Ready for Thanksgiving? On a budget? Me, too.

Turkey is reasonably inexpensive and I have been saving bread in the freezer for stuffing. But it is really important for the table to look extra pretty.

This is the sweetest idea that costs just pennies. What do you think?

A great idea for a pretty, budget tablesetting

Don’t feel like you have to spend tons of money on flowers and expensive tablecloths. I love the mason jars and tea lights against a light cloth.

What are your money saving tips for Thanksgiving?

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to The Cranberries – Linger

Pretty tables make me melt. And there are so many ways to dress your table with so little effort.

Some ideas for you!

Easy, but so happy and colorful!

Use all your mismatched tea cups for this sweet table.

I am loving the bandana ideas!

So cute!

This purple is so soothing.

What are some of your favorite ways to simply dress a table?

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Madonna – Dress You Up

I am so excited for spring to be here. Easter, in particular, when Eric, John and I will be hosting dinner at our house.

To get ready, I have taken large square votive holders, filled them with potting soil and grass seeds and now I wait. The grass-filled votive holders will line our dinner table, enveloping the table in fresh, green grass. But for now, I am tending to my little charges.

Grass seeds all planted and ready to sprout!

This is a delightful and inexpensive way to dress up your spring holiday table. Don’t you agree?

And although my lawn could use a cutting, I can’t bear to mow down the sweet dandelions dotting my lawn, just waiting for wish makers.

Go ahead, make a wish.

And I am loving these Pee Wee Herman-esque flowers. They are so happy! How can I best use them at Easter?

I'm just waiting for them to burst out into song.

What’s inspiring you this pre-spring day?

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Frank Sinatra – You Make Me Feel So Young

We are finally recovered from Thanksgiving (I think). It was a wonderful time with fabulous friends and I bet you want to hear all about it. Lets do it!

Just between you and me, I had no intention of hosting Thanksgiving Dinner, but when bestie Diane said she was coming home, I knew that called for something special. We bought the turkey, planned a few dishes, invited a few friends, bought a case of bubbly. Then our incredible friends from Black Tie Barbecue told me they were holding a smoked turkey with my name on it, I decided to go ahead and roast the turkey we had at home and freeze the meat for the Christmas party nibble ingredients.

Do you remember the photo of those smoking turkeys? Unbelievable.

There were seven of us at dinner and then some other friends stopped by for dessert. Diane’s beau, Jonathan, really outdid himself and spoiled us by showing up with luscious goodies like homemade Parkerhouse rolls, fresh cranberry sauce, twice baked potatoes, a pumpkin cheesecake, roasted brussel sprouts, and our new friend Jay came laden down with a wonderfully tasty pumpkin ginger soup and marvelous green beans ladled with a walnut sauce that had us all elbowing each other for the spoon. Of course there was that smoked turkey that was out of this world. I am not kidding when I tell you that the turkey was so good, not only did we get no photos of it, but there was only enough leftover to make one sandwich. Seriously.

Eric and I teamed up to make a pumpkin pie, two types of dressing and a gingered sweet potato mash. Our sweet friend Christy brought a delish black eyed pea and beet salad that I loved. So yes, there was plenty of food to be thankful for. And we were.

Before dinner, I asked everyone to jot down what they were thankful for on a post-it note and stick it to our fire lantern. Have you seen these? They are so cool.

I decided to keep the table simple this year. A burlap runner ran down the length of the table and gold chargers were layered with our plain white dinner plates, topped with soup bowls and my new linen napkins embroidered with a “D” for dinner (or Davis, either way).

But first, there was popcorn. In the new popcorn machine. Just like at the movies!

Isn't this fun? Just like the Pilgrims!

A very happy reunion indeed.

Eric and I were so happy to have Diane with us, even for only one day.

And so was Jonathan...

Table is set. With little notes of gratitude for each guest as place cards.

Post-it notes and paper lantern for later in the evening.

Jay and Jonathan get acquainted.

Sweet Christy

Okay, everyone, to the table!

Black Eyed Peas and Beet Salad

Pumpkin and Ginger Soup

Mmmm, twice baked potatoes.

Those green beans and walnut sauce...

Roasted brussel sprouts. Yum.

Oh so good Parkerhouse rolls. Homebaked by Jonathan.

Eric carving the turkey we roasted. I'm telling you, the smoked turkey from Black Tie BBQ was GONE in 60 seconds.

