I know this is hard to believe, but Thanksgiving is only six weeks away!  Eeek!  How did that happen?  Instead of pushing it out of our minds, it’s better to embrace it and make preparations for a less stressful and happier time.  Planning is key to things running smoothly.
I remember the year we purchased our first home.  I decided that I should host Christmas dinner.  We had my parents and my husband’s parents over.  I didn’t realize all the work that would go into hosting the meal, opening presents, and family time. 
I learned a lot that day and now I …read more

When decorating for fall, try using gourds and pumpkins.  This will you allow you to have decorations that can last through the entire season. 

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.

Floating Beauties – Fill an assortment of glasses with water and float mini pumpkin gourds inside. 
 Table centerpiece – Start with a fall wreath that has been decorated with leaves, …read more

I’ve tasted a lot of cranberry sauce in my time and while I wouldn’t turn down ANY cranberry sauce served, I do like this texture. I like the solid berries and believe it or not, you can actually order the stuff for thanksgiving from Saks! Unfortunately, it wouldn’t really work in our household because no one will eat it except me and now my son’s girlfriend. She loves it too and actually gave me a tub of her homemade cranberry sauce that I plan to use on a turkey sandwich with stuffing for lunch today.
*I think she’s a keeper lol…
Photo …read more

You have been running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off… where do I get these sayings?? It just popped into my head, but I guess it’s fitting (sort of). Anyway, Thanksgiving is fast approaching and you still have to spruce up the house for the big day. Again, off the top of my head, I came up with some really easy ways to make your home warm and cozy!
-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 …read more

var iamInit = function() {try{initIamServingHandler(320,391,268273,”http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/Css/css2.css”)}catch(ex){}}()
I’m kind of torn with this one, so I’m throwing it out to you. If you had the chance to eat Thanksgiving dinner in a restaurant, would you do it, or do you love everything connected with making your own dinner? Or perhaps you visit family for Thanksgiving Dinner each year. It certainly makes it a lot easier if everyone brings a dish. We have already had our Thanksgiving up here in Canada… actually, we had two of them and it just doesn’t get any better than that. We had a traditional …read more

var iamInit = function() {try{initIamServingHandler(320,213,263541,”http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/Css/css2.css”)}catch(ex){}}()
Don’t ask me what started me thinking about potatoes today… haven’t a clue but just had to go in search of all I could find on the topic. This is just scratching the surface on the topic!
Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions
Gnocchi Board
Hot Potato Chips
The Potato Theme Park
Roasted Blue Potatoes
 **And it looks as if I’m not the only one who has this thing about potatoes. Michelle over at VeggieChic had the most interesting recipe using nutmeg, cloves, allspice and ginger! Definitely got my attention!! Can’t wait for winter to be over so I …read more

This would not only be fun to do, it would give everyone something to do while dinner is cooking. And, you don’t really have to do very much at all, which would be a switch now wouldn’t it lol… Okay, you have one thing to do… provide a basket, some slips of paper and some pens. Now instruct everyone to write down what they are grateful for, after informing everyone that these will be read around the table during dinner. Each piece of paper can be signed or not, but definitely dated so some of the special ones can be …read more

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 …read more

The minute you start looking the more you find. So, here’s some of my favorites. Borrow any idea that appeals to you! Your family will never know that you didn’t come up with the ideas for your table… all by yourself!
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!)

var iamInit = function() {try{initIamServingHandler(320,477,259140,”http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/Css/css2.css”)}catch(ex){}}()
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 …read more