Weekly Wednesday Wishlist #281

Find fresh Thanksgiving and Christmas decorating ideas, cozy finds, recipes, and home tours in this week’s Weekly Wednesday Wish List.

There’s so much to love about November! Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away, and Christmas ideas are beginning to find their way onto my list, too. This week, you’ll find thoughtful tips for being a welcome Thanksgiving guest, a printable hosting guide, and two delicious recipes for your holiday table. We’re also touring beautiful homes and sharing lovely finds for your home and winter wardrobe. And if you’re ready for a little Christmas glow, I’m sharing one of our favorite traditions. Grab a cup of something delicious and enjoy!

1. BEST OF THE BLOG: Will you be gathering around someone else’s table this Thanksgiving? What a blessing to be included! 12 Tips To Be The Best Thanksgiving Guest shares thoughtful ways to show your appreciation, lend a helping hand, and make the day a little easier for your hostess. You’ll find lovely hostess gift ideas, too!

2. AMAZON FINDS: See items for fall, Christmas, your home, and you from Amazon.

3. PRINTABLE THANKSGIVING HOSTING MAGAZINE: Make Thanksgiving easier with this Thanksgiving Magazine Guide packed with ideas for a memory-making holiday.

4. THIS AND THAT: Add THIS easy roasted asparagus to your Thanksgiving menu for a delicious side dish with very little fuss. Turn an old throw into something pretty for your table with THIS simple placemat DIY. And share THIS meaningful Thanksgiving tradition to help everyone gathered around your table count their blessings.

5. FABULOUS FINDS: Items to grace your home.

This pretty boxwood wreath is lovely for year-round decorating. Just add a beautiful ribbon for the season.
LOVE these gold chain picture frames. Such a pretty way to display your favorite family photos.
This antique gold Santa dish is too sweet not to share again!
These round rattan boxes add wonderful texture to a bookshelf or coffee table.

This gorgeous green velvet pillow has velvet on both sides. So pretty for Christmas and all winter long.
This 9-foot foxtail pine Christmas tree comes unlit, so you can add your favorite lights.
These burgundy berry and leaf stems would be beautiful tucked into a favorite vase for Thanksgiving.
How sweet is this ceramic Christmas tree diffuser? A lovely little gift idea, too.

6. BEAUTIFUL HOME TOURS: Let’s begin in a lovely Greenwich Colonial filled with classic furnishings and layers of pretty pattern. Then head across the pond to a charming Cotswolds cottage with treasured antiques and cozy English style. For a little Christmas inspiration, tour this beautiful Charleston home dressed in greenery and blue velvet ribbons. And visit a traditional Dallas Tudor with a festive holiday table and a Christmas tree filled with more than 2,000 ornaments.

7. FUN AND INTERESTING FACTS: Which Thanksgiving favorite was missing from the first feast?

8. CURATED CLOSET: Winter Favorites- classic clothes won’t go out of style.

This quarter-zip sweater is an easy everyday favorite. Pair it with jeans for a casual, pulled-together look.
These knit pajamas are just the thing for quiet evenings and slow weekend mornings.
LOVE the relaxed look of this cotton tunic sweater. Such a pretty, easy layer for cooler weather.
This classic camel knit blazer would look wonderful with everything from jeans to dress pants.

These Spanx wide-leg pants have a polished pleated front. Perfect for dressing up or keeping casual.
LOVE the striped trim on this chunky knit cardigan. Button it up or wear it open over a simple top.
A pretty checked wool scarf adds warmth and a lovely finishing touch to a winter coat.
This turtleneck sweater is a cold-weather staple. Simple, classic, and easy to pair with your favorite jeans.

9. CULINARY CORNER: Two Delicious Ideas For Your Thanksgiving Table: Nani’s Sautéed Rice is a treasured family recipe made with onions, celery, chicken stock, and fresh parsley. It’s a simple, flavorful side that can easily be doubled for a holiday gathering. And for a little something special to serve with warm rolls, try this Cranberry Orange Honey Butter. Sweet-tart cranberries, fresh orange zest, and honey make every bite delicious!

10. THE LAST WORD: If you love a little Christmas sparkle, consider putting up your tree just before Thanksgiving and enjoying it with only the lights. We’ve done this for several years, and that soft glow makes our home feel so welcoming while we savor Thanksgiving and look forward to Christmas. You’ll find more simple ways to ease into the season in Transitioning From Late Fall To Christmas The Easy Way.

ANSWER TO #7: Mashed potatoes! Potatoes were not yet grown in Plymouth. And when was the celebration we traditionally call the first Thanksgiving? In the fall of 1621, when the Pilgrims and Wampanoag gathered for a three-day harvest celebration.

1. DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS: Red Christmas accents are everywhere this year, and if you’re wanting to add a little color to your holiday decor, I’m sharing simple ways to decorate your kitchen with red for Christmas that will bring a cozy, nostalgic feeling to your home.

2. COZY TIP OF THE WEEK: The shorter days can feel a little depressing, so I’m combating those darker evenings by putting up our Christmas tree! And if you’re itching to put yours up too, go for it. Don’t worry about what the calendar says or what anyone else thinks. Do what makes you happy in your own home.

3. AMAZON FINDS: Shop cozy finds I’m loving on Amazon.

4. LITTLE THINGS I’M LOVING:

See the throw pillows I’m adding to my couch for the holidays.
This $20 holly border platter looks like something you’d find at Pottery Barn.
Along with these dinner plates and these Christmas tree salad plates.
Display a gingerbread house on this gorgeous crystal cake stand.

