How To Decorate for the Season

It's fun to feel cozy in the winter with warm colors and soft, fluffy fabrics. In the summmer, a cool, airy look is appealing. Read here to get some simple ideas for transforming the look of your home with the seasons.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: Varies

Here's How:

1. When the cold weather arrives, have a collection of cozy, fluffy throws to place on your furniture for snuggling. Remove them or replace with soft cotton or silk throws for warmer months.
2. Remove the toasty down-filled duvet from your bed in the spring and substitute a light cotton matalasse bed cover or a simple cotton blanket.
3. Floral arrangements of pine and holiday colors can be changed for light, colorful ones for the spring and summer. Put away dark brass or pottery containers and bring out clear glass or crystal vases.
4. Change dark-patterned decorative pillows by covering them with fresh, floral prints or plaids for warmer weather. Either change out the pillows with a second set or alternate the decorative covers.
   
   
5. If you have a collection of plates on display, put classic holiday designs away for the winter and replace with pretty floral china from grandma.
6. Have your draperies made so they are reversible allowing you to easily turn them from lively to neutral with the seasonal changes.
7. Be sure to put garden magazines and flower books out on the coffee table in the spring and summer. That will help bring the outside in and add color to your interior.

Tips:

1. Keep spring and summer colors and accessories light, both in feel and color.
2. Changing with the seasons gives you an opportunity to get out some long-lost pieces and make them the center of attention for a while.
3. The change of decor can come all at one time, like spring house cleaning, or over a period of several days or weeks. You'll be surprised what a difference just a small change can make.
4. If winter seems especially long, forget the calendar and get your spring things out even if there's snow on the ground. You may still need the warm blankets, but the look can be light and uplifting.

Make Your Own Tissue Decorations

Flower Garland

This garland is made out of paper flowers. The flowers are made with those tissue sheets used for stuffing tote bags and gift boxes. Make your decorations colourful with this garland during the festive seasons.


Things u need:

• Tissue sheets - (I have chosen 3 colours- red, yellow and white for my flowers and dark green for my leaves. I made 8 flowers out of one sheet (20" * 26"). Choose the colours as per your choice.)
• Thick thread
• Scissors
• Needle

How to make the Flowers:

Cut the tissue sheet into strips of length at least 2.5". Mine was 2.5" * 26" (shown in picture).

Fold it into two and cut top side of the paper like the end of the flower petals.

On the other side, crush the paper and roll it in such a way that the starting point becomes center of the flower as shown in picture.

Tie it with a thick piece of thread and cut the extra thread.

Similarly make as many colourful flowers as you like.

How to make the Leaves:

Cut green tissue sheets of size 2.5" * 13".

Fold it like a fan and cut the shape of the leaf on both the sides as shown in picture. Twist the paper with center point in the place and make it as a round shape as shown in picture.

How to make the Garland:

Take a thick thread and insert one end into a needle. Do not cut the other end of the thread from the bundle until you complete the garland.

First insert a leaf into the needle then a flower and again a leaf.

Be careful with your order of colours. Make sure u have inserted leaves between flowers. After completing you can add small bells, beads or any other decorative piece at the bottom of the garland.

Make your celebrations grand and colourful with these easy to make paper flower garland!

Hope you liked it!

Office Decor and Seasonal Decorations

Tissue Decorations Look Awesome

Beautfiul Myspace and Friendster Thanksgiving Comments

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Turkey Cooking Time and Other Energy Efficient Thanksgiving Tips and Pointers

Tips and Tricks to Keep your Thanksgiving Celebrations Environmental Friendly and Energy Efficient

• Defrost frozen items in the refrigerator, not under running water.
• Cook your turkey, vegetables and desserts in recyclable pans such as aluminum.
• When washing dishes, keep soap use to a minimum to reduce the amount of rinse water needed.
• Do not run the kitchen faucet continuously while washing dishes. Use one sink for washing and another, or a separate tub, for rinsing.
• Run only full loads in automatic dishwashers.
• Compost appropriate food scraps instead of running garbage disposals.

