The Perfect Fall Cocktail for Everyone

At some point during the Fall, I get tired of the pumpkin things and move on to the apple things. I go out and buy the best apple cider available, the Trader Joe’s spiced apple cider, and then I make everything I can with it. The cocktail I’m sharing today is a result of some experimentation with this apple cider and my lack of other specialty ingredients… and it turned out to be AMAZING!

Continue reading “The Perfect Fall Cocktail for Everyone”

My DIY Thanksgiving Table

Each year for Thanksgiving, I alternate back and forth between going home to visit my family in Chicago and staying in Houston and hosting a Friendsgiving. This year, Kyle’s family is coming to town and we are hosting at his house! We spent the entire weekend menu planning, grocery shopping, and cleaning in anticipation, so I was happy I had figured out my plans for decorating a few weeks before!

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Fri-DIY: A Golden Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I have been working on getting a menu prepared, drinks taste tested, and decor… well, I’m working on it. This year I am staying back in Houston and celebrating with a group of good, similarly money-minded friends (flights are crazy expensive!). Knowing this group, there will be plenty of football watching, cheery drinking, and experimentation on cooking. We’re ordering a turducken, and it’s quite intimidating… any tips anyone?

Since most focus goes into the food and there are plenty of people helping out with that, I’m trying to get creative with the decor this year! After much searching and thought, I’ve agreed that gold is best. It’s been trendy for a couple of years now in home decor, and there are so many inexpensive items that you can purchase or make to really gild your table to glittery perfection. Chargers in shimmery gold can be purchased at Michael’s for about $1.50 a piece. Old wine bottles can be covered in gold paint or glitter to hold fresh flowers. The frugal options are endless! Check out my list of DIY’s and inspirational photos to get excited about your table this year. Bonus: this theme works well for Christmas and New Years too!

These DIY gold and glitter bottles from Yahoo Makers are too easy and so glamorous. I love the greenery coming out of the tops too.

Gold Bottles DIY

Martha always has good holiday ideas. These gold dipped pine cones could easily be used for place cards or just placed sporadically along a table runner for a rustic chic look.

Gold Dipped pinecones

It’s hard not to love these gold spray painted Christmas lights from Landee See Landee Do – I would leave these up all year! Strung along the center of the table or in some tall glass vases would make for a glimmering centerpiece.

Spray-Paint-Christmas-Lights

I’m also really into these gold branches from Pop Sugar. Throw them in a clear vase, hang some ornaments on them, and you are ready to go!

Gold Branches

Though I usually send invites out on Facebook for my events, I really like the idea of sending paper invitations for special occasions. These gold accented invites from Paperless Post really caught my eye!

Paperless Post Invitations

For more inspiration, check out the photos below!

Gold Table Display by A Pumpkin and A Princess

A Pumpkin and A Princess Gold-Thanksgiving-Tablescape

White and Gold Table by Sarah Sherman Samuel

Sarah Sherman Samuel Gold and White table

Christmas Gold Display by The 36th Avenue

The 36th Avenue Christmas-Table-Escape-Ideas

Rustic Holiday Table by Junebug Weddings

Rustic Table by Junebug Weddings

Do you guys have anything beautiful planned for your tables?