I missed you yesterday, Darlings! Crystal and I were out enjoying the incredible weather here in Atlanta – 76F Sunday! Crazy!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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