Happy Friday! Keeping my focus...

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Country Living  Photo Erika McConnell

Can you believe next Thursday is Thanksgiving already?

I have to admit, I was getting a little overwhelmed realizing how close it was and thinking about what I wanted to get done prior... you know. Probably what everyone feels at least one or two times before you get company for the holidays.

But then I found this cute card that was hand made and given to me by my nieces and nephew, on my husband's side of the family, a few years ago. We played games more that year than we had in previous years and we had so much fun. We laughed. a LOT...

Looking at this note still brings both a smile and a tear (I'm emotional, what can I say?).

It reminded me that decorating, cooking/baking, shopping and all of that can be fun (and, at times, stressful), and I won't quit posting about it because that's what we do on this blog.  But many times I can't even remember from one year to the next what my decorations were or what food I made.  What I do remember is the time spent and memories created with family and friends (no, this photo isn't my family :-)). 

Country Living

Speaking of games, I couldn't resist sharing these Chocolate Domino Cookies from Country Living. How cute are they? I wonder if you could make scrabble cookies? :-)

How about you? What special things have you done in the past or will you do this year to create special memories?

Country Living Photo Jeremy Samuelson

Hope you all have an awesome, stress-free weekend...

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Thanksgiving Decorating, Printables, Centerpieces, Placecards, Kids Ideas and more...

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

bhg.com

Can you believe that it's already November? Before you know it many of us will be celebrating Thanksgiving with our families and friends, and stuffing our tummies with turkey and all the trimmings.

marthastewart.com

Rather than drag out a bunch of Thanksgiving ideas over this month, I decided to do a Thanksgiving mega roundup post of sorts, to provide you with links to ideas for you to use for the upcoming holiday. Not to say that I won't post anything else Thanksgiving-related this month, but this will be my "major" post. Hope you find something you like!

Cute Placecards from Matthew Mead

Thanksgiving Clip-art and Templates

I'm Thankful Printables

Some Thanksgiving Ideas I Posted Last Year

Thanksgiving Decorating Using Fall Finds

Thanksgiving Banner

Thanksgiving Decorations Kids Can Make

Easy Thanksgiving Crafts and Treats for Kids

Kids Tables: image 1; image 2; image 3

1. A Plan Ahead Guide for Thanksgiving Entertaining
2. Martha Stewart's Printable Thanksgiving Planner Checklist
3. Country Living's Thanksgiving Party Tips

How to Set Your Thanksgiving Table

image from marthastewart.com

Country Living's Thanksgiving Table Settings

Eddie Ross Tablesetting

Fall Centerpieces

Centerpiece from AZCentral

BHG's Pretty Thanksgiving Centerpieces

Placecard ideas: idea1; idea2; idea3; idea4; idea5; idea6

Three great ideas from Maria Cooke of Ritzy Bee Events via Southern Living:

Do It Yourself Placecard Ideas

Fold Your Napkin Into A Turkey

Personalized Glass Name Tags

Thanksgiving Menus from Martha Stewart

BHG's 29 Make-Ahead Holiday Side Dishes

Coastal Living's Best Thanksgiving Recipes

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How To Cook The Perfect Turkey

How To Make Stuffing and Stuff the Turkey

How To Carve A Turkey

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Easy Pie Recipes

diyideas.com recommends softening up a stick of butter and gently pressing it under plastic wrap to flatten. Use cookie cutters dipped in hot water to cut the butter into fall shapes. Set the shapes onto a saucer and cover with plastic wrap until serving time.

Write out copies of your beloved recipes on colored notecards, then decorate with stamps. Use clothespins to hang them from a length of ribbon near the door; guests can take them as they leave. (idea/image from country living)

photo: Gridley & Graves

Hope you're having a spectacular day!

Minutes after I hit publish on this post, I saw this idea from Mama Thompson so I had to add it. What a simple way to decorate for the season and a clear daily reminder of what the season is about!

Holiday Tablesscapes

This is holiday week and we open the holiday season with Thanksgiving this Thursday... I can't wait!! This is also the time when we decorators like to pull out all the stops with beautiful tablescapes and imaginably creative wasys to decorate our houses or someone elses... Organic tablescapes... colorful dining rooms... mix old with new. It's also the time to use what we have. Haven't we all acquired so many beautiful things over the years?.... Something old accompanied with something new, something borrowed mixed with something blue. This tradition need not wait for the wedding season.  I'm going to California for Thanksgiving.  I plan to take a few items with me to add to the family table... my favorite napkin rings, maybe a silver platter.... hope to post some pics in a  few days.... Until then....I'm thankful. I'm grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving.... Red River Inteirors.

Make it Special

Make it Organic

Make it Beautiful

 

Make it Blue

Make it Red

Simple and Inexpensive Holiday Ideas

Southern Living

I was going to title this "Thanksgiving" ideas but realized that many of these can easily be modified for Christmas as well. Nothing big. Nothing fancy-schmancy. Just some simple, inexpensive ways to personalize your holiday celebrations. There are a few that I think I'm going to incorporate this year. Enjoy...

Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage created these pretty paper candle wraps.

If you're looking for some cloth napkin ideas, you'll want to check out BHG's Effortless Napkins for Thanksgiving.

BHG.com

BHG.com

Or. If you're using paper napkins, why not stamp them like they did here?

Country Living Photo Gridley & Graves

These next two photos/ideas are from BHG's Easy Thanksgiving Tabletop Crafts.

Love the idea of framing the Thanksgiving menu. The look could be totally different depending on the frame and embellishment that you use.
They made these trivets by mod podging craft paper to a glass coaster. (I'm assuming it's mod podged to the bottom, not the top.)

Can't get much more simple than this plate, and isn't it pretty? Of course it's from Martha. :-)

marthastewart.com
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Make a Thanksgiving tablecloth like Kimba did

OR

A burlap "Give Thanks" pillow like Tiffany
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I love the idea of clipping photos to branches. It would be great to somehow incorporate this into your Thanksgiving tablescape but, if you can't, how about placing one or two arrangements in your entry, or anyplace where it would be easy for the guests to stop and enjoy the photos. Include photos of previous Thanksgiving celebrations or photos that you know will have special meaning for your guests/family members.

BHG.com

Another idea from Country Living - writing little quotes or phrases on a paper band made for each glass. How about writing something about each guest/family member that you really appreciate and are thankful for?

Country Living Photo Tria Giovan

Don't forget to sign up for the STELLA AND DOT $75 GIFT CERTIFICATE GIVEAWAY. Thanks again, Janell!

If you're interested in participating in Mood Board Monday on Nov. 9th at Comfort & Luxury, click here for more details.

I'm linking this post to Works for Me Wednesdays at We Are That Family.

Hope you're having a wonderful day!