With Thanksgiving upon us, we’re giving you the lowdown on how to celebrate this American holiday at home.
From what to eat to outfit ideas, we’re showing you how to shine with gratitude this season.
The Table
Whether you love tradition or want to go for a more contemporary set up, mini pumpkins are the perfect way to create the most covetable centrepiece. Paint each one in a shade that compliments your interior and lay different sizes side by side down the middle of your dining table. Super simple but instantly impactful – you can add greenery and dried autumnal leaves for a more classic look, opt for pastels for a more modern mood or even match to your crockery to reach that next level!
For a more lavish Thanksgiving experience, why not add pops of metallic. From candles to cups, wine glasses or even a string starry lights, bringing in these glittering accents will ensure your table shines.
The Food
Now we all know that Turkey is a given at Thanksgiving, but what dishes can you add into the meal mix to ensure you wow this November? For starters, how about taking the traditional sweet potato and turning it into an appetiser with impact? Simply pre heat your oven and, on a large baking sheet, toss sweet potatoes with melted butter and maple syrup. Arrange in an even layer and season with salt. Bake until tender, flipping hallway through. Top each round with a marshmallow and broil until puffed and golden, Garnish with a pecan for a perfect bite that will kick the meal off right! Discover the full recipe here.
Room for dessert? Pumpkin pie may be tradition, but it’s not everyone’s taste. We’re drawing inspiration from Dan Doherty of Duck and Waffle who’s created the zingiest lemon s’mores meringue pie which makes for a stunning alternative. Toasted marshmallows added to the filling of this pie give it an extra bump of flavour and a gooey texture. Discover the details here.
The Outfit
Thanksgiving is all about the food, but showcasing your favourite outfit is always on the mind of the Emma Wallace Woman! For a day spent indulging, you’ll need looks that effortlessly combine style with comfort. Loose enough that you don’t feel as if you need to unbutton and chic enough that you’re ready to pose up a storm in a thanksgiving selfie!
Keeping it casual? Our Lori jumper is a holiday must have – featuring autumnal shades that evoke the feel of leaves falling, this chunky knit keeps it cool with wide cuffed sleeves and a high neckline. Pair with leggings or jeggings and a chunky heeled knee-high boot in tan and you’re ready to cosy up in style.
Want to dazzle? Then the Jenny dress is your go to. Featuring beautiful bell sleeves and a loose swing fit, it hides that post dinner bloat whilst ensuring you shine all day long. Wear with opaque tights and flat black ankle boots for a day time look that still feels special or go bare legged with skyscraper stilettos for an uber glam take that will ensure everyone’s thankful they invited you to the party.
The Entertainment
Thanksgiving may be a food-centric holiday but adding in some entertainment will ensure the atmosphere never ebbs. Why not try playing ‘Pass The Corn’.
Split into pairs and give each team two popsicle sticks, a bowl full of candy corn and then put an empty bowl at the other side of the table. To play, the player furthest from the empty bowl picks up a piece of candy corn and sticks it on the popsicle stick with their hand. They must then transfer the candy corn from their popsicle stick to their teammate’s popsicle stick (no hands – just popsicle sticks held in mouths) and the second teammate must transfer the piece of candy corn to the empty bowl. If they miss the bowl, it doesn’t count. The team that gets the most candy corn transferred successfully into their bowl in a minute wins!
Sounds like a lot of work? If you’d prefer to lounge on the sofa and relax in your food coma then check out the film ‘Friendsgiving’ on Amazon or Google Play. The new comedy written and directed by Nicol Paone is all about a wildly dysfunctional Friendsgiving experience. Kat Dennings and Malin Akerman star as gal pals who break bread with a diverse assortment of eccentric friends, bewildered newcomers and party crashers. Filled with laughs, it’s a seasonal must watch.
Now you know how to celebrate in style, don’t forget to make a list of what you’re thankful for. It’s been a rather turbulent year, but Thanksgiving is the perfect time to look at what you are grateful for and what truly matters – friends, family, health and happiness.