Have A Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Just a few very last minute centerpiece ideas from BHG.com. Enjoy your holiday. See you Monday!

Nuts & Berries....Yum!

Here is a delicious after-dinner drink that is perfect for this time of year. Afterall, it doesn't get more "Autumn" than Nuts & Berries!

Nuts-n-Berries1 oz Light Cream
1 oz Frangelico
1 oz Chambord
Fill a shaker half full with ice cubes
Pour into shaker and shake well. Strain drink into a Cocktail glass and serve.

Dining & Designing Divas Event

Last year I attended an event put on by Southern Living, called Dining & Designing Divas. It was held at one of the department stores and showcased some lovely tables for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Here are a few pictures to inspire you for Thursday. Some of my favorite ideas are the mini pumpkin place cards and the table cloth adorned with ribbon and leaves.

Here, I love the use of burlap, frayed at the edges, used as a table cloth. The place cards are adorable. It's just a stick with a penant made from scrapbook paper, and put into a tiny bucket. Overall, the layering of textures and colors is the key design point here.

Luscious 4-Layer Pumpkin Cake

Here's the dessert I'm making for Thanksgiving. There are already 3 pies on the menu so I decided to change it up and make a pumpkin cake. Looks delicious! You can get the recipe at Kraft's website.

Gobble Gobble Cupcakes!

What kid wouldn't love these on Thanksgiving day? I made these for the kids a few years back and they were a hit. Afterall, it combines a cupcake with fruit roll-ups, with a cookie! Here's what you need and how it all goes together:

Frosted Cupcakes
Nutter Butter cookies
Red decorator gel
Mini chocolate chips
Fruit leather/roll-ups(several colors)
toothpicksPress one cookie into the center of each cupcake. Use tiny dabs of gel to stick chips on for eyes and a red waddle. To make feathers, cut 3-inch long pieces from the fruit strips. Lay out 5 strips on a flat surface. Top each with a toothpick so that one end of the toothpick extends below the fruit strip. Top with a second piece of fruit strip and press together. Shape the strips like feathers using kitchen scissors and cut fringe around the edges. Arrange the feathers on the cupcake behind the cookie head, using the toothpicks.

Places Please!

It doesn't get much better than when you can combine a place card with a treat....and chocolate no less! These dark chocolate turkey place card holders from World Market(one of my favorite places) does just that.

Or maybe you're feeling crafty and want to paint up these little pilgram hats from mini flower pots. Better Homes & Garden shows you how.

What Will They Think Of Next?!

Does everyone fight over the wishbone after your holiday meal? Well, play referee no more. Buy a pack of these Lucky Wishbones and everyone gets to make a wish! They have a realistic look but are made of a plastic material. A pack of 12 is less than $10. They would make a nice addition to your table setting by just laying them across your folded napkin, or hanging them on the rim of your water glass.

What's Inspiring Me Now

You know what they say..."a picture is worth a thousand words." I love getting inspiration from all the pictures found around the web. The top 2 images are from Domino magazine. The feather centerpiece is simple yet dramatic. Perfect for a Thanksgiving table where we tend to use natural elements in our decor. The driftwood centerpiece would also be great for an autumn table but I think a summer/beach/coastal theme party would also be in order!

I love this image becouse of the simplicity of the tree branch turned sculptural art. The spare use of crystal drops and the simple vase creates a modern feel.

This is a great idea for a shower or birthday party where you would want to spell out a message(use the 3M wall sticks). I love how it draws your eye upward.

Another super idea for any type of celebration. Banners are always a fun way to raise the eye while carrying out a theme.

This may be my favorite of all! Create an unexpected focal point over any table (that doesn't have a chandelier to get in the way) with a long tree branch. Hang a few ball ornaments, snowflake ornaments, crystal drops, wrap feather boas along the branch. The ideas go on and on. These beautiful images were found at LivingEtc.