The following tips will help keep your food safe as well as delicious:

Separate — Avoid cross-contamination. Separate raw and ready-to-eat foods to prevent the spread of bacteria during preparation and serving. If you have used a cutting board, platter or utensil on raw food, do not use it on cooked or ready-to-eat food unless you have first washed it in hot, soapy water.

Cook – Cooking foods to a high enough temperature for a long enough time will kill harmful bacteria and prevent food-borne illness especially for raw meats, poultry and shellfish. Use a meat thermometer when cooking meats and poultry to ensure they reach proper temperatures. Never partially cook food for finishing later because it will increase the risk of bacterial growth. Casseroles containing eggs should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F. Letting food temperatures drop below 140°F can allow bacteria to grow rapidly.

Chill – Refrigerate foods within two hours; this will prevent bacteria from growing rapidly. This includes custard pies such as sweet potato or pumpkin, and custard filled cakes and pastry. Refrigerators should be set at 40°F and freezers at zero°F. Large masses of meat like turkey should be carved into smaller portions in order to cool more rapidly. Portions will cool better if they are not thicker than four inches.

Discard – Food left out at room temperature for more than two hours should be discarded. Leftovers should be placed in shallow containers and refrigerated immediately.

Clean – Wash hands and cutting surfaces with soap and water. Clean your meat thermometer after using it. Bacteria can spread from knives, cutting boards and hands. Use paper towels to clean up countertops rather than sponges.

Preparing your turkey:

Buying a fresh or frozen turkey is a personal preference and there are different safety tips to keep in mind for each. Buy a fresh turkey no more than two days ahead of cooking time. Make sure you have space in the refrigerator to store the turkey to avoid contaminating other food with the juices from the bird. If you choose to buy a frozen turkey, defrost it in the refrigerator, allowing 24 hours for every five pounds. Never defrost it on the kitchen counter.

You must thaw the bird completely before cooking. If it is not thawed, the outside of the turkey will be done before the inside is hot enough to kill harmful bacteria. Also, the safest way to cook stuffing is separately from the turkey. A stuffed turkey will require different cooking times. Regardless of whether it is inside or outside the turkey, however, the stuffing must reach an internal temperature of 165°F when measured in the center. For stuffing the turkey, mix the ingredients immediately before filling the cavity and stuff loosely to ensure even cooking. The turkey is done when it reaches 180°F in the inner thigh area near the breast but not touching the bone.

Other holiday cooking tips:

People with liver or kidney disorders, diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS or an otherwise weakened immune system should not eat raw or partially cooked oysters, clams or mussels which put them at an increased risk of developing a serious illness. Buy only fresh seafood that is refrigerated or properly iced. Throw away any shellfish that do not open during cooking.

When serving eggnog, keep in mind that raw, unpasteurized eggs are often a source of food-borne disease. Use pasteurized shell eggs or serve commercially prepared eggnog. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises people not to eat raw cookie dough or batter made with raw eggs because the eggs may contain bacteria that can cause an intestinal illness. Thorough cooking will kill the bacteria that cause the infection.

People who are ill should not prepare food. If someone develops symptoms of food-borne illness, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or fever, they should contact their doctor or local health department. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems have an increased risk of developing serious illness and should visit a doctor immediately if they develop these symptoms.

Myspace Thanksgiving Comments (blog and Orkut Comments also)

Flash Comments at WishAFriend.com">

Here is the most comprehensive online list of Thanksgiving comments for your myspace page, or your blog, etc...

NOW YOU TOO CAN SAY THANKS With Fancy Embedded FLASH! (Just like you see above)

Thanksgiving Ecard and Thanksgiving Wishes Ideas

This holiday season, reach out to these folks who may touch your life on a random basis:

