Inspiring Tablescapes for Thanksgiving Entertaining

Living Well

Inspiring Tablescapes for Thanksgiving Entertaining

Are you ready?

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and there’s no time like now to start hammering out the details.

If you are like me, you ~~haven’t done the first thing to prepare~~ are determined to make the festive day smooth and stress-free. After all, the holiday is about coming together and giving thanks for all we are grateful.

BUT…….. Long before the food is served, your table will make a first impression.

Some of the loveliest tables aren’t necessarily about the china or silver, but rather the natural elements that suggest the occasion. I love fine china and silver as much as the next person, but what really makes the table for me is a thoughtful arrangement, place cards, or special linens.

As mentioned in a previous post, unique napkin folds are an simple way to add elegance to your table. If you haven’t already, watch this video as I show how easily napkin folding can be done in a unique way.

Below we are sharing some of our favorite tablescapes from Pinterest.

Green and white plethora of pumpkins — Take advantage of what nature provides. The varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and garden plants lend themselves to beautiful arrangements. Image from The Daily Basics.

I love the mixture of colors, tones and textures at this table. Image from Martha Moments.

Handmade place cards are such a nice, detailed touch. Image by Cottage and Vine

Instead of place cards, why not use words that are reminiscent of Thanksgiving such as thankful, grateful, appreciative and fortunate. A wonderful way to bring the Thanksgiving spirit to your table. | The Glamorous Housewife — Instead of place cards, use words that remind you of giving thanks. Image from The Glamorous Housewife.

It’s important to remember that you don’t have to break the bank to create a memorable setting. Image from Griffanie.

Beautiful and simple are the words for the day. Here’s to getting your table ready to give thanks,

dana

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Living Well

Fall Favorites

The leaves are beginning to fall, the air is cooling off, and the days are getting shorter. Football is in full swing and pumpkins are showing up everywhere.

This only means one thing… Fall is here!

As a way to celebrate the beginning of this new season, I wanted to share a few of my fall favorites from Pinterest. As mentioned in my last post, Pinterest is my go-to for all things inspiration.

cashmere blanket. The wine bar will be cool....Temperature wise, it is wine after all. — With cooler temperatures, who doesn’t love a cashmere throw? Image from The Little Corner.

Cindy Smith and Patrick Lewis's Prohibition Room offers rustic luxury at the 2013 Adamsleigh Showhouse - Traditional Home® Photo: John Bessler Sponsored by Lee Industries — I love the rustic elegance of this room. The ambiance of the room makes me want to wrap up in the blanket pictured above and enjoy a nice glass of red wine. Image by Cindy Smith and Patrick Lewis

Chocolate Pumpkin Cups ~ Can you believe these adorable little cups are entirely edible?? — Can you believe these adorable cups are edible? I am sure this is a project my girls will love! Image from Oh, Nuts!

It’s time for sweaters and booties! Image from fashionablelittlethings

As you know, I am all about simplifying and this image screams serenity and peace. Image from Savy City Farmer.

As I transition my garden from summer to fall, I added pumpkins to my planters. Image from Dana Wolter

flowers — This is an arrangement I used on my tables for Thanksgiving last year. Image from Dana Wolter.

Even though I am sad to see the summer sun slip away, autumn is an incredible time of year and I am looking forward to enjoying all that it has to offer.

Have a good one,

dana

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Living Well

The Best Is Yet To Come

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. It’s hard to believe Christmas has come and gone and we are into a new year.

I have been a little absent the past few weeks as I took some time off. I’ve spent time decompressing and enjoying my family. It has been a nice break and I am rejuvenated for 2014.

Speaking of 2014, it’s only appropriate for me to share my resolutions in the first post of the year.

Like many of you, I always spend the first of the year looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. It’s an obvious time to reflect on the changes I want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on them. That being said, I’ve come up with a couple I am excited to share with you.

Simplify. Be more with less.

Yes, I said it again. Can you tell this “idea” is on the forefront of my mind?

For me, this means eliminating distractions for the essential, trading chaos for peace, and spending time doing what’s important. I’ve spent the past couple weeks getting rid of the clutter around the house and I cannot tell you how much better this makes me feel. Try it, as I promise it will make you feel better, too.

I love the saying “if you don’t use it, lose it” and I especially love putting it into practice. Learning to live with less allows me to enjoy more.

And while I think material items need to be kept in perspective, I do think our surroundings affect us. I know they do me. There is something to be said about how a calm, beautiful, organized, peaceful home makes you feel. A home that is warm but elegant is one you can enjoy and make memories with family and friends.

I am also going to ….

Take Care of Me.

I know this resolution seems cliché, but over the holidays, I was sick. Being forced to slow down and lay in bed made me to realize how worn down I was. Like most moms, I’d been so busy working and taking care of family that I exhausted myself.

So to make sure doesn’t happen again, I’m making time for me.

Time for me to challenge myself professionally. Time to take my craft and skill to the next level, not by doing more, but by doing more to the best of my ability.

I’m planning to exercise, eat well, get adequate sleep, moisturize properly, read more, take my vitamins….you know, all those things that just make you feel better. Bottom line, when I am happy and well, I am my best self.

2014

Cheers to 2014 being the best yet…

-dana

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Pictures courtesy of Pinterest

Living Well

K.I.S.S.

As school resumes, and my schedule is at risk of being greatly overwhelmed, I’m reminded of the thing that I think a lot of us struggle with these days –- Keeping It Simple, Sweeties.

With our cell phones constantly beckoning, and email literally at our fingertips, I’m sure I’m not the only one to find it ironic that technology, in its attempt to make things easier for us, actually contributes to the frenzy of daily life. We’re all busy. Too busy perhaps. It seems that life is a juggling act, balancing work and family, extracurricular activities and exercise, eating well and volunteering. How do we keep it up without it all crashing down!?

Through trial and error over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks to streamlining my life. While it takes a little discipline, and I am not always good at it, it definitely helps.

1. Make a list. First thing in the morning — or better yet, the night before — make a list of everything that you want and need to accomplish that day. It only takes five minutes, and it saves oodles of time later as it gives some structure to the day. After you write the list, highlight the top two things that absolutely must get done. Then star a few other items that you would like to get done. Then be easy on yourself. If you are like me, it’s probably impossible to get everything on your list checked off! So congratulate yourself if you complete at least the two “musts” and one or two of the stars. After all, there is always tomorrow!

2. Consolidate. How tempting it is to check every email/text as it comes in! Give yourself a break. If possible, allot two to three times in the day to respond to phone calls, email, and texts. This way, nothing slips through the cracks, and you will probably end up feeling less scattered. Who knows, maybe these email and phone times will end up feeling like a break in your day!

3. Prioritize. While the first two tips will help you prioritize your day, remember to step back and prioritize your life! Figure out what is important to you – really important to you – and see if your daily life matches up. If spending time with your children is more important than baking four cakes for the charity bake sale, then feel free to say no this year to the sale – or better yet, get your children involved with the cooking! If having some alone time is more important than making it to every social function you are invited, be sure to honor yourself in that way. When you know what is important to you, saying “No” to anything that diverts you will be much easier. You – and your family – will be happier for it.

The key is to find a balance. Not an easy goal, as I know from experience! I do believe though, that in order to simplify, it’s necessary to maintain perspective. When we are caught up in the day-to-day, we could end up missing out on life. Keeping it simple helps us to slow down and savor our blessings. So give yourself a break. Turn the cell phone off if you have to, forego the juggling, and enjoy your life.