Friday, November 19, 2010

Thanksgiving Blessings and some Ideas for KIDS on your celebration

Our turkey last year prepared in a buttermilk brine

This is a Total Thanksgiving post. It's almost the time for each family to have their Norman Rockwell moment. I've gathered some last minute ideas for YOU.

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For a full and very traditional Thanksgiving Day menu, read this post: Celebrated Day of American Bounty. It shares photos and details of this menu I used last year:

Thanksgiving Menu 2009
Buttermilk-Brined Turkey with Savory Gravy
Apple Cranberry Stuffing
Green Beans tossed in Mushroom Sauce
Creamed Potatoes Mashed
Homemade Crescent Rolls
Ginger-Spiced Cranberry Sauce
5 Cheese Macaroni
Marbled Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust
Assorted Homemade Pies

This year, I don't have my menu pulled together yet. I have something different in mind... I will share more on the failure or success of that idea AFTER the holiday. {wink}
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I shared the Plum Thanksgiving Table for this year,

now about the KIDS...
Maybe you've made these when you were young...


My kids were wearing really, super HUGE smiles when they bounced in the kitchen and saw this after school treat. My boys only drink soda pop 1-3 times a year so I'm not sure if they were more excited for the soda or the lil turkey cups! These lil turkeys are perfect for kids. I saw these fun ideas at the Pebbles in my Pocket online store. It's a simple and easy craft for kids too.

We are saving the cups to use at the Thanksgiving kid's table. It will be a new addition to the same traditional turkey placemats I use at their table every year.

Last season I made a Mayflower ship centerpiece using a basket, twigs, and burlap.


Pears made the perfect place card. Simply push a nametag into a pear with a pin. Ta Da.


For the setting, I am loving the wood flatware like I used at the LEGO party! This flatware is awesome....really.

You know I'm a big user of ribbon and twine! It can make most anything look cute and it's a super easy way to add embellishments. For kids, yarn is a charming alternative to ribbon.

In our home we have books stacked under lamps, beside chairs, and scattered on tables. Each season I switch out the books that are at the kids' level to pique their interest and to encourage them to cozy up and read.

The boys also learn through tacky art each season. It never fails, the boys' art always makes my heart and Chris' heart SMILE. This type of art is likely posted on the walls of EVERY home with kids. It's these little things that are worth treasuring...watching their little fingers grip the crayon, seeing their furrowed brow as they concentrate, listening to them excitedly display the finished product. This is the type of art that is truly worth some serious money, right?


I caught Titus with my cell phone camera as he rushed up the stairs with his leaf collection. He was in awe of them and planned on saving them forever.


The boys also decorated our yard with leaves. Humm. Instead of removing leaves from the yard, my kids are bringing them in by the handfuls and decorating our lawn and bushes with them. They think the massive yellow leaves are "so pretty Mom!"


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source unknown

Thanksgiving is such a unique holiday. We can all celebrate it together, regardless of religion. There is something beautiful in that unity. There is also something beautiful in using a holiday to celebrate a character quality. Gratitude and a thankful heart are treasures to keep. They can easily be robbed or lost by a selfish, negative spirit. We have MUCH to be thankful for, whatever our circumstance. Hold on to that gratitude. It will be the thing to sustain you when life isn't nice.

So, Give Thanks.
Always.
In all situations.
Gratitude always wins.


Be blessed.

our chalkboard message board


This post is linked to: Domestically Speaking, Dare To, DIY Living, Seasonal Sundays, Days of Thanksgiving, Strut Your Stuff at Saturday Mornings, Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Mondays, Market Yourself Mondays, It's So Very Creative, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tuesdays at the Table, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, Tuesdays Unwrapped, Toot Your Horn Tuesday, Get Your Craft On, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Tablescape Thursday, Spotlight Yourself, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Friday Favorites*, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday*, I'm Lovin It*, Funky Junk Interiors*, Fabulous Friday Finds*, Tickled Pink*, Be Different Act Normal, Weekend Wrap Up

33 comments:

  1. You always have the greatest ideas. I had forgotten about those turkey cups. We used to write what we were thankful for on each feather. Thanks for reminding me. The wood flatware is so cute and so are the colored pencils. And I love the pear placecard idea. You're right about Thanksgiving. I think that's why it's always been my favorite holiday. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your cute family!

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  2. I love the turkey drinks and all the things you do with your kids at Thanksgiving. I have rarely hosted Thanksgiving and when my kids were young we did not do much in this way. I love Thanksgiving because it's a time to give thanks, relax, be with extended family....and there are not GIFTs involved! Those are the most unique colored pencils...the pilgrims might have used them!! Also loved the Mayflower centerpieces that you created. Joni

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  3. You know from my blog, that {seasonal/holiday} books and handmade art abound everywhere! They're the cornerstone of my decor, truly!