1. Teachers. Everyday, our educators work hard to bring out the potential in our young people. Who better to receive a card to say thanks? Include a message addressing all the extra hours, limitless patience, and tireless efforts that bring out the best in your kids.
2. Day Care Providers & Babysitters. What can you say about a great babysitter but how grateful you are for them? Dropping them off and leaving with a peaceful mind is more valuable than any amount of money. Show your appreciation with a Thanksgiving e-card or print out a card and have the kids color it for an extra-special touch.
3. Hairdressers. Making you look good is what they do best. Say thanks or wish a happy day to the one who knows your whole life story, your pet’s favorite treats, and your kids’ latest milestones. An e-card is perfect for the person who knows everything about you; now let them know how grateful you are.
4. Distant Relatives. Families are spread far and wide these days, but sharing holiday spirit is easy with a Thanksgiving e-card. If your grandparents don’t have an email address, grab a free printable version that is ready to send with a personalized message.
5. Coffee Baristas. Waking up is rough, but your coffee barista is ready everyday with your “usual” steaming cup and a bright smile. What better way to start your day? Wish them a happy kickoff to the holiday season with a printed Thanksgiving card with their next tip tucked inside.
6. Neighbor. They get your mail when you’re out of town, lend you sugar when you run out, and watch your kids in a pinch. Say thank you or Happy Turkey Day with an adorable Thanksgiving e-card in their email inbox.
7. Doctors & Veterinarians. Keeping families and pets healthy is their passion, and their patience and knowledge is unsurpassable. At your next appointment, hand off a Thanksgiving card with a coloring sheet from your kids or email them an e-card to their business email address.
8. Mailman. Rain or shine, your mail is in your mailbox thanks to the dedication of the United States Postal Carriers who brave all sorts of weather so you can get the mail you rely on everyday. Give them a piece of mail that they don’t have to deliver and offer up a big thank you with a printable Thanksgiving card.
9. Troops Overseas. Holidays are a time for family and to remember those who, unfortunately, can’t be with the ones they love. Send a Thanksgiving e-card to a service member in your family, circle of friends, or that you know through an acquaintance. The holidays can be hard for our brave men and women so show your support to them by letting them you’re thinking of them.
10. Your son/daughter-in-law’s parents. Holiday traditions vary from family to family, but showing love and appreciation is universal. Let your son or daughter-in-law’s parents know that they are on your mind and that you are happy your families have been united.

Delicious Thanksgiving Recipes (all the Classic Thanksgiving Recipes)

