Inspiration to Reality... Thanksgiving

Acorn Squash BeforeAfter

Head Table Set for Thanksgiving

"Kids" table set in the adjoining room

Thanksgiving Preparation

The day before Thanksgiving I went on a hunt for baby pumpkins, let me just tell you this is not the easiest thing to do so close to the holiday. Apparently after Halloween everything automatically switches to Christmas/Holiday decorating and all the pumpkins become evergreen trees and wreaths. So I had to get creative and use acorn squash (side note last night I discovered Whole Foods had the baby pumpkins I was looking for of course after the fact). Anyways I bought metallic gold spray paint and set up a station in the garage and sprayed the squash and a bunch of dried hydrangea I had from the summer, and sprinkled the hydrangea with loose gold glitter. I couldn't believe how well the gold covered the squash, only needing one coat they were instantly transformed, and the glitter on the hydrangea reflected subtly under the light.

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is over and we have already decorated for Christmas at our house, but what I loved about this table is that the gold spray paint can be used for other centerpieces, (i.e. sprayed chestnuts, pomegranates, Boxwood, poinsettias etc.) Happy Holidays!

Table Components:
Natural Burlap Runner, Jo Anne Fabrics
Tan Linen Hemstitch Linen, Target
14 Karat Gold Spray Paint, Jo Anne Fabrics
Gold Glitter, Martha Stewart Collection, Michael's

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Image found here.

Here's to a Happy Thanksgiving, safe travels, friends and family, a full belly and adjustable waistbands...

Have a great weekend and see you back on Monday!!

It's our first Thanksgiving with Cacti....Bet you can't guess where we are...

LSW

Leftovers....

Image via Martha Stewart

So you've spent hours upon hours basting, roasting and watching your turkey finally turn that rich golden brown. The meal lasts all about 3 hours and then.....the leftovers...One of the most delicious sandwiches ever made is with leftover thanksgiving turkey, stuffing and cranberry jelly...hmmm..But what do you do when you still have guests over and have to make another dinner the next night? Well thank god for one of the best magazines EVER published...Everyday Food by Martha Stewart. I could go on and on about this magazine..I have been receiving it for years and have saved Every one...In the Thanksgiving issue, I found something a little different....but very delicious!

Curried Turkey Casserole

We LOVE curry in our house and the Monster is obsessed with broccoli but for those who are not his is the perfect way to hide it and use up that turkey!

What Wasp could resist a good casserole?!

And for Dessert..

Pumpkin-Chocolate Tiramisu

In my opinion..you can never have enough pumpkin...

So buy 1 more can when you shop for the pie, make it the same day and then refrigerate.

Voila...yummy new dessert!!

Happy eating everyone!!

LSW

Decorating for Thanksgiving...

I love Thanksgiving! It has always been my favorite holiday and time of year, and since we moved into our house 3 years ago we took over hosting it. This year we have 16 people between our families. It is the only holiday throughout the year that we are all together on one day, which is one of the reasons I love it so much!

I also have so much fun thinking about the design of the tables. Last year I was inspired by a page in Real Simple and did a nontraditional centerpiece with beautiful coral peonies, orchids, ivory burlap and a manzilla branch . Our dining room is a mix of chocolate and ivory colored walls, and a capiz shell chandelier hangs in the center. I love the idea of mixing different textures, colors and natural elements.

This year, being obsessed with all things metallic and glitter I was inspired by a tablescape I found on Martha Stewart and this incredible collection of candles. I would love to know what you are doing for your Thanksgiving table design, and what you have been inspired by.

Thanksgiving Table Inspiration

via Martha Stewart

via Martha Stewart

Monday Typefaces...Gobble Gobble....

Image found via parents community

LSW

Succulents and such....

Last night as I was leafing through my December issue of Instyle Magazine, I couldn't help but notice this amazingly beautiful succulent wreath available at Viva Terra. Now I know what you're thinking...Lucinda, wreaths?? We haven't even gotten through Thanksgiving! Well I say..Why not? Why not use this as table decor for your Thanksgiving table and then hang it on your door for the Holiday season!

I will let you in on a little secret...I LOVE gardening...but I kill houseplants! Sadly, I am not even kidding and the only one that I have successfully maintained is a very teeny tiny cactus.

