Santa has arrived at our house early this year! He's the newest addition to our Christmas lawn display. He's 12' tall and reaches my office on the second floor :)  

I'm going to have to do some more planning for our display next year so that everything is spread out around Santa a bit more. We didn't realize just how big he was going to be when we ordered it. lol 

Cornelius and the Bumble are the latest additions to our growing Christmas decorations collection!  We ordered these online and didn't realize they would be cloth covered. We were looking for items that could go out in the front yard, but there is no way these would survive a Northern Maine winter. Instead they will spend the holidays on our front porch. Thankfully, the porch is closed in with plenty of windows so everyone will get to see them and the weather won't destroy them! 

Holidays can be insanely stressful for anyone planning holiday gatherings for family and friends. Some advance planning and preparation can help to make your event a huge success.  

One of the most important decisions in your planning process is deciding what type of party you'll be hosting. Is this going to be a formal occasion, or something more casual? Will you have both kids and adults in attendance? How many guests will you invite?  If you're planning on a formal event, then you might not want kids there. Should you decide to have children at your event will you need a separate table for them to sit at? 

Once you've decided on the type of gathering you'll have, it's time to decide on the menu. Traditionally, everyone cooks a big turkey for Thanksgiving with a wide range of side dishes. For a large gathering you might want to cook more than one "main dish". We made a baked stuff Salmon as our contribution to our family dinner one time and it was a big hit! Other choices include a nice roast, duck, or a vegetarian dish. Your guests will love the option of a different choice. 

Another thing to consider is how you want to decorate your home. For an eye-catching centerpiece, place a decorative vase in the center of the table and fill it with flowers and leaves that are evocative of the winter period. Around this centerpiece, place several large candles, as these will create a traditional, homely atmosphere and will draw attention to your centerpiece.  To make the dinner that extra bit special, use napkin holders, place mats and runners, as this will make your table look more elegant and help to create a genuine sense of occasion. 

Don't just focus on the table though, as you can incorporate Thanksgiving decorations into a number of other areas of your home. For example, you can lay bowls of orange and brown potpourri around your house, as these will give off a welcoming aroma for your guests and the colors will reflect the winter season. Similarly, placing a wicker basket of fruit in the living room is a good way to highlight the Thanksgiving theme and evoke the gift-giving traditions upon which the occasion was originally based.

These are just a few tips to help you get started on hosting a great Thanksgiving! With just a bit of preparation your celebration will be full of food, fun and holiday spirit :)