Truvie's Thanksgiving Tips, Part Two

Here's another easy trick for a beautiful Thanksgiving table that's cheap and easy. For your centerpiece, try a vase filled with fall foliage. It looks really pretty and it's so easy! You can mix in a grocery store bouquet of fall flowers also, if you wish. Another fun twist on this theme is to cut the tops out of small pumpkins or squash and use the hollow gourds as your vase. Pumpkins will hold water with out leaking for at least 3 days, so you can really enjoy your centerpiece or use it for multiple meals.

Another meaningful way to make the table gorgeous is to use place cards that have not only the person's name written on them, but also include one thing about them that you are thankful for. I like to cut long, thin strips of fine craft paper and after the message has been written, curl the strip like you would curling ribbon. Be sure to run your scissors along the back of the message to prevent the ink from smudging. These long curls look fabulous wrapped around the stem of your place setting's water or wine glass. Just arrange them so that the name of your guest is facing outward to facilitate them finding their seat. If you've never used place cards before, you should try it! It allows you to choose who sits beside whom and wards off all kinds of evil! Plus, you can seat yourself in the center of the action.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, Graceful Streeters!