Herbed Roasted Turkey Ingredients 1 whole 12 to 14 lb turkey, 1/2 cup rosemary sprigs(fresh), 1/2 cup sage leaves(fresh), 1 apple(quartered), 1 stalk celery(halved), 1 onion(halved), 1/2 cup butter(melted). Method Remove giblets and neck from turkey; reserve for other uses if desired. Rinse turkey with cold water and pat dry.Loosen skin from the turkey breast a bit not totally detaching. Place rosemary and sage under skin then smooth skin over herbs and back into place.Place apple celery and onion into the neck cavity. Place the turkey breast side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan and brush with melted butter. Cover turkey loosely with a "tent" of aluminum foil. Bake at 325 degrees until meat thermometer registers about 180 degrees. This should take from 3 1/2 to 4 hours but begin checking after 3 hours. Remove turkey and let stand 15 minutes before carving. Serve with gravy.
The Ultimate Pumpkin Pie Ingredients 1 medium sugar pumpkin 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 9-inch frozen pastry for single crust pie 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon dark rum 1 teaspoon salt 4 eggs, lightly beaten 1 cup honey, warmed slightly 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream 1/4 cup chopped pecans Method Cut pumpkin in half, and remove seeds. Lightly oil the cut surface. Place cut side down on a jelly roll pan lined with foil and lightly oiled. Bake at 325° F. until the flesh is tender when poked with a fork. Cool until just warm. Scrape the pumpkin flesh from the peel. Either mash, or puree in small batches in a blender. In large bowl, blend together 2 cups pumpkin puree, spices, and salt. Beat in eggs, rum, honey, milk and cream. Pour filling into pie shell. Bake at 400° F. for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a knife inserted 1 inch from edge of pie comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack and store in refrigerator until ready to serve. To serve, add a large dollop of whipped cream on each slice, then add a light dusting of cinnamon and a pinch of the pecans over the whipped cream. Yield: 9-inch pie.
Thanksgiving Casserole Ingredients 2 cups cooked brown rice (or substitute lentils) 1/2 cup cashews or walnuts, chopped 2 slices of whole wheat vegan bread, chopped into small cubes 1 cup vegetable broth 1/2 cup vegan soymilk 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast 1 rib celery, diced small 1 small onion, finely chopped 3 tablespoon olive oil herbs to taste: sage, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, pepper (or "poultry" seasoning) Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 8- or 9-inch square casserole dish with cooking spray. While rice is cooking, saute celery and onion in the olive oil. Mix well all ingredients in a large bowl. Spread into casserole dish, and bake for 45 minutes. Tastes even better topped with vegan gravy!
Chicken Ala King Ingredients 4 tablespoon butter 1/4 cup flour 1/4 cup finely chopped onion, about 1/2 medium onion 6 oz fresh mushroom, cleaned & sautéed in butter or canned 1/3 cup drained and diced pimiento 2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced (or 2 cups left-over chicken) or microwave or braise chicken in a 1/4 cup water and a splash of white wine 1 tsp salt 1 tsp worcestershire sauce 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 1/8 of tsp ground white pepper 3 or 4 turns or pepper mill 1 1/2 cups 2 % milk 1/2 cup half & half Method Heat 4 tablespoon butter in a non-stick pan. Saute onions & mushrooms till onions are transparent over medium heat (about 8 minutes). Add flour, salt and nutmeg stirring till mixture is smooth. Gradually add the milk and the worcestershire stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, finishing with the half and half. Keep stirring till mixture thickens to a creamy texture, 5-8 minutes. Add the chicken and the pimiento. Stir till heated through. Adjust for seasoning. Serve over cooked white rice, hot biscuits or toast. Serve with a fresh tomato salad; addition of fresh arugula is delicious.
Fruited Lamb Stew (Makes 4 servings) Ingredients 1 pound boneless lamb 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt Dash ground red pepper 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 small leek, sliced 3 cups chicken broth 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger 8 ounces peeled baby carrots 3/4 cup cut-up mixed dried fruit (half of 8-ounce package) 1/2 cup frozen peas Black pepper 1-1/3 cups hot cooked couscous Fresh chervil for garnish (optional) Method Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut lamb into 3/4-inch cubes. Combine flour, salt and red pepper in medium bowl; toss lamb with flour mixture. Heat oil in 5-quart ovenproof Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add lamb; brown, stirring frequently. Add leek, chicken broth and ginger to Dutch oven. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover; bake in oven 45 minutes. Stir in carrots. Cover and bake 30 minutes or until meat and carrots are almost tender. Stir fruit and peas into stew. Cover and bake 10 minutes. If necessary, skim off fat with large spoon. Season with black pepper to taste. Serve stew in bowls; top with couscous. Garnish, if desired.
Shrimp and Fish Gumbo (Makes 4 servings) Ingredients 8 ounces fresh or frozen orange roughy or other fish fillets 3-3/4 cups water, divided 6 ounces deveined shelled raw shrimp 1 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon chicken or fish bouillon granules 2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) no-salt-added stewed tomatoes, undrained 1-1/2 cups frozen okra, thawed 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 1 teaspoon dried savory leaves 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 2 tablespoons cornstarch 2 tablespoons finely chopped reduced-sodium ham 2 cups hot cooked brown rice Method Remove and discard skin from fish; cut fish into 1-inch pieces. Bring 3 cups water to a boil in medium saucepan over high heat. Add fish and shrimp; cook 3 to 4 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with fork and shrimp are opaque. Drain; set aside. Combine onion, bell pepper, additional 1/2 cup water, garlic and bouillon granules in large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce to medium-low. Cover and simmer 2 to 3 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in stewed tomatoes with juice, okra, thyme, savory, red pepper and black pepper. Return to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, 3 to 5 minutes or until okra is tender. Combine remaining 1/4 cup water and cornstarch in small bowl. Stir into mixture in saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture boils and thickens. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Add fish, shrimp and ham; heat through. Serve over rice.
Fried Chicken Ingredients 1 (4 pound) whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces 1 quart buttermilk 1 tablespoon salt 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper oil for frying Method In a large resealable plastic bag, combine chicken, buttermilk and salt. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Heat oil in deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a large resealable plastic bag, combine flour, Italian dressing mix, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper. Remove chicken from buttermilk, and coat well with flour mixture. Let set on a plate for about 10 minutes. Fry in hot oil until meat is no longer pink, and breading is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
Tuna Noodle Casserole Ingredients 3 tablespoons chopped onion 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup 1 teaspoon chili powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 1/2 cups egg noodles 1 1/4 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese 1 (6 ounce) can tuna, drained Method Cook noodles in a pot of boiling water until done. Drain. In a large skillet, saute onion in oil. Add undiluted soup, chili powder, salt, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer 5 minutes. Mix in noodles, 1 cup cheese, and tuna. Spoon into a greased 1 quart casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. While still hot, sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.
Thanksgiving Pie Ingredients 1 ea pie crust, (deep dish) unbaked 3 ea eggs 1 c corn syrup, dark 1/2 c sugar 1/4 c butter, melted 1 c pumpkin 1 t vanilla 1 c pecan halves Method Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat eggs. Add other ingredients except pecans and beat well. Put pecans in bottom of pie crust and slowly pour egg mixture over nuts. Bake 45 minutes, or until knife inserted one inch from edges comes out clean. Let pie cool (if cut warm, the pie will be runny) Serve with whipped cream.

