It's December 1st and officially the start of the holiday season. Bring on the Christmas cards! If you haven't checked out hello lucky, you may want to. They have an incredible selection of holiday cards.

The details are stunning. Choose from Christmas cards, photo cards, Hanukkah cards or Letterpress.

For easy access to their holiday cards, see them in the left sidebar.

If you're looking to impress this holiday season, Sucré is your answer. The perfect hostess gift.. something for that all too impossible to shop for person on your list, your spouse, your best friend, all of them will love what Sucré has to offer.

Macaroons, simple, colorful and delicious.. they're a sure fire hit and almost too pretty to eat.

When the Sugar and Spice Holiday collection showed up on our front porch, serious fighting ensued. The girls, Ryan and I all wanted them. They were heavenly, but I wanted to put these chocolates to the test (even if it meant sacrificing my own desires). I phoned our good friends, knowing they are well versed in the land of chocolate. If they gave Sucré the stamp of approval, that would be the best indicator of all.

I am happy to say they passed with flying colors. They have Dr. Greg and Sara's stamp of approval.. so it's official, they are GOOD!

and they look like pretty glass marbles. You should try some. You'll be glad you did.

Special offer for T+T readers: $10 off your order of $70+ (this can be used for multiple addresses) by using code SUCRÉ at checkout.

Gratitude Journal: Guest Post by Jenn Kirk

What I hope will be a yearly tradition for the month of November is creating a gratitude journal with my children.

At the beginning of the month, I told my oldest son Kai the story about the pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving dinner. Each day after, I'd ask him for one thing he was grateful for. I thought it would be fun to record his responses in a book and even had him photograph the things he was grateful for. There were a lot of repeats (hence the book not being very long!) with 'toys' coming up often enough to make me question my parenting skills. But the result is a handmade gratitude journal filled with sweet pictures that Kai took himself. Sweet because I love seeing what inspires him.




As for food, what is now becoming a tradition in our family is to have a very non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Having grown up on rice and noodles, I've always looked forward to turkey and mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving, but the novelty is completely lost on my husband. So instead of cooking a turkey, I will be roasting a chicken and making a goat cheese and bell pepper pizza -- requests from Kai and my husband. I'm usually a straight-to-dessert type of person, so my treat will be a flourless chocolate cake.

Hope you all get your feast on and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Jenn

featured.

Be sure to check out me out on Sensibly Styled today! They're featuring my Thanksgiving outfit pics, and lots of others. They are inspiration for sure. (not mine.. but the others).

One Final Tip and Sanity Saver from amr

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Or keep your sanity and "savor" this. This is not exactly an idea - more a tip. My mom is a world class cook. No kidding. Her stuffing is made from bread crumbs that she crumbled herself from bread she made herself a few days earlier. Thanksgiving dinner is no joke at my house. It pains me to say this (and I secretly hope she doesn't read it) but last year I had my first bite of Costco's pumpkin pie. And then I had another and another - then another. I kid you not. It tasted EXACTLY the same. I could nearly swear it was made from my mom's own homemade pumpkin pie recipe. So if you're desperate for a little help and relief from your kitchen this week - remember Costco can fool even the most home grown palates.

Thanksgiving Day Lunch: Winter Squash Soup

Despite the heavy meal that looms in the late afternoon/early evening, it's still necessary to eat lunch on Thanksgiving Day. I understand that it's temptation to skip over lunch on Thanksgiving because it's one of theose things you don't want to make time for amidst all the preparation and cooking going on. But, around 11 or 12 your body will be ready for some nourishment.

Each year we like to make this soup for Thanksgiving Day lunch. It's simple, it's easy to make, it's light, and most importantly...delicious! Serve with a light salad, a crusty roll or the Gruyere toasts mentioned with the recipe and you've nailed it. To save time, make the soup a day ahead...soups almost always taste better 24 hours later! Another added time saver is to purchase pre-cut butternut squash at your local gourmet grocery store (refrigerated produce section) or at Costco.

Enjoy!

