Giving thanks - table top

Thanksgiving kicks off one of my favorite times of year. I think we will all be taking the time to focus on the good in our lives next Thursday! I have so much to be thankful for. My five year old daughter has been begging me to decorate the house for the holidays. I promised her that tonight we could put the little white candles in the windows around our home. Sometimes it is the simple things in life that bring the most joy, for me coming home to illuminated windows on a chilly, dark night makes my children and I a little happier. ( I think Matty will appreciate it too) I am not hosting Thanksgiving this year but I will be helping my Mom with as much as I can. These holiday table ideas each looked fairly easy to pull together but are impactful. I LOVE LOVE the idea of the top left-hand image. How ingenious is this? Simply display fruit, cheese and charcuterie selections along a piece of pine. Most hardware/building supply stores can cut a board to the exact length you need. 

 The items I shared layered with flowers, a slew of candles and some natural mixed    greens would create the perfect table for your delicious Thanksgiving meal. 

1. Votive
2. I want to invest in a set of cabbage plates. I love the green too but I think food always looks best on white plates.
3. Serve sides or nuts in a few tortoise dishes. I love the depth tortoise brings to design.
4. I love sipping wine and water out of a large goblet.
5. I usually prefer cloth napkins but these were too fun not to post! Furbish always does a fabulous job sourcing their goodies. Purchase napkins here!
6. Pretty bamboo flatware is always a hit

Thoughts on home - Thanksgiving table update

Hello Loves! Today I'm sharing an update on my Thanksgiving preparations. I've got almost everything in order for the table. I'm purchasing the flowers tomorrow! Mind you this is a table on a "budget", so I'm going to mix a couple different types and bouquets to get a custom look. Here I have shared some common Fall/Thanksgiving bouquets for inspiration......

 I am however going to mix my colors up a bit. I was out scouting over the weekend and think I am going to combine the two floral looks below. The orange roses will be deeper and richer in color. 

My kids and I also gilded pumpkins yesterday. They loved it and I was really happy with the results! The smaller pumpkins are going to be used as place setting markers and I may guild the stems today. 

I am using these dishes on top of my china. They are from a family collection and are Spode, pattern: Florence. I'm loving the fretwork pattern and brown color!! Finally I had a couple of people ask for the stuffing recipe I use. I mentioned it is from the old school Better Homes and Garden's cookbook! I combine these two, double it and add a bit more spices and of course more BUTTER!!!

Bread Stuffing

3 Tablespns chopped onion  (I also use celery)

1/4 cup butter

4 cups bread cubes (about 7 slices of bread)

1/4 teaspn salt

1/4 t pepper

1/2 t poultry seasoning

1/2 t sage

2-4 T water or chicken broth

Cook onion and celery in butter.  Combine w bread and seasonings.  Toss with enough broth to moisten.  Makes enough for 3-4 lb chicken.  You have to at least quadruple the recipe.

Herb Stuffing

12 cups slightly dry bread cubes

1/3 cup snipped parsley

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

11/2 teasp salt

1 teasp sage

1 teasp thyme

1 teach dried rosemary ( more if you use fresh)

6 T butter

1 cup chicken broth.

Makes enough for one 12 lb turkey. I usually double this recipe  Also use celery.  And adjust seasonings to taste, often using a little more than the above recipes.

Thanksgiving recipes!

So I have pulled together my Thanksgiving Day recipes! I mentioned last week I'll be sharing a weekly post up until the holiday. I've included all of the saved recipes and my thoughts. I have also pinned them here - under my recipes board.
I loved this table setting guide breakdown. I'll be going with a basic table setting but adding a water glass too. Enjoy!

I'm going to try and brine my turkey this year. Recipe here.

I am a classic stuffing girl. I actually use a recipe out of my Mother's 1970's copy of Better Homes and Garden's cookbook. It's yummy. I add extra butter.

I LOVE sweet potatoes. I thought these sounded like a twist on the traditional holiday veggie.

Again, I keep my squash pretty classic with lots of butter and a little brown sugar.

My Mom bakes the best rolls ever. I should probably learn the recipe. She also always bakes sticky buns. These look similar to her rolls, they are a blend of sweet and salty. Delish! 

I've never added chicken broth when I cook my green beans. This year I'm going to try this simple recipe.

Matty's favorite.

Home made jellied cranberry sauce.  (Recipe below)

I love both red and white wine and feel either work with Turkey and the array of sides. I've included two of my favorites below. I also aways have a bottle of Apothic Red on hand. I should start buying that by the caseload. I swear it is addicting.

Homemade Jellied Spiced Cranberry Sauce

Makes 2 pints

5 cups fresh cranberries
2 cups water
2½ cups sugar
1 large piece of orange rind
6 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick

Wash and drain cranberries.  Pick through them and discard any that are under ripe or overripe.  Combine the cranberries and water in a large sauce pan.  Boil over medium to medium high heat until the skins burst on the cranberries.  This will take about 5 to 10 minutes, and you will hear the berries popping.

