Thanksgiving Simplicity

Ever wish you could have the “movie” version of a Thanksgiving? A beautiful table, perfectly prepared food, time to sit and laugh with/enjoy your family? Well of course! It’s the American way, right? So we knock ourselves out to plan a delicious decadent menu, stay up until way too late decorating the table with our “holiday only” tableware, and when the day arrives, the STRESS kicks in. Up early to put the turkey in the oven. And then, ugh. Time to prepare 1,000 side dishes. You start washing, peeling, chopping, can-opening… oh, and by the way you forgot to get sour cream. Don’t look now but your guests will arrive in 15 minutes and you’re still wearing sweats and your hair is all “steamy” from opening the oven so many times. Yes, this holiday is SO RELAXING and FUN! As people arrive don’t you dare take time to hug or even wave…that dinner needs to magically arrive on the table ALL AT THE SAME TIME and piping hot, please.

Yikes! I’m stressed out just WRITING about it! This year, we decided on a different approach. Simplicity.

One night it just came to me. How could I prepare a Thanksgiving-ish meal but still enjoy my family and not STRESS about everything? Our take on Thanksgiving this year is what I’m calling “Thanksgiving Deli.” We roasted the turkey today (Wednesday), and my hubby came home on his lunch break to carve it, and put it in the fridge. Our menu will include fresh “deli” turkey sandwiches on the most delicious baguettes, my sister’s specialty green salad (IT ROCKS!!!), my mother-in-law’s fantastic pasta salad, potato chips (hey, it’s a deli theme!), and for dessert…my mom’s award winning apple pie. Unconventional? A little. Low-key and casual? A lot. A perfect way to enjoy the day, count our blessings, and be thankful for our family.

When it came to the decor, a simple “deli” theme was perfect here too…I covered the table with some cute “arrow” fabric I found on sale at Joann’s, complete with a butcher paper runner. So deli. 🙂 The finishing touch was some dollar store hurricane candle holders and fresh herbs from Trader Joe’s ($1.99 each!) wrapped in a little burlap from my craft closet. I found the chalkboard place cards in the dollar section at Target (they were actually 6 for $3). So simple, so fresh, and so easy! (not to mention budget-friendly!) This might be my favorite tablescape ever. We’re craving some simplicity around here.

For big family gatherings, we flip our table around, add the leaves, and then extra tables are added as needed. Every random chair in the house/garage is called into action. I just can’t wait to have my family here this year…and actually get to ENJOY them. To TALK to them. To LAUGH with them. Not just barely see them over the boiling pot of potatoes.

The centerpiece on the kitchen island is a lot more simple too…low profile. To allow for plenty of socializing with the family in the kitchen. (My poor family usually has to peek around whatever crazy display I have going at the time! ha ha)

I put my daughter to work too…She does beautiful lettering, so she made little tags for the herbs. So cute! (and free!)

Whatever your Thanksgiving brings, I hope you get a moment to look around the room. Take it all in. Enjoy the living daylights out of your family. Because I don’t think the pilgrims were concerned about whether the sweet potatoes were heated all the way through or if the green bean casserole was a little too soupy. They were just THANKFUL.

Blessings to you this Thanksgiving, friends!