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Fall feels like a homecoming parade to me when leaves become colorful confetti dancing across the yard in celebration of the return of cool air! I can't help but think of Snoopy in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and grin like a giddy kid after hearing those colorful crisps whirl cross the road in front of our house. I am fall's biggest fan, not only for the temperature change, but for the reset that to comes with it. The change of the season grants me permission to move into celebration mode and cozy up our home's atmosphere! When it's time for this visual uptick, the mantle is my starting place because it sets the tone for the rest of the house.
The Mantle
This holiday season, there's a growing interest in eco-friendly decorating. A quick way to set the mood without buying new fall decor is to start with what you already have! Fall hues can be found in everyday items like coffee cups, tea pitchers and pottery vases which play to the current trend of using ceramics in seasonal decorating. If you have a lovely assortment of pottery in autumnal shades, you can use books or bricks to create a layered display on the hearth, and add fresh flowers or fall stems from your yard for instant charm. Pine cones, acorns, and vibrant leaves can be returned to nature after Thanksgiving is over and you are ready for a nap!
The Table
Food is the star of the event at the holidays and with a little bit of additional effort preparing the staples, you will wow your guest and their appetites with your Thanksgiving table spread! Who needs a centerpiece when your turkey plate is garnished with fruit slices and herbs? Use small cookie cutters to add embellishments to the pumpkin pie crust, and buy a beautiful artisanal bread from your grocers bakery section in addition to traditional rolls for a touch of delicious texture. For the kids and children at heart make an easy batch of peanut butter cookies ahead of time and assemble candy corn, sugar eyes, peanut butter Reece's and premade icing for a fun take on the holiday bird!
The Cookies
Many of my holiday memories include icing cookies with my girls, but if you have a desire for something a little more sophisticated than sprinkles and M&M's use your strong back and skills with royal icing to design artsy sugar cookies that will make everyone at the table smile! Keep the designs simple like leaves, or pumpkins or even sliced pie shapes and it will minimize the back aches and the time crunch. If you find that your results are not what you expected then try placing an order with your local cookie designer at least two weeks before the big event!
Thanksgiving is my favorite American holiday for its family centric, completely universal benign focus on gratitude, relationships and bounty. The smells alone bring back a flood of memories of people I love and magical flavors that are exclusive to this holiday (why are those amazing sweet potato casseroles relegated to one day a year?)
Plan ahead, get outside for inspiration and take a fresh look at your ceramic containers! With a little intension, this grace filled day of humble appreciation for all we are blessed with will surely be your best yet! Have fun y'all! I thank God for you!