Therefore, I have become quite obsessed with these low maintenance( and hopefully death proof) plants.

So, I scoured through the internet to find some great succulent ideas for the Thanksgiving table.

I found...

That they can look great in a rustic setting....

Image found via Frolic

image found via House Beautiful

Image found via House Beautiful

Image found via Real Simple

Images found via Jodi Miller Photography

Images found via Jodi Miller Photography

Even better when placed in Grandma's silver that sadly only comes out during the holidays..

Image found via Antique Chase

Image found via Country Living

Image found via JL Designs

Too add some color....

Image found via Country Living

Why not scour through the backyard and cut some of those beautiful yet very invasive bittersweet vines...

which come in beautiful shades of orange, yellow and red.

and then..

For the Holidays..Keep the succulents out and add some Cranberries, Holly berries and/or Pepperberries..

So there you have it, easy peasey, beautiful, low maintenance, DIY and a touch of recycling which is always good for our Earth...

LSW

TRUE & WESSON Thanksgiving Philosophy #1

Image found via Imgfave.

LSW

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Image found via weheartit.

LSW

Inspiration to Reality... Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving preparation.

The day before Thanksgiving and with all there was to do I was anxiously awaiting a box from Save on Crafts that never did arrive. I suppose it was ultimately my fault for waiting until the 11th hour to place my order last week but I had high hopes it would arrive in time. At 4:30 after UPS had delivered another package I knew I was going to have to get creative, because it just wasn't going to get here. Lucky for me I had a couple of arrangements left from an event last Saturday that included curly willow branches and the most beautiful roses and coral colored peonies from Holland I have ever seen. Using the inspiration I found in Real Simple I had some fun with stuff I found in the house.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Table Components:
Natural Burlap Runner, Jo Anne Fabrics
Tan Linen Hemstitch Linen, Target
Cut Glass Candlesticks, Home Goods
Candlesticks, Taken for Granite

Table Manners..

With the Thanksgiving Holiday biting at our heels, most of us have gotten a little bit rusty on our "formal" table manners. Not just for the "Kid's Table", these embroidered napkins by BetsyGrace on Etsy will not only educate us but will serve as a conversation piece just in case the topics go to areas such as religion, politics, "the turkey is dry", "why didn't you tell me" and my favorite "How could you forget the whip cream"...

LSW

Friday Wine Tasting... Time to bring out the bubbly

Wine of the Week
NV Adami Garbel Prosecco
$15.00

I love picking out interesting holiday wines that pair perfectly with the meal. This year I was thinking of introducing a sparkling wine to add to the festivities of our Thanksgiving party. I think there is something about bubbly that says celebration. Since Thanksgiving is the official kickoff to the holiday season it is the perfect time to bring out the bubbly! This prosecco is also featured in Food & Wine magazine as a top 10 Thanksgiving pick this month. It is quite lovely!


What the Experts are saying:

"This pear scented Washington State Wine has a clean finish that makes it ideal with hors d'oeuvres and main courses"- Food & Wine

"Forward and easy with slightly sweet almond, peach and tangerine notes. Clean finishing prosecco."- Wines.com

Decorating for Thanksgiving...

Since we bought our first house 2 years ago I started hosting Thanksgiving, one of my absolute favorite holidays of the year. I used to love it simply for the high school football game in the morning and the fantastic feast my mom labored over for a week in advance. Now I have a new appreciation for the holiday. I never knew how much work was really involved until I started hosting all of our families, this year we have 16 people. It is the only holiday throughout the year that we are all together on one day, that is why I love it so much!

As I started thinking about the decor/theme I would do this year I fell in love with the table decorating ideas in this month's issue of Real Simple. Last year I did a true fall table with a mix or browns, reds, yellows, rich oranges, and greens. So this year I really wanted to do something different. Our dining room is a mix of chocolate and ivory colored walls, and a capiz shell chandelier hangs in the center. I love the idea of mixing different textures, colors and natural elements.

Thanksgiving Table Inspiration (Real Simple)

Manzanita Branch, $10, Save on Crafts

Mercury glass votive, Jamali Garden