Setting the Thanksgiving Table

I can’t believe it’s that time of year already and the holidays are here. Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. It celebrates a few of my favorite things: eating, shopping, and of course, being grateful (especially that I get to do both of the above). Plus, we get an extra day off.

I grew up eating our Thanksgiving meal on paper plates sitting on the couch in front of the TV. Now that I’ve been hosting Thanksgiving the last few years, I get a chance to use all the dinnerware that I’ve been accumulating since our wedding registry. This year, there will be 19 adults and 5 kids at the Thanksgiving table. Make that 3 tables: Our main dining table for the adults, the breakfast table for parents of small children, and next to it, the kiddie table. Our home decor is a mix of vintage and modern, so my tableware reflects that, even on a traditional holiday like Thanksgiving. This is our Thanksgiving table set up this year.

A couple of quick & easy inexpensive ways to dress the table:

Paper napkin rings: Using scalloped edge scissors, I cut strips of black construction paper, wrote the guests name using a white gel pen and wrapped around a napkin, fastening it with scotch tape. There’s something special about having a napkin ring and a name written for each placesetting, even if it’s just made out of paper.

Tin can flower vases: Since we have a long table, I think it’s better to have a few small flower arrangements in a row, rather than a big centerpiece. I like recycling my jam jars and cans to use as small flower vases. They’re free and versatile to dress up for any occasion. I wrapped the cans in brown paper and wrote messages of thanks. It lends a rustic and handmade feel to the modern setting.

Check out more Thanksgiving ideas on our Pinterest page.

-Catherine Lo

Mix & Match DIY Baby Room

My sister-in-law just moved from San Francisco to a house in our neighborhood in the Berkeley Hills. She has the cutest baby boy — I can say that because he looks exactly like my own son as a baby ;).  It’s great having family nearby for casual weeknight dinners, date night swaps, and, in the future, kiddie carpool to the same school.

My sister-in-law has a great sense of style. She effortly mixes colors, styles & patterns and it always comes together looking really cute and original. Her son’s nursery perfectly reflects her individual style. She didn’t stick to a “theme” or color scheme, but the result is a cohesive room that looks fresh & happy and isn’t too matchy. She’s also really good at finding bargains. Can you believe that cool gray crib is from Walmart?

This is an easy DIY project she made to put her son’s name on the wall.

Here’s how she did it:

Pick an array of colored construction paper. Tear it into strips of varying widths. Arrange the strips in a diamond, criss-cross, or random pattern on top of a piece of paper or cardboard cut to the dimensions of the frame (the card that came in the photo frame is a good base). Glue the strips down to keep it all together. Cut out letters in construction paper and glue on top. Put in frame. Voila! Instant name frame for baby’s wall. You can do one letter per frame (as she did), or do the entire name in one big frame.

Another great project she did was repurposing a wood side table. She sanded it down and painted it bright glossy red. The table already had a glass top, and she found this awesome Star Wars and Superhero wrapping paper at Paper Source and inserted it under the glass. I can’t think of a better table for a boy’s room, or any room for that matter. It’s super cool!

I always find inspiration from my sister-in-law.  I almost wish I had another baby so I can decorate a nursery again. But I’m content just visiting my nephew and hanging out in his cool digs.

-Catherine Lo