How to say Thanks, or Happy Thanksgiving in 465 Languages

LEARN HOW TO SAY THANK YOU IN 465 DIFFERENT WAYS!

Brought to you by your source for thanksgiving decorations and year round seasonal tissue decorations and displays

English (America, Australia, UK, New Zea.) Thank you
English (America) [informal]               Thanks
English (Australia)                        Ta
English (New Zealand, Midland England)     Cheers
English [Strine dialect] (Australia)       Thenks
English [Strine dialect] (Australia)       Enks
English [old English] (old Britain)[sing.] Ic þancas do
English [old English] (old Britain)[sing.] Ic þancie þe
English [old English] (old Britain)[plur.] Ic sæcge eow þancas
English [Texan] (Texas United States)      Thank ya

More Languages...

Funny Thanksgiving Jokes and One-liners

Everyone wants to be the one with that greath thanksgiving zinger at the meal. Now you can be the one everyone loves, with these complimentary and completely free Thanksgiving Jokes and Oneliners...


What did the mama turkey say to her naughty son?
If your papa could see you now, he'd turn over in his gravy!

Asked to write a composition entitled, "What I'm thankful for on Thanksgiving,"
little Timothy wrote, "I am thankful that I'm not a turkey."

Have you finished off the first one?
Yeah!
Eaten it too?
Yeah!
What happened to the other one?
The other turkey is now reading our conversation, boss.

If a man wants to eat a turkey on Thanksgiving, what does a turkey want?
Ans- It simply wants to run away.

What did the turkeys sing on Thanksgiving Day?
Ans- God save the kin.

What did the turkey say to the man who tried to shoot it?
Ans- Liberty, Equality and Bad aim for all.

What will a turkey with a dramatic bent of mind say to another turkey on Thanksgiving morning?
Ans- To be or not to be roasted, that is the question.

The pro football team had just finished their daily practice session when a large turkey came strutting onto the field. While the players gazed in amazement, the turkey walked up to the head coach and demanded a tryout. Everyone stared in silence as the turkey caught pass after pass and ran right through the defensive line. When the turkey returned to the sidelines, the coach shouted, "You're terrific!!! Sign up for the season, and I'll see to it that you get a huge bonus." "Forget the bonus," the turkey said, "All I want to know is, does the season go past Thanksgiving Day?"


What key has legs and can't open doors?
A Turkey.


Gobbler said, "Doctor, help me! I can't stop acting like a turkey!"
"I see," said the doctor. "How long have you had this problem?"
"Let me think a second. Mom laid the egg in 1954..."

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?
Pilgrims!

Why did the turkey cross the road?
It was the chicken's day off.

