Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

This is my favorite holiday of the year!!!

I am very thankful for everyone and everything in my life. If I haven't shown it enough every other day of the year, today is the day to do it.

A cornucopia of adorable puppies! I know no better way to express my love and gratitude to the people in my life!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you wonderful people!!!

OK, I know one more way to show my thanks to my family... here is Scott reading to Cora. And, why yes, he is wear wearing a child-sized farmer hat and a Snuggy!

Thanksgiving: Round 4. A Few More Decorations & Some Thanksgiving Food!

Welcome back to Thanksgiving and Fall decorating!

I am here to help you however I can.

I have given you a post full of traditions, one with my thanks jar and holiday books , one with kiddie decorations and fancy candles, and one chock-a-block full of acorns and wreaths. Is it possible that you are still in need of some decorating help? Do you need help with a festive centerpiece?

Maybe you need an easy recipe? Could you be looking to make pilgrim hats out of candy? WELL, YOU ARE IN LUCK!!!

I have a few more inspiring photos of Fall decorations and then we move onto some delicious (delicious-looking, anyway) food!

Round up your cute old jars and throw some berry-filled twigs in them = GORGEOUS!

Keep things light and breezy (yes, breezy) with some faded leaves, some light colored glass vases and some white-washed mini pumpkins. Just  go ahead and do it. It will be glorious!

Break out your pretty cloth napkins and some raffia (I heart raffia). Cut leaf shapes out of some pretty paper and punch a hole in it. Then, ta-da! You have fabulousness!

Tissue paper and twig leaf garland! So pretty! Get some colored tissue paper. Cut it into leaf shapes. Glue on some twigs. Then glue that onto a piece of yarn.

Everyone has some extra time on Thanksgiving day (FALSE). That's OK... Make time to run out and trim a couple of trees! Your trees will look at bit tidier and your table will be a bit more festive!

When you see gorgeous leaves like the ones below preserve them and use them in your Thanksgiving centerpiece. Check this website out for instructions on how to preserve them.

How about a little Thanksgiving food! (Sorry people, I'm a vegetarian... the meat squad won't be showin' up in these dishes).

Roasted Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Phyllo Torte

Mmmmm... Hello deliciousness! 

recipe

Vegetable Tarte Tatin

I have zero idea what a Vegetable Tarte Tatin is but just look at it. Doesn't it look amazing.  Please get to cookin' and let me know if it tastes as good as it looks!

recipe

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

So cute! Give it a whirl and then invite me over to try it and make sure it is OK to serve! 

recipe

Green Bean Casserole

Everyone's favorite Thanksgiving dish... yes? 

recipe

Roasted tomato and creamy goat’s cheese tart recipe

If you can find tomatoes that look that fresh at Thanksgiving please give me a call and tell me where!

recipe

Let's end this food party the right way... with DESSERT!

shhhhh- why don't you forget the pies and pretend like you are a 3rd grader, like me!

Chocolate Pilgrim Hats

Adorable, easy, undoubtedly delicious (USE SAMOAS or the knock-offs just to be sure it is just right).

You can invite me over to test this out too, please!

recipe

Turkey Cookies

Look at those little turkeys. They are so silly and I want to eat them... now! Seriously, how fast can someone make them for me?

recipe

Is everyone ready for a terrific Thanksgiving get together and feast? 

To my Aussie pals: please eat something other than Vegemite and musk flavored Lifesavers on this day of fabulous food!

Hello to the Would You Rather Question of the Day!!!

WYR... be able to fly like Superman 15 times in your life (you get to pick when)
or
be the world's smartest person?


image sources: fresh and light, pretty leaves, more pretty leaves, raffia napkins, berry jar, leaf centerpiece, tissue paper leaf

Thanksgiving. Round 3: Kid-Friendly Decorations, And Fancy Candles

Kid-friendly decorations and candles- that just go hand in hand, really. 

So, let's get this party started because Thanksgiving just keeps getting closer and closer!

Cora isn't quite old enough to get involved in most of the crafts below (especially the ones involving candles). But what she can get involved in is dipping her hand in paint!

We have't tried this turkey-handprinted tablecloth idea yet but I think it is pretty darn cute! You could have every family member do a turkey hand print. You could do a new hand print every year or two and see how the hands grow. 

Maybe put your turkey hands some placemats? Treat yo' self with special placemat that only comes out once a year!

This website has some free Thanksgiving printables to help you turn your table into this:

Cora had some fun with pumpkins a week or so before Halloween. 

You know you love pumpkins! Go ahead and get your Thanksgiving decorating on with some fake ones.

This website has a great tutorial on how to make this adorable pumpkin:

Ehhh! This one is adorable but I am having a bit of anxiety about it. You know how I love my books. I hate the idea of teaching kids that it is OK to destroy them. I think this pumpkin project is only OK if you find a really terrible book that a dog has made 100% unreadable. 

Do you want to decorate your mantle or your fake white tree with some garland? 

Well, go ahead and make it out of leaves because it is going to look awesome!

Just trace some leaf shapes on various colors of felt and sew them together. If sewing isn't your thing you could glue them onto a ribbon.

Here is another example but this one is made out of paper. You could punch holes in each leaf and weave some yarn through each one. If you like the look of them being spaced out, just tie a knot after each piece.

I do love a thanks trees. Here's one more:

Drawing on placemats  is a cute idea. I guarantee that if I did it it would look ridiculous but somehow they made it look awesome. 

Either way, I bet your kids would think it's a fun thing to do!

