This year, Stephen and I had the pleasure of hosting my families' Thanksgiving at our new house. I was so excited to have everyone come over and hang out - I knew that this was what was going to make our house feel more like home (I know, gang me, but it's true!). Thankfully, I've been loving fall for a long time now and so I had plenty of fall decorations and table linens already. However, in our Chicago Apartment, we only had a dining room table. In our new house, we have been blessed with the room for a kitchen table and a dining room for a dining room table (which we inherited from my parents). So, when I knew that Thanksgiving was going to be over here, my mom and I trucked it to Kohls and we got some good deals on linens to adorn our dining room table. I was also excited because this would be the first time we used our wedding "china". I say "china" because Stephen and I didn't actually register for china because we know that eventually, one day far, far away, my mom is going to give us her china. However, we did register for what I call our "fancy dishes" from PB (the emma dishes) to use whenever our Fiestaware was just too much for the occasion. This was an occasion that the Fiestaware needed to tone it down a bit!
We were hosting my immediate family (mom, dad, sisters and their husbands - and also Little Elliott of course) as well as my Aunt and Uncle from Bowling Green. With that being said, there were 10 of us total so 4 would sit at the kitchen table and 6 at the dining room table.
Our kitchen table all decked up for Fall, wearing her reversible fall table runner and place mats that I made last year. I wanted needed some burnt orange napkins to go with the whole she-bang and scored big time when I found a set of 6 pumpkin fabric napkins at JoAnns for $2 a pack - yes, please!
A close-up of the table all set.
Here's a close-up of a place setting.
In the dining room, I reeeeaaaalllly wanted this table runner from Crate and Barrel, but just couldn't bring myself to spend the $50 on it.
I was pretty pumped when I found one at Kohls that looked pretty similar only with olive branches on it for a MUCH better cost (I think it was like $15) than the one at Crate and Barrel. You might also notice that we've painted our dining room....more to come on that, later!
Our dining room table wearing her new table cloth, runner and wine colored napkins, all ready for Thanksgiving!
A close-up of the set table.
One of our emma place settings - sorry for the turned picture!
I loved decorating for the season, but I also loved baking and preparing just as much! My sisters, mom and I tagged team the efforts for our big Thanksgiving Feast and it was a success (if I do say so myself!)! My mom bought the turkey and I had the honor of preparing it and roasting it. If you've never done this, please know that it is incredibly disgusting! I immediately got on the phone with my mom and my mother-in-law and thanked them for graciously doing this every year! My mom also made a beef dish (for all those none turkey goers out there) and pecan squares for dessert. My sister Melissa made a killer goat cheese and beet salad, as well as an amazing pumpkin, gingerbread trifle - a true pinterest success! My sister Laurel made my mom's famous cheese grits, as well as her spinach casserole. I made (with the help of all listed above) mashed potatoes, Southern Living's cornbread stuffing (to-die-for) as well as a tasty brie appetizer (recipe compliments of Melissa). My Aunt brought her sweet potato soufflé as well as her cherry fluff. Needless to say, we were all holding our bellies and wallowing around for a bit after the meal :).
If I had to pick, my favorite Thanksgiving dish is my mom's cheese grits. I know that may not sound Thanksgiving-ish to you, but boy does it scream Thanksgiving to me! What about you - what's your favorite dish? Anybody else out there from the south and enjoy some good grits on T-day?
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