I couldn’t resist grabbing these sugared fruit ornaments.
This set of cozy Christmas mixing bowls.
I ADORE this joy doormat!
The mini slow cooker that always sells out, is back in stock. I love mine for soups, dips, and appetizers.

5. FROM MY KITCHEN TO YOURS – THANKSGIVING RECIPE: This dish has been on every single Thanksgiving table since I was a child, and I can’t imagine the holiday without it. This saltine cracker creamed corn casserole is a family favorite that’s creamy, buttery, and topped with crunchy saltine crackers.

6. UPDATING MY WARDROBE:

This kitten heel with rhinestone buckle is perfect for holiday outfits.
Stunning ribbed sweater midi dress for less than $40.
LOVE this bow chain necklace.
A bestseller for a reason. HAVE and LOVE.

Cozy sweater with ruffled yoke.
Fair Isle sweaters are my absolute fav this time of year.
This fur vest is so chic.
As soon as I saw this sweater I knew I needed it.

7. MAKE THIS WITH ME: Some of my favorite DIYs are the ones I make using what I already have at home. This DIY Christmas wreath with dried hydrangeas came together on a whim with a few simple supplies and looks like something you’d pay hundreds of dollars for online.

8. OVER ON THE ‘GRAM: My 12 DIYs of Christmas series continued with DIY #10 and #11.

9. WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE: “The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

10. WOULD YOU RATHER NOVEMBER EDITION:

Host Thanksgiving Dinner OR Be a Guest at Someone Else’s House
Eat only Thanksgiving Leftovers for a Week OR Never Eat Thanksgiving Leftovers Again
Have Pumpkin Pie OR Apple Pie for Thanksgiving Dessert
Eat Thanksgiving Dinner at Noon OR at 6 PM
Spend Thanksgiving Morning Watching the Parade OR Cooking in the Kitchen

1. FAVORITE STYLING MOMENT: Now that November has arrived, my mind has turned toward Thanksgiving and how I will decorate my table this year. Do you plan yours ahead?

2. EASY DECORATING TIP OF THE WEEK: Add a touch of fall above eye level by tucking a few autumn stems or branches into an existing arrangement on top of a cabinet or hutch. Carrying seasonal color upward helps the whole room feel decorated rather than concentrating everything on tabletops. This works for Christmas decor, as well!

3. DID YOU KNOW: Did you know that acorns don’t all mature at the same rate? White oak acorns typically mature in one growing season, while red oak acorns generally take two. It’s one of those little details that makes an autumn walk even more interesting.

4. FAVORITE FIND FROM LAST WEEK: I shared this before, but now that I’ve put it up I had to share again. To say that I’m impressed is an understatement. If you’re in the market for new tree, this one is stunning! Don’t wait though – it sells out every year.

5. LOVELY LIVING AND BEYOND: Instead of saving your favorite mug, pretty serving bowl, or special linens for company, use them on an ordinary day. Lovely living is as much about enjoying what you already have as it is about preparing for others.

6. READER QUESTION OF THE WEEK: “My room has plenty of furniture and accessories, but it still doesn’t feel cozy. Why?” See #10 for the answer!

7. WEEKLY AWESOME FINDS:

I am completely obsessed with this hand-painted globe lamp with the charming woodland birds and nature details add the coziest glow to my space.
This large beveled mirror has stolen my heart with its light antiqued gold finish and lovely hand-forged scalloped frame.
This sculptural vase would be just right as a tabletop centerpiece, and it elevates fresh flowers so effortlessly.

This set of two wall mirrors with delicate tree and dove details would add the sweetest vintage touch to my entryway.
This chic little tray is perfect for keeping my daily jewelry and keys organized in style.
I can’t get enough of this plush throw pillow and it adds so much warmth, texture, and cozy comfort to my sofa.
Wrapping my seasonal decor together with a traditional pine wreath always brings me so much joy.

8. WEARABLE STYLE:

I’m eyeing this versatile overcoat that looks so comfortable and effortless to style.
This stylish top is such a great wardrobe staple that would pair seamlessly with everything from jeans to skirts.
I am loving this sweet cardigan top with delicate scalloped detailing gives it such a pretty, feminine feel.
This textured sweater jacket with fringe accents looks like the perfect polished piece for layering.

A cozy cable-knit poncho sweater sounds like absolute heaven for chilly days.
These classic chocolate-colored ballet flats look so chic, plus they have a memory foam insole for extra comfort.
I’m swooning over this cozy rib-knit sweater that comes with a coordinating belt to cinch the waist for a super flattering fit.
This feminine crepe cardigan with pearly front buttons, flared sleeves, and a peplum hem is just stunning.

9. HOME HACK: Put a cotton ball in the vacuum canister for a quick home refresh
Add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil to a cotton ball and place it in the vacuum’s canister before cleaning. The scent will gently circulate through the room as you vacuum.

10. ANSWER TO READER QUESTION (#5): The missing ingredient may be contrast in texture. If everything in the room is smooth or similar, add something woven, nubby, soft, aged, or natural. A wicker basket beside an upholstered chair, a chunky throw over a smooth sofa, or an aged wood accent next to a painted piece can add the layers that make a room feel inviting.