A Few of my Favorite Things - The November Edition

Can you believe it's November??  I can't!  (Though the kiddos reminded me this morning that it's only 7 more weeks till Christmas..doesn't sound like enough time, right?)

Anywho, I've been working like a crazy person on the first Home Ec post and I want it to be just perfect, so it's taking me a little more time than I had planned, but I didn't want to disappear into blogging limbo, so today I'm going to share a few of my favorite things for November and a sneak peek at the book that I'm using as a reference for the first Home Ec. post.



Key Fabric

 Favorite thing #1 - I purchased some of this nifty key fabric.  I'm thinking of making one of the following with it..

McCalls 6123

I like the idea of this tunic with the key pattern fabric on top, solid black on the bottom and maybe a black and cream stripe for the trim.

McCalls M5591

I also like the idea of doing this skirt in the key fabric with the black contrast on the bottom.

Favorite Thing #2 - Thank you Turkeys

Thank You Turkey Craft

My girls will be doing a variation on this thank you turkey for each family member this thanksgiving.  The girls are working on making a turkey with 5 tail feathers.  Each feather will list one thing that they are thankful for about that person.

Favorite thing #3 - Ummm, pretty much this entire outfit from Modcloth. 

Modcloth

Favorite Thing #4 - Fun with Elf on the Shelf!  I actually have a vintage one that my Mum put in my stocking last year.  Click on the link and it will give you some suggestions for fun things to do with your elf this holiday season :)

Show&Tell

Favorite Thing #5 - Dying buttons!  (Who knew??)

Rit Dye

..and then you can use them for fun holiday projects like this..

..Or this..

Pinterest

..Or stocking stuffers like these!

Pinterest

(Have I mentioned my mild obsession with buttons?)

Ok.

On to the home ec post sneak peek..

The first project will be from a really nifty book I got as a gift for Christmas last year.  It's not a vintage book, but it's full of vintage ideas inspired by one of my favorite authors of all time, Jane Austen.



Amazon

 The project is a secret, but I will tell you that it's perfectly perfect for the cooler weather ;)

Have a wonderful day!

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Bringing Back the Turkey

I feel like Thanksgiving gets neglected in the pantheon of holidays (probably because it's hard to commercialize.)  Strolling through Target yesterday, I saw clearance Halloween items adjacent to Christmas decorations with nary a nod to Thanksgiving in sight.  It seems like the day after Halloween begins a candy fueled mad dash towards Christmas.  And really, thanksgiving is such a marvelous concept.  Pausing to give thanks for all the wonderful things we have to be grateful for, celebrating the good things in our life, yummy food and family..what could be better?

I've considered this in past years, but then have to admit to getting caught up in the making of Christmas gifts and the excitement of christmas specials on TV and making Christmas lists with my children.  I'd like this year to be different.  I plan to start a few new traditions with my family specifically for giving thanks.

• I plan to do some baking and craft making with my girls for the folks in the nursing home we visit.  Just some random surprise gifts to brighten their day.
• I am also going to make turkeys with the girls, one for each family member,  and have them write something they are thankful for on each of the turkey's tail feathers.
• I will send thank you cards to the people who make my life better, drop little unexpected treats off with them, or call them and let them know just how much they mean.
• Here on the blog, I will do a few Thanksgiving themed Home Ec posts.  (A great stuffing recipe comes to mind!) and perhaps an etiquette post on how to properly write a thank you note..or maybe a tutorial on making your own thank you cards.

So, those are my thoughts..what are yours?  How do you celebrate Thanksgiving?

Hugs and Smooches,

D