I feel like I blinked and the first few weeks of November flew by. It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is only a couple days away. That also makes me a little nervous since Christmas is going to be here before we know it. While I’m not hosting Thanksgiving (All I have to do is show up with an empty stomach.), I thought it would be fitting to share a few ideas I always like to keep in mind when entertaining. To help spark my inspiration for Thanksgiving and the holidays ahead, I’ve collaborated with Glade® to share how you can create the best feelings in your home year-round!
This past weekend I was inspired by some beautiful blooms I saw at a local grocery store. I threw together a quick and colorful Thanksgiving-inspired tablescape in order to walk you through a few tips for stress-free entertaining. I realize that a LOT more goes into throwing a celebration, but these are just a few of my favorite tips.
1. Pick a theme.
When I’m hosting a get-together, I think it’s always important to start with a theme. For my table, I was not only inspired by the flowers I found, but I pulled inspiration from this Apple Cinnamon Cheer candle from Glade. The smell of apple and cinnamon always reminds me of home and the fall. Plus, the candle would add a little sparkle to the table. I tied in the apple theme with a few fresh apples on each place setting.
2. Use things that you have.
I have a bad habit of spending way too much money when I entertain. I just want things to be perfect. Over the years I’ve learned, however, that perfection is ultimately unattainable. Now, throughout the year, I collect interesting and unique things when I’m out shopping and use them when I’m entertaining or decorating. I know you’ve seen these polka dot napkins a million times on IBC, but I just love them. They add color, sparkle, and they even match my table runner. To display my little flower arrangements, I used some mini glass canning jars I had on hand. Trust me, your guests aren’t going to remember some fancy thing you bought specifically for a party. They are more likely to remember a unique way you used something you had.
3. Plan ahead.
We all know that waiting until the last minute seldom works out well. Taking a few minutes ahead of time to pick a menu, make your guest list, and decide on your theme, helps you plan a better party. I planned ahead by creating a seating arrangement. I knew I wanted a fun way to mark where guests will be sitting, so I used a few left over Instagrams I had had printed and just tucked each of them in a numbered table marker. So simple, but if I didn’t have those pictures printed beforehand, I wouldn’t have been able to add this personalized touch. (Yes, that’s my mom vacuuming my grandpa last Christmas.)
4. Keep things simple.
As much as I love an adorable craft, sometimes simple is best. Yes, I could have tied something to my apples or made some fancy centerpiece, but with the craziness of the season, I know it’s not necessary. Sometimes, keeping things simple allows the focus to be on your friends, family, and the enjoyment you’ll have around the table.
5. Most importantly, have fun.
At the end of the day, this is a celebration. Enjoy it! Put on some happy tunes (Right now I’m loving this collection from 8tracks.), grab a glass of wine, and savor this time with the wonderful people in your life. After all, that’s what this holiday is really about. There’s no sense in entertaining if you can’t enjoy the party, too!
I hope you liked these tips. Thanks to my friends from Glade for helping me share them with you. They have some really cool new products for the season including their Apple Cinnamon Cheer and Sparkling Spruce scented jar candles. I’m also a fan of their Cashmere Woods Sense & Spray for keeping rooms in your home constantly smelling fresh.
Glade Giveaway
To help inspire your holidays, Glade is giving away a few items to one lucky Inspired by Charm reader! It’s a fun little holiday bundle which includes:
Glade® Sparkling Spruce and Apple Cinnamon Jar candles
Glade® Sense & Spray® Automatic Freshener (Cashmere Woods)
$100 Shutterfly Gift Card
As usual, I’ll be using Rafflecopter to manage this giveaway because it makes the process super easy. The widget will appear below; just give it some time to load. If you want to see a video or read more about how to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway, click here.
Ready? Let’s do this!
To enter, use the Rafflecopter widget below. (Those viewing this in an email or blog reader will need to visit the actual blog post by clicking here. The widget may not appear if you are on a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet.) Again, please allow a few moments for it to appear. Simply answer the question in the widget to be entered to win this wonderful prize! Bonus entries are available for following along on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram
a Rafflecopter giveaway
While comments below are always appreciated, you must use the Rafflecopter widget above to be entered to win. For more information about these Glade products, click here. You can also follow Glade on Facebook and Twitter.
Happy entertaining, everyone! What tips do you have for keeping your celebration stress-free?
This post was created as part of my collaboration with Glade. As always, the thoughts and ideas are my own. The giveaway is available to readers in the United States. You must be 18 or older to win. Void where prohibited. This giveaway will end Sunday, December 1, 2013 at 11:59 pm EDT. The winner will be randomly selected.