Thanksgiving 2020

Our Tablescape, Menu and More!

T-MINUS ONE WEEK until Thanksgiving! If you read this post, you know that I’ve been so excited about our plans to drive to Chicago to see my family for Thanksgiving. We haven’t seem my parents since January or my sister since Christmas, and this Midwesterner was ready to be back in Central Time! This Midwesterner also loves road trips 😉

Sadly, with COVID raging across the Midwest and my parents being higher risk due to their age, we all made the decision that it was best to celebrate from afar this year. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t devastated. I miss my family so much and it has been incredibly hard to go through all of the life changes this year without them. What’s keeping me going is knowing that as soon as COVID dies down where they are, we will drive out and stay with them for a while and make up for all that lost time.

So, I am now faced with hosting Thanksgiving (for two!) in a home that is not my own! Thankfully I did bring some our safe cookware and am familiar enough with this kitchen that I think I know I’ll be able to manage. And while it was reaaaaally tempting to do a sheet pan dinner for two I officially decided that I’m going to stick to my fall bucket list and cook a whole turkey. Y’all, I’ve never cooked a turkey before and was really counting on doing it for the first time with my mom, Fleury. But alas, she’ll have to guide me over zoom. As far as the sides, I’m going to do full size so we can have leftovers for the week! We love leftovers.

Even though our plans are coming together somewhat last minute, I feel like that’s pretty standard for #2020. I spent some time this week fleshing out the details – from our tablescape to our menu to my outfit – and will share it all here in case you find yourself in the same boat and need some guidance and inspiration!

Even if your plans are set, a lot of you said you needed some ideas for healthier holiday recipes. I’ll break down our plan for this year, but make sure you check out this post with allll my favorite healthified sides, plus holiday recipes I’ve tried and saved. I updated it with some more links this year, too!

THE TABLE

I’m not really one for super traditional Thanksgiving decor. Whatever the occasion, I always try to keep my table festive but also very me, by incorporating neutrals, blue and white, some mixed metals and my favorite crystal pieces.

This year I was inspired by a tall ginger jar and these white berry sprays. I built my table around them by focusing on creams, greens, beige and a few pops of blue, brown and orange. I’ll borrow some of my mother-in-law’s crystal candlesticks of mixed styles and types, add various tapers and a few netural pumpkins.

You know I’m a huge Spode fan and these Woodland place mats are festive but classic and oh so easy to clean. I’ll pair them sage green linens (these are similar) and my new personalized coasters and napkin rings from Weather and Story, a small business in Austin, TX!

Lastly, I believe that food looks best on a simple white plate (Crate and Barrel has great options). White plates also act as a great neutral base, and allow you to be creative with more fun salad plates! I packed my blue willow so TBD on what I’ll end up using!

If you like pops of fall fresh colors, here’s what I did a few years ago at my parent’s house:

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Recognize the solid plates? My parents have the Williams Sonoma Blue Brasserie set and I loved it so much that we registered for it too! The blue onion plates are my moms and I positively adore them. That year I combined lots of her vintage candlesticks from around the house, added various tapered candles and used the pumpkins and leaves she already had! We made the place cards from old grocery and gift bags.

SHOP THE TABLE

THE FOOD

FOR THE STARTER I plan to do an easy grazing board with the goodies I got in my Small Packages Women in Food Box! This woman owned and run small business make the best most personalized gifts! This box in particular would be a great treat or virtual hostess gift to send to family that you can’t be with in person. I’m a huge supporter of Julie at Small Packages and her mission to alleviate loneliness through throughtful gifting. You can use the code THANKSNORA for 10% off sitewide! I’ll also add some seasonal touches like figs, cranberry jam and then fill the rest with our faves (more on that here).

FOR THE MAIN I’m going to do a turkey with help from my mom and Claire. Danielle Walker also has a great recipe in her Celebrations cookbook which I have and love – sadly those recipes are not online but you could Amazon prime it today if you’re interested!

FOR THE SIDES we’ll do a healthified green bean casserole with homemade DF cream of mushroom sauce, whole mushrooms, bacon and shallots. I actually use a combination of several recipes but this one is great and this one is super easy because it skips the sauce! I’m also going to make a new sweet potato and sausage stuffing (but love this one from last year) and a new take on harvest hash (I tend to combine recipes).

FOR THE DESSERTS C really wants a chocolate pie and I can’t decide if I want to do mini crumbles or pumpkin pie for myself. GOSH I love pumpkin pie. Jury’s out on this one!

Pop on over to this post for even more ideas!

THE OUTFIT

Party Pants – I shared my plan for these party pants here, and I just fleshed out the look today! I almost always wear party pants with a stretchy waistband because…Thanksgiving? Also I just like being comfortable. We do a lot of sitting, eating and cooking so I’m not tryna wear something fussy. I love the pattern on these – it’s so versatile and I know I’ll wear ’em with camel, black, cream and even denim. | run tts, I wear a 4

Snuggly Sweater – A cozy sweater is a Thanksgiving staple for me! I wrote about that here (seriously, the post is called “How to Style a Cozy Sweater 4 Ways for Thanksgiving“). This one is an oldie but a goodie and they brought it back this year! It’s reasonably priced, sort of sustainable (can fast fashion really be sustainable? ehhh), and really really soft (the selling point for me). | run tts but size up for comfort, I wear a M

Comfy Flats (c/o) – I wrote about these here, and am so excited to take them for their first official spin! Unlike most flats, these have padding so they’ll keep my high arches comfy while I stand in the kitchen. Lets be honest though, I may wear these most of the day 😉 | tts, I wear size 8.5, *use PURELYNORA for 10% off your first purchase!

Daily Jewels – I always wear this necklace and these hoops (they are the bomb and don’t hurt my sensitive ears!). I’ll likely move the tiny hoops to the second hole, add a big bold pair like these in my first hole and call it a day!

Perfect Crossbody (c/o) – Okay I am staying home and def don’t need a purse but IF I DID I would 100% wear this faux croc embossed beauty! I adore Neely and Chloe, a sister owned and run shop with chic and sophisticated designs, and was so excited to try something from their collection! This bag is everything I dreamed of and more and is unlike anything I own. I love that it has a short and long strap and an interior zip pocket!

SHOP THE LOOK

So that’s it! That’s the new plan. If you need help with anything at all please don’t hestiate to reach out – I’d love to help you make your holiday easy, healthy and less stressful!