Autumn Decorating

Here are a couple of easy ideas for centerpieces. The first is some berry branches, faux or real, simply gathered in a vase and surrounded by moss you can get from the craft store. The second is various pumpkins(faux) and candles that have been sprayed with spray adhesive and then rolled in dried beans or seeds. The pumpkin and candle arrangement would work beautifully with the indian corn place setting from a previous post. Maybe some wicker plate chargers and a burlap table covering(fray the edges), would complete a rustic yet sophisticated table setting.

Welcome!

I have been waiting very patiently to use this idea with acrylic picture frames. Finally! I decided this was the perfect tray to welcome guests with a cocktail. Using 2 of the frames, fill the bottom one with faux fall leaves(or anything else that comes to mind) and set the other one on top creating a lip around the edge of the "tray". I just taped the 2 frames together and covered the tape with a pretty ribbon. There you go! A tray to match any season or occasion. I can see using this idea with coffee beans, jelly beans, river rocks, glass beads....the options are endless. Thanks Amy(at Stem) for a great idea!

Now, what to serve on the tray, you ask. Here, I've got an Apple Pie Cocktail. But be careful. This apple pie is not for kids! Here's the recipe:

2 cups Apple Juice, chilled

1/2 cup Spiced Rum, chilled
1/4 cup Cinnamon Schnaps, chilled

Combine all ingredients in a pitcher. Serve with a cinnamon stick garnish.

Easy-To-Do Autumn Table

I created this Autumn table for our annual Friends and Family Thanksgiving Feast. So I've put together this little setting for about $5!!! That's right! I got scrapbook papers and coordinating supplies from the $1 isle at Target. This includes a package of square scrapbook pages, a set of stick-on cardboard letters, a package of smaller coordinating papers, and a pack of various tags and shapes. The banner was made by sticking the letters onto the small papers and sticking those onto ribbon with double-sided tape. The packet of tags and shapes was used for napkin ring/placecards, and drink charms. A few ribbons, vases, tea lights and tree branches from the back yard, help round out the look. Bring on the turkey!

Sideboard and Kid's Table

The sideboard is set up with Apple Pie Cocktail to enjoy before dinner, a menu listing the delicious meal to come, and after-dinner coffee. Typically I would have dessert, in place of the pumpkin, on the cake stand! I created a little Welcome banner to match the one on the table, along with other similar embelishments, and the menu card, so everything works together.

For the kid's table I used the same coordinating scrapbook papers as used in the dining room to create a cohesive look. I made the little turkey cups from paper cups, cut down to size. Colored scrapbook paper wraps around for the body, and creates feathers, chest and head. Simply fill with candy corn for a fall festive take-home-treat for the kids. And of course all kids love their apple juice so I got the IZZE Sparkling Apple from Target. I love when the perfect package combines with the perfect flavor!

For the centerpiece, I used the same test tubes from halloween and popped in a single stem or two of seasonal floral. I wrapped the rim with more coordinating paper to cover the threads where the lid screws on. With this table, I wouldn't mind sitting with the kids!!

Pecan Pie Trifle

Here's a little something I whipped up tonight for a meeting I have tomorrow. It is soooo easy to put together:

Pecan Pie Trifle

1 frozen pecan pie, thawed(or one from the bakery section of the market)

8 oz. block of cream cheese, at room temperature

1 1/2 cup whipping cream

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/3 cup Mocha Fudge sauce(in the ice cream topping section)

1/2 cup pecan pieces, toasted

Combine cream cheese, whipping cream, and vanilla in a heavy duty mixer with wire attachment, until smooth(about 3 minutes). Cut pie into 1 inch cubes and layer half into bottom of trifle dish. Top with half of cream cheese mixture, half of fudge sauce, and half of pecans, layering one on top of the other. Place remaining pie pieces, cream cheese mixture, sauce, and nuts, in layers. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours. Delish!!!

And The Results Are In!....Almost

The election day frenzy is upon us! Have a cocktail and celebrate....or drown your sorrows. Try this All-American cocktail at the end of the day while you're watching the results.

3 Tbsp. pomegranate liqueur(Pama)

1 Tbsp bourbon

Splash of lemon juice

Ice

Club Soda

Pour the pomegranate liqueur, bourbon, and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake well. Pour into a cocktail glass with ice and top off with club soda. Garnish with lemon if desired.