Kathy Zengolewicz

If you are using pinecones, be sure to get the scented ones, or better yet visit my blog here in the Home & Living section this Sunday.  I’ll be showing you exactly how to set your table.

I always take special care with my table at the holidays. As a rule we’re not very formal, but at Thanksgiving I pull out all of the stops. I will give you a couple of hints for creating a beautiful holiday table. Always start with a cloth table cover. You can find some buys, especially if you choose a white cover. I always use white at thanksgiving because it gives off just the right balance of color once I have everything put together. The contrast can be stunning.

I don’t have more than one set of dishes, so I use my everyday dishes and they look fine. I do, however, use hand made napkin rings and placecards in a variety of colors. I place candles strategically around the dinner table and light them when family and friends are ready to sit for the meal. I top the table with a fresh bunch of flowers, noting expensive, just simple blooms.

Setting your table is one way to make Thanksgiving day a special. I’m sure that you can think of a few others. Here is hoping that your Thanksgiving holiday is a memorable one.

Take care. I’ll talk to you soon.

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Seasonal centerpiece – Turn a large pumpkin or squash into a bowl.  Fill it with ornamental gourds and small pumpkins.

Autumn chandelier – Suspend burnished miniature pumpkins and gilded maple leaves from a chandelier with thread.

Curvaceous container – Turn a narrow-necked gourd into a vase by sawing off the gourd’s tip.

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-garland of colored leaves draped over the fireplace

-small figurines of “all things fall” I’m thinking little pumpkins, little farmers etc to decorate window sills etc.

-candles in warm colors. You can get amazing some amazing baby candles that nestle in little glass cups that can be used to decorate where ever there is an empty spot.

-place a display of season magazines on the coffee table. I think that I mentioned it before… I have magazines dating back to the 40s and no I wasn’t around back then.

-change the pillows on your sofa to something fitting for the season. I even remember reading once about buying silky scarves in the colors you need and simply tying them around the pillows you already have.

I’m sure that there are about a zillion little ideas and if you feel like sharing… we are all ears!

Photo Credit: Shop.com

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Presently, we don’t have a kid’s table anymore, but I do remember the day when there was a lot of laughter coming from that table! And that’s how it should be. I came up with five ideas to make it as cool a table as possible.  

1. Place a white tablecloth on the table and leave markers so that the kid’s can all autograph the table. Be sure to tell them to add the date as well.

2. If the children are of an age where they love all things crafty, let them create their own placemats. Construction paper, markers, a few stickers and some glue might be all they need.

3. When the time comes, let them set their own table and feel free to use disposable dinnerwear so that they don’t have to worry about breaking anything. You can set a pretty fancy table using disposable everything, so take advantage!

4.  Kids love presents so leave a little something on their plate that has their name on it. They get something to play with and a “place card”. Ps… the dollar store has great little items that won’t cost you a bundle.

5. If the grown-up table has a centerpiece, try to place one on the children’s table as well. It will help make them feel special too! Ps… Yes, the centerpiece is really cute, but for obvious reasons, forgo the cookies and the candy or the kids will skip dinner all together lol…

**Sitting at the kid’s table should be somewhere they want to be!

Photo Credit: FTD.com

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Holiday Table 1 (the hostess had 11 people, but seated them at three small tables)

Holiday Table 2 (this hostess was really busy)

Holiday Table 3 (she mentioned the dollar store… impressive!)

Holiday Table 4 (decorating a table for the kids)

Holiday Table 5 (just look what you can do if you sew!)

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Unless the kids can cook, you won’t be sending them to the kitchen… that comes a few years down the road, but there are things that they can do to keep them busy and let them feel that they have contributed to the holiday table. They can make the holiday place cards for the table!

All you need in some construction paper, some templates of autumn leaves, pencils, glue and scissors (age appropriate of course) and some gel pens… kids love them. What they are going to do is simply trace and cut out leaves from whatever color of construction paper that appeals to them and glue them to fold over pieces of construction paper. (Don’t worry if the cards aren’t perfect… they are going to become cherished heirlooms in the years to come

So, while you are going to praise their artwork big time, actually the messier they turn out the better.) Now write a list of who is attending the dinner and allow the children to print the name on each card. Again, a child’s handwriting makes the cards even more charming

If dinner is still an hour or so away, let the kids make you tons and tons of construction paper leaves to decorate the window sills, the center of the table… anywhere there is a bare spot.

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When the kids were little, I don’t think that they cared a jot whether the serving dishes were… well gorgeous or not. But now that they are older, I’m hoping that they noticed.  We spent our family Polish/Canadian/British Thanksgiving last month and my son’s girlfriend hosted. Her table was GORGEOUS. I certainly noticed! Now, I want to be able to make my table look gorgeous too. And that means going through the cupboards to see what I have and what I still need to pick up. Every year, something goes missing or is packed away for the next time. Problem is, our house is up for sale and I have packed away a lot of my fancy dishes. Now is the time to see what I have left to choose from. And, come to think about it… there is nothing wrong with borrowing what you need. That’s what neighbors are for lol…

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Photo Credit: Pottery Barn

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I can’t remember where I read this suggestion, but it stuck in my head and this morning (because it’s cold where I live,) I began to think about soup. And then it occurred to me that it would look kind of cool to serve soup in a hollowed out pumpkin if you didn’t have a soup tureen… which I don’t. Actually, I can’t believe that I have been married this long and no one has ever bought me one as a gift?? It’s on my list again this year, just in case my kids are reading this. If not, it looks as if I will be buying one for myself. I might be able to serve soup in a pumpkin at this time of year, but the rest of the year… probably not!

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