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Three Easy Cornucopias

The cornucopia or “horn of plenty” is a very common symbol used for Thanksgiving tables. Until a few minutes ago, I had no idea that the cornucopia is from an ancient Greek myth, or that the original cornucopias were curved goat’s horns. I only knew that they are fun addition to the Thanksgiving table, a nice reminder of our blessings, and that I wanted to share a few ways for your children to craft some. One of the easiest ways to create a horn of plenty is to use ice cream cones. The children can fill them with candy corn, … Continue reading →

Easy Cornucopias

Believe it or not, it is time to start thinking about Thanksgiving. I’ve been inspired by Sherry’s recent blogs about Thanksgiving and can’t wait to see what great ideas she has for us. As for me, I’m still firmly entrenched in fall minus the holidays, but there is that nagging little feeling that, yes, I need to start planning. The thought of a menu and a guest list is a little overwhelming for me at the moment, so I thought I would start small. I like the idea of cornucopias on the table. They can remind us of how very … Continue reading →

Hosting a Fall Festival

Who says you have to rely on your church or civic organization to host a family-friendly fall festival? If you are looking for a way to gather your closest friends and relatives to celebrate the change of seasons, then consider throwing your own autumnal fling. The seasonal shindig can be as intimate or elaborate as you wish. If you are working on a tight budget, then you might need to streamline your decorations. Start by adding a few touches to the front area of your home to make it appear as festive as possible. You could make an inexpensive fall … Continue reading →

Kid-Friendly No-Cook Turkey

It’s the ultimate edible Thanksgiving craft and the perfect boredom buster for kids who tire of making handprint turkeys and construction paper cornucopias. This veggie and cheese turkey can be made up to 48 hours in advance of serving. It requires quite a bit of prep work and the assembly takes a while too, but it’s easy stuff that kids can help out with. Cheese Ball (Base of Turkey) Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 3 one-ounce packages dry Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing mix 3 cups shredded cheese 4 three-ounce packages of real bacon bits or cooked crumbled bacon … Continue reading →

Having Fun Stuffing

The countdown to Thanksgiving is on, so let’s talk stuffing. Not the kind that you eat with Tom the Turkey. I’m talking about stuffing sweet treats into cute decorations that your kids can make themselves. The following Thanksgiving-themed art projects make ideal additions to your dinner table. What’s more, they’ll last a lot longer than the holiday spread: TURKEY CANDY HOLDER Materials: Craft foam sheets (use brown, orange, red, and yellow) Small terracotta pot Scissors Craft glue or glue stick Googly eyes Treats to fill turkey: You can use candy, nuts or dried fruit Directions: Cut out 3-6 feathers from … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving Recipes: International Sides

Thanksgiving is one of those occasions where you don’t look like a cheapskate by asking others to contribute to the meal. This is especially true if you are hosting a ton of people from different backgrounds. My best friend of Japanese-Filipino descent married an Irish guy whose brother married a woman from Jamaica and whose sister married a half-German, half-Mexican man. Their Thanksgiving feasts are cornucopias of colorful and flavorful dishes representing various cultures. If your family is not as diverse you might consider making the following recipes. Both are easy to prepare and will go a long way to … Continue reading →

Everyone Helps With Thanksgiving Dinner

Yesterday my oldest son and I did our shopping for Thanksgiving. Some years the whole family goes and picks out things, but we didn’t have the time yesterday. The store was so crowded that I was glad everyone had not come with us. Before shopping, we did have a mini family meeting though about the menu. We don’t change it much from year to year, but we have all agreed that we need to spice it up a little. Our traditional Thanksgiving dinner is old southern family recipes. The dishes are delicious, heavy on the butter and pecans, but also … Continue reading →

Week in Review – Family Fun

Is everyone ready for Thanksgiving? Join us over at the family fun section for all sorts of ideas for the season! This week, Jeff covered deluxe version of Olive the Other Reindeer (complete with pop-ups and scratch and sniff pages! Lauri shared the many ways her family has fun with the “I Spy” books. If you are traveling this season, they make great travel toys! In Playing Shop, Jeff explains a fun game young children will love. Keeping the kids busy is easy with directions for Three Easy Cornucopias. And finally, Lauri shared a post on separate parent and child … Continue reading →

Create a Cozy Rustic Holiday Table

A sturdy log crackling in the fireplace as you gather around a cozy table set somewhere in a log cabin in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. Isn’t that a nice thought? Well you can create a rustic holiday table even if you have never set foot outside of Florida or if your Thanksgiving or Christmas table will be set in a small apartment in New York City. It is all a matter of decorating, accessorizing and setting the mood. Here are some ideas to help you create that rustic and cozy feeling of having a holiday in the mountains. … Continue reading →

Quick Harvest Decorating

Do you need some last minute tips for fabulous harvest decorating around your home? Here are some quick ideas that require very little effort or planning. Sometimes life can be hectic, especially around the holidays. I remember one year when I suddenly found out that I was hosting Thanksgiving for our extended family. I found this out less then two weeks before the big day. Ouch. If this is happening to you this year, you have my sympathy. You also can have these quick ideas to get your home in a festive mood. For a quick harvest centerpiece, gather up … Continue reading →