Thanksgiving Archives

HOW TO CREATE A THANKSGIVING TABLE SETTING IN MINUTES

October 5, 2021

Now, is the time to be thinking about Thanksgiving? Why? Because we are not in a manic panic mode yet. So let’s take advantage of the calm before the food and pumpkin frenzy.

HOW TO CREATE A THANKSGIVING TABLE SETTING

Hopefully, this leaves you with some ideas to plan your Thanksgiving table in advance. This is the year you get ahead of the holidays! Let’s do this!

You could be done before Halloween!

Since our kitchen remodel we decided to host Thanksgiving. It justifies the fancy oven that is on the brink more days than on bake. #wink

I want an easy, place setting that is simple, inexpensive, festive, and kid-friendly.

HOW TO CREATE AN INEXPENSIVE PLACE SETTING

With our kitchen demo running over budget, I did not want to spend money to create 20 place settings. I created a place setting with texture, layers and color.

Adding one layer at a time turned an ordinary salad and dinner plate into a family-friendly and pretty seasonal place setting.

Layers

I began with brown craft paper for a table runner. It was an easy way to protect the table and give the table an earthy, organic feel.

The added bonus was kraft paper makes for easy cleanup. I love chargers! Last fall, I purchased these galvanized chargers on a visit to see my sister in Knoxville.

I think galvanized chargers are a southern thing, but this Colorado girl loves them. My favorite set of plates are from World Market. They were a Pottery Barn knockoff find a few years ago. And, like my galvanized chargers, the dinner plates work year-round.

I used cotton gingham napkins I found online this summer. Usually, I think of gingham as a summer pattern, but I loved the contrast between the blue and orange pumpkins.

Sidenote: I am on a mission to buy these gingham cloth napkins in every color. They are much cheaper than the Pottery Barn gingham cloth napkins I bought with a gift card. I tucked a paper napkin as a safety net for spills and sticky fingers. And, I added a pumpkin to each plate with a note to pumpkin up. And, finally, I splurged on new pewter silverware after our kitchen remodel. The pewter finish has an understated vibe.

My sister said they looked tarnished! #snarkysisters And of course every place setting needs a pumpkin!

With the place setting done, I turned my attention to the table. And, the limited real estate remaining on the table.

With my solid wood dining room table, I used this repurposed centerpiece to add some much needed greenery. For this place setting, I used my upcycled Anthropologie candle jars and added new votives.

The glass-painted pumpkins are oversized votives too.

I love to see how a few small and inexpensive changes can make such a pretty place setting. In a world of Instagram, I love the simplicity that fits my life and style.

Please check out the other bloggers and their Thanksgiving table settings. This was such

Oh and don’t forget to do this before Thanksgiving!

DO THIS BEFORE THANKSGIVING

September 16, 2021

Sharing simple tips to prep the salt and pepper shakers simple before Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving will be here before you finish the Halloween candy. It will be here because Hallmark and Starbucks tell us it’s fall (in August). So now is the time to do all the things you will wish you had done before Thanksgiving.

Pin this under tips!

PREP THE SALT & PEPPER SHAKERS BEFORE THANKSGIVING

STEPS TO PREP SALT +PEPPER SHAKERS

Gather all of your salt and pepper shakers and your salt and pepper.

Next, here is a tip I tried and it worked well. Place a damp paper towel on the counter and then set out your salt and pepper shakers. The damp paper towel holds the salt and pepper

HOW TO LOAD THE SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS

Next, load those petite seasoning vessels with salt and pepper. Now the debate starts here. Yes even salt and pepper shakers are a hot topice. The question is do we still want to use the two hole shaker for the pepper or is it better to use the two hole shaker with salt?

I found my pour was better when I raised the pepper above the mouth of the shaker. I mean it’s still messy, but the paper towel gives you a fighting chance.

You will feel great knowing it’s done because no one wants to pause while prepping the Thanksgiving table and fill (spill) salt and pepper over every kitchen surface.

Sidenote: Who decided shakers require microscopic holes the size of a needle.

I know what some of you are thinking. There is plenty of time to do Thanksgiving and holiday prep details. Right?

But, right now between Hallmark’s Autumn Leaves and White Christmas go ahead and haul out the salt and pepper shakers and get ‘er done before Thanksgiving.

What are some other time-saving tips you like to do now before the calendar says it’s two more sleeps until Thanksgiving?

Please share in the comments!

Here’s another weekly hack (tip) to start your Mondays!

In the meantime, stock up on the salt and pepper. Who knew ground pepper was so pricey.

Please pin for later on your Thanksgiving or Tips or Hacks Pinterest boards!

