Do you have all that you need to make your Thanksgiving special?

Thanksgiving is a time that demands time with those you love. Why not take the time to make it extra special for them?

I look for any reason to make an event special for my family. As they grow up and have families of their own it is difficult to get them all together. So when something like Thanksgiving comes along I like to put a little more effort into those moments.

Practicing gratitude is a very powerful tool to shift your attitude on the things you don't have to the things you do have and this alone will make you feel better.

I like to focus on three main areas when it comes to making my families Thanksgiving a little bit more special.

The food

For an event like Thanksgiving keep the food mostly traditional. Your family is coming home and wants it to feel like home. The is the ultimate comfort food holiday. I have my go to recipes for our turkey, yams, potatoes and green beans that I have used every year since we started our family. These are the recipes that my people want. I did try to shake it up one year thinking that they were all probably sick of the same old thing and it was not well received Lol. That is the year that I learned what this holiday was to my kids. So I stick with our traditional items, then each year I will try one new recipe, usually a side. There have been a few hits that have found a place in our traditional meal. So don't feel like you can't try new things.

The decor

This is my favorite [art of the holidays, the decorating! I love making our home beautiful and inviting and magical for when the families all walk in. It sets the mood and tone for the day. Some years I go all out and some are just simple. Both ways are perfect. One thing to keep in mind, do NOT add stress to yourself over the decor. If it is a crazy year, keep it simple. The end results are the same either way. You have still spent a beautiful day with your family and that is the goal.

Inspired By Charm has some gorgeous examples of how to keep your decor simple. His rosemary wreath is so sweet and simple. Perfect for the day.

Joyfully Growing Blog has 35 centerpieces that you can easily do yourself. This one is gorgeous and I may have to recreate it for my table this year ♥︎

The Activities

Activities are a must if you have children coming to your dinner. They need something fun to do while the adults relax and visit. Luckily the internet is full of some adorable and simple ideas to keep all your little turkeys busy.

I love this tradition of every year the kids get to write their name on the white tablecloth. After everyone is gone and dinner is cleaned up You embroider over each name so it lasts indefinitely. The kids love searching for their names and I love the memories of who was with us each year.

Another fun activity to keep kids busy is making these adorable apple turkeys. Beware that the kids will probably eat more than what makes it on their turkey so make sure all parents are ok with this activity, especially if it is done before dinner :)

Don't forget to have activities for the adults as well. A family favorite in many households is a good, old fashion family football game in the backyard or near by park. I love to send all the men and children out to play football while the girls spend some quality visiting and getting dinner ready.

Don't forget to get involved in all the activities yourself. Your family wants to spend time with you as well. So don't get stuck in the kitchen, get out there and be a part of the fun. Don't hesitate to ask for help. You are not required to do it all yourself. Many hands make light work and spending time together is the main purpose of this day. With a little bit of planning ahead you can have a wonderful day spent with those you love. Now go tell your family that you love them. ♥︎♥︎♥︎