Not all of us have the time or materials on hand to make elaborate centerpieces or place settings around the holidays. Never fear: I’m sharing with you some of my favorite ideas for decorating and entertaining this Thanksgiving. Whether you are hosting the big event or just having a few friends over during the long holiday weekend, these ideas are really easy and add that extra touch that your get-togethers always have!
I have a few season-specific decorative pieces that I reuse every year, such as this gorgeous ceramic pumpkin. I filled mine with a farm-fresh palette of flowers, grasses, peppers, and succulents.
Staying with the farm-fresh theme, a great way to create a stunning tablescape is to set vintage berry baskets filled with similar floral on each plate. These arrangements look almost good enough to eat! Add a bit of personalization simply by slipping a place card in among the florals and greenery.
I find these little berry baskets to be the perfect size to use as multiples as I did on the dining table or to add just the right festive touch on the dessert or buffet table.
Just line the basket with a small dish, bowl, or can. Cut a piece of floral foam to size and thoroughly soak the foam before placing it in the dish. The foam will make it easy to create your piece, as it holds each insertion in place and provides hydration to keep your flowers fresh.
Guests will be so enamored of these handmade Thanksgiving decorating ideas that you can give them as gifts once the meal is over. It will add to their list of what to be thankful for.
Staying Connected features the many ways you can keep in touch with loved ones near and far. From stories highlighting generosity to tips on keeping in contact, we’ll bring you expert advice, inspiration, and ideas to help you maintain relationships with the people who matter most.
You may have heard of mindfulness—it’s become more popular in pop culture as well as in psychotherapy practices across the country. In fact, there’s growing evidence that it can help alleviate both anxiety and depression. The following tips will help you tackle your stress in these uncertain times while meaningfully connecting with loved ones.
How to practice mindfulness
Mindfulness practices are good for both managing and maintaining your mental health. These practices, with origins in eastern religion and philosophy, have been studied by researchers and are shown to help with stress, anxiety, chronic pain, and depression. Mindfulness is anything that allows you to be fully aware of the facets of the body and mind.
If you’re like most of us and aren’t used to slowing down to pay close and careful attention to the world, it can be challenging to incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine. But with the changing landscape, which is keeping us closer to home, now is the perfect time to take a break from the hectic routine and become aware of all that surrounds you.
The key to embracing mindfulness and embodying its principles is easier than you might imagine. However, the easiest way is simply to turn yourself into a keen observer of the world. The five senses— sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch—can help you connect with what’s around you and slow down so that you can experience and live in the moment.
It’s important to slow down and notice your environment to fully appreciate the world.
Many of us are usually so focused on our immediate obligations—work, school, kids—that we know the world around us only as a backdrop. Often, it doesn’t even register. In these changing times, it’s important to slow down and notice your environment to fully appreciate the world. It can even help to fully appreciate your surroundings by describing to yourself what your senses are experiencing. When you draw attention to your role as an observer, the obligations and stresses become less pressing and seem to fade into the background.
If you’re looking for a place to start with mindfulness, here are some practices you can implement into your daily life.
Morning routine
During your morning routine, pick a task you can really focus on, like drinking your coffee, brushing your teeth, or blow drying your hair, and do your best to use all five senses to pay attention to this task. Focus on what the task sounds, looks, feels, smells, or tastes like. Starting the day with a small task to focus on can help set your focus for the rest of the day.
Classic meditation
Finding a quiet space to sit and close your eyes—often referred to as classic meditation—can be practiced by focusing on your breath, counting to three between each inhale and exhale.
Distracted meditation
If sitting quietly with your eyes closed isn’t your cup of tea, a more “distracted” method of mindfulness might work best. Distracted mindfulness often includes a hobby or activity you enjoy. It could be anything that helps you block out the rest of the world, including things like reading, dancing, or taking a walk.
It’s important to remember that mindfulness can look different for everyone. For some, it could be breathing exercises, classic meditation or practices like yoga, but for others it might be painting, running outside, or playing video games.