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WEEKLY IDEAS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

How to Set a Simple Thanksgiving Tablescape

November 18, 2019

We are hosting Thanksgiving this year. We have much to be grateful this year and with my baby girl and boys coming home from college I want to get ahead of the holiday prep. And, with a recent Pinterest challenge, I inadvertently created a simple Thanksgiving Tablescape.

how-to-set-simple-thanksgiving-tablescape

My favorite part of this simple Thanksgiving tablescape is our beloved and very popular dining room table gets all the attention.

How to Set a Simple Thanksgiving Tablescape

I start with the base layer for the dining room table. The base layer on the table was created with a roll of kraft paper. I didn’t measure the length, I just eyeballed it. Simple.

And, I mixed it up by setting the table runner to run the width of the table versus the length. I found it was easier to wrestle a roll of 5 feet of kraft paper versus eleven feet.

With a guest list that includes ages 2 to 87, I want to keep the table covered and easy cleanup. I have no solution on how to keep these chairs clean.

I have these galvanized chargers I bought in Knoxville and I love them. They make me feel a little bit southern, y’all. ! I have eight chargers and a guest list three times that number. I plan to use the chargers to hold side dishes or condiments.

You can find plenty of options for galvanized chargers on Amazon. #ad

I plan to show off our new counters and serve Thanksgiving buffet-style.

The table will be filled with pie size pumpkins, mini pumpkins, and gourds. I will add my upcycled candle jars. They are small enough that they won’t keep guests from talking and passing the salt.

My mother adds salt to everything.

With so many guests, I will assemble the silverware in advance.

Thanksgiving Place Setting Pinterest Challenge

October 22, 2019

It is time for this month’s Pinterest Challenge. I am so excited to join the Thanksgiving Place Setting Pinterest Challenge with these creative women! This challenge was the motivation I needed to plan my Thanksgiving place settings in advance.

Thanksgiving Place Setting Challenge

Now, it is time for all of you to see how one inspirational photo can generate so many ideas. Hopefully, this leaves you with some ideas and help you plan your Thanksgiving table in advance. And, if you are stopping by from First Day of Home, welcome to Everyday Edits.

Our inspiration for the Thanksgiving Place Setting Pinterest Challenge came from Lindsey Brunk and her blog post. You will want to check out the full place setting details and photos here.

I loved the dark and stormy backdrop to her gorgeous, simple place setting. The muted colors were warm, the greenery centered the table and the silverware popped off the dark chargers and table linens.

The Thanksgiving place setting challenge was what I needed to get ahead of the holidays. This year, we host Thanksgiving and with a guest list of twenty. I want an easy, table setting.

With an equal number of children and adults I want to keep my table settings simple, festive and kid-friendly.

Thanksgiving Place Setting

With our kitchen demo running over budget, I did not want to spend money to create 20 place settings.

Taking elements from Lindsey’s table setting, I created a place setting with textured layers and color.

Adding one layer at a time turned an ordinary salad and dinner plate into a family friendly and pretty seasonal place setting.

Layers

I began with brown craft paper for a table runner. It was an easy way to protect the table and give the table an earthy, organic feel.

The added bonus was kraft paper makes for easy cleanup.

I loved Lindsey’s chargers.

Last fall, I purchased these galvanized chargers on a visit to see my sister in Knoxville.

I think galvanized chargers are a southern thing, but this Colorado girl loves them.

My favorite set of plates were from World Market. They were a Pottery Barn knockoff find a few years ago.

And, like my galvanized chargers, the dinner plates work year round.

I used cotton gingham napkins I found online this summer. Usually, I think of gingham as a summer pattern, but I loved the contrast between the blue and orange pumpkins.

I tucked a paper napkin as a safety net for spills and sticky fingers.

And, I added a pumpkin to each plate with a note to pumpkin up.

And, finally we splurged on new pewter silverware. The pewter finish has an understated vibe.

I loved Lindsey’s silverware! We purchased our everyday silverware 20 years ago when we moved to Columbus, Ohio.

We moved to Columbus with two children and returned a few years later with one more.

With the place setting done, I turned my attention to the table. And, the limited real estate remaining on the table.

I loved how Lindsey added a floral arrangement to the center of her table.

With my solid wood dining room table, I used this repurposed centerpiece to add some much needed greenery.

For this place setting, I used my upcycled Anthropology candle jars and added new votives. The glass painted pumpkins are oversized votives too.

Thanksgiving Place Setting Pinterest Challenge

This Pinterest challenge reminded me how just a few small changes can turn one inspirational photo into something that fits your life and style.

I can hardly wait to set my Thanksgving place settings for two tables this year!

Please check out the other bloggers and their Thanksgiving place settings. This was such a fun challenge! Thank you Cindy for the invite! You can check out her place setting challenge here.

ENJOY AND HAPPY FALL DECORATING FRIENDS!