Thanksgiving Table Rough Draft

I'm feeling good about hosting my first Thanksgiving, and I yesterday I thought it might be fun to see how I might set my table up for Thursday's "big game."

I should begin with a disclaimer: I still haven't painted the dining room, my Decorating Dilemmas curio cabinet got shoved into a corner of the room to make way for a new thrifty find, my table isn't formal, and my "china" is a hand-me-down set that my Nannie got tired of in the 70s and gave to me a few years back.

Because my "china" has old lady blue roses on it, I thought it might be fun to do a blue and brown table to try and get some semblance of a theme in the dining room.

I started with the bare table:

Then I added a $10 table cloth (yes, I know it needs to be ironed) from Wal-Mart and a scrap of burlap from my fabric stash as a "runner."

The burlap was too long, so I just tucked the ends up...

I added another layer with some chocolate brown placemats, also from Wal-Mart. $2 each, I believe.

On to the dishes:

I don't have any fine silver, so I wrapped our every day silverware in brown fabric napkins (also from Wal-Mart!) and tied them with twine.

For my Centerpiece, I grabbed my small glass "Thankful for His Grace" hurricane from Blessings Unlimited and some twiggy pumpkins from Target's Dollar Spot.

I'm going to ask my mom if I can borrow her crystal water glasses, and I have some cute brown and blue scrapbook paper that I might try to make some place cards with, but this is just the "rough draft."

Our menu is coming together, and I have a lot of the shopping done.

My sister-in-laws and I are dividing up the meal:

Turkey-Me (we bought it, T's parents will fry it for us before they leave town)
Ham- Me
Green Bean Casserole- SuSu
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese- Deanna
Cornbread Dressing- Me
Corn Casserole- SuSu
Sausage Dressing- Me
Gravy- SuSu
Bread- Me
Cranberry Sauce- SuSu
Pecan, Pumpkin Pies, Ice Cream- Me
Apple Pie- Deanna

I also bought some apple cider to sip on throughout the day as we cook and watch the parade. Should be a blast!

{How are your Thanksgiving plans shaping up?}


*Megan over at Honey, We're Home is featuring my Black Friday post today. Hope you'll leave me some comment love there if you have a chance. Happy Tuesday!

In Training

This is me this week, training for Friday:


I find it oddly refreshing that she runs in heels.

You should know that the commercial is loosely based on my life. I planned on playing myself, but time constraints led me to request that my understudy take the role on instead.

{How are you preparing for Thanksgiving and/or Black Friday shopping?}

Sunday Shopping Showcase: Christmas Cards!

I feel it is my duty as a blogger and friend to provide you with a Public Service Announcement this afternoon.

And, maybe also because I can get 50 free Christmas Cards from Shutterfly.

And guess what? If you blog, you can too!

Because I've written about using Shutterfly in the past, for both photo books and personalized wall calendars, I feel comfortable endorsing their latest campaign. The photo calendars truly are a fabulous gift for grandparents and great-grandparents, unless you are related to my mom who doesn't really like anything we give her.

I've actually never done photo Christmas cards before, so I'm pretty excited about this. The local portrait studio always has a deal where they tack 15 onto your Christmas portrait order, but they don't have many design options. Shutterfly's Christmas Photo Cards page has dozens of beautiful, customized choices. I'm having a hard time picking the one I like best!

I love sending Christmas cards, and I love receiving them. I prefer to jot down a quick personal note on mine before I send them out (who has time to write up long braggy newsletters?!), but I think most people appreciate being thought of during the Christmas season.

{What about you?}

Do you send Christmas cards? Are you a "1st of December I'm at the Post Office" type of person, or are you a "Let's just do 'Happy New Year' cards this year" type of girl?

*Don't forget that today is the last day to enter to win a $20 RJ Charms Gift Certificate! You can earn an extra, automatic entry by linking a Thanksgiving-related post to my Thanksgiving Round-Up. Old post or new; recipes, tips, tricks, and decorating ideas are all welcome.

Hope you are enjoying your Sunday! We are home from church and settling in to read the paper and watch some football. Go 'Skins!

Still Rounding 'Em Up!

Have you stopped by my Thanksgiving Round-Up yet? Link up a Thanksgiving-related post and get an extra, automatic entry in this week's RJ Charms Giveaway! RJ is giving away a $20 Gift Certificate to her shop, and there is a discount this week for my readers.

Some great ideas over there!

~Anne shared the recipe for a Pie that is apparently as addicting as crack.

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~Staci's Thankgiving Mantle is too much fun!

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~Sarah has a Thankful Foyer.

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I'm heading up to Tyson's Corner today to do some shopping with a friend. Not much money to spend, but I'm looking forward to window shopping. The girls and I did some Thanksgiving grocery shopping this morning and bought a small turkey!

{What are you up to this weekend?}

"I Think of a Few of My Favorite Things...

...and then I don't feel soooo tired cranky worn out bad."

I knew I'd get the words right.

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I like kittens, and roses, and mittens, but I didn't want to copy Fraulein Maria. I'm glad that my friend Melissa decided to host a Favorite Things Party over at 320 Sycamore so I can share some of my own favorites without feeling like a copycat (no offense to kittens with whiskers). In no particular order...

