happy thanksgiving week!

Because Thanksgiving is so awesome {with the food… and the giving thanks… and the food}, my friends and I decided we might as well celebrate it twice! We got together last week for a full {delicious!} Thanksgiving feast. Here are the menus, a few of the food cards, and the place cards I created for the event:

For place cards, I decided to do something a bit different. Ahndea decorated the table scape with a beautiful blue pumpkin as the centerpiece, so I wanted to play off the organic-shaped pumpkin by making the name pebbles. Have you ever tried this trick before? Super easy. Here’s how to have fun with clear rocks: Purchase glass rocks from the craft store {you can get large ones like I used, or the tiny ones make for great magnets}. Then you can either draw or print whatever design you want to use… I used a calligraphy pen and ink to make the ones pictured {I found the perfect slate blue paper, too!} One of my favorite tricks Chrissy taught me is to use magazines to find the designs–lots of great words and patterns. Next, cut a circle out of the paper about the same size as the rock, just a bit smaller. This does NOT have to be a perfect circle. Please, just freehand it. Because the rock magnifies the image, you can’t even see the jaggedy edges of your imperfect circle. After you cut the circle out, put a dab of Elmer’s glue (or any clear-drying glue) on the paper, and push it, design-side up, next to the flat underside of the rock and hold it tight for about 15 seconds. Then just let them dry! You can chip any excess glue off the rock with your fingernail. {To make magnets, just purchase circle magnets and glue to the back}. Voilà! p.s. my darling husband’s name is Dugan, not Lugan. It just looks like Lugan because of the glare in the photo. Sorry, D!}

I really wanted the paper products to have an easy, rustic feel. From the little watercolor paintings to the calligraphy, everything seems a little bit more approachable when it’s not quite perfect. Here are some shots a friend took from the night. Including the beautiful table Ahndea set, and her beautiful house.

Because the kitchen was a ladies-only operation, I got to do the honor of carving the turkey. I don’t know about you, but wow my friends can cook! And that’s my lemony asparagus up there. Quickest, easiest recipe ever. I make it all the time, now you can too.

Lindsay’s Lemony Asparagus
1 bunch asparagus, washed, with about 1 inch of the ends trimmed off.
Juice of one lemon
Cracked sea salt
Fresh ground pepper
Shakey parmesan cheese
Olive oil
Directions: place asparagus on a baking sheet {one with a lip on it to hold in liquids from dripping}. Drizzle with all ingredients except for the cheese, and mix with your hands. You can taste one raw to make sure that it’s seasoned correctly. Put in 350 oven for about 15 minutes until desired doneness. Sprinkle with parmesan before serving.

I have SO many things to be thankful for! But this particular night, I was thankful for amazing, close friendships… with women that sure know how to cook! I hope this leaves you feeling inspired for the week ahead! xo, linds