Today I am joining my pals Mary Ann and Annie for our Sunday favorites. I am going to try and get a jump on my holiday shopping. I am sharing Hostess Gifts, a Great Outfit and Salad you Don’t Want to Miss. (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available here)
FALL IN THE GARDEN
I know some of you don’t follow me on Instagram. If you would like to you can do so here. I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the fall color in our garden.
The beautiful copper trellis was built by my brother in law. Next year the david austin climbers will start to make a real show. My brother-in-law sells his trellis’ on etsy here. He makes all different sizes and configurations. He would be happy to work with you on customization.
HOSTESS GIFTS THAT WILL GET YOU INVITED BACK
Have you tried googliing hostess gifts? Some of the goofiest items come up. Why not give your host or hostess something they will use rather than something that gets shoved away in a drawer. I love this monogrammable apron from Williams and Sonoma (their is a kids version too that I am ordering for Summer). My favorite candle from votivo comes in this pretty tortoise holder. Red Currant is a scent you can enjoy year round, not just during the holidays. I have started using my cookbooks again. I have my eye on this one from Ina. Pottery Barn always has great hostess gifts at affordable prices. I love the horn cheese knives set, the initial charcuterie boards,and the initial marble coasters. I just bought this wood salt cellar for myself (very inexpensive on Amazon). I never have enough white serving bowls. This white one from WS is calling my name. We love the stemless flat bottom wine glasses. They are almost impossible to knock over!
SHOP HOSTESS GIFTS
OUTFIT OF THE WEEK
It’s that time of year. We are all thinking about what we will be wearing for the holidays. We generally host between 20-25 people for Thanksgiving. We keep it casual, but I still want to look respectable. I am on the hunt for a pretty sweater dress. They are so versatile in my opinion. I am really loving the olive and green combo this year.
SHOP THE OUTFIT OF THE WEEK
101 COOKBOOKS APPLE BROCCOLI SALAD
I made 101 Cookbook’s Apple Broccoli Salad with a few tweaks for dinner with friends on Friday night. I substituted walnuts for the pine nuts because that is what I had. I added a pinch of red pepper flakes and 1/4 tsp of dijon to the dressing. It needed a little more zip in my opinion. I loved the combination of the broccoli, apples, walnuts and fried shallots.
IS IT JUST ME?
I am a blogger. I should be posting holiday stuff right now. I just can’t do it until after Thanksgiving. I want to enjoy each holiday individually. I don’t mean to be a scrooge. Is it just me? How do you feel about this?
That is all from my desk this week. Thank you for reading Hostess Gifts, a Great Outfit and Salad you Don’t Want to Miss. You can find my previous Sunday favorites right here in case you would like to revisit any of them. Now let’s pop over and visit Annie and Mary Ann for the favorites.
MOST LOVELY THINGS
CLASSIC CASUAL HOME
Great ideas for gifts Cindy, and I love the outfit (would look great on you). The salad looks delish! I agree with you and thanks for staying with Thanksgiving. I personally love Thanksgiving, just family/friends and a traditional dinner. No gifts, wrapping or added running around. I decorate for fall and we enjoy the season. That said, the day after there is an explosion of Christmas and the tree goes up.
Hi Barb
You and I are on the same page. The day after Thanksgiving full steam ahead!!
Cindy great outfit.. So many good sweater dresses out now and they are great for Thanksgiving and the holidays.. Your hostess gifts are all so nice! Love that candle especially.
Hi Kim
I ordered the dress hopefully it looks okay on me! I love the votivo candles. They are wonderful and don’t cost an arm and a leg!
I am with you Cindy, I want to enjoy each Holiday on its own. I do not care for it when Christmas decorations come out right after Thanksgiving. It is like they just want to skip right over it. I really do not care for it when they start playing Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving either.
Hi Holly
I understand that the retailers want to maximize the holidays but Halloween is a little too early for me!!
Good evening Cindy,
I love that outfit! I think it will look beautiful on you for the holidays.
And the hostess gifts are perfect. I typically bring a candle, wine and some homemade things, either nuts, candy or bread they can enjoy at a later date.
As for Christmas. We always decorate early for Christmas, have even before I stated blogging. Between my husband and I, kids(my step-kids)families, parties, schedules and travel there is no time to do it and be able to enjoy it in December, For years we traveled to visit the kids(and grands) in South America for 2 weeks in December or to Europe to visit my brother and his family and that doesn’t leave much time to decorate and enjoy when we return home.
Not to mention when family comes for Thanksgiving they are not typically here at Christmas and then they miss out on the festive decorations.
We still have a beautifully set thanksgiving table without the Christmas accoutrements and enjoy the holiday for what it is, time spent with those we love and are thankful and grateful for.
