5 Thanksgiving Table Tips From The Today Show With Hoda & Jenna
As you finalize your Thanksgiving menu, here are some great ideas to zhuzh up your celebration and add a little garden magic with our top 5 Thanksgiving tips we shared with Hoda & Jenna on the Today Show this week.
Click here if you missed the episode!
Photo Courtesy of Today.com
Layer, Layer, Layer
Create a festive table by adding layers which weaves an interesting image for the eye and can definitely spark great conversation. Begin with a tablecloth. Try green which I consider a neutral. It’s also a huge color for 2022! Top with another more colorful cloth which will help your color scheme pop. My source for this tablecloth is my talented artist friend Kat McCall.
Photo Courtesy of Today.com
2. Place Setting
Elevate your place setting! In this case, I repurposed a grapevine wreath, added moss from a local craft store then placed my charger and china atop. Collect items from flea markets or a local estate sale year year round – it’s a fun way to add to your collection. The silver goblets I used came from Scott’s Flea Market in Atlanta.
Photo Courtesy of Today.com
3. Centerpiece
Believe it or not, my base is a piece of driftwood! I stuff and shoved pretty grocery store flowers and added living plants. After the holiday, I can put these plants in containers and, in spring, add to my garden. My pro tip I shared was skip the hassle of messy watering by adding ice cubes.
Photo Courtesy of Kat McCall Papers
4. A “Happy” Party Favor
Our Thanksgiving table had two “happys” or party favors. Traditionally called a sercie, I like to think about what my guests are passionate about and Hoda and Jenna love to read! Kat McCall created custom painted book plates which also served as table placecards. Now, when Jenna loans a book, it’s a pretty reminder to return it to the owner! The chairs were adorned with baskets of fresh plants. Pop into a plastic bag and send your guests home with a pretty bouquet.
Photo Courtesy of Today.com
Photo Courtesy of Today.com
5. Children’s Thanksgiving Table
Repeat the color for the adult table to make your younger guests feel special. Transform the napkins into turkeys and let the feathers become a game of “I Spy” to keep the kiddos occupied. The winner gets a chocolate wishbone! For the silverware, grab your cups and dip them in chocolate and add sprinkles. Fill with that leftover candy corn. Pop in the silverware and a fun straw. We also repeated the bookplates as placecards for Hoda and Jenna’s children - perfect for an autographed children’s book you’ll keep for generations.
Photo Courtesy of Today.com
Photo Courtesy of Today.com
Bonus Ideas - Creation Station!
Taking a tiered server, I added four layers of fun! On top, grab inexpensive seasonal photo props and cameras to capture the fun. Turkey bowling will be a big hit. We spray painted the pins adding feathers and faces and you can bowl with pumpkins! The kids will also love popcorn turkey bags. Fill a brown paper bag with pop corn. Add sandwich bags with popcorn as the legs, tying them off and wrapping with construction paper. Let an adult do the honors of “carving” and your kids will have a popcorn appetizer.
The final fun item was the candycopia! Again, using leftover Halloween candy, adored the wicker cornucopia with candy, fill with cookies and candies of your choice which makes a sweet treat or even a centerpiece for your young guests!
Follow Along My Adventures!
Huge thanks to my team who made this whole experience possible because it took some experts to help me navigate a truck filled with fun in New York City! I also appreciated all the kind notes, comments and posts from you!
More holiday fun is ahead! Be sure you connect with me on Facebook and Instagram and check out all of our Tik Toks DIYs here!