    Love the sweet little turkey cups! What a nifty little treat for your boys!

    Happy Thanksgiving!
    Judy@cutest-little-things

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  4. The turkey cups are so cute, fun and colorful. I really like your idea of having books for each season/holiday. I love books but never have thought of doing that except at Christmas time.

    I enjoyed your post. Good reminders about being thankful. We DO have so much to be thankful for.

    Elisabeth

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  5. Lisa,

    I am LOVING your plum tablescape this year and those turkey cups, the kids will go crazy for them! Thanks for the ideas, I am in working on my menu too, trying to shake things up a bit this year, we will see... Have a beautiful weekend!

    Best wishes,
    Tammy

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  6. delightful inspiration!! I LOVE the little turkey cups!! and the Mayflower!- too cute!!
    Happy Thanksgiving!
    Many Blessings!
    Jill

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  7. I am thankful for these wonderful ideas! Thanks for always being so generous with your cleverness! You are a gem!

    I'm thankful our paths have crossed!

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  8. Those turkey cups are so cute!! Thanks for linking up to Show and Tell Saturday!

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  9. Love the cute turkey cups! And the leaves decorating the yard cracked me up! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  10. I love the Turkey cups! So cute, and a great craft project for the kiddos.

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  11. Such cute turkey cups! The kid's table is adorable!

    Thanks so much for being a part of Seasonal Sundays!

    - The Tablescaper

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  12. Love this post! Would like to share it on my blog this week.

    Thanks for the inspiration!
    Holly
    http://hallelujahsbyholly.blogspot.com

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  13. Some great ideas here, and I appreciate the reminder to start each day with a grateful heart. So much to be thankful for! Hope you have a great week.

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  14. I will have five kiddos under 8 at my Thanksgiving celebration this year. Those turkey cups are adorable! Thanks for sharing. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  15. Wonderful pictures - Thanksgiving is a holiday that gets so overlooked!

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  16. What a lovely post!! I love the turkey cups...so cute:)

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  17. I think I would gather up all of those big yellow leaves too! My kids decorate our Thanksgiving table - I have no say (OK, a little). I just try to make it special for them as we are always alone - just the four of us. Thanks fr a little glimpse into our day - cannot wait to hear about the menu!

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  18. Love the yarn to make things more kid-friendly. Also love the cups. I bet they keep little hands busy.

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  19. It's all so pretty!
    I LOVE the TableScape! You have some MAD skills, girl! :)

    And the turkey cups... ADORABLE!

    Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog today. It totally made my day :)

    And no, I don't home school... I have virtually no patiences for that kinda thing. LOL... plus my kids love "going to school"
    Then again, they only go Mon - Thurs. for about 3 hrs. at a time... but next year, hopefully i can get them going all day.
    :)
    We have a great school system!
    ~Shelley Smith

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  20. Those turkey placemats are SO adorable! I'll forever be impressed with your creativity!

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  21. Lisa, you are just the quintessential homemaker! I love how the boys gather the lovely Fall leaves, too. They are quite creative like their beautiful mother!

    Happy Thanksgiving, dear friend! Thank you for your friendship and kind words about the runner, too.

    xoxo
    becky

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  22. Your family is so fortunate to have you!!! You show so much love and are teaching your sons to appreciate the simple gestures. They're going to be sooooo selective when they choose their future mates!

    Have a blessed Thanksgiving...and tell Titus, I like his leaf creation. It's beautiful! I also love the idea of covering the lawn with beautiful leaves...You get to rake them again, then JUMP! (I miss that! It was the first thing I did during our first year in PA...and with leaves!)
    Hugs,
    Jane

    ps your boys might like today's post...It can begin an interesting search for more trivia...

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  23. You are SO clever! What funny & perfect cups! Thanksgiving is meant to be joyful!

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  24. So cool that you made the kids table so special. The cups are super fun, and I know that they felt like they'd arrived at their own spot when they saw their turkey placemats again this year. Thank you for sharing your wonderful design. Cherry Kay

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  25. Your menu sounds wonderful!!! I'm sure everyone enjoyed and appreciated all the hard work you put forth! Amazing!

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  26. Featured your turkey cups today at http://www.craftbuds.com/last-minute-thanksgiving-fresh-picks-for-11-20-11/

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  27. Love all these ideas, I'm ready to countdown to Thanksgiving even though it's only September!

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