I also do a LOT of baking for the holidays for us, the people we are hosting, a women’s shelter and to ship across the country to various families. Getting my decor up and Christmas cards written before Thanksgiving allows me the time to finish other things and enjoy the holiday too.
Last but not least, I say to each his own. I know people who keep a small Christmas tree up all year because it makes them happy. My mom listens to Christmas music all year for the same reason.
I am off to check out your BIL trellis’, they looks beautiful. As does your garden Cindy.
Have a wonderful week!
Elizabeth
I love each season and really enjoy giving them their due. Halloween on my street is a big deal and very special. Then I do simple Thanksgiving decor. I live Thanksgiving and this year , I’ve decorated with leaves that I gathered, then sparked them with clear acrylic paint to give them a shine and a longer life. I put little white/green striped pumpkins on handmade cherry pedestal candles.I found some velvet pumpkins and decorated a tiered tray with them and some bittersweet. I brought buckeyes back from Indiana and have them in small hand thrown pots. On the Monday after Thanksgiving I make my Christmas wreath — usually boxwood and juniper berries, this year I plan on adding white berries. I have a beautiful Chrystal Alto Avalar vases which I wil fill with ornament and Holly. I am not doing a tree this year, but I will be getting out my Nativity collection. The snow stopper is a French Santon Village, that I have been collect on my trips to France. I am planting a large display with wonderful Amaryllis and another one in the large blue and white striped urn. Holly and Magnolias on the mantle. And that is it. I love the olive sweater dress-/ it would be beautiful with my new Jennifer Ware scarf.?one again you made the holidays seem so inviting.
I’d love to see a photo of your French Village Nativity collection. Once you get it set up in December, perhaps Cindy will post it for you??? It might be fun to see wreaths, table settings, vignettes or trees that people in this group are enjoying. Cindy does such lovely, cohesive displays in her house and yard.
Hi Garden Goddess
I think that is a great idea…send me your photos and I will post on my Instagram stories!!
Hi Beth
That sounds wonderful! Send us pictures!! I had a nice visit with Bill and Pat while they were here. I am so glad you two connected!!
I so agree with Christmas decorating after Thanksgiving. I love fall and it’s nice to enjoy it for a while. I’m in retail and we have to decorate early so I leave it at that. I think if I decorate at home to early I get tired of it. So enjoy each season when it arrives! Thank you for that!
Hi Lorrie
I have in the past (due to the blog) decorate earlier and I found I got tired of it too. The day after Thanksgiving works for me!
I’m agree with not rushing our Holidays. Thanksgiving is such a friend/family event, with little pressure; even the typical menu is easy. . It is a relaxing holiday and hate to see it pushed aside for Christmas. We do love Christmas but we should savor each holiday. Great hostess gift ideas! I ordered a couple of the salt boxes (and think I’ll get more). Thinking with the additional of some pink Himilayan salt will make lovely hostess/neighbor gifts. Also love the wine glasses and apron
Hi AJ
That is exactly what I was thinking re the salt safe. You could also add a small wooden spoon with a ribbon! I love mine!
Glad to see you staying away from Christmas so early! For me, Thanksgiving is extra-special and deserves to be recognized. By delaying, Thanksgiving get its due and the magic of the holiday season is enhanced. I so remember, as a little girl in the Bay Area, going into Oakland and the City the weekend after Thanksgiving to see Santa and all the sparkling, beautiful decorations. Oh, the displays in the department stores were delightful! It was so magical and it seems a lot of that magic is lost, even to little ones, when the promotion goes on SO long.
Hi Barbara
I couldn’t agree more. For me personally the day after is the right time. I have also learned to get my pumpkins earlier so I can enjoy them for a couple months as well.
I am Canadian and as a previous poster noted our Thanksgiving has long gone..it was a bit earlier this year too. We leave our fall decor up until mid November, augmented with some Halloween decorations towards the end of October for the grand children two of whom are Halloween babies ! It comes down Nov 2. We put our outdoor lights up around now so no frozen fingers…but they are not turned on for a few weeks. In Canada we observe November 11 as Remembrance Day and there is a push for folks to not decorate or turn Christmas lights on until after that day out of respect. My Dad is still alive at 98 and was in the Air Force during WWII so we leave off all the Christmas decor until post 11/11 to honour him and other veterans.
I have started my Christmas Cake so it can marinate over the coming weeks…but with three birthdays in December husband (7) and two sons (24 & 21) the twelfth month will see plenty of celebrating…November is for resting, cleaning and planning!
Enjoy your holidays as they come!
