Thanksgivin', Shoppin' -n- Birfdays

Thanksgivin'

Folks are surprised to learn that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday since I don't eat meat. Well, hello! The side dishes, rolls, and pie are waaaaaaay better than some dry ol' bird any day! So, while I didn't miss the main dish, I did miss the family. That's why we decided to dine out for our meal rather than stay home all alone without grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Boo.

We drove out to the shores of Lake Erie for a noontime meal at Maumee Bay State Park. Rick had volunteered to moonlight later Thanksgiving day, so we had to eat early in order to have him with us for the feast. The food was overpriced and nothing like the taste of home, but we were together! We tried to eat our money's worth and found we couldn't eat the rest of the day. We were that full!

  

Shoppin'

There was the usual power napping in the afternoon while the kids watched a movie. Later, we dug out some of our Christmas stuff and started decorating the house before Rick left for work. I also took some time to browse the Black Friday ads and decided I'd try a little holiday shopping once the kids went to bed.

I left for Wally World at 9:00 p.m. so I could take care of the early deals that were to begin at 10:00. I was totally unprepared for the madness. The parking lot overflowed and folks were abandoning their cars in a field next door to the store. All the carts were taken, though I couldn't have maneuvered one anyway. People were lined up throughout the store, some sitting in lawn chairs, waiting for the deals. I had long missed out on the big ticket item I wanted to buy because I didn't come early in the day to claim my place in line. Everything was "sold" before it even went on sale!

Idiot that I am, I waited in the checkout line for close to an hour to purchase a few movies and such. My long wait time gave me a chance to get in a good chat with my folks on my cell phone. I couldn't end my shopping spree without anything good to show for it, so I decided to tackle the deals at Kohl's.

Unlike Walmart, Kohl's wasn't open on Thanksgiving. The deals were to begin at midnight, so people were lined up outside and around the building. I got a lucky spot in between a chain smoker and two dudes chewing tobacco. In addition, I still had my cute Thanksgiving outfit on when I should have worn a parka and wool socks. DUMB!

After waiting an hour, I made my way inside Kohl's and found the deal at 80% off! All the shivering and second hand smoke was worth it (I hope). Plus, I got $15 in Kohl's cash for my trouble.

My last stop was for the kids. They've been wanting a Christmas tree for the basement so they can hang the ornaments not making the cut for our upstairs tree. Home Depot had a $180 pre-lit tree for $49. I was 5 minutes too late though, or so I thought. Just when I thought my sleepless night was for naught, I got a tap-tap on my car window. It was a Home Depot employee! Apparetly, someone had just returned the very tree I wanted to buy because it wouldn't fit in her car. Well, you better believe I hugged that wonderful messenger and bought the tree. Hooray! It was a Black Friday miracle!

My Birfday

Fast forward a few days...My birthday was a sweet, peaceful one. Rick was off work and could join us for church. In the afternoon, Jacob received his Patriachal Blessing. To cap off the day, Rick made a delicious chocolate mint ice cream cake. Yum!

 

Yup. I managed to blow out all 35 candles Rick so thoughtfully placed on my cake. Baby, I've still got it!

Thanksgiving House

These days it seems that the Christmas season starts right after Halloween. I'm saddened by this. Isn't there a perfectly lovely holiday in between called Thanksgiving?

I've resisted the urge to launch into full fledged festivus until November 25th. I've kept out my pumpkins, acorns, and autumn leaves so that our family won't forget my favorite holiday. What other day do we celebrate food and family without the added pressure of presents or special clothes? It's great!

Here are some of the fall touches around Saunders House:

The Music Room

The fall centerpiece is new from Kirkland's Home this year. Everything else I already had.

 The Entryway

I spray painted the frame of the mirror with oil rubbed bronze. The metal pumpkin I scored for 80% off at Kirkland's. The apothecary jars are from Goodwill. The cornucopia and gourds are from Dollar Tree. The "Give Thanks" printable is from some blog I can't find now.

The Staircase

The garland is from good 'ol Hobby Lobby, 60% off Baby!

The Great Room

I love the way wreaths look hung in front of a mirror, so why not this pumpkin iron art that came from Big Lots? The grapevine lights were on clearance at Kirkland's. The ceramic bowl I won at an office party. The goodies inside the bowl came from Dollar Tree and Michael's. The cheesy scarecrow I've had forever. I blew up one my favorite family pics from fall a few years back.

The Mantel

I'm actually displaying one of my craft fails: my giant grapevine wreath. I spent about $15 in materials and 2+ hours of my time putting it together one night. I had to put it up. The turkey basket is from Goodwill, along with the candlesticks and cloche. The cornucopia and acorns I got for 80% off at Kirkland's. The pumpkin centerpiece I already had.

New Sofa Table

Pier One had the sofa table that goes with my side tables for 20% off. I had to get it so I'd have more horizontal surface for our nativities come December. I bought the fall table runner with my Kohl's cash. All the candles you've seen came from Costco. They are battery operated and they work by remote. Cool, huh?

Kitchen Window

Pupmkins and flowers are from Dollar Tree. The turkey candle holder is from Goodwill. The free vintage Thanksgiving printable is from somewhere on the world wide web. :)

Thanksgivving 2010

We have never made our own Thanksgiving meal before. We've always had a family reunion or something. Since Rick and I have been married almost 15 years, we figured it was about time we cooked for ourselves. Rick was in charge of the turkey and stuffing. I was in charge of the vegetables and rolls. Costco was in charge of the pumpkin pie. The kids were in charge of getting along nicely while we worked in the kitchen.

Rick followed a recipe from my Better Homes and Gardens magazine to cook the turkey. He said it turned out really well. We both enjoyed the vegetarian stuffing he made too.

The Rhodes brand multigrain rolls turned out great, as did my mashed potatoes and almond green beans. It was a very respectable dinner.

Rick took a moonlighting shift from 4:00 to 10:00, so the kids and I stayed busy by going to see the new movie Tangled with friends. We absolutely loved it. It wasn't the princess movie we were expecting. Even Jacob said he wants to buy it when it comes out on DVD.

After the movie, we went to a dessert party at the Torres's house. Hours had passed since our Thanksgiving meal, so we were in prime condition for eating pie. Fortunately, there were many options from which to choose. We ate the night away with our friends!

Amber, Ashley, and Kaitlin:

Georgia:

Jen and Anthony:

Jared and Catharine:

Wendy and Rey:

Jess and Christy:

Max and Jake:

Penny and Christy:

We weren't with our family, but we had the next best thing. This Thanksgiving was a keeper!