Pour the mixture into the bowl of a large food processor and purée until smooth.

Return the cranberry mixture to the sauce pan.  Place the orange rind studded with the whole cloves and the cinnamon stick into a small piece of cheesecloth tied with twine.  Add the spice bag and the sugar to the sauce pan and return to a boil over medium to medium high heat.  Boil almost to the gelling point (220°F at sea level).  This will take about 15 to 20 minutes.  You can use either a candy thermometer or gelling tests using a spoon or plate.  Refer to Jam and Jelly Basics here.

The mixture will be thick, dark burgundy red, and glossy.  Turn off the heat, remove the spice bag, and ladle the sauce into hot jars, leaving ¼” head space.  Adjust the 2-piece caps, and process 15 minutes in a boiling water canner.

Notes:  The spice bag is optional.  The cranberry sauce tastes great plain, too.  If you use straight-sided jars, you will be able to serve as a mold just like the canned version.  If you do not wish to use the canning method to preserve the cranberry sauce, you may store it in the refrigerator after cooling to room temperature. 

T.G.I.F.

Having a backyard barbecue and mixing some rita's tonight! I'm going to whip up my own sour mix, cause who needs all the extra junk in the pre-made mixes! Have an amazing weekend!!

My go to summer salad. I keep a basil plant on my sun porch all summer! Maybe I'll even grow some tomatoes this year!

Merry Christmas Cocktails..

Merry Christmas Eve! Sorry for the silence. I've been buttoning up work and all my holiday preparations. I'm in charge of devising and mixing a holiday cocktail to bring to my sister's house this year. I was torn. There were lots of minty and fun choices to choose from. I've settled on a more refreshing libation. Found via

Have a wonderful holiday all!! xoxoxo 
I'll return later this week.....Cheers!


Grape Nehi:
- 1.25 oz. Vodka - 3/4 oz. Chambord - 2 oz. Grape Juice, Cranberry Juice or Cran/Grape mixture (this is what I did!) - 2 oz. 7-up

Pour over ice in a tall glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Holiday Cocktails

'Tis the season for entertaining! Setting up a holiday bar for friends and family is the perfect way to add a glamorous moment to your festivities this season. My choices were loosely inspired by the photo above! Simply add an array of liquor, munchies and mixers to this layout and you'll be ready for the perfect party.

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Inspired!

Good Afternoon! I was over on Sadie and Stella's blog this am. She shares three beautiful holiday table ideas. I had never seen the second one, so I decided to pop over to Style Me Pretty for all the deets. This setting could beautifully inspire a Thanksgiving day table. I'm loving the unexpected autumn floral bouquets. (it may be difficult to find peonies this time of year, but the mix of deep purple with deep green, peach and gold is stunning)

For the entire wedding and the credits visit Style Me Pretty.

Dining Al Fresco

I've got an exciting dining alfresco styling opportunity coming up! I can't wait to set up my outdoor dining space and relax with friends before the summer is over. I love the laid back California vibe of Nicole Richie's Hollywood Hills home. Little white cafe lights and sparklers? How fun!!

 find all the details here.

Shelter Loves

Happy Wednesday!  Here's what is on my radar this week!!

1. Sienna's hair looks adorbs. I need to perfect this look!
2. I'd live in these Loeffler Randall designed boots.
3. Drooling over Aerin Lauder's lighting collection for Circa Lighting. This beauty would work well in my new living room design.
4. Yum, I might now love the thought of chilly weather but I do love to cook in the Fall.
5. I can't wait to move into my new abode...I'll be sure to host a house warming party inspired by this fabulous bubbly bar!

ooooohh la la!

Aerin Lauder

I love entertaining and dream of hosting a party one day with an evening of good food, music and a long beautifully decorated table much like these!! Feast your eyes on my recent favorites! 

Can Aerin Lauder do anything wrong design wise lately? I think NOT! I'm excited to pre order her new book.The inspiration for my new home is sort of going to be a cross of New England classic with laid back Cali cool. Yikes, painting is almost done. I'll share some quick pics of the colors next week!

Aerin Lauder

Garden Party....

I spend my winter's dreaming of garden parties and beach days...I'd love to say I prefer skiing but that's just isn't the case! Mix in some yummy food, good friends + a fabulous play list to the board above and voila = instant party!

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Holiday Table

I can't drop gobs of money on holiday decorating but I adore a gorgeous holiday table. I find if you take a great idea and multiply it by many the effect is fantastic! Case in point is the idea below which I discovered on Design Love Fest and was devised and created by the Bash Please girls. This idea is
simple, creative and impactful! Read more about the details and how to pull it together yourself here. 
This would make a perfect piece for a buffet table and at a smaller scale and lower height the dining table. If you weren't up for or didn't have time to paint the holiday balls with color, I think it would look just as snazzy with various sized silver or gold balls!