My husband is a retired Hallmark Cards Sales Executive…Christmas for him used to start in January 🙁
Hi Ally
We left our lights on our olive trees so it will be easy (hopefully) this year. I want to come to your home for the Christmas season. It sounds so festive and fun!!
Cindy, stay strong with no-Christmas before Thanksgiving! Every holiday is more special if it is the sole focus. Timing also limits the amount of crazy-making extras.
My eldest gave me the great gift of being born 2 weeks before Christmas. So, for us, Christmas decorations and festivities started on Dec. 12th. Athough he’s all grown up I still do that, and am happier for it.
Hi Ellen
I agree. It is hard as a blogger. I no longer do group blog hops because they are so early. Annie, Mary Ann, and I do our own so it can be after Thanksgiving!
I’m with you Cindy! I like to keep each holiday separate and it seems everything is just too commercialized and comes too quick and early. Everyone has their Christmas lights and trees up by me already and I just can’t bring myself to do so until the day after Thanksgiving. To me, that’s traditional.
Hi Shelley
I think everyone should do what works for them and they enjoy. For me personally, before Thanksgiving is too early!
A BIG no on the Christmas decor before Thanksgiving. I actually saw a Christmas tree on a car top yesterday! What? I find I get too burned out if it starts too early and with Thanksgiving being my favorite holiday, I like to let it shine on its own. Thanks for waiting.
Hi Holly
We are in the same camp. I get too burned out too and then I don’t enjoy either!!
Thank you for voting for separating the holiday decorations!
Hi Mary
I like to enjoy both individually. It works for me.
Cindy! Your outfit of the week is gorgeous as always! The scarf reminds me of Libeco! I love both colors!
Your gift guide is perfect!
Xx
Hi Annie
I love that BR scarf. I wish it came in more colors!!
Oops! Sorry to jump ahead of the season, but your charcuterie boards were what set me off.
I’ve four daughters, five great granddaughters who all have their own homes. In the past I tried to give along with a Christmas check a personal gift. I’ve given up. One year each gal received a white jeans jacket. The year before each received a charcuterie board from Amazon, which came with a set of miniature chalkboards & a white pen, to identify the type of cheese served. The set also included serving utensils. The guys received a set of flavored mixes for drinks, they came in glass tubes, not recommended. One other year each family was gifted a canvas photo with family names on directional signs . This year, I’m giving Xmas ornaments from our trip to Ireland. And probably something as an artist I’ve created. No checks! Why? Each are self sufficient, my checks for most of them, are just added to the pot. And in my opinion, not memorable. Do others of you at the age closer to eighty feel the same?
Hi Ann
We give our kids a night or two somewhere special. I also do pj’s & a book Xmas eve.
Hello! I put out all my Fall decor the first week in September. I enjoy it until the end of October when all the Christmas decor comes out:) Our family loves celebrating our Savior’s birth and the Christmas season! Beginning October 31st, we start decorating and enjoy the leisurely process for several days! I do keep the kitchen decorated with white pumpkins along with the Christmas Coffee Area and Hot Chocolate Bar.
We’ve done this for over 30 years and we love it!
We still have a fabulous family Thanksgiving with a Fall decorated table.
Hope everyone enjoys their family traditions!
Hi Judy
It sounds like you have a good plan!
We’re just starting to get fall weather here in Texas so I never put up Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving. I love the fall here so I want to enjoy it as long as possible. I love a laid back Thanksgiving We’ve been having Thanksgiving with the same friends for the last 15 years. We use our nice dishes but the rest of the day is laid back..
Hi Diane
I agree. We don’t have fall here until almost Christmas! Maybe that is part of it. My trees are turning but we will not have chilly weather until later.
Hi Diane
I hear you! Your Thanksgiving sounds wonderful.
It’s not just you. Stores (not craft stores) were putting out Halloween merchandise before 10/31. That’s a big No! from me. Let us enjoy/experience each season/holiday before moving on to the next.
Hi Leu
I do feel it has gotten a little out of hand with the retailers. I do understand that diyers and crafters need to purchase things early in order to complete them. Everything was already on sale when I went to grab a few items for my fall wreath that I put up the 1st of October!
Thank you for not posting anything Christmas this early! So many bloggers are and I won’t read those posts. I scroll right past them!
Hi Cathy
I know bloggers like to get ideas out there for their peeps so they can order etc. I know I am the odd man out, but it works for me.
Thank goodness this is a Christmas free post
(I love Christmas- but in December)
Ordered the scarf for my husband- I will probably borrow it…
Hi Joy
I am okay anytime after Thanksgiving!
I totally agree with giving Thanksgiving its due time. It’s my favorite holiday, in large part because our extended family has traditionally gotten together for this holiday. It means more and more to my cousins and me every year. Christmas can wait!
