Avoid the Thanksgiving headaches and plan for a fabulous day with these 5 tips.   How to Make Thanksgiving Dinner Easy and Fun   TIP 1 ~ Keep it Simple! I can't stress this enough.  It's taken me many years and too many melt-downs to realize that I had a tendency to overcomplicate holiday entertaining. Whatever you do well and love to do... that's where you should focus your time. For me... that's setting a pretty table like this one. I'm all about the presentation.  Making everything look pretty makes my creative juices run.  Slaving in the kitchen... not so much.  That means that my … [Read more...]

  Learn how to create a budget Thanksgiving table setting with dollar store items that's simple and elegant, plus a fun DIY pumpkin centerpiece project.   It was just the two of us that Thanksgiving. As usual, since we moved to the Southtowns of Buffalo, there was snow and lots of it.     There was no way I was going to get in the car and drive 8 hours for dinner.  So I set the table as elegantly as possible and roasted a turkey. Tim and I were having a blast in the kitchen together, making a week's worth of stuffing, potatoes, Far East Celery, two kinds of cranberries, … [Read more...]

  If a TV reporter were to stop you on the street and thrust a microphone in your face and ask you what you're thankful for this Thanksgiving... what would be your answer? We often talk about gratitude here and how a thankful heart is a happy heart.     As I was editing photos today I was thinking about Thanksgiving and the pilgrims' first Thanksgiving dinner that my second-grade class reenacted on the stage of an old gym with the slippery brown linoleum floor.  A long table was placed on the stage and set with food.  I'm not sure if every student dressed in pilgrim clothing, but … [Read more...]

  Hello, friends!  Thanks for coming by! Can you believe that we're less than TWO weeks from Thanksgiving!?! We've been having such gorgeous weather and with the trees so late in coloring and dropping their leaves it just doesn't feel like mid-November.  However... the calendar says otherwise! I came across this lovely quote, so fitting for Thanksgiving... To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven. ~Johannes A. Gaertner So I created a lovely Thanksgiving printable for you. I LOVE the final phrase of the … [Read more...]

  Thanksgiving will be here in a flash!  Get ahead of the game with these 16 yummy turkey recipes and fun turkey crafts.      Are you looking for ways to make your turkey extra delicious.  Then you'll want to try this herb roasted turkey recipe from Cooking with Curls.  I've done something similar when roasting chicken, but this looks absolutely delicious and it's really simple to do, too.     If your Thanksgiving celebration includes children... or at least the young at heart... you'll want to make or help the children make some cute turkey crafts.  The thankful … [Read more...]

  The countdown to Thanksgiving has begun!   Have you already started shopping for your holiday pantry staples?  With Thanksgiving less than a month away and Christmas nipping at TG's heels we all need to get prepared.  This week's Project Inspire{d} link party has some fabulous recipes, decor, and crafts to inspire your Thanksgiving celebration. If you are a list-maker wannabe and like to have a plan for everything... than you'll love the detailed printable planner Megan from NEPA Mom has put together for you!  I always make sure that I plan my table way in advance... that way it always looks … [Read more...]

  I come with a grateful heart today. Grateful for you and the joy of An Extraordinary Day. Grateful for my husband and my very special friends. But, most of all, I am grateful to my God... for his love, grace, mercy, provision, favor, and blessing. King David expressed it best.... Blessed are you, God of Israel, our father from of old and forever. To you, O God, belong the greatness and the might, the glory, the victory, the majesty, the splendor; Yes! Everything in heaven, everything on earth; the kingdom all yours! You’ve raised yourself high over all. Riches and glory come from you, you’re … [Read more...]

That four letter word that begins with 's' is in the forecast.   I confess that I really thought that the white stuff would come much later because this has been the best fall I can ever remember.  We'll see how correct the meteorologists are... 6-10 inches.  Ugh!! Now on to a warmer note.... You're going to love all these fabulous ideas to make your Thanksgiving extra special. Get your "pinning finger" ready for these all Great Ideas... Lovely Details to Make Your Thanksgiving Extra Special   Fall Centerpiece by The Painted Red Cottage Be Thankful Window Decor by Giggles … [Read more...]

Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year?   If you are... or need to bring a dish to pass... you'll love these terrific Thanksgiving recipe ideas that are sure to make your dinner fabulously successful. Get your "pinning finger" ready for these all Great Ideas...   19 Recipes for a Successful Thanksgiving Dinner   Meal Starters... Roasted Sweet Potato Soup from Cooking with Curls Blue Cheese, Pear, & Walnut Autumn Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette from I Should Be Mopping the Floor How to Build the Perfect Cheese Board from Giggles Galore Main Course & Side Dishes... Make … [Read more...]

  Wouldn't you like to have something fun and quirky to give to your friends at Thanksgiving? I'm pretty sure you'll be snickering while you create this quick and fun mason jar gift project everyone will enjoy. Who wouldn't love to get a jar of Turkey Toes?  The candy corn and candy lovers in your life will flip for this gift. It's a great conversation starter... and it's just plain fun!   Turkey Toes Mason Jar Supplies Pint-sized Mason Jar Lid - Use the lid that comes with your jar, a solid lid like mine, or a drink lid with the silicone washer removed Drawer Pull Knob - I … [Read more...]

The Thanksgiving countdown has begun!   Before you know it... it will be time to thaw the turkey. On Monday I joined up with 18 fellow bloggers to bring you some terrific Thankgiving Centerpiece and Tablescape ideas.  If you missed that post, pick it up here and be sure to stop by the other blogs for more fabulous inspiration. This week's link party was filled with ways to make your Thanksgiving table extra special. So many truly creative ideas for inspiration! Get your "pinning finger" ready for these all Great Ideas...   20 Ways to Make Your Thanksgiving Table Extra … [Read more...]

Today I'm joining some of my blogging friends for a tour of Thanksgiving tablescapes and centerpieces.  You'll find all the details at the end of the post. Many of my friends say Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday. There's something to be said for a holiday that's about gratitude, celebrated around the table with a special meal, isn't there? This year I won't be hosting Thanksgiving.  I'll miss doing that.  However, I won't miss creating a lovely tablescape and centerpiece.  That's because I created one for a good friend of mine.  I had so much fun putting together this simple but spectacular … [Read more...]

Can you believe it?!  Thanksgiving is just 26 days away! I've already shared a wreath that you can create for Thanksgiving and I have two more fun posts on the way for you very soon, including a beautiful Thanksgiving table and centerpiece for you on Monday. This weekend's Project Inspire{d} features are designed to help you get ready for the holiday now.  I think you're going to LOVE these fabulously creative printables! Get your "pinning finger" ready for these all Great Ideas... Fabulous Free Thanksgiving Printables to Make the Day Amazing   Free Watercolor Thanksgiving Printable by I … [Read more...]

I will praise God’s name in song     and glorify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30 NIV   Grateful... for you for God's grace expressed in our lives for the beauty of our Creator's creation for peace, joy, life, and liberty and most of all for the Hope that lives in us.   May you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving! Diane   To receive FREE bits of inspiration like this in your inbox or reader, subscribe now. Let’s connect!  Facebook  ::  Pinterest  ::  Google +  ::  Twitter  ::  Shop-Longaberger Lifestyle … [Read more...]

I cannot believe Thanksgiving is just about here! Did someone push the accelerator button?  Because time seems to be whizzing by at warp speed. All the more reason to take a few minutes to slow down... breathe... and acknowledge our blessings. I love this quote and printable from the archives... “When it comes to life the critical thing is, whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” Gilbert Chesterton I know you'll want to download my free gratitude printable, to post at your work station, on the fridge, or even frame and place in a vignette for a constant … [Read more...]

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? I confess... usually I have plenty of plans made by this time... but I don't necessarily do well in the execution department unless I get all the details prepared a week in advance.  Let's just say someone might have had a meltdown. One thing I like to do is have my table planned out and set ahead of time.  For me, that is an important detail that gives me a lot of peace and joy. This year I created an Oak Leaf  Thanksgiving Menu Frame for the buffet.     You can read all the details at Mod Podge Rocks.   And speaking of Thanksgiving … [Read more...]

Table art. If you're the creative sort, you not only enjoy setting an inviting table, you probably like creating something pretty for it, too.     We are each blessed with some sort of creativity.  I like creating with my hands and my camera lens. Sunday was one of those days when nature's bounty, creativity, a special gift, and beautiful weather all converged at the same moment.   It was an amazing few hours.     I had so much fun setting the table and photographing it.  My husband, who so graciously went with me to the park to lend a hand, kept hearing me talk … [Read more...]