Make Thanksgiving Memorable With Festive Craft, Decor, Food And Drinks

Entertaining and lifestyle expert JJ Keras stops by TODAY to share some of her favorite ideas for festive foods, crafts, drinks and decorating tips for a fabulous Thanksgiving feast.

Decor

For me, Thanksgiving is about tradition and elegance. I use our china and silver then fill in with seasonal elements I am excited about at the moment. The best centerpieces are ones that are centerpiece attractive and meaningful. I also love to personalize a place setting with creative napkin rings or place cards and watch guests delight as they find their seat. Setting the table should be as fun as eating the food! I also refrain from using highly fragrant candles on the table because the scent of the food should be the star of the show.

Kid’s Table

I love creating a kids table full of entertainment and excitement. It’s so fulfilling when your little ones are just as excited about the meal as the adults are. Pull inspiration from Pinterest or your favorite bloggers and head to your local craft store. Encourage your little ones to come along so they feel involved in the process. My kids love to create their own place cards and assign every guest a seat!

Food

For food, focus on the idea of creating fun shapes and patterns relevant to the theme. Turkeys, cornucopia, pumpkins, pilgrims, etc. work well and guests love a show-stopping piece to ooh and ahh over. For inspiration, go to Pinterest and set your creative side loose. Searching for the ideas can be as fun as creating them.

Drinks

Try serving a large batch in season cocktail as guests arrive at your home. Flavors such as cinnamon, pomegranate, pumpkin and apple fill your home with pleasant aromas and help guests feel at ease. Also, consider setting up a self-serve white and red wine bar. To avoid mixing up glassware, use wine tags, either homemade or store bought, and have guests write in what they are thankful for.