1. My DVR

This magical silver box faithfully records the best TV so that when the day is over and all I can do is sit in a dull stupor, I can veg out with the folks at The Office.

2. Clinique Super City Oil Free Daily Face Protector, SPF 40

I have a fear of looking like my great-aunt Vera or a Shar Pie dog when I am older, so the sunscreen is a must for me. It's so lightweight I can barely feel it, and it doesn't get greasy under my foundation!

3. Peppermint Mochas

I have a little tradition of kicking off my Christmas season by ordering one of these at the start of my Black Friday extravaganza shopping day. Perfection in a cup!

4. Christmas Music/Movies

When it comes to Christmas tunes, I prefer the oldies. Hearing Bing Crosby croon "White Christmas" or listening to Judy Garland's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" puts a smile on my face. I look forward to our Christmas Eve viewing of Ralphie Parker's quest for a Red Rider bb gun in A Christmas Story. 

5. Girl Time

Whether I'm hitting the movies with my Chick Flick Club girls (we are way overdue!), or heading off for some retail therapy, it is so important to me to have a chance to talk with women who are going through the same things I am. I'm going North tomorrow for some shopping at Tyson's Corner with a girlfriend or two. Can't wait to check out the goods in Williams-Sonoma!

6. My Purple Ruffled Booties

'Nuff said...

7. Chick Lit.-

Give me some Mary Kay Andrews, Emily Giffin, or Sophie Kinsella and I am a happy girl. After chasing the kids around all day, I need some light reading to settle in with. Martha Stewart Living, anyone?

8. My Bread Maker

I love being able to mix up sandwich bread for my family! It has saved us a lot of money this year, and my sister taught me how to make "Cinnabons" with it last weekend!

9. My "Silent Wonder" collection from Blessings Unlimited

I can't. wait. to decorate with this stuff after Thanksgiving!! Not the best photo, but I am loving the blue-gray and white color combo!

10. My Super Skinny Jeans from Old Navy (see #6)

Trust me. "Amanda" and "skinny" haven't gone together in a long, long, loooong time. But those jeans paired with a long sweater or tunic are fab-u-lous! To get some tips on how to wear skinny jeans if you're not a size 2, click over here. 

So..."these are a few of my favorite things."

{How about you?}


Stop by and enter my RJ Charms Giveaway if you have a chance. I'm also still looking for great Thanksgiving ideas. Link up a Thanksgiving-related post to my Thanksgiving Round-Up for an extra entry in the Giveaway!

Happy weekend!

RJ Charms Shopping Spree Giveaway

Hi, friends! The Thanksgiving Round-Up is still open. (Link up a Thanksgiving-related post and I'll give you an extra (automatic) entry in today's Giveaway from RJ Charms!)

I first introduced you to RJ Charms in April (you can read about the shop here), and readers were struck not only with the fabulous variety in RJ's shop, but the fact that she offers FREE shipping to the U.S. and Canada. Combine that the low prices, and you've got yourself a match made in heaven!

RJ is offering a $20 Gift Certificate for a shopping spree to one Serenity Now reader, and she's also giving away a discount code to everyone!!

Between now and Sunday, November 21, you can get a 10% Discount over at RJ Charms by using the code: serenity. With RJ's free shipping policy, you can score some great deals on Christmas gifts.

So...what will you choose? (I'm still partial to the Eiffel Tower, but I love the crafty scissors too!)

Here's How You Can Enter (Please leave a separate comment for each entry):
1. Visit RJ Charms and leave me a comment here with the name of your favorite item.
YOU CAN ALSO:
2. Tweet this Giveaway.
3. Facebook this Giveaway with a link to this post.
4. Link up an old or new Thanksgiving-related post to the ongoing Thanksgiving Round-Up!

Giveaway open until 10 pm on Sunday, November 21st.

*Note: No Weekend Bloggy Reading party tomorrow. I'll be participating in Melissa's Favorite Things party over at 320 Sycamore.

{Happy Shopping!}

Thanksgiving Round-Up Highlights

I won't be hosting Weekend Bloggy Reading this week because I want to join Melissa's Favorite Things party on Friday. So I thought it might be fun to highlight some of the ideas you all submitted for the Thanksgiving Recipe Round-Up. It's open until Friday, and I invite you to come by and link up any old or new posts that share Thanksgiving related recipes, tips, tricks, tablescapes, etc. I'll do another update over the weekend!

~Jennifer shared a Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe. I loves me some cheese.

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~I am fairly certain that Jo's Chocolate Pecan Pie is my dream come true.

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~Carmen reminded us that you should serve Appetizers on Thanksgiving Day so you aren't attacked by a hungry mob.

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~Don't you want to swoon over Beth's Thanksgiving Tablescape? She got my wheels a turnin'.

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Do you have some great recipes or Thanksgiving ideas to share? Please come by and link your post up.

In (belated) news, the winner of the Stitch Sense Designs Giveaway is #37, Veronica of Life in the Thrifty Lane. See? It does pay to link up with Weekend Bloggy Reading! Congratulations, Veronica. Send me an email and I'll get you in touch with Nadir!

TOMORROW: A Giveaway from RJ Charms!

{How are your Thanksgiving plans are coming along?}