ANOTHER LOOK: Thanksgiving Centerpieces

The first picture from Country Living is my original inspiration. Notice the Indian Corn.
The second picture is what I threw together with what I had.
The third picture is what I came up with using my New Blocks and the beautiful fall floral arrangement my SIL brought last weekend. So basically, I couldn't have done this without my SIL's! Thanks, girls, you're the best! :) I love how it turned out.
I took a smaller vase to put the flowers in, and then put them in a bigger hurricane with rafia and fall leaves. Then I took my indian corn and "scattered" it around. The tablerunner is a little number I put together with some fabric given to me, years ago. I love it, it seems to work all year round.
So this is the view I will be enjoying for the next couple of days until the big feast!

AN OLD-FASHIONED THANKSGIVING

I just watched a movie I had never heard of. It was released last year and based on this book by Louisa May Alcott, one of my most favorite authors. I LOVED it. And I highly recommend it. It really made me think about what is most important in my life and what I am grateful for. A really great family movie, my two little ones sat and watched the whole thing with me. I think I have found a new Thanksgiving tradition! I think I will get the book and then decide if I want to read the book every year or watch the movie. Check it out!

SOME CRAFT LOVE

OMIGOODNESS. My awesome S-I-L, Karen sent me a present all the way from Idaho. I didn't know what it was, but I couldn't wait to open it!

Look what was inside!

I was so suprised and excited!

Double duty decor: Thanksgiving...

... and Christmas!
THANK YOU!

TURKEY PLACECARDS

A couple years ago I used this EASY peasy free downloadable template from Martha Stewart. All my nieces and nephews were coming to town for Thanksgiving and I wanted to find an easy "craft" for the kids to do. Instead of using yarn for the "feathers" I just cut out the template where you would put the yarn on and let all the kids color their own "feathers" with crayons. Then we glued them all together and labeled them for every person at the table. It was fun, easy, and free! Gotta love that. The kids were so proud to show off their artwork at Thanksgiving dinner that night.
To get this template, just go here.

COSTUMES 4 CHEAP

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I realize that Halloween was 2 weeks ago (already?!?) but I also just realized that this subject would be good to blog about because the cost for an entire family of four to dress up this year was about $15. Not bad. My husband's farmboy costume was entirely from his closet. My Laura Ingalls farmgirl cost 25 cents for the dress at a garage sale. #1's Pocahontas Disney store dress was a $1 garage sale find, the wig was $3 on sale at Joann's and the "ugg" type slippers were an after Christmas find at Old Navy a few years ago for about $10- a splurge, I know! And the most expensive item on the list. #2's costume was a hand me down with mouse ears thanks to granparents who went on a Disney cruise= free. Although very cheap, the point I want to make is that these are all things that we did not buy specifically for Halloween. That's where companies prey on consumers- but not me! All these items are things bought througout the year and can serve several purposes. The girls wear dress up clothes all the time, #1 uses her slippers, etc. So remember when something comes up, don't panic and run out and buy. Shop your closet, see what you have, and keep an eye out at garage sales, and clearance racks all year long, buying only those things you know you can get good use out of, or that serve more than one purpose.

I LOVE PRETEND ONLINE SHOPPING

After my online window shopping spree on IKEA last night, I decided it was so fun I'd do it again. Thanks to my S-I-L Amber, I found this fun store Faded Plains. As you can see the above picture, the website had me at hello. (Hydrangeas are my favorite flower). And that picture is just scrumptuos! Anyway, if I were rich and were Christmas shopping for real, these are a few things I might put in my cart. Enjoy the eye candy :)

These are for my princess daughters. I think it would be so cute to hang them on their walls with fancy ribbon next to thier names. They would be perfect in their shabby room.

These are for my Queen Bee mother. She loves bees.

These are for me so I can brush up on my French and do it in style. Then I would do something creative and cute with them!

I would buy one of these for my mother in law S, my sister in law A, and myself :) Three gals who I know appreciate all things Paris!

Where do you like to pretend shop?

I CAN LOVE IKEA

I was browsing the IKEA website to see what new fun stuff they have and I found these lovelies.
TVILLING posters: adorable set of 2
KYLIGT trays: how fun are these for Christmas, Valentines Day.....
KOTTE: ornament stands, but I would use them for jewelry
And the best part OF COURSE is that they are all under 5 bucks!
What's your favorite thing from IKEA?