If the Pilgrims were alive today, what would they be most famous for?
Their AGE

Why can't you take a turkey to church?
Because they use such FOWL language

What are the feathers on a turkey's wings called?
Turkey feathers

What's the best dance to do on Thanksgiving?
The turkey trot

Can a turkey jump higher than the Empire State Building?
Yes - a building can't jump at all

What do you get when you cross a turkey with an octopus?
Enough drumsticks for Thanksgiving

How can you make a turkey float?
You need 2 scoops of ice cream, some root beer, and a turkey

What kind of music did the Pilgrims like?
Plymouth Rock

Which side of the turkey has the most feathers?
The outside

Why did they let the turkey join the band?
Because he had the drumsticks

Why did the police arrest the turkey?
They suspected it of fowl play

What's the key to a great Thanksgiving dinner?
The turKEY

What did the turkey say before it was roasted?
Boy! I'm stuffed!

Where did the first corn come from?
The stalk brought it

Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes and Thanksgiving Turkey Gravy Recipes

For turkey gravy, you will need the following.

Ingredients:
• 5 Cups turkey stock (this sounds like a lot, and if you use a cooking bag, you will have about this much. (If not, make your own stock using giblets and neck/or chicken broth)

• 1/4 Cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp Ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp Celery salt
• 1 Cup milk, or cream
• 1 tsp Poultry seasoning
• 1 tsp Salt

Take a skillet or electric frying pan and add the turkey stock. (I do not like using a saucepan to make gravy. It seems to take less cooking time in a skillet.)

Bring it to a boil.

Mix flour with milk or cream in a mason jar, or other covered container and shake until SMOOTH.

Slowly whisk into the turkey stock.

Add salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and celery salt.

Now bring it to a boil. Reduce the flame and simmer for about 8 to 10 minutes or till thickened.

Please use a whisk, and stir often.

Organic Thanksgiving Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Organic Cranberry Sauce from The Petit Appetit Cookbook

Everyone loves cranberry sauce for the holidays. This has just the right balance of tart and sweet and makes a great spread for turkey, beef or veggie sandwiches anytime. Just remember to freeze some cranberries during the winter to enjoy when they are out of season. This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for company.

1 cup fresh organic cranberries
¼ cup organic apple juice
¼ cup raw sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon grated organic lemon zest

Combine all ingredients in a saucepot and cook over medium heat. As mixture heats, cranberries will make a popping sound as skins break open. Be careful as hot juice may splatter. Sauce is ready when cranberries have popped and sauce is thick, 5 – 8 minutes.

Makes about 1 cup.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Route, Map, Best Dining and Viewing Spots in New York City

# Thanksgiving guide
# The ultimate guide to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
# Whether you're entertaining kids or just want to act like one, TONY has all the knowledge you need to avoid hassles and enjoy your day of spectating.
#
# By Lindsey Bezzina
#
Macys Thanksgiving day parade guide

The night before
Go witness the final preparations, and you may decide you can skip the main event entirely:

1. Balloon inflation, 3–10pm
Watch Snoopy and his inflatable chums come to life on Thanksgiving Eve near the American Museum of Natural History

2. Float assembly, midnight–8am (Thursday morning)
Laugh in the face of the wee hours and wait for the floats to emerge from the Lincoln Tunnel in disassembled form. The convoy will advance up Amsterdam Avenue to Central Park West around 11:45pm. At midnight, the Macy’s team assembles the fragments on the streets. For the best views head to Central Park West at 81st Street.

Tip: Residents in this area tend to have their friends over to watch the balloons and floats take shape the night before. If you have any posh friends living on Central Park West, now’s the time to cash in on those connections for a great view of the action.

The basics
The route, unchanged for years, starts at 77th Street and Central Park West and meanders south to Macy’s at Herald Square. Though the first massive balloon doesn’t cross the starting line until 9am, parade officials recommend that you pick your viewing spot by 7am to avoid disappointment. A map of the route and suggested viewing locations are available at the Macy’s official parade site.

For a look behind the scenes, check out our 2006 interview with the parade's director of operations, Bob Rutan.

Tip: Book a trip to the Top of the Rock (30 Rockefeller Plaza at 49th St, 212-632-5100) for elevated views of the parade. Only an elevator ride away, Thanksgiving lunch is served in the Rainbow Room from noon to 7pm (reservations are a must, especