thanksgiving is not my holiday… i am not a foodie…i’ve never made a turkey…. i don’t looove turkey… it’s always been a weird not-so-awesome day to me.
BUT i try.
i try to get into the thanksgiving spirit every year.
so here is me giving it the old college try.
maybe it will help you come up with a great last minute ideas too?
this stuffing looks DELICIOUS!!
i doubt i would ever take the time to make these cookies but they are super CUTE!!
i would LOVE this on a table! you are never too old to color. these would be awesome!
and this is a pdf download so you COULD get it today and print it at home if you wanted. 🙂
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i like these ideas for conversation starters at thanksgiving. (from here)
- Express thanks to someone in the room for something they did for you.
- “I’m thankful for…” Finish the sentence.
- If you could have the attention of the whole world for 30 seconds, what would you say?
- One thing I’m thankful for about our country.
- “I got in so much trouble…” Tell the story! This question is always a hit with the kids.
- What is the key to success in life? Why do you say that?
- Tell about a lesson you learned the hard way and how you are thankful for what it taught you.
- What are some ways life is different now than in the old days?
- Tell a story of a decision your ancestors made that changed the direction of their lives-and yours.
- Tell about a lesson you learned by watching someone else.
- “A person I would like to honor publicly is…”
- “Time and money aside, I would rather be…”
- Tell about an experience that changed you for the better.
- Tell a story about something that started out bad but had a happy ending.
- “My first hero was _________.”
- Tell about a time when you showed courage.
- Describe a teacher who had a significant influence on your life.
- Tell about an invention that made your life easier.
- “The most admired public figure when I was growing up was ____.” Tell a story.
- Tell about a memorable event in your life.
- “A famous person I’ve met is _____.” Tell about the experience.
annie is feeling better today so we are pulling out the art supplies and making these turkey drawings.
you could arrange your veggies like a turkey….
or your cheesbeall.
butterscotch pie sounds as good as pumpkin pie to me.
this sweet potato casserole looks amazing and it’s even Paleo.
we don’t have to overthink decorations.
leaves in glass containers = done
this pie looks yummy to me… not quite a pecan pie… not quite an apple pie.
these chalk place mats are simple and make a statement. 🙂
i love how they took this tea towel and framed it!
i saw it and thought “$22 for a tea towel? my kids would RUIN THAT in 10 seconds!”
but framing it and turning into a statement piece on your wall… game changer! I lOVE it.
so… i feel a little more ready for the thanksgiving weekend.
don’t you?
please tell me…
are you hosting?
do you make the turkey?
what is your favorite part of thanksgiving?
Kristin - I’m late to the party…we hosted, made the turkey, favorite part is family (and food)! I LOVE your conversation starters. I mentor a class called Education for MInistry, and we start every class with worship & then an on-board/check in question. Many of these are perfect for that…thanks so much!
Kimberlee Jost - Someone gave me that tea towel recently and a frame is the perfect idea. 🙂
Heather s. - So not.my.favorite. Really.
I could do without all the food, cooking for hours, overstuffed houses with overstuffed people. I’d rather just have the people I love over for brunch and maybe a Just Dance competition. 😉
KirstenP - Pumpkin pie, using the recipe on the Libby’s can and refrigerator pie crusts, and whipping the cream, is the easiest part. I do the simplest turkey – I rub softened butter on the skin and stick it in a Reynold’s Oven Bag and put it in a disposable aluminum pan. It takes less baking time too. Hate making gravy so I just add the dripping and broth to a can of cream of chicken soup. Enjoy making stuffing with sausage and sauteed-in-butter chopped apples.
Thanksgiving is a stressful holiday for me because I host and do all the cooking.I hate the last hour getting potatoes done along with all the last minute stuff.
I miss watching my mom making cranberry orange relish. The fresh cranberries and whole oranges(including the rind) are put in an old fashioned meat grinder. Love the sound of the popping sound of the cranberries.
CathyMA - Thanksgiving is my most favorite holiday. It always has been, and it’s probably because it’s right around my birthday. I’m hosting this year and you can tell because my house smells so good right now. 21 people will be here for dinner, then 9 more for dessert. This morning I ran our town’s Turkey Trot with my 10 year old son for the first time and it was so much fun, I will never forget it. It’s a stress free holiday for me where I can just be with family and friends without gifts, but lots of good food.
