, Madigan Made, First Home...Love Life, Simply Dream and Create, Whipperberry, Sparkles and A Stove, Making Home Base, Naptime Creations, Southern Hospitality, Living Well Spending Less, Remodelaholic, The Happy Housie

Thanksgiving Rewind

We had a lovely, lovely time in Virginia with my in-laws for Thanksgiving. Being there was a breath of fresh air (literally and figuratively) away from hustle and bustle of center-of-the-city life. I wanted to share a few highlights of our time there before the freshness of our memories slips away and we're suddenly at a recap of Christmas!

We arrived late Wednesday night and enjoyed catching up with the fam before heading to bed. After a little extra sleep on Thursday morning, we headed out to enjoy some absolutely beautiful weather before settling in to a long food-filled-festival later that day.

We went on a hike at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, taking plenty of time to stop, explore and take in our surroundings.

We managed to grab a family photo mid-way through. Note the furry one's wet legs...someone couldn't muster enough patience to cross the streams on the rocks. The water was a much more direct route - no matter how cold!

Jackson had boundless energy. He may have enjoyed this outing most of all. Three of us took turns on leash duty because he pulled us all the way up and down the mountain!

Hike + beautiful weather + good company = great success.

We spent the rest of the day mostly doing one of three things: cooking, eating, and watching football (Go Skins and Pats!). All very satisfying. Around the dinner table, we each took a turn to catch each other up on our lives since half of us now live in different places. I am grateful for this extra family I gained through marriage. They're a blessing to me. 

Friday the boys went fishing while the girls headed south to Lynchburg to a mecca known as the J.Crew Warehouse Sale. Though we had to wait outside in a line for an hour and a half, inside we got to spend a couple of hours sifting through THIS:

Looks like fun, huh? Ok, not so much, but the prices are SO good, it's worth it. You just dig, dig, dig hoping to run across something in your size, color and fit. This isn't my first J.Crew Warehouse rodeo, so I've kinda got a strategy for how I go about digging through the hundreds of disorganized boxes. That's a post for another time. By the end of it, I spent about $100 for over $800 worth of merchandise. Amazing deals, people, amazing.

Saturday was more low-key, but it did include a stop at one of my most favorite fabric stores: U-Fab. It's a no-frills store full of discounted designer fabrics that are beau-ti-ful. I just love going in there to look at (and be tempted by) all of them. I managed to escape without buying anything, but did snap a few photos of my favorites.

Too bad I don't have a need to add any more fabric to my ever-growing stockpile.

We headed home Sunday morning, but not without a stop to pick up a very important item for the upcoming Christmas season...a tree! We stopped at Crazy Joe's Christmas Tree Farm to cut down our very own Norway Spruce. Here she is behind us before we took her home:

We promptly put her up when we got home, and I strung lights and tinsel garland, and carefully placed ornaments on her branches. Pictures to come. 

That brings us to the end of our Thanksgiving weekend. I hope you enjoyed my little recap! How was your weekend?

Happy Thanksgiving!

We're off spending Thanksgiving and the long weekend with my in-laws, so I just wanted to say...

I hope you have a wonderful day of thanks wherever you may be. I'm looking forward to eating lots of delicious food, spending time with family, watching football, enjoying the great outdoors, doing a little J.Crew warehouse shopping (full report to come when I get back!) and just relaxing.

I'm taking a little blogging break to enjoy this time away...see you next week!

I'm Thankful For...

Since it is Thanksgiving week, I think it's time to take a moment and acknowledge the many blessings I have in my life.

Things like family.

Including my wonderful husband, who I adore.

And even my dog. Ridiculous as he may be.

For friends - old any new - who I can depend on, have great conversations with, and just have plain ole fun with! {Too many for any photos to do them justice!}

For creative people who blog about their creativeness and inspire me. I'll be sharing a list soon of my favorites.

For the changing seasons and the beauty of fall that reminds me that God is the most creative of all.

For knowing that God is in control of my life, which takes away the pressure of me having to have it all figured out and helps me to remember to be joyful in the journey that is this life.

I think that's where I'll leave it for today. There are so many other things, but I'm keeping it simple for now.

What are you grateful for?