I love the week after Thanksgiving....

Peppermint Vase

Better Homes and Gardens

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice...

I have been wanting a white tree forever so I finally bought one after Christmas last year.  I was so excited that I put my tree up 2 weeks ago!  Yes, this was up during our Thanksgiving dinner...crazy I know, but I wanted to get a head start this year.  Of course we will still get a real tree so we are headed with the kids to do that tonight.  I would love to have hot cocoa tonight and decorate the tree with the kids, but it's 80 degrees in Florida...hardly feels like the holidays.  The ornaments are from about 20 different stores...I can't imagine how many calories are in this tree.  The huge cupcake at the top of the tree is from Serendipity...can you tell I have a sweet tooth!?!?  (Angela - this would be perfect in Justin's office!)  

I'm craving a cupcake..what else is new...

Turkey Placemats!

Here are turkey placemats I am printing for our kid's table.  I left the feathers blank so the kids can color and write in each feather what they are thankful for this year.  If you would like them, just shoot me an email at tessam@cfl.rr.com  or post a comment HERE and I will email you the pdf file and you can print for your own printer.  I am using cardstock for mine!

My Little Turkeys!

The kids and I made the oreo turkeys last night.  The absolutely LOVED it.  Next time I would try to use the chocolate bark (the kind you use to do chocolate covered pretzels)  I think it might dry faster, but these still worked too!!  Publix had candy corn and Target and Walgreens had Whoppers.  I forgot the red frosting so I used Craisins (dried cranberries) cut in half for the gobble.....perfect!  Some of them looked like they had a "lazy eye".  The kids had a blast....I needed a drink. (and a swiffer)

Sugar..Sugar..

For those of you who plan on making the Gooey Pumpkin Cake I posted last week...I made it last week using only 3 cups of powder sugar instead of the whole box and it was actually better...not so sweeeet.  Use the remaining sugar for the whipped cream!  Enjoy! -tessa

Oreo Turkeys!!

I actually smiled when I found these adorable little turkeys from Our Best Bites website. As soon as I am done blogging this post, I am headed to Target to get oreos to make these adorable "no bake" turkeys....perfect to do with the kids.  (who am i kidding...I will be doing these when they are in school next week)  The kids will gobble this up!

You could even eliminate the bottom oreo and just do the top part on a cupcake!  

None of our beds are made, there is laundry to do, dirty dishes in the sink and I am posting about oreo turkeys.... I need a staff...

Kids Thanksgiving Table

Seriously....I was just thinking what I was going to do for placecards for the kids table when I came across this adorable turkey leg from Fiskars.  I have the bags, I just need to fill with a popcorn ball.  (I wish I would've bought the ones from Halloween!)  These would be perfect with the "Thanksgiving side cupcakes" I posted last week.  I LOVE the pilgrim hat too.  I might have to design a turkey placemat that the kids can color.  If I order the triple shot latte from Starbucks tomorrow, I just might do it!  If so, I will send a copy for all of you to print.  Keep your feathers crossed.

For directions on how to make these simply adorable crafts, click HERE.  I don't have the energy for the turkeys so I will buy little chocolate turkeys instead!  

New York

Well I just got back from our 10 year Anniversary Weekend in New York City.  My feet hurt and I'm just sitting here blogging!  It was my husband's first time to NYC (he never actually said this, but I think he thought the Meat Packing District was a place where they hung salami) Of course the holiday display windows are starting to unveil.  I only saw a few so far since we went so early, but Henri Bendel had an amazing "Nutcracker" theme.  The store was filled with lots of sparkle white, their signature stripe ribbon and amazing ballerinas. Since we don't have a store here in Winter Park, there were sugarplum fairies dancing in my head!  Here are a few pics along with some great gift ideas....  Barney's "Have a Foodie" Holiday window is next!  Happy Anniversary Honey...I had a great time!  I love you...

Sweet Thanksgiving Sides (actually dessert)

I first made these a few years ago for my daughter's Thanksgiving Feast at school.  It was a HUGE hit.  I wanted to make something fun and different and since everyone had to bring a Thanksgiving side dish or dessert..I decided to bring BOTH!  The directions are super easy...just canned frosting and candy!  How easy is that??!?!?  Here is my daughter Morgan with her girlfriend Kenzie enjoying their vegetables!! (notice Kenzie ate half the carrots!)  Feel free to "one up" everyone and add white and black sanding sugar for "salt & pepper"....just sayin'...

Gooey Butter Pumpkin Cake

Gooey, butter and pumpkin...need I say more?  I started making this about 3 years ago and have not had a Thanksgiving without it since.  It is a recipe from Paula Deen (which explains the gooey and the butter).  I promise, it is the most delicious pumpkin cake I have ever had.  It actually replaces pumpkin pie in our house!!  Make it the day before Thanksgiving and keep in the fridge.  Just top with FRESH whipped cream..none of that "frozen" topping.  If it is not the best pumpkin cake you have ever had, please feel free to delete any of my future posts to your mailbox.  Do yourself a favor and print this out and stick it in your Thanksgiving notebook...you will "Thank" me!

HOW CUTE IS THIS...

I usually never get excited about decorating for Thanksgiving, but how cute is this lamp from Anthropologie?!?

Start Shopping Early for Thanksgiving!

I know you still have spiders to pack away, but if you are hosting Thanksgiving like I am this year, you
should start shopping NOW!  Here are some quick tips to get the "butterball" rolling:  (okay...that was bad)  I will post some decorating ideas, centerpiece ideas and menu options over the next couple weeks.
If you have any smart tips you would like to share, go to the blog page (or click HERE ) and post a comment!  Happy November!