When my older son, Seth, started preschool in 2007, I was put on the Thanksgiving party committee. We had turkey sandwiches (cut into turkeys using cookie cutters), cookie pilgrim hats, apple slices with pumpkin pie dip, and moon pie turkeys. I had decorated moon pies for Halloween after seeing the idea in a magazine (probably Southern Living, All You, or Family Fun, I don’t remember which). I had several moon pies, bags of candy corn, and chocolate almond bark left over, so I got creative and came up with moon pie turkeys!

Now, if you are not from the South, you may not know what a moon pie is, but let me tell you, there is not a more Southern snack than a moon pie with an RC Cola (except maybe peanuts and a glass bottle Coke!). A moon pie is “the perfect combination of marshmallow, graham and chocolate” - just check out the story on www.moonpie.com!

I’ve made moon pie turkeys every year since 2007, either for class Thanksgiving parties or our family Thanksgiving meal or both. Moon pie turkeys are easy and fun to make, so be sure to include kids for this treat! It has become a tradition for my boys to get in the kitchen and help me make them each year. In fact, this year when I brought home the boxes of moon pies, Seth excitedly asked, “Is it time for moon pie turkeys?!” 

Simply melt chocolate almond bark and place in a piping bag with a small round tip. Insert candy corns point down into the edge of the moon pie to make the turkey’s tail feathers. Pipe the melted chocolate around the top edge of the moon pie. Next pipe a dot of chocolate on the flat side and place a candy corn on it point down again to make the beak. As the chocolate dries, it will hold the candy corns in place. I also like to use orange candi-quik to make the eyes by just piping two dots over the beak. I use mini moon pies when I can find them, just because they are the perfect size for kids to hold on to and eat, and usually there are plenty of other desserts around! 

I love having a Thanksgiving tradition that’s fun to make with my kids! I hope you’ll enjoy making your own moon pie turkeys! Do you have any other fun Thanksgiving traditions? We’d love to hear about them! Tell us in the comments below or on our Facebook page.

I shared a post earlier this year about using your special things to make an ordinary get-together a memorable event. Here's just one thought from that post:

“Take the time to pull out your fancy and special pieces to make your next occasion all the more exciting. A few extra minutes for clean up is well worth the result. Being expensive isn't what makes a piece special, it's all the memories shared over those pieces that will one day tell a story. I can't wait to add more memories to my things and have a home filled with all that love.”

I know that most people these days opt for the paper plates and disposable cups at Thanksgiving—but what if we really were intentional about our time spent with family and friends and created opportunities to love on, encourage and talk with one another? Yes, disposable items take the hassle out of clean up, but clean up can be fun! I can remember watching the women in my family all stay in the kitchen after a meal sharing in the clean up and talking all the while. What they talked about, I don't know—but I do know that they were together.  

Using your special things doesn't just look pretty to your guests, but it makes them feel special! The place cards we created and used are another way to make your guests feel special.
“Because of this day--a day when a heart full of gratitude meets a home full of love, laughter and a lot of food--we want to share a sweet and simple printable for you and yours.  This place card printable is a quick and easy way to begin your day being thankful for those that fill your home.  Take a moment to reflect on each name as you write it in.  Take this opportunity to thank The Lord for the place that each of these names hold in your life and heart.”

I am so thankful for Phillip and the family that came along with him. I am so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people in my life and I hope that I can show them how much they are appreciated and loved this holiday season.

Now, have you been wondering what in the world is on my table?  Well let me just tell you.  I used my fine china, crystal glasses, vintage silver plate flatware and linen napkins--all of which were wedding gifts!  I scattered votive holders around the center tray to add a little sass.

Inside the tray, I temporarily "arranged" some of my favorite plants. (I literally "borrowed" them from my yard!)  I have fallen in love with ornamental cabbages this Fall and I can't get enough of them!  They love sunlight, cool weather, well drained soil and a moderate amount of water.  For these reasons, they must be planted outside and should not stay in my tray for long.  I also added a few varieties from my succulent garden to break things up a bit.  Who doesn't love succulents?  Finally, I gathered a couple of colorful acorn squash to add a harvest touch to my centerpiece.  

A few helpful hints:
The tray I chose to use was a wooden decorative one--so I was sure to line it with tin foil before I started.  The plant-filled tray should not be used more than a day or two since it is only for decorative purposes.  I made sure the soil was a bit damp before I started rather than feeling the need to water my arrangement once I was finished. (That could result in a mess!)  Be sure to return your plants to their happy place once your special occasion is over to ensure that they remain healthy.    

Thanksgiving is upon us.  To me, this is a time when family and friends set the daily grind aside and come together for sweet (and much needed) communion.  It is often this day, out of every year, that reminds us what we love most about each other.  It is often this day that draws us to each other, sharing in the sorrows and joys of the months before and months to come.  It is often this day that we reflect on our blessings and realize how thankful we are for those that sit at our table.  Because of this day--a day when a heart full of gratitude meets a home full of love, laughter and a lot of food--we want to share a sweet and simple printable for you and yours.  This place card printable is a quick and easy way to begin your day being thankful for those that fill your home.  Take a moment to reflect on each name as you write it in.  Take this opportunity to thank The Lord for the place that each of these names hold in your life and heart.

Click below to open the file and print your cards.  Check back in later this week to see how I decided to set my Thanksgiving table, using these sweet place cards!