Thanksgiving Photos with A Side of Trespassing

I got THE CUTEST Thanksgiving/Fall Photos of my kids this year!  And it only took 5 minutes!

I would LOVE to say that it's because I am a BOSS at taking pictures ... but it's mostly because TECHNICALLY we MIGHT have been "TRESPASSING" lol

In my neck of the woods we are blessed to be surrounded by orchards that are BEAUTIFUL in the fall. Well most of them have big notsopretty fences around them ... and then I saw this one on a side street near my house ... it spoke to me ... it said "Throw your kids on my leaves and SNAP THOSE PICS! ... Quickly though you're not really supposed to be here."

So when they got home from school and all moaned about how much homework they had I said "Hey that's great, go get something that matches on so I can take some pictures!"

Then I grabbed the burlap "Thankful" banner I made, threw the kids in the car, drove around the block and said "Ok look ... we're gonna get this done in 5 minutes so jump out of the car, smile and look pretty :) OH and be QUIET cause TECHNICALLY we're "trespassing" ... OK ... GO!"

Hehehe I love this one :)  And we DID, we got it done in less than 5 minutes and not a car drove by so I'm pretty sure we're in the clear :)

 Then we rolled up back at home and I snapped a few of each kid for the photo books I needed to finish.

 Which was the major push ifI'mbeinghonest ;-)

When Snapfish has their annual B1G2FREE on photo books and calendars I KNOW it's time to get the camera ready!

Hindsight being 20/20 I'm SO MAD that I had that stupid fake dollar store pumpkin in the background! I had plenty to chose from but just wasn't thinking. Oh well.

 And a few horizontal for my WALL O SEASONAL PICS

 which in hindsight ... I wish I had made vertical because 98% of my good photos are vertical.

 But all in all I'm very happy with how my Fall/Thanksgiving pictures came out :)

My babies are all getting so big and so beautiful *tear*

Ghosts of Decors Past - Fall 2011

 My Fall Decor - 2011

As I was decorating for Thanksgiving this year, I went back to pictures from last year for some inspiration.  I try to do things a little differently each year but sometimes when I unpack my FOUR BOXES of Fall decor I get a little overwhelmed and need some direction!

 My living room/dinning room area looking out from the kitchen.

 My {almost totally} Dollar store fall centerpiece.

 My living room.  I have a few different throw pillows and blankets stashed that only get to come out during the fall!

 My WALL O PICTURES ...

I love how this gallery wall came out :)

My downstairs looking down from the landing.

My Fall Mantel.

Last year I didn't do a different decor set up for Halloween and Thanksgiving, I just did a Fall set up with a few minor change outs.  I used my Thankful Garland and a super cute Happy Halloween printable I found HERE!

I took a vase and filled it with corn kernels and a big bouquet of fall colored flowers

I made a couple of mini hurricanes out of vases and candlesticks from the dollar store, and filled them with candy corn! A sweet little touch of Halloween ;-)  Then added a few of the glass pumpkins I found at the dollar store, I loved them so much I think I bought like 20! lol

The table behind the door.  A vase filled with pine cones, a pretty leafy garland and some candles fill up this space perfectly :)

The wall facing the door.  I love the arrangement of these frames and change the pictures out with each season/holiday!

Our dinning room.  I love when Fall comes and the colors of our poster really blend in with the decor.  It's my favorite poster so it stays no matter what colors surround it.  It's a replica of the poster that was hanging in the reception room of the hotel my husband and I got married in :)

Yes, Fall decorating is SO much fun!

Dollar Store Fall Centerpiece

I LOVE Fall decorating!  And I REALLY love when I can get almost everything on the cheap!