I would post pics of dressing and sweet potatoes, but you know what those look like.

Dinner polished off, we sat around and visited until it was time for dessert. Our good friends Johnny P, Barry B as well as darling neighbors Tracy, Denise & Rick showed up for the post game festivities.

Um, Oscar is not allowed on the furniture. Well, maybe just today, with Tracy and Colin.

So sweet having Diane and Jonathan with us.

Sharing a laugh with Rick, Denise and Diane.

Mr. Barry Belcher, caught on film.

And then it was time to light the lantern and send it off with all of  thanks for the year. Um, I’m not sure what the fire code is for this type of thing, so maybe we didn’t actually do this…

We may or may not have lit the lantern...

And maybe we didn't release it into the sky...

But our friends sure seem tickled.

Barry and Christy cuddle in the front yard.

Diane and Jonathan.

And around 11pm, everyone left for their respective homes and Eric and I assessed the aftermath.

Not too bad...

It was one of my favorite Thanksgivings to date. Great food (most of which I did not have to cook), fabulous company, a case of bubbly and a fire lantern that we may or may not have set on fire and let loose.

Perfect.

Hope yours was as much fun, Darlings.

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Josh Groban – Thankful

But time to discuss Thanksgiving again. This time it’s about table settings. For me, this comes second only after the food. I only allow myself to enjoy setting the table after I have done everything else. It’s like dessert for me.

This turkey will find about six (so far!) of us gathering around. I decided to go for cute instead of elegant. Here’s the inspiration from Martha for my table.

My Table is the Big Kids' Table!

I have a huge pewter boat that I use for hors d’ouevres that would work perfectly for this. Hmmm, but what to put in the boat to hold the cute sign? Mashed potatoes? That might work.

And, I know this is another of Martha’s ideas, but how many chickens do you need to eat before you have enough wishbones? But it sure is cute. You collect and wash all your leftover poultry wishbones (maybe from the time you gave that medieval feast for 100?) and paint them chrome. Then, you tie the ends together (wrapped six times and sacrifice a kewpie doll…wait, wrong recipe…) and voila! You have napkins rings. Looks like I’ll be saving my wishbones from now til next Thanksgiving. I am wild for this idea. However insane it is.

Take All Your Wishbones Just Laying Around The House.....

Here’s one that would be easy and crafty, too, from Blissfully Domestic! I don’t know if it’s my style, but I like how festive it feels.

Don't Pass the Turkey Over With This Setting - You Could Get Singed!

Even if you don’t have the budget for decorations, you can still spruce up your table for free. How about taking a glass bowl or vase and filling it with fallen leaves found while taking a walk? You could also take one of your favorite scarves and use it as a table runner (first make sure it’s washable before someone spills the gravy). Fresh apples or any type of fruit could adorn the center of the table, too. Set apples and/or pears/persimmons/whatever is around and scatter them down the center of the table, perhaps on more of those fallen leaves (be super careful with your candles, if you have dried leaves on the table – votives might be the answer here.) Another solution would be to take all your fruit and pile it up on a cake stand in the middle of the table – maybe stick a few leaves into it or the turkey art the kids brought home from school. Even having the kids make those paper traced turkey hands as placecards would be super cute.

I also liked this idea, which reminds us of why we are at dinner this day. Take strips of paper, write what you are thankful for, and attach with double sided tape and read aloud at dinner. Easy, but it could start a special tradition.

I'm Thankful For You!

And how cute is this little placecard? Take those nasty things that fall from trees and turn it into something memorable. And easy. I love pretty and easy.

Gum Tree Spurs - Now For The Table!

And for the easiest centerpiece yet – got a candle? a glass holder for it? some popcorn? You have a centerpiece.

Corny, but Cute!

The fine folks at HGTV came up with this beauty. Really, this is the time to break out all your prettiest tableware and make it work. I’m inspired by this because bff, Vickie, gave me some beautiful gold glass vases and these are now going on the table. Along with my boat.

Ohhh, Gold!

if you have the time and inclination, you could visit your local Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware or Pier 1 for lots of inspiration. But I like to use my imagination (and the imagination of style mavens like Martha) to create something that you can’t buy out of a catalogue.

Next Monday we’ll discuss the last minute prep. Don’t panic – it’s just dinner, Darlings!

xoxo, Patti