Hosting Thanksgiving

This year, we got the special opportunity to host Thanksgiving Dinner for my Mom and Dad and brother. We were just thrilled! I started planning for decorations and menu about a month ago.

I'm very in to free printables from the internet. It is thanks to free printables that I was able to do a lot of my Thanksgiving decor! I'll start with pictures.

 The Table

My handmade "Give Thanks" banner!

Letters: Font from dafont, printed via Microsoft Word

Paper: Hobby Lobby

Twine: Hobby Lobby

Plates and Napkins: Hobby Lobby

Printable Napkin Rings: Paper&Cake

Printable Napkin Rings: Paper&Cake

*can also be used to wrap water bottles or candles*

Simple centerpiece.

Beaded charger/mat: Target

Candlesticks: Hobby Lobby (already had)

Mercury glass piece: our treetopper from Hobby Lobby

Pumpkin salt and pepper shakers: gift

candles are simply covered with scrapbooking paper and embellished with twine

Printable Napkin Rings: Paper&Cake, just another version 

Place card/food labels: Paper&Cake

Potato and Sweet Potato Gratin: recipe here, found on pinterest

Green Bean Casserole: recipe here, found on pinterest

Mashed Potatoes: made by my Momma, recipe: secret

*why two potato dishes? Mom pointed out that I had wanted traditional mashed potatoes with turkey gravy when I first talked about hosting, then I went and made a menu including only the gratin potatoes. She fixed my dilemma!*

Thankful Subway Art Poster: I can no longer find this! So sorry!

Frame: Hobby Lobby

Roasted Turkey Roulade: recipe here, from the Barefoot Contessa

check out the first time we made this turkey and hosted Thanksgiving 

My handsome Hubby carving the turkey!

So, dinner was a smashing success! The turkey was beautiful and delicious, and all the sides were to die for!

After dinner we had to lay back and play games for a while before setting up the dessert table. We were TOO full! 

Pecan Pie: made by my Momma, recipe: secret

Pumpkin Parfaits: recipe here, found on pinterest

Pumpkin Spice Marshmallows: Central Market

Brownie Bites: Ghirardelli 

Food flags: handmade by me from scrapbook paper and toothpicks

Cohen with his uncle Josh, watching the game :)

Remember this?

From March 5, 2011, Cohen was about 7 weeks old. LOVE this picture!

The handsome big brother and me. Here we are, 27 and 25 years old!

I didn't get any other pictures. :( I was busy running around the kitchen and taking pictures of tables and food! ;) I hope you enjoyed, and I hope all of your Thanksgiving celebrations were memorable ones! Please feel free to share!

Preview of Thanksgiving!

We're hosting Thanksgiving at our place this year, so I was looking for some cute invites and printables online. I found these. More on these later, but here's a preview!

I'm very excited for what's going down in 2 weeks! :)