On to the candles!

You are still reading this so you must be looking for a way to dress up your candles!

HERE.THEY.ARE!

Everyone knows that your candle isn't going to be looking its best unless you throw a few corn kernels around it!

If you aren't into corn then you have 2 more options!

Beans!

Or Cranberries!

You are welcome! I know your needs, people. And you needed some random kiddie decorations and fancied up candles.

The other thing you need is... 
Today's Would You Rather Question!

WYR... everything you say is in question form
or
wear one glove (just one) all day long 6 days a week (you pick which days)?

sources: turkey handprint, cranberry, corn candle, beans, thanks tree, leaf garland on fireplace, leaf garland on tree, drawn on place mats, book pumpkin

Thanksgiving. Round 2: Decorating With Acorns and Wreaths!

Thanksgiving just keeps getting closer and closer!

Are you in need of a little decorating help? Do you have a few extra wreaths around and the only think you can think to put on them are acorns? 

You could not have come to a better blog to help you with that problem!

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever be blogging about wreaths. Acorns, maybe. Wreaths, no. But here I am. Wreath-blogging away. And, I'm not gonna lie to you- I'm kind of lovin' it.

Let's talk Thanksgiving decorations!

Ya'll ready for this?!?!?!? da da da da-da da daaa (sing it with me)!

IT IS ACORN TIME! 

My goodness do acorns make some neat Fall decorations!

These are just colorful, felt balls glued to acorn tops.

Jazz up a boring frame with a squirrel's best friend: acorns!

Why not consider honoring Mr. Squirrel by putting his mug shot in that frame?

Acorns, candles, and mason jars. The power trio!

So cute! In a jar, as a necklace, maybe garland?

Metallic painted acorns! What's not to love?

Deanna, I think I found a Missing Monster!

Deanna, do I spy a crocheted Missing Monster or two in the background?

Don't put that acorn paint away just yet. There is more work to be done! Why not hang a few thanks notes off those branches while you're at it. No one ever went wrong turning some branches into a Thanks Tree!

This wreath is made of acorns. Can you believe it? It is, by far, the cutest (and only) acorn wreath situation I have ever seen.

Well, hello to the perfect segway into another fascinating topic: 

wreaths!

I am head over heels in love with this one. I think a little DIY crafting is in my future!

I had to cut some wreaths out. It turns out that I am a little rosette-crazy!

Hey, burlap! I like your style!

This one looks a little sassy to me! And that is why I like her.

Let's keep it going with the yellow and grays... wreath-style.

Twig city!

And one last un-wreathed and un-acorned photo.

For her biggest fans:

Cora and her Aunt Kelly!

Some of the links below have pretty good tutorials on how to make one of the fabulous wreaths!
acorn wreath, painted acorn tops, acorns in mason jars, acorn frame, squirrel, colorful acorns in jar, acorns in branch tree, metallic acorns, rosette wreath, moss wreath, burlap wreath with flowers,yellow felt, burlap #2, yarn and ruffles, twig wreath


Now, for the Would You Rather Question Of The Day!

WYR... have to skip everywhere you would normally walk or run
or
never be allowed to eat dessert again?

Thanksgiving. Round 1: More Traditions

The day for thanks is steadily approaching!

I love Thanksgiving! I love tracing my hand and turning it into a turkey.

I love seeing my huge family. I love the 6 hour car ride with Cora to get to all of my people.

Ahhh I do wish that last one is true. Cora isn't a big fan of the car. But this trip, I am going to do my Google research and travel equipped with tips a'plenty about how to handle a car hatin' baby.  And, you know, I wouldn't leave you hanging without a post about it. That will come with time... just hold your horse.

Now, peeps, let's go back to the present. Let's get ready for the big day... the day of thanks!

Traditions!
Who doesn't love a good tradition?
Before we were even into November I showed you the two Thanksgiving traditions that we, at the Spencer household, take part in.

The Holiday Book Basket

 And The Thanks Jar

I found some neat variations on the Thanks Jar.

The Paper Thanks Tree

And The Beautiful Thanks Branches

A few more ideas for Thanksgiving traditions:

• Watch the Macy's Day Parade

• Host a Game Day the day after Thanksgiving. My Uncle Alan and Aunt Camille have been doing that for about 10 years and it is great! Since a lot of people travel for Thanksgiving, it gives you another chance to see the big group that you are traveling to see!

It looks like people might be boo-ing my mom's Scategories answer choice here.

• Get an early start on your resolutions! Why wait until January 1st- write them all down now and start them immediately! The long car or plane ride home from Thanksgiving will certainly give you plenty of time to think of them.

• I know that sometimes the last minute stuff can be hectic. Make it a tradition that while everyone is arriving and getting all of the food ready for the big feast put on some music. You could make a playlist with songs about thanks or just some up-lifting music. Dance around while you prepare the food!

• In my big family, the tradition is the cocktail shrimp. As soon as the shrimp arrives, everyone (except me since I'm a vegetarian) pounces and the shrimp is gone in no time.

• I like traditions involving music. So, why not get the whole family involved in making up a silly song about your favorite Thanksgiving food. This good be another good car-ride tradition.

I will be back soon with a post about Thanksgiving decorations and Thanksgiving food.

Would You Rather Election Question of the day (The last WYR election question)

WYR... you, personally, have the secret deciding vote for who becomes president every election for the rest of your life
or
you have to serve as president for 4 years (8 if you get reelected... less if you get impeached)?



sources: turkey hand, paper thanks tree, branch thanks tree