a family thanksgiving

Thanksgiving isn’t cancelled. Many states might have banned gatherings beyond one’s own household to help prevent furthering the spread of Covid-19… but Thanksgiving isn’t cancelled. Thanksgiving is a way of life and an intentional choice that can’t be taken from you. When our focus shifts from the cares of this world to all that we still have to be grateful for, and when we start to realize how much we too easily take for granted… something special happens…

You see, I believe that even in the toughest of circumstances a posture of gratitude changes our mindset, brightens our outlook, brings hope to our soul and joy to our heart.

So Thanksgiving might feel a little different this year… but it is certainly not cancelled. I think it is more important than ever that we take a day to reflect, refocus and respond. And…even if you are only setting the table for 2… make it special… make it intentional… make it beautiful.

We wanted to give you a few ideas to help celebrate your holiday…

1. Decorate– There are lots of things you can do to create a beautiful tablescape even on a limited budget. Try picking up some small pumpkins at your grocery store and mixing in a few candles like we did a few years back. If your budget allows, perhaps you could use more stately candles, and larger pumpkins mixed in with some dried leaves that you can gather around your neighborhood. Or you can go really simple like the time we cut vines from around our house and added a few fresh figs and candles.

For our Thanksgiving table this year we used the the actual meal to decorate the table, and just incorporated our flower centerpiece kit, a few pumpkins and corn, a vintage water jug and some candles. While it might look more extravagant and hard to replicate, when you really break down the components, and use what you have on hand to decorate along with the meal you are serving, you don’t really need much. The idea is to do something that creates an ambience that says “this meal is special and not just an ordinary dinner”.

And remember, decor pieces don’t have to be expensive. Most of the serving pieces and candle holders I have used throughout the years have been easy finds from Goodwill and other second hand stores. Etsy is another great option to consider for shopping for special serving pieces.

2. Set your table– With a smaller group around the table it might not feel worth the effort to set your table… but… take the time to pull out that nice china you never use. Get out the nicer glassware. Iron those linens you received as a wedding gift that stay tucked away. I find putting extra effort into these details is another way to create a special ambience that visually communicates the importance of what you are celebrating, and helps to set this meal apart as something beyond the ordinary.

3. Let your kids help– Some of my favorite memories from my childhood was the anticipation and prep that went into making the holiday special. My mom would pull out this beautiful rusty colored tablecloth and then she’d let me help set the table with our gold monogramed flatware that we only used for special occasions. I remember when I was about nine years old I begged for a cornucopia… my mom found one and allowed me to create the table centerpiece that year. Looking back it was probably not that awesome… but in my eyes it was beautiful. Helping my mom create holiday experiences created a love for entertaining that shaped who I am today and the career path I ultimately chose for my life. Letting your kids participate allows them to take ownership and gives them a sense of accomplishment and brings you together as a family.

4. Bake– There is something about baking for the holidays gets you into the spirit of the day. You don’t need to make a full dessert spread… but take some time to bake one or two of your favorite recipes. Here is a downloadable link to Jamie’s incredible pecan pie that you see in these pictures. You can also visit her step by step tutorial that walks you through the whole process. Our blog also has her delicious recipes for pumpkin pie and apple pie and our favorite gingersnap recipe and tutorial! If you want to create something special for Thanksgiving morning, you can also check out our cinnamon roll recipe!

5. Simplify your meal– Ok… I’m going to be honest… I love to bake and decorate for any holiday, but I find little joy in cooking. It can be overwhelming. If I can offer any advice here, I would suggest to simplify. You can ask Jamie… I always have grandiose ideas and expectations of what I can accomplish in the kitchen, and then I underestimate how long everything is going to take and it becomes overwhelming… and messy. It is hard to feel present when you are busy checking recipes and just focused on a meal that is ultimately going to be consumed in a matter of minutes.

Remember… you don’t need 30 side dishes to have an amazing menu. Maybe it is time to release that family recipe that that no one really likes to eat anyway. My suggestion? Simplify. Simplify your menu to just a few sides to enjoy along with your turkey, and simplify your need to make it all yourself. Many grocery stores, caterers and restaurants now offer Thanksgiving meals where you can pick and choose the components you want to add to your table. I used to think this was cheating… but now I think it is brilliant. The turkey on our table for this shoot is from our friends at Deru Market. If you are local to the Seattle area, I highly suggest checking out their Thanksgiving menu available for pick up.

And if you still have that strong desire to roast your own turkey, Chef Jamie from Deru has provided our readers this amazing guide to roasting the perfect turkey!

6. Let go of the need for perfection- I think when we talk about making something beautiful and significant, it is easy for people to interpret that to mean that things have to be perfect. Beautiful and perfection are two very different things, and I think it can be dangerous to interchange those words. For me, making something beautiful refers to the heart behind what you are doing while making something perfect is an unachievable expectation that creates a lot of pressure and removes the joy from what you are doing. Let go of the need for perfection and change your focus to making the holiday meaningful. Maybe you don’t have matching dishes or nice linens. It doesn’t matter. Use what you have and the heart behind what you are doing is what makes it beautiful. Maybe your kids can’t sit through a long formal meal. Don’t make them! And remember these editorial photoshoots only tell part of the story- my kids are kids and run around and grab things off the table, and bite into the dried corn and even grab a fistful of turkey and stuffing before they can be stopped. Strive to make your holiday meaningful and memorable… not perfect.

7. Choose your attitude. It might feel hard to enjoy Thanksgiving this year if you are missing your larger gathering of family and friends. I get it. After a long year of working through cancelled, postponed and reduced- guest- sized- weddings… I have a bit of covid- fatigue and the thought of minimizing Thanksgiving and limiting how we can celebrate really irked me, although I understand the intention behind it. But when I changed my attitude and thought about how special this Thanksgiving can be with just our family… spending time with them and being present with them… my irritation of the government advised distancing dissipated. I’m excited to sit around a smaller table with my kids, teaching them about Thanksgiving, discussing the importance of giving thanks, and hearing what they are each thankful for. Like the rest of 2020, it is going to be a year to remember.

So while thanksgiving might look a little different this year, lets remember what the heart of this day is all about. I’m going to choose to make the day beautiful and invite you to do the same.