Show How Grateful You Are This Thanksgiving

“No matter what our circumstance, we can find a reason to be thankful.” ~ David Jeremiah

Thanksgiving will be here before we can say “Pumpkin Pie!” No matter the size of your holiday, it is about the spirit of being ‘Thankful.’ We got together with the team and came up with 11-best, last-minute, thanksgiving ideas you’re going to love. Even if you have nothing planned, these tips are sure to get you into the Thanksgiving Spirit. If you don’t know what to plan,  you can get ‘Cooking’ with this article.

1. Table Settings with Meaning
2.  Holiday Breakfast À la carte
3.  Cabin Retreat and Dinner Via Mountainside
4.  Fresh Tablescapes
5.  Give and Be Thankful
6.  Meet them at the Door with a Thank You Wreath
7.  Plan an Outdoor Celebration (Weather Permitting)
8. Let a Local Restaurant Give You the Bird
9.  Gift for the Chocoholics
10.  Bourbon it Up
11.  Teatime & Gratitude Hour

Thanksgiving Table Settings with Meaning 

Traditionally, many of you gather with friends and family. While we know the circumstances are different for 2020. However, we think it is important to remember those who love and care for us. Perhaps that means even more now than before. An elegant way of doing this, even with the smallest of parties, is by the table settings. Regardless of the size of your party, write a thankful note telling the person (s) why you appreciate them. When you seat them, they’ll see the note and gush with joy. Everyone wants appreciation. This is a good time of year to show off that gratitude by saying it in your own words. (Psst, it’s better than a text)

Host a Holiday Breakfast or Brunch it Up!

A holiday breakfast café at home can be done À la carte, where you can set up different breakfast bars like they do at a resort. Hire a caterer if you don’t want to DIY. But you’ll have some fun brunching’ and munching at the different stations. Make a section for omelets, a fruit and juice bar and a seafood on ice display. Keep it simple or go all out. 

Spend the Holiday in the Mountains

Spend some time at a cabin retreat and enjoy dining via mountainside. As long as you’ve got the necessities such as outdoor heaters, or a fire pit, you can enjoy the luxury of sharing Thanksgiving with nature. Now, as the meteorologists are reporting, we could end up with too much snow, but you know Colorado weather, one minute its snowing and the next the sun is blazing. The holiday may still be comfortable where you can spend time on the deck or porch. Just imagine how a cabin retreat inspires you to stroll back in time, thinking of how the settlers enjoyed giving thanks. If you don’t own a cabin, there may be time to rent or try an Airbnb location.  Spend the day wallowing in gratitude you get to live in a cool state like Colorado.

A Fresh Look for Your Table 

Another acceptable way to give thanks and praise is to decorate your table with fresh ideas. You don’t have to be wealthy to enjoy tablescapes with fresh-cut flowers and sprigs of pine. Plan your table ahead of time and make some purchases at the local gift shops. Earle’s Loveland Floral & Gifts is a nice place to start. You can also check out Made in Colorado for some unique, handcrafted items by local artists. Pinterest is always full of ways to set the table in style. Be sure to follow me on Pinterest for some great boards and pins.

Give to a Local Charity 

While many of us are trying to contemplate what side dishes to serve, we can’t forget this is the time to give. Many residents are going without this year and as Coloradoans, it’s in our nature to take care of each other. Give to a local charity, such as Habitat for Humanity, or shop for some treasures at Restore. Either way, you’ll be helping others through grace and kindness.

Display a ‘Thank You’ Wreath  

Do not wait till dinner to show your gratitude. Display a wreath on the front door with personalized cards for your family or guests. What a pleasant way to welcome them into your home. Inside each card, you can write reasons you love that person or admire them. This tip is a good way to kick off any party.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors, Even if it is Snowing

Even if the weather is snowing, you can plan an outdoor celebration. Some tent rentals are still available, but you’d better hurry to book them, today. If you haven’t thought to do so, try splitting up the day with some outdoor activities like building a snowman or a frozen turkey. If we have a nice layer of snow, you can take a family photo while the powder is still fresh. The point is, don’t stay locked down indoors all day when there’s still a lot you can do on this wonderful holiday.

Let a Local Restaurant Give You the Bird!

Let the local restaurants ‘Give you the bird!’ Rather than doing all the cooking yourself, you can help support businesses hit hard by ordering from directly from them. Many of these smaller ‘Mom and Pop’ shops are still taking orders for a full Thanksgiving dinner. Just think of how nice it will be to have someone else cook while you are providing much needed funds to keep them thriving.

Gift the Chocoholic

Gifting the chocoholics in your life is just another way to say, ‘Thank you’ so they can’t help but accept. Chocolate-covered strawberries are an excellent treat for the entire family. If you have someone who doesn’t like chocolate fruit or is allergic, consider dipping some pretzel sticks and rolling them in a variety of toppings like sprinkles or Reeses Pieces. This is also a great way to get everyone involved. More so, who doesn’t love chocolate?

Adult Thanksgiving Spirits

If you’re spending your Thanksgiving adulting, why not break out the bourbon? Local distilleries, such as Big Fat Pastor Spirits, offer a Soul Searching Bourbon Whiskey, which is so smooth. You can still taste the oak barrel, but there’s no doubt your grown-up friends would love to share a sip, appreciating life’s finest details.

Teatime & Gratitude Hour

Teatime & gratitude hour may be all you need to reflect on the year’s graces. While many of us are hoping 2021 will be better, we are beholden to living in the moment. Take a tea break and enjoy some peaceful time to remember why we celebrate. The promise of prospering, owning land and practicing faith were all the goal of the settlers. Many of us still hold those same goals, today. It is important to remember those who care and who love us and to give back whenever we can. 

As history has led us here today, we hope you enjoy family, friends and new beginnings.