Stephmodo

Thanksgiving by amr

To me the holidays are all about happy. Whatever I can do to brighten the experience and put a smile on my (and my family's) face - you can be assured I'm all over it! I'm an idea girl - but I've learned from experience that I can't let my brain go too crazy. All the fabulous ideas and projects in the world won't save a stressful and strung-out celebration. So I thought I would share some really simple and successful Thanksgiving tips that won't send you screaming out the back door (a reference to my dear mother who advises me in stressful situations to do that very thing - open the back door and give a good holler. Try it! You'll be surprised how much release it gives :)

First, here is my very favorite recipe for rolls. And I think the title of the recipe will be a good indicator why:

NEVER FAIL REFRIGERATOR ROLL.

As a former roll failure, I was quite giddy to discover a recipe with such promise and encouragement in a few simple words. The biggest trick to these rolls is remembering to make them the day before you take them. Yep, that's the biggest trick. Sounds simple, right? There is one last warning and that is this: Be careful when you bring them anywhere...because they are so soft,delicious, and addictive - you'll be asked to bring them to all your holiday and family functions from then on.

Never Fail Refrigerator Roll

1c. milk

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. sugar

Melt together, don't scorch. Set aside to cool.

1 scant T. yeast

1/4 c. warm water

Dissolve yeast in warm water. (Add just a bit of sugar to aid in dissolving the yeast.)

2 t. sugar

3 eggs, beaten

4 c. flour

1 1/2 t. salt

Combine eggs and sugar and beat with a fork. Add the milk mixture and yeast and blend with a fork. Add the flour and salt and stir with a fork. (Or just do it all with your kitchen aid- that's what I did) Put in fridge overnight, covered tightly.

Two hours before you want to serve the rolls, roll the dough into a circle on a floured surface. Your dough will be sticky, so use enough flour. Spread with softened or melted butter. Cut into pie shaped wedges (24) and roll up like a croissant. Let rise 2 hours at room temperature.

Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.
Next up, a fun project to send to those you won't get to celebrate with. If your family is anything like mine, you are spread across the states and don't get to spend each holiday with all your family members. This is an especially fun idea for the grandparents who won't be seated at your Thanksgiving table this year.

You know those cute hand print turkeys your kids make at school? Use one of those or make one of your own by painting and "stamping" each child's hand onto cardstock - or even simpler, just trace their hand with crayons and let them color it in with the appropriate turkey details. (Googly eyes are always a hit if you have them on hand.) Either fold the paper in half to make a card or cut it out and paste it onto another piece of cardstock.
Once you have your card, help them print the following poem on the inside:
This isn't just a turkey
As anyone can see
I made it with my hand
Which is a part of me
It comes with lots of love
And I'd like to say
I hope you have a very
Happy Thanksgiving Day

Sweet and simple and sure to put a smile on some faces.

Another fun idea that gets everyone involved in the Thanksgiving Day menu is to set up a voting station. We did this last year for Christmas dinner and it was a huge hit. This year we have used our chalkboard wall to "vote" on Thanksgiving sides about a week before the big day. Sometimes when friends and neighbors drop by, we've asked them to add their favorites to the wall. We are guaranteed our traditional favorites, but this is a fun way to add a couple new twists to the menu.
My last idea - is only an idea - or rather an unchartered recipe. I haven't tested it yet, but am hoping to get to it this weekend. If you make it before I do (or you've made it before) please let me know if it is as delectably delicious as it sounds. I found it in "Southern Lady" magazine. (How much do you love that name? In my mind I see a boardroom full of Paula Deans brainstorming oodles of ideas and recipes.)

Pumpkin Cheesecake Fudge
Makes about 3 pounds

3 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 (11-ounce) package white chocolate morsels
1 (7-ounce) jar marshmallow crème
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups walnuts, toasted

1. Line a 13x9x2-inch pan with aluminum foil; set aside.

2. In a Dutch oven, combine sugar, butter, milk, pumpkin, corn syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon over medium-high heat. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer registers 234°.

3. Remove from heat; stir in white chocolate until melted. Stir in remaining ingredients until smooth. Quickly pour into prepared pan. Let cool for 2 hours. Cut into small squares to serve.
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Phew! That's all folks! I hope you've enjoyed some of my Thanksgiving ideas. Thanks Brittany, for letting me be a part of your fantastic blog. It's always been one of my favorites...and fellow readers, please stop by Melt by amr and say hello.