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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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November 20, 2015

Thanksgiving Table Setting Ideas

Well, hello from redheadcandecorate.com!

As I sit hear writing to you, I am roasting a chicken in our oven early in the day so it’s ready for dinner tonight after I run some errands. Let me tell you…the aroma is totally putting me in the mood for Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving-Table-Ideas-those-plates-are-from-the-dollar-store1

As a little girl I remember Thanksgiving well. My Dad did most of the cooking, and my Mom did most of the running around cleaning and preparing the odds and ends that go along with Thanksgiving dinner. I remember setting the table and writing everyone’s name on their napkin with marker. I may or may not have eaten an entire can of black olives while doing my decorating back then, but we will keep that part a secret.

Today, I thought it would be fun to share a few of my more recent Thanksgiving tables with you. However, I also want you to know, that having all this decor on the table makes it virtually impossible to have the food on there too! With that being said, most of these photos were not taken on Thanksgiving. These are staged photos that I design in hopes that you find 1-2 affordable, easy ideas that may work into your busy Thanksgiving schedule. The very very last table was actually taken on Thanksgiving and represents more of what goes on at my house on Thanksgiving.

Thankful Table

  • Use a scarf as a runner.
  • Write Thankful on a mini-chalkboard with chalk pens (found at Michael’s).
  • Plates & “silver” napkin holders are from the dollar store.
  • Use items you have like apples, real leaves, real acorns/pinecones to decorate the center.
  • Pilgrim salt & pepper shakers are from Publix.

Thankful!

Green Bean Table

  • Gather fresh green beans around a candle with a rubber band and tie a ribbon to cover up the rubber band. Rest it all on a bed of fresh cranberries. Silver platter is from the thrift store.
  • Use plain white drawing paper as a runner for a clean look.
  • Tie ribbon around the the plates and napkins.
  • Pumpkins & acorn squash are gorgeous together this time of year.
  • Doodled Memory Bench I made by painting a bench with white paint and using my own handwriting to doodle family memories onto it. You can view more on that here: Doodle Memory Bench

Beautiful Thanksgiving Table Decorated with Corelle Dishes & Corningware

Green-Bean-Candle-Centerpeice-by-redheadcandecorate.com_-768x1024

Vintage White Dining Set Thanksgiving Makeover

  • My Dad painted this free dining set a neighbor was going to throw out. I took full advantage after he painted it and decorated it outside for fun.
  • Blue plates are from thrift store.
  • Leaves are real Oak leaves from our yard.
  • Brown paper runner roll can be found at Home Depot in the paint section.

Affordable Thanksgiving Table by Redheadcandecorate.com

thanksgiving 1

Colorful Thanksgiving Table

  • I used spare fabric I happen to have and draped it like a diamond over the table because it was too small to fit.
  • Use fresh cranberries (they are on sale now!) in your centerpiece bowl.
  • Red chargers under the dollar store plates were .99 at Hobby Lobby.
  • Roll your napkins up and tie twine around them.

Thanksgiving Table 2012

thanksgiving 12

Non Staged Family Fun Thanksgiving Table

  • Have family members gather around the table before you eat and ask them to write down what they are thankful for.
  • Brown paper roll can be found at Home Depot in the paint section (per inexpensive too!)
  • Tape underneath to secure and write everyone’s name on it to help everyone feel special.
  • Write a question to get it started.
  • Provide plenty of utensils.

thanksgiving Table 2013

thanksgiving w turkey

Thanks so much for meeting me here again today At the Picket Fence!

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3 Comments Filed Under: Celebrations, Good Ideas, Holidays, Thanksgiving Tagged With: holidays, tablescape, Thanksgiving

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susie @ The Chelsea Project Blog says

    November 20, 2015 at 4:57 AM

    Lovely settings. I don’t think I can pick a favorite so I will say they are all my favorite. But, I can already see the candle wrapped in green beans sitting on my table. Thanks for sharing. Enjoyed these so much.

    Reply
    • Julie Fiato says

      November 20, 2015 at 7:17 AM

      Let me know how it goes, Susie! Thank you for your kind words! Happy Thanksgiving.

      Reply
  2. Loves the Find says

    November 24, 2015 at 5:36 AM

    Beautiful table settings. I love the brown paper idea with everyone helping out to make a lovely table. https://www.lovesthefind.com/

    Reply

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Front door wreath….✔️ The very last Christmas dec Front door wreath….✔️

The very last Christmas decorating to be completed and one of the most important since there’s nothing I love more than welcoming people into our home this season.

I bought the wreath for $15 from a wonderful local vendor, reused my favorite bells and added a velvet bow in the color I’m carrying throughout the house this year.

Do you buy a fresh wreath each year or do you use a faux wreath on your front door? 

#frontdoorwreath #christmaswreath #christmasporch
The first day of December and the first Sunday of The first day of December and the first Sunday of advent. As we enter into a month that can be filled with stress, anxiety, worry and even sadness, let us turn our hearts towards the ONE who came as the ultimate, undeserved gift. Because it’s all about Him. 

“Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.” (Corrie Ten Boom)
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear friends! 🍂
Its that time of year again. I share this recipe e Its that time of year again. I share this recipe every November because it’s JUST.THAT.GOOD! 

