There are too many reasons to enumerate why I’d love to live in the US if only I could, but Thanksgiving is definitely one of them. The UK might have seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness, but the US has a sort-of prelude to Christmas (even if they’re nothing to do with each other) complete with turkey and trimmings, family gatherings and other warm, wintery goodness. I generally try to make up for the lack of it by making industrial amounts of pumpkin pie with extortionately priced imported cans of Libby’s.
In view of the fact that there is just one week to go before the big day, here are a few great finds to spice up your celebration quickly and inexpensively, since all items except the children’s clothes are under $20, and most are under $10.
Dessert
Let’s start with the most important part of the meal: dessert.
You could go the whole hog and make a turkey-shaped cake but if that seems a little too much then you could always make use of this silicon leaf and pumpkin mold. After all, you can pull it out again for Hallowe’en or any other autumnal shindig as well. If you really want to break out the kitsch, why not top your fragrant baking with turkey cupcake decorating picks for under $2?
(And you thought I was going to list classy cake stands, like fellow BitchBuzzer Liz.)
Crafty Decorations
If you’re more into making your own decorations and figure you still have time, then check out these easy steps for making your own ‘Turkey Luminarias’ – basically candle bags with fire safety conscious LEDs. If you’re the kind of host that spends time folding napkins with an artistic flourish, then consider following a tutorial to squish tissue paper into turkey shapes for table decorations (though you already knew how to do that, right?). Alternatively, just buy these simple but pretty pumpkin place cards and pretend you made them yourself (as long as you know your friends aren’t Etsy fiends).
Kids can get in on the action with a DIY printable set of decorations including napkin rings, cupcake wrappers, banners and other bits and pieces they can use to customise the table. And if you really get carried away, you can always help them match the theme in a personalised Gobble Gobble Thanksgiving dress with matching diaper cover or a green, pumpkin-bedecked romper.
Bathing & Accessories
Finally, of course, it’s time to smarten yourself up for the family dinner and feel a little more pampered and a little less frazzled. Start off with some Philosophy Pumpkin Spice Muffin Shampoo / Shower Gel / Bubble Bath so that you smell as good as anything you’re ferrying out of a kitchen – and that goes for men as well as women. Then you can decorate yourself with the likes of these brilliantly geeky Pi and Pumpkin Pie earrings and jangly, handstamped mock-vintage Give Thanks necklace.
So now you’re all set, bring on the feast. I’ll bring the pie, if you send the invitation.
Image via Disney Family Fun