5 Tips for Setting the Thanksgiving Table

It’s Thanksgiving week and it’s time to prepare for the big day! Before you start roasting that turkey, it’s time to think about setting the table. Here are 5 tips for setting the perfect Thanksgiving table for your guests.

 

1 – Don’t wait until Thanksgiving! Start setting your table at least one day before. Washing cutlery and ironing cloth napkins are tasks that take more time than you think. You don’t want to worry about doing those things when you need to be in the kitchen.

 

2 – Know where to place everything! Bread plates go on the left, drinking glasses on the right! Place your silverware in the order they will be used – outside to inside. Forks go to the left of the plate and knives and spoons on the right.

 

3 – Decide how you’ll serve! If your table is large consider serving your meal “family style” which means the food will go right in the center of the table. Make sure you’ve found plenty of hot plates and trivets! If you’re choosing to serve buffet-style, make sure you have a large, clean surface ready for the food (that’s not too far away from the table!)

 

4 – Decorate with a centerpiece! Many local grocery stores sell beautiful Thanksgiving centerpieces that can be picked up the day before. Rather try a DIY? Add some pumpkins, LED candles and greenery to give your table a special touch.

 

5 – Place cards are the final touch! Not only do place cards give your guests a personalized touch, they also eliminate any question or confusion as to who should sit where.

 

Enjoy and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

5 Festive Halloween Treats to Make This Weekend

Halloween is a week away and you can get into the spirit now by cooking up something both festive and sweet! Pull out your baking supplies and get cooking!

 

1 – Jack-O-Lantern Rice Kreepies

courtesy of realsimple.com

2 – White Chocolate Eyeballs

courtesy of realsimple.com

3 – Spooky Spider Cookies

courtesy of realsimple.com

4 – Creepy Bat Cupcakes

courtesy of realsimple.com

5 – Frozen Banana Ghosts

courtesy of realsimple.com

Tips for Trying Tie Dye at Home

Tie dye has come back in a BIG way in 2020! If you’ve looked online or shopped at stores recently you’ve probably seen lots of tie dye merchandise to buy. Instead of buying it pre-made, why not get crafty and create your own tie-dye at home? Read below for some tips for creating awesome and unique tie dyed garments!

 

1 – Think about what you want to tie dye. Is it a t shirt or a pair of shorts? Either way make sure that the material is cotton so the dye will adhere to the fibers of your garment as best as possible. Also, choose a white garment so your colors will stand out.

 

2 – Purchase your fabric dyes individually or purchase a kit. Stores like Michaels, Target and Amazon are selling kits that come with everything you need. If you don’t use a kit, you’ll also need some squeeze bottles, plastic sheets, plastic wrap, plastic gloves and rubber bands.

 

3 – Bullseye? Sunburst? Polka Dots? Decide which tie dye pattern you want to try. Click here for a great list of patterns with detailed instructions on how to achieve each look. Fold or roll your garment and place your rubber bands accordingly.

 

4 – Set up your work station outdoors to limit the mess. Lay out your plastic sheet and get your fabric dyes in the squeeze bottles. Make sure to wear your plastic gloves so you don’t tie dye your hands! (if you do get dye on your hands you can mix baking soda and water together to create a paste. Scrub it on your skin and wash away with soap and water.)

 

5 – Have fun and unleash your creativity! Choose fun color patterns and don’t be afraid to be bold. You won’t know how the garments will look until they’ve dried and been washed.

 

6 – When your garments are done wrap them in plastic wrap and let them dry overnight. When they’re ready to be unwrapped, wash them outdoors with a hose or in a laundry sink to remove the excess dye. After you’ve washed them throw them into the washing machine (without any other clothes) for a quick rinse and then dry.

 

7 – Enjoy your new tie dyed creations! Make sure to wash them separately for the first few washes to be sure the dye doesn’t bleed onto other clothes.

5 DIY Valentine’s Day Decorating Ideas

Love is in the air!

Are you hosting a Valentine’s Day party or dinner at your place this weekend? You don’t need to break the bank to decorate with rose petals. Check out these fun and easy DIY projects that will make your home look decked out for Valentine’s Day!

 

1 – Pucker Up Balloons – All you need is red lipstick and some white balloons for this one!

photo courtesy of studiodiy.com

 

2 – Candy Heart Garland –  Grab some construction paper and some baking twine to create this garland the kids are sure to love!

photo courtesy of Tell Love and Party

 

3 – Candy Heart Bouquet – The vase of water is hidden underneath a pile of conversation hearts in this cute Valentine’s centerpiece!

photo courtesy of Smart School House

 

4 – Heart Branch Tree – Some twigs from the yard, twine, paper and a little spray paint and you can create this adorable heart branch tree for your Valentine’s party.

photo courtesy of The House That Lars Built

 

5 – Heart Balloon Backdrop – If you’re an Instagram lover, this balloon heart will make the perfect background for your Valentine photos!

photo courtesy of The House That Lars Built

5 DIY Super Bowl Snacks

If you’re like us, you’re excited for Sunday to get here so we can celebrate the Super Bowl! Whether you’re hosting a party or attending one, here are 5 awesome DIY snacks from delish.com to wow your friends…

 

1 – Slow Cooker Tex Mex Dip

 

2 – Bacon Pickle Fries

 

3 – Garlic Bread Pizza Dip 

 

4 – Pepperoni Football 

 

5 – Buffalo Ranch Waffle Fries

5 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for Fall

It’s below 90 today (phew) and we’re ready to start thinking all things fall! If you’re like us and love to prepare dinner in a slow cooker when the weather get’s cooler you’re in luck! Here are five delicious and easy recipes you can throw in your crock pot this week.

 

1 – Potato Soup  (Recipe Courtesy of Gimme Some Oven)

 

2 – Nacho Soup (Recipe Courtesy of Baked by Rachel)

 

3 – Apple Pie Oatmeal (Recipe Courtesy of Five Heart Home)

 

4 – Tater Tot Casserole (Recipe Courtesy of Damn Delicious)

 

5 – Chicken and Apple Cider Chili (Recipe Courtesy of Foxes Love Lemons)

5 Garden Plants that Keep Mosquitoes Away

Summer brings longer days and evenings outdoors. There’s nothing that can ruin a summer cookout more than the itching and scratching of mosquito bites! If you’re planning to spend time outside after dusk, try putting these plants in your garden to keep the bugs away…

1 – Lavender – Not only does it look beautiful, it smells great too! Another thing that lavender does is hinder a mosquito’s ability to smell. The leaves of this plant have natural oils that will keep your garden smelling fresh and the pesky bugs away.

 

2 – Marigolds – These annuals add beautiful color to your garden and they also deter mosquitoes, aphids, white flies, and squash bugs.

 

3 – Citronella Grass – Most people have heard of citronella candles but did you know that you can plant citronella grass directly in your garden? This plant is known as the most effective at repelling pests and is low maintenance. A must-have for your outdoor space!

 

4 – Rosemary – Rosemary is an herb that many of us are very familiar with, especially with cooking. Rosemary’s woody scent is what keeps mosquitoes as well as some moths and flies away.

 

5 – Basil – Another herb we use in our cooking, basil is also great at keeping mosquitoes and other bugs away. The pungent smell of any type of basil is powerful to keep mosquitoes from entering your space. Try planting some in pots on your patio and you can also use some for preparing dinner!