And I have a confession ...I’d rather have cranberry sauce smothering the turkey on my plate than gravy any day!! And this, this right here? Well it’s the best (and easiest!) cranberry sauce ever!! I eat on crackers and sandwiches and sometimes just by the spoonful. It’s so yummy! And I’m just so very thankful for all of you that I’m going to leave the recipe right here instead of making you go to the blog to get it. I promise you won’t regret having this on your Thanksgiving menu but be warned...you may find yourself up in the middle of the night sneaking some helpings of this deliciousness. Or maybe that’s just me!

Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh or frozen cranberries
2 oranges
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup white wine.

Instructions:
Wash and pick over berries, removing any that are soft. Peel and dice oranges removing any seeds. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and continue cooking until cranberries pop open and mixture is thickening.
For best flavor, prepare and let stand for several days before using.

Gobble, gobble!! 🦃
It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be ma It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be made on repeat for the next month and I’ve figured out the secret to getting the BEST flavor.

Want to know what it is? It’s all about being EXTRA! 

Take the base recipe up a notch by using a full stick of butter, extra tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and an extra 1/2 tablespoon of Lawry’s seasoning salt.

I guarantee you’ll never go back!

You’re welcome. 😉🎄

#chexmix #chexmixupgrade
Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the w Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the week and I’m feeling especially grateful for the twinkling lights around my home which give me so much joy.

The great debate on social media over whether or not Christmas decorations should appear before Thanksgiving is one I just let roll on past me. Because I am so unbelievably thankful for this life, my family, my friends, this country, this home and most of all my Savior. 

Having my home all ready to welcome the next sacred season doesn’t take away one iota from my ability to express gratitude on the official day set aside each year where we do that collectively.

And when the last slice of turkey has been eaten and all of the leftovers put away, I’ll be over here ready to be fully present in the month of December and soak up every bit of it! 🦃🎄
IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures “ IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures

“My children have grown up seeing antique books on a coffee table, vintage toys in their bedrooms and even pieces of furniture that were all passed down from one generation to the next. But as my nest gets closer and closer to being empty, I’m keenly aware of the fact that many of these cherished items might not be as welcome in the homes of future generations.”

*Read the rest over at @cleartruthmedia*
All of my CTM articles are saved in my highlights
Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked it better when I just talked about decorating and didn’t mention anything else. This person preferred me to keep any opinions or convictions to myself and just focus only on content about home decor, crafts and recipes. Aside from the fact that I’m always astonished that people feel so free to say things like that, I do agree that it would be a lot easier and more palatable if I didn’t talk about things like a Biblical Worldview, apologetics and the nature of reality itself. For one thing, Instagram wouldn’t throttle my account with its algorithms that are skewed to diminish voices like mine. It would be much easier to be so tethered to this app that I change everything I post to fit into its preferred framework. I would be asked to be part of influencer groups and activities like I was years ago. But I’m not that person anymore. Yes, the core of this community will always be an emphasis on homemaking which will include decorating and recipes but I can’t separate that from the core of who I am as a follower of Jesus Christ.

It would be so much easier for me to just show you the latest Amazon products I’ve bought and tell you to “comment” to get the links. But I’m not called to take the easy path. Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”

I truly believe that so many have been lulled into thinking that the narrow gate wasn’t really all that narrow. But, it’s never been more obvious that it really is. And every day I seek to stay on that very narrow way.  More than ever before, I believe that our world needs to know that there is objective truth and a solid foundation to stand upon as we navigate our lives. My role as a homemaker is predicated on that foundation and everything else flows out of it. Talking about these things isn’t going to get me lots of views here. 

But I live for an audience of ONE.
The first time we hosted my in-laws for a meal was The first time we hosted my in-laws for a meal was in 1998. I was a new bride and eager to impress them. It did not go well. Let’s just say there was a bit of a garbage disposal mishap. 

It’s been over 25 years since then and I’ve learned so much about what really matters when it comes to hosting and caring for my family well during the holiday season. 

The peace we long for in our home begins with our hearts. If you want your home to feel more peaceful during the upcoming holiday season, I have five things to consider that will make that not only possible but predictable.

✨ Read the full article over at @club31women ✨

#club31women #wearethehomemakers
Here, in my little corner of social media, you won Here, in my little corner of social media, you won’t find a lot of unboxing of brand new items for Christmas. 

What I’m unboxing are the decorations in the attic that  I’ve had for years and figuring out how to give them a fresh look. I added new lights to an old pre-lit tree that no longer worked because I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. I’m putting out a different set of mugs at the hot cocoa station and the advent candles are arranged with greenery from outside.

As our feeds are filled with so.much.stuff, I want to offer you a reprieve. A place where you will find less emphasis on what’s happening in our homes and more on what’s happening in our hearts.

More than ever before, I can see just how much people are needing the hope found in Christ and that will always be the focus here. 

So, while you may not see me unpacking a massive, new tree or telling you to “comment for the link”, what you will see is encouragement to turn our hearts to what matters the most and let that reflect in every corner of our homes this season and all year long. 🌲

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #homemakerschristmas #club31women
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