I am not setting my own table this holiday, but if I were-this is the simple approach I would take. I spray painted real mini-pumpkins matte gray and have been using them as decor since Halloween. I would place one pumpkin at each place setting along with a single bud vase. Any small flower from the grocery store will do.
The rest of the table has a soft palette using natural elements . A potted succulent, more gray pumpkins, assorted glassybabies, flowers, and a pop of gold. It is all extremely budget friendly. Nothing is safe from a spray paint can in my house. My favorite details is the embroidered linen table cloth. Passed down to me from my mother, it was made by hand as a wedding gift in 1972. I love the colors and intricate, repeating pattern.
I wish you very Happy Thanksgiving. May your table be surrounded by loved ones and good cheer!
{I am so sad the picture quality is so poor. I ended up having to use my iPhone. Gloomy Northwest days do not equal lovely indoor shots. At least in my house.}
I am sure all of you are in full prep mode for Thanksgiving. You are either packing and getting your family ready to travel or you have cooking and baking to do. I am not hosting this year, so my tasks are light. Just sides for me this year. One of the easiest and delicious sides to bring is homemade cranberry sauce. I use this recipe and love that it takes just a few ingredients. In no time at all you have bubbling goodness. Never a fan of cranberry sauce in its gelatinous canned form-this sauce is really perfect. Sweet and just a little tart. It is easy to make ahead and it travels like a dream.
I am also making gluten- free stuffing and a gluten-free pumpkin pie. To my surprise Williams-Sonoma made a gluten-free stuffing mix this year! I just need to add the onion, celery, and sausage. Thank you VERY much. And lucky for me – I am a pie crust pro after taking a class this spring. The all-butter pie crust, using gluten-free all purpose flour, should be flaky and delicious! If I do it right, no one will know it is gluten-free!
{Confession: For Thanksgiving-I would be happy with a plate of stuffing and gravy, with a side of pumpkin pie!}
Over the next couple of weeks I will be sharing gift guides for many of the people on your list. I swear gift guides are one of my most favorites thing of the holiday season. Someone else does all the hard work and you end up giving the best gifts. I love them! I have a simple rule in my house when it comes to wish lists. The list must include something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read. All of my gift guides will include at least one item from each category.
I decided to collaborate with real live kids for a few of the guides. First up, a gift guide for a bigger boy. You will notice that this list has expanded beyond JUST toys {Most likely for boys ages 9-12}.
3. Dakine Campus Pack – This falls into the NEED category. Most boys this age need a larger pack. Books and binders are larger and take up more room.
4. KD Essential Basketball Court – It is something to WEAR. It is what all the cool kids are wearing. Shorts in the middle of winter are 100% appropriate.
5. GoPro-Hero – And this is the IT item. A video camera to catch all your crazy action. {GoPro finally priced a camera at an entry level price point. YAY!}
The year was 2007. We were about to celebrate Little Man’s first Christmas. Somehow there was not one photo of all four of us shot during his first 11 months of life. Mind boggling! So in desperation I took my camera to the tree lot with a set purpose of getting a family picture to use on our Christmas card. We asked a stranger to snap the photo and at quick glance it looked great. When I got home and loaded it onto the computer, my mouth dropped open. Some yahoo decided it would be good fun to photo bomb my picture. Oh, I was not pleased. Pissed, actually! And since I had not, at this point, released my need to have the “perfect” family picture, I just faked it! You will see that in the picture I sent out I converted it to black and white and edited out the photo bomber. Classic and perfect.
If that had happened this year, I would have sent out the photo with the idiot in the background! Yes, photo editing can produce the most perfect picture. However, as timed has passed I much prefer to send photos that show my messy, chaotic, and fun-filled life. I won’t be faking a perfect photo this year. But, yes, I still had a to force a family picture to be taken. Why is this so darn hard??
On the top of my list this week is to complete our holiday cards! How about you?
This year I wanted to put together a simple, handmade gift. A jar of classic cocoa and a bundle of candy cane spoons is festive and it works for anyone!
I cut the original Classic Cocoa recipe from Sunset Magazine in half and layered the ingredients in a pint sized {wide-mouthed} Mason jar. With a little Chalkboard Flat-Black Spray Paint on the lids, I was able to add messages and hand- drawn hearts. Cocoa is always better with a bit of peppermint. Well, at least I think so! I almost fell over when I found these darling candy cane spoons. I bundled them together in a clear treat bag and tied with baker’s twine. Last, I created an enclosure with directions on how to make the cocoa. {Download the template here if you would like to print the enclosure.}
You could make this gift in less than an hour and buy all of the needed ingredients at the grocery store. {In a time crunch, use candy cane sticks and skip the chalkboard paint.}
So excited to say this DIY project was all me! Months ago I purchased this wooden “T” at Michael’s. I can’t remember the cost, but I think it was around $5. Like most things I buy at that store, I had no idea how I was going to use it!
I ended up using it to create my own monogrammed holiday wreath. First, I taped diagonal stripes. {To make sure the spacing and angle of the tape was consistent, I used an extra piece of tape between each stripe and then peeled it off.} Next, I sprayed a few coats of gold metallic spray paint. Then, I secured an eye hook to the back of the letter and looped floral wire through the eye. Last, I wrapped the floral wire around a fresh wreath and attached my monogram.
After the holiday season, I can simply take off the letter and store it for next year!
I do love seeing DIY projects, but I seem to only pick the ones that are easy and require little effort. I loved the idea of a rustic pine cone garland. Actually, I quietly would like to replace my holiday decor with all white, metallic, and natural decorations. Instead of throwing everything out, I am trying to add accents that require little to no budget.
For this garland, I purchased a bag of scented pine cones at the grocery store. Next, I drilled very small holes into the base of the pine cones and screwed in small eye hooks with a pair of needle nosed pliers. Everything is better with gold spray paint, so I gave them each a quick coat. Finally I tied each pine cone on the line of twine. If I was to do it again {which I will next year}, I would use heavier, rustic twine. Mine looks more like kite string.
I simply hung the garland in front of a set of windows using small Command hooks. It adds a natural element to our dining room and smells amazing to boot!
Be Merry and Bright!
Interested in other DIY projects? Check out my TO DO board. xoxo
I am so excited to offer another giveaway and just in time for the holidays. Today’s giveaway is from Jen’s Signs! My talented friend Jennifer hand makes each piece. She has many signs available to purchase on her website and specializes in custom signs. {If you have seen it or imagined it, she can make it for you! She is crazy good. } The smaller signs make lovely hostess or teacher gifts this time of year. You can also see many of Jen’s recent designs on her Facebook page. Be sure to check it out!
For a chance to win this festive reindeer sign, visit Jen’s Signs and leave a comment below with your favorite sign from her online store. Entries must be posted by Wednesday, December 17 by 9am PST. One winner will be chosen at random.
{Limited to U.S. readers. Winners will be announced on Where is June? Facebook page and by email.}
Ok, this is not a diet food. Let’s just get that out of the way. But, this toffee is oh, so delicious! Here is another favorite holiday treat!
Easy Toffee
15 [or so] graham crackers
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup copped nuts.
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line 13×9 inch pan with foil, grease foil with butter. Arrange graham crackers in pan. [Some may need to be broken so that entire bottom is covered. It doesn’t need to be pretty.] In medium saucepan, combine brown sugar and butter; bring to boil. Remove from heat; pour over graham crackers. Bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Remove from oven; immediately sprinkle with chocolate chips. When chips are soft, spread over top; sprinkle with nuts. Chill about 30 minutes until chocolate is set. Break into pieces. Store in refrigerator.