Hi Barb
I like to enjoy the fall holidays. It is my favorite time to decorate. I will say here in Ca it is a challenge because sometimes it is too hot to put pumpkins outside. I decorate inside first and then outside. This year I limited my outside pumpkin decor!
Completely agree.
Feel the holidays from Halloween to Christmas are one blur. My neighbour already has Christmas decorations out that I have to look at until Jan.
Could we just have some down time between these holidays.
Hi Mary
Your post made me chuckle!
I don’t see any reason to not decorate. Having some winter decor during the Thanksgiving dinner does not in any way take away from the dinner with family & friends or take away from being Thankful. I certainly wouldn’t put up the tree, as I’m seeing so many do on blogs and Instagram. But, having said that, I’m Canadian. Our Thanksgiving is much earlier in October. I wait until after Halloween to decorate. By that time the leaves are falling, the temps are colder, and the nights get dark earlier. Having some twinkle lights cozy up the room. No tree though. To me, that is a very Christmas thing. We all have to do what feels right for us.
Hi Joanna
You are absolutely right! I just love Thanksgiviving and can’t bear to decorate for Xmas until after. It has always been a tradition since I have been blogging to get on it the day after!
Thanks for not doing a Xmas centric post! I got a twinge in my stomach worrying that you were going there and I’d be made to feel behind in my plans and preparations! Fall is too wonderful to be cut off early.
Hi Elaine
I couldn’t agree more. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. No decor allowed in this house until after Thanksgiving. Now if we were going to be gone, I might feel differently!
Each holiday in its turn. I understand that retailers need to stock and offer a bit ahead so that customers have a chance to get prepared, but tree ornaments next to pumpkins?!?
Hi Teresa
I had a hard time finding a couple of things even before Halloween…yikes!!
Oh yessss hostess gifts, I have always tried to come up with unique and mindful ones. So love the Aprons❤️ The outfit of the week, Love Love it., Sweater dresses, they are my fav..
Yay I am right with ya on Christmas decor, I want to enjoy each holiday one on one. I have
never varied from the decor holiday thing. It always begins after Thanksgiving.
( omg love that you cook Cornbread Dressing,) My parents cornbread dressing is
truly out of this world delish and we all still have it to this day.
Thank you,
🧡🤎🦃💛💚🌲🌲
It’s not just you. I can’t do anything Christmassy until Thanksgiving is over. I want to enjoy my pumpkins to the very end. The olive knit dress must be a winner – all the smaller sizes are sold out or unavailable at the moment.
Agree wholeheartedly about celebrating each holiday individually. I understand why the blogging world needs to do this, but it is refreshing when I come to a blog and still see the current holiday. Thank you for being true to you.
I was just saying to my husband last night,, Thanksgiving seems to be passed by. My preferred time to decorate for Christmas is two days after Thanksgiving. We meet 50-75 family and friends at a Northern CA beach for 7-10 days every Thanksgiving. We all have motor homes so can cook. We do soup night, appetizer night, and the big feast!
We just returned back home on the central coast of CA from three months touring the US. It was an adventure every day. We were in 24 different states. We saw no Christmas decorations, it is all about fall in New England and elsewhere.
Oh my gosh! what a wonderful adventurer you must be! Would love to see photos or a travelogue of this trip and your Thanksgiving celebrations sounds fabulous!
Hi Greer
That sounds like an absolutely fabulous holiday! I am so jealous! We are going to be getting a puppy in February, so we want to try and squeeze in a trip before. I don’t think we will be going anywhere out of the country until he is fit to be left with a dog sitter!
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! Yet, it seems that it is lost between Halloween and Christmas. It is now common in my area to decorate your Thanksgiving tables with Christmas decor! Love the hostess gift suggestions.
Hi Cindy — I could not agree more about rushing the holiday season. Although I would definitely like to get the shopping out of the way, i can’t think about decorating until after Thanksgiving. I want to enjoy this month just as it is — no pumpkins and no holly, just enjoying the season. Love your hostess suggestions — I’ll be stocking up! The salt cellar is a no brainer, especially with a small bag of special salt or seasoning. And the candle would be good any time.
I’m with you. I want to wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas. Seems like these days it starts even before Halloween is over ! I want to enjoy each holiday on its own.
I’m new to your blog. I’m enjoying it so much. Thank you.
I am a recent subscriber & I have to tell you how much I enjoy your blog. I love your inspiration!
Love your hostess gifts. Especially want to order the cutting boards!
This is the first year that I started Christmas decorating before Thanksgiving…as we will be in California. But I’m just doing a little bit at a time over the next few weeks.
You should order that sweater dress…love the color.
Is it just me? I can’t access the outfit of the week.