Tag: celebrations

Thanksgiving Tablescape With Whimsy and Warmth

Thanksgiving Tablescape With Whimsy and Warmth

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Since we’re not hosting the official family Thanksgiving this year, I “wisely” raised my hand to host my MOMS Club “Thankful Potluck” event this week. Really? What was I thinking? I’ll tell you what I was thinking. . . this was a good excuse to clean the house, decorate for Thanksgiving and set the table befitting this holiday like no other. Without opening my home for this fun little dinner party, I’m afraid I would have just let this holiday pass silently by while uneventfully sloppily sliding into the holly jolly of Christmas.

So I cooked a bone-in turkey breast, made the stuffing (Stove Top) and added a few appetizers and a dessert (I tried out a successful new recipe on the ladies that I’ll share later). With all the other carry-in dishes, we had so much food I almost unbuttoned my pants to play games on the living room floor. It was a fun night of laughs and food (some at the same time) and I think everyone felt welcome.

While it was a scurry to make the place presentable, I’m really glad I raised my hand. Thankfully, I took my tablescape cues from last year’s family gathering and was able to reuse many of the decorations and place setting ideas. I added a few new decorations around the house, but when you have a table set for friends and a beautiful fire blazing who really needs much else. That being said, here are a few photos from my Thanksgiving table. Click on images to enlarge.

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Autumn in the Air and Thanksgiving ’round the Corner

Autumn in the Air and Thanksgiving ’round the Corner

smalltalkmama0710Fall is officially in the air in Missouri with cooler morning temps and beautiful warm afternoons. When we string together a few of these fabulous days, I’m always reminded why this is my favorite time of year. The family also made its first of what promises to be many trips to a local apple orchard yesterday for hay rides, chicken feeding, apple picking and pumpkin gathering. I’m thankful that we have so many great local orchards, pumpkin farms and corn mazes so close to home. It makes fall such a fabulous family time of year.

Speaking of autumn and the thankfulness of it all, I’m afraid it’s time once again to look ahead to November and the family-focused holiday of Thanksgiving. If you happen to be hosting this year, why not get a jump on things while the weather is still cooperating and start planning your spectacular gathering today. When it’s our year to host, I like to start with a theme for my decorations and tablescape — the menu can always come later. Will everything be whimsical, woodsy or traditional? Maybe simple or modern is the answer? What’s the color of the day — browns, whites or antique greens? Well, if you need a bit of inspiration for your Thanksgiving table, I have a special treat today.

Hometalk recently asked me to curate a board of Thanksgiving tablescapes to share with readers and I gladly accepted the challenge, which turned out to be easier (and a lot more fun) than I first imagined. Hometalk is simply full of wonderful holiday ideas; but as you’ll see by visiting my board, I tried to pick a plethora of tablescapes to suit several different design tastes and aesthetics. When you visit the board, you’ll see all types of ideas collected from bloggers across the country — some look more professional than others and some are more basic than others, but they are all great jumping off points to help make your personal celebration memorable. So why not visit me on Hometalk, and let me know which one is your favorite.

Saturday Sparks — Happy Halloween Porches

Saturday Sparks — Happy Halloween Porches

Halloween decorating days will soon be upon us, and you just might be thinking about your plan of attack. If you’re looking for something fun to welcome friends and trick or treaters this year, then you’ve come to the right place. Today’s inspiration is all about fabulous front porches that scream, “This is the place to be.” From witches to mummies,  traditional to bold, the sky’s the limit when it comes to Halloween.

 

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