Last year for my table I went back and forth and back and forth on what to do for a centerpiece.  I try to do something different each year.  It's nothing super fantastic, but I liked it :) and ALMOST everything came from Dollar Tree ;-)

What I used:
*Black tray - (Thrift Store)
*Package of fake leaves (Dollar Store)
*Raffia (Dollar Store)
*Vase & Flowers (Flower from the Dollar Store, I had the vase but you could find a cute one there)
*Package of mini gourds/pumpkins (Dollar Store)
*2 large candle holders (already had these but you could find comparable at the dollar store)
*2 large candles (Dollar Store)
*3 small glass candle holders (Dollar Store)
*3 glass votive candle holders (Dollar Store)
*6 votive candles (Dollar Store)
*3 glass pumkpins(Dollar Store!)
*Package of candy corn (Dollar Store)

I took a black tray I found at a thrift store and layered it with leaves and raffia.  Then I put the vase and flowers in the center and the big candles on either side.  I put the glass pumpkins in a staggered arrangement with the glass candle holders, which I filled with candy corn for a cute touch ;-)  I placed the votives in a few empty spots and then sprinkled the mini pumpkins!  Easy Peasy and Dollar Store Breazy!

Thankful Garland

 My Thanksgiving Garland

Last year I saw THIS POST on Tatertots and Jello and was completely inspired! I loved the look of the garland on the mantel and the thoughts behind it so I set out to make my own :)

  I already had a cranberry garland so I spread that out on my mantel first.

 Then I took some fall picks I found at the dollar store and slide them in to place on the garland.

 I planned on using the cranberry vine for Christmas so I didn't want anything glued on, so I just slid each piece in carefully and secured it by wrapping the vines around it if needed.

 I also added a few fall like flowers I had on hand.

 Then I had my 9 & 6 year old helpers cute out some leaf shapes from scrapbook paper.  On the backs we wrote out things we were most thankful for. Then using paperclips, I secured the paper leaves, as well as some fabric leaves, to the garland in a few places.

 I took a pumpkin patterned ribbon and wove it around the vine.

Then at the ends of the vine I tied a bunch of fallsy colored ribbons together to make a big pretty bundle.

 The finished product!  Not a WHOLE lot like the model, but it looks cute to me :)

And it highlights my turkeys pretty well too!

2x4 DIY "Thankful" Turkeys

Another fun project we made to celebrate Thanksgiving were some 2x4 "Thankful" Turkeys!

Each member of the family has a turkey and each year we paint new "feathers" and write down what we're most thankful for this year on the back!  I keep the "feathers" from every year tied up in a ribbon and we look through the past years as we're making our new ones.  It's so sweet (and funny!) to see what everyone wrote!

They were super easy to make, here's a tutorial on how my husband and I made ours in case you want to make a set for your family :) They would make a fun gift too!

Supplies we used:
2x4 wood (we used 1x4s)
Bag of googly eyes
Red and Yellow foam
7 Popsicle sticks
7 small  screws
1 bigger screw
2 different shades of stain
Various fall like paint colors
Screwdriver
Sander
Saw (table and jig were used)
Elmers Glue

1. Cut your 2x4 (or 1x4 like we used) into 1- 4x4 square and 1- 2x6 rectangle.

 2. Take a pencil and sketch a spoon like shape (the turkey neck and head) onto your rectangle.

3. Use a jig saw and cut out your sketched shape.

 This will be your turkey neck and head!

4. Sand your wood pieces.

5. Stain your wood.  I did two different colors so the neck/head would stand out from the body.  Apply coats as needed until you get the color you like.  Let it dry overnight.

6. Drill a starter hole in the back of your turkey where you want your sticks to go.  Drill holes in your sticks.

7. Drill/screw your turkey into your turkey body.

8. Paint your sticks.  We let each of the kids paint their own and have fun with it!

9.  Cut your red and yellow foam sheets into the shapes of turkey beaks and a wattle.

10.  Let the kids choose their googly eyes and then glue on the eyes, beak and wattle.

You'll be surprised how cute they come out!

My (then) 5 year old's turkey ;-) My favorite, I LOVE those big ol eyes!!

I wrote each persons name on the bottom and on the back I wrote "I'm Thankful For..." and on each of the sticks each person writes down what they are most thankful for :)  And each year you can make a new set since all you need are new popsicle sticks!

My husband and I's turkeys :)  I'm making a sign this year to hang above them that says "All because two turkeys fell in love ..." HA!

My turkey family :)

Can't wait to see what the kids are thankful for this year!

Linking up to these awesome parties!!