Happy Thanksgiving!

May your turkey be cooked and your pie divine

Cap off the day with a nice glass of wine

Here's to you, the hostess, for on this day

You are truly the "mostess" in so many ways!

At the end of the day, it's not about the food, china, or tablescapes... it's about being with close family and friends and celebrating all you have to be thankful for. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and best of luck with your Black Friday shopping! :-)

REAL LIFE: Fall Fondue Party

Fondue is one of my favorite things to do, and it's fun to invite "newbies" over to join in on the food fun. A few weekends ago I hosted a fondue party for a few friends. I like to do this a few times a year, usually as the seasons change and new inspiration hits me!

I have a tiny place that I call home, so squeezing a few more bodies in, along with multiple fondue pots, plates, and bowls of food, is sometimes a challenge. While I wanted to really be festive for the fall season, I stuck with the "less is more" mantra and maximized the decor by keeping it central to the dining area. This accomplished two things that I know you'll appreciate: my decor spending was unbelievably small, and my stress level for party preparations did not shoot through the roof.

I hit up a JoAnn Store and scored some key decor items on clearance for 70% off... YES! I then took a basket, a vase, and harvest-themed decor I already owned and put them to work. The results included simple, yet inviting fall tablescapes that did not get in the way of the fondue.

I got a little busy after my guests arrived, so I forgot to take pictures of the tables with food on them (which my guests were bringing). Every square inch was filled with delicious food!

A Good Cause: Operation Shower

Photo from Operation Shower

Amy of the Stem blog is involved with a wonderful organization called Operation Shower. Operation Shower, a 501(c)(3) accredited charity founded in 2007, is a non-profit organization that recognizes and honors the sacrifices military families make by producing and coordinating baby showers and “showers-in-a-box” for pregnant and expecting military personnel and their families. It is currently run by a super-small group of dedicated individuals, and they NEED OUR HELP to keep this endeavor going and GROWING! Please check out the Operation Shower blog and consider how you can help them out this holiday season!