Kirsten J - Not my favorite holiday, either….probably mostly because my parents spend the winter in AZ and so my sister goes to her in-laws, and I always miss my mom. It’s been almost 20 years since I had Thanksgiving with my family. Wahhhhh. So I usually make my daddy a turkey dinner as soon as they come back up for Christmas. We’re going to my sister-in-law’s tomorrow. And….she’s not the greatest cook. This year, besides the turkey/mashed potatoes/stuffing (which is usually pretty edible) we’re having Yugoslavian sauerkraut and some sweet potato casserole – it should be an adventure! *ahem*
Paula Duey - We are staying home this year as it is Elk hunting season. My Dad came down to have turkey day with us and to hunt with the boys. Our middle daughter and Grandson( almost 2) are here too. I am the one who now makes the turkey dinner since my Mom passed away 4 yrs ago. I got the pumpkin pies made and the cranberry sauce today, yeah! My favorite part of the dinner (or late lunch) is the leftovers. My Grandma used to serve a late lunch turkey dinner and then we would snack off and on all afternoon and then have turkey sandwiches for dinner, yumm!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Jena Selph - I love Thanksgiving! Time spent with family, delicious food, and no gifts or shopping for gifts…win win! Yes, I’m hosting but it’s a very small group. That’s ok, our small group will be together. 🙂 Cooking a turkey is seriously so easy! Try it, you will be surprised what little effort it takes. I’m off to paint turkeys with my girls, using your inspiration. Many thanks and happy Thanksgiving to you!
Lisa Biedebach - Why I like thanksgiving- it is the only major holiday that doesn’t involve gifts. It is all about be grateful to God for his blessings. Love that. I dislike how it is overlooked and crowded out by Halloween and Christmas. I will not decorAte for Christmas until thanksgiving is over. Plus I am a mayflower descendent so I feel it is more my holiday.
stephany - I have cooked a turkey and all the fixin’s every year that we have been married (that’s 14 years)!
I have hosted my parents at our house the past two years.
Since we moved to Oregon 9 years ago, we have spent Thanksgiving in Idaho, Colorado, and at friends houses here in Oregon.
Tomorrow it will just be our family of four…and one of Ryan’s cousins who just moved to Washington. We’ll probably invite our neighbors over for dessert and drinks, too.
I would LOVE to host a big gathering at our house every year. I LOVE cooking the meal and having our house filled with friends and family.
Nothing better than food, friends, football {and, maybe some wine} all day long!
The next day we usually go cut down our Christmas tree and spend the rest of the weekend watching more football and getting the house decked for Christmas.
Thanksgiving is my most favorite holiday of all.
Julie - I love Thanksgiving! I have hosted before, but my parents have moved back to our home town and live in a large house (my grandparents’ old house) and they have room to host it again. Plus they are more centrally located for the siblings than I am. This year my mom is doing the turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy and I am doing the rest. So far I have done six pies, (one more to go), sweet potatoes, broccoli salad and the rolls are in the fridge. I still will make honey butter and one more pie today and then tomorrow will shape and bake the rolls and make crock pot corn.
Jenn - I love Thanksgiving! I love to cook and bake. Its the stress free holiday for me. I’ve baked a turkey once because of the amount of people we were hosting (we had 3 turkeys total). Most of the time, I’m just asked to bring sides. I’m sure in the not so distant future I will be asked to host again and baked the turkey…glad to do it! A new tradition that my little family has started is running in the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. This is my favorite part of the day. Its cold and early, but 1500 people are walking and running on Thanksgiving morning….its fun! Happy Thanksgiving Meg!
Christi {Jealous Hands} - Meg! Thank you so much for sharing these ideas – I had seen NONE of them, but I am going to be using some of them for tomorrow.
I AM hosting, yes – at least 11 people. We have an open door Thanksgiving & never know for sure who will be here (other than those 11).
I DO make the turkey – in fact, two 24 pounders (roasting only, no brine).
And my favorite part of Thanksgiving is opening our doors to whoever will come. Love it.
Happy Thanksgiving! xo