Thanksgiving Part I

It has been far too long since my last post...
What to talk about? What to write about...?

I KNOW! Thanksgiving is in TWO DAYS. Let's go that route.

To stick with my own personal DIY theme, here are some DIY Turkey Day Classics :)
I'll break this into 2 posts:

• This one about fun things to do on Thanksgiving
• Another one about easy dishes for the big day!

So I've compiled 7 things that are great to do on Thanksgiving day. Some giving back, some to show your gratefulness, some to bring family together... drumroll please.... 

**badabadadada**

1. Edible houses have become a great new thing for holidays (gingerbread Christmas houses, cookie       haunted Halloween houses), so I've looked into creating something FUN & edible for parents & children. This is my favorite:

Recipe:

• 2 Oreo cookies
• 1 mini Reese's cup
• 1 Whopper malt ball
• 6 Candy Corn triangles
• 1 Red Hot
• 1 little bit of store-bought, tube icing

Method Recommended:

• Start with 1 Oreo & "glue" the candy corn into the middle via icing. A little glue ALWAYS goes a long way!
• "Glue" the Oreos together
• Cut off the bottom of the Reese's cup and once again "glue" it onto the bottom Oreo.
• Let the pieces "dry" and make sure it is stable before continuing to the next step.
• "Glue" the tip of a candy corn triangle onto the whopper & dot eyes with icing just above. You don't need to buy multiple icing colors, like pictured above, just black or white eyes always work fine.
• Now "glue" the "head"onto the "body"(tip, I also glue the head to the back as well)
• "Glue" in the legs and voila!! 

2. Centerpieces: My favorite ideas are to use fall-colored, scentless candles OR mini-pumpkins painted white and embellished with lettering.

example: 

These are adorable & can be arranged so simply & cheaply!

Throw in some twigs, leaves, apples, or fall flowers & mix it up for yourself. 

Creating your own centerpieces is great touch to anyone's Thanksgiving dinner table. It gives your table a very homely look :)

3. Menu Listings: an easy way to answer questions for naggy family guests. Grab a cute chalkboard & write the menu or the day's agenda on it. It's an adorable decoration and an easy way to answer any questions before they're asked!

4. Courtesy of "The Girl Who Ate Everything," try these awesome Thankful Rolls. Have everyone write down what they are thankful for on a piece of paper , wrap the paper in foil, and place it in the center of the bread dough for Thanksgiving rolls. Each time someone grabs a roll, they guess who's "thanks" was on the paper!

5. Go to a Turkey Trot! They're Thanksgiving weekend walks to support a local non-profit. You have people sign up to donate money based on each lap you run/walk. It's a great way to get some exercise and great way to give back to the community!

6. Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen on the WEEKEND. Soup kitchens get so much traffic from volunteers on Thanksgiving, but not so much on surrounding days, so get out there!

7.  Give thanks to all.  Have everyone present write down something you're thankful for/about every other person at the party. Example: if there are 8 attendees, including myself, I will write 7 "thanks" & receive 7 "thanks."

8. Write thanks to the Troops.  Patriotism has gone down over the recent years, but we still have troops fighting for our freedom. What isn't to be thankful for there?? Write letters and mail them to the troops! See: www.amillionthanks.org for more!

Have Turkey Day, everyone!! :)