If you’re interested in further exploring mindfulness practices, or other methods to better your mental health, many professional therapists are trained to help you implement these practices that will boost your mood and get you started on your journey toward better mental health.
Staying Connected features the many ways you can keep in touch with loved ones near and far. From stories highlighting generosity to tips on keeping in contact, we’ll bring you expert advice, inspiration, and ideas to help you maintain relationships with the people who matter most.
In these times of uncertainty, it’s normal to feel uneasy and anxious. That’s why it’s important to practice positive thinking. Focusing on the good is one of the most effective ways to practice gratitude, so take some time to think about all the things you’re grateful for.
The proof of being positive
There’s been enough research on gratitude to convince people that practicing it is worth the time and investment. Focusing on the positive improves emotional, physical, and mental health. In fact, having a positive mindset lessens the frequency and intensity of depression and directly increase the happiness you experience in life.
By appreciating what you already have, you’ll feel more positive about your life.
Gratitude makes you happier
According to one study, journaling for just five minutes a day can increase your long-term happiness. By appreciating what you already have, you’ll feel more positive about your life. So as you’re spending more time indoors, take a break from the TV and social media and take time out to practice this important self-care activity.
Showing appreciation draws others to you
An environment where you have more time to spend with your family, and to FaceTime or call friends, makes the perfect opportunity to strengthen your bonding skills. Gratitude generates social capital, or a stronger and wider social network of meaningful relationships. It can make you happier, more trusting, more social, and more appreciative. All of this can help you make more friends and deepen your existing relationships.
Being thankful makes you healthier
Studies prove that those who practice counting their blessings regularly experience improved sleep and reduced blood pressure. They are also more likely to exercise. Long walks and bike rides in the fresh air or indoor dance parties can work wonders!
Gratitude makes you mentally and emotionally stronger
Being thankful improves self-esteem, enhances positive emotions, and increases your overall well-being. When you’re grateful for what you have, you’re less likely to look outside for approval or compare yourself to others.
How to be grateful every day
Counting your blessings is easy and it doesn’t cost a thing. Here are some ways you can get started.
Set aside time each week to write at least five things you’re grateful for
Sit down to write a thank you letter, even if it’s to yourself. You don’t have to send it, but you can look back on it and reflect on your feelings of gratitude.
Call someone to tell them how grateful you are to have them in your life. Short on time? Send a text. Even a simple gesture can mean so much.
Start replacing all the negative words in your life with positive ones. You’ll be surprised at how much of a difference it can make.
When you acknowledge your appreciation for others as well as yourself, you’ll start to see what a true gift gratitude can be!
Are your kids looking for something to do on Thanksgiving while they wait patiently (or, more than likely, impatiently) for the food to be put out? This Thanksgiving craft will keep the little ones busy while you cook up a delicious feast for the family and give you an adorable centerpiece that your guests will rave about as they gobble down their food!
Cut out the shapes shown above using brown, orange, red, and yellow construction paper. (You can also use cardstock or foam for sturdier turkeys.)
Step 2
Glue the shapes together to create the head and body of the turkey, and then attach the googly eyes to complete the face. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to create one turkey for each sunflower in your bouquet.
Step 3
Trim the bottom petals of each sunflower, leaving only a rainbow-like arch of petals at the top of the sunflowers. That way, the flower petals look like turkey feathers.
Step 4
Glue one construction paper turkey to the center of each sunflower to create a festive Thanksgiving bouquet.
Although this Thanksgiving craft is intended for kids, guests of all ages will admire these cute sunflower turkeys. They help to create a festive Thanksgiving bouquet that will fit in well with the rest of your turkey day tablescape.
Thanksgiving is a time of food, fun, and of course ― family! Get the whole gang excited for the season by spending time crafting some DIY Thanksgiving crafts together.
The best part? Many of these can be used for your Thanksgiving decorating and parties, roll up those sleeves and get ready for some fun and festive crafting!
Fall flower- & foliage-inspired DIY Thanksgiving crafts
Fall leaves become a wow-worthy table runner with a few simple steps! This DIY autumn leaf table runner craft is a perfect touch to a Thanksgiving spread, or just for adding a sprinkling of the season to your home décor.
Turn those fall pumpkins into stunning statement pieces with some fresh flowers and a glue gun. This craft is so easy to do and can be altered to fit your party scheme or home décor. Get the how-to for these flower pumpkins!
Add some dazzle to your décor with DIY sunflower votives! Perfect for sprinkling throughout your home for a lovely fall touch or for creating an intimate feel at your Thanksgiving celebration.
Create a festive and fresh vase to show off your fall flowers with this DIY pumpkin vase from Celebrations.com! Be sure to hold on to your seeds while gutting for the perfect fall snack. Let’s hope this pumpkin doesn’t turn into a carriage at midnight!
Add some dazzle to your decor with this DIY glitter leaf garland craft! This idea is chic and on-trend, sure to put you in the running for host or hostess of the year.
DIY Thanksgiving crafts for kids
With a bit of creativity and craftiness, children can turn a regular DIY potted plant into a fun and festive gobbler! Get the how-to for this Thanksgiving turkey craft and watch as a fall plant blooms into something truly unique.
Turn any flower arrangement into a wow-worthy Thanksgiving decoration with this DIY fall leaf vase idea! This craft idea is so simple to recreate, making it a great way to get the kids involved with Thanksgiving decorating.
Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday, but there are many other holidays celebrated in other countries where people give thanks and celebrate what they are thankful for — whether that’s good health, having food and shelter, or enjoying the company of friends and family.
Here are seven celebrations from around the world that embrace the spirit of Thanksgiving.
1. Thanksgiving (Canada)
Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday in October. On this day, Canadians give thanks for the harvest and express their blessings for the past year. Families come together and feast on a turkey dinner, just like we do in the United States. Also as in the U.S., Thanksgiving gifts for hostesses include desserts, gift baskets, and flowers.
2. Mid-Autumn Festival (China)
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. The Chinese believe the moon is at its brightest and roundest on this day. During this festival, family and friends gather to express their feelings about one another and offer sacrifice to the moon. The traditional dessert for the Moon Festival is moon cake, a delicacy that consists of a doughy crust surrounding a filling of sweet lotus paste and salted duck eggs.
3. Chuseok (Korea)
Chuseok, also known as Hangawi, is a day of giving thanks in Korea celebrated in late September and early October. On this holiday, families come together to feast, share stories, and pay respects to their ancestors. The celebration also consists of dancing and dressing in traditional Korean costumes.
4. Dia de Ação de Graças (Brazil)
Brazil has its own Thanksgiving, known as Dia de Ação de Graças (the day of thanks), which falls on the fourth Thursday of November. On this day, Brazilians express gratitude and appreciation for all God’s blessings, as well as for the plentiful harvest throughout the year. Like in the U.S., Brazilians enjoy a big turkey dinner on this day. Unlike in the U.S., Brazil also celebrates its version of Thanksgiving with colorful and vibrant carnivals throughout the country (unless you count our parades, which aren’t quite the same thing).
5. Erntedankfest (Germany)
The German harvest festival of Erntedankfest is celebrated in September or October. The day is filled with lots of music, dancing, parades, and sometimes even fireworks. Instead of a turkey, Germans feast on chicken and plenty of fruits and vegetables from the harvest.
6. Vaisakhi (India)
In India, farmers in the states of Punjab and Haryana celebrate a harvest festival called Vaisakhi (also known as Baisakhi). Usually falling in the middle of April, Vaisakhi is a time for people to thank God for their harvest and prosperity, and pray for another year of success. They celebrate by praying at the gurdwara (temple), having family gatherings, and having the big “melas” (carnivals).
7. Sukkot (Israel)
Sukkot is one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar. It is a holiday when farmers give thanks to God for the harvest. Sukkot is celebrated five days after Yom Kippur, on the 15th of Tishrei, and lasts for seven days. During this festival, devout observers build and live in a “sukkah” — a hut-like structure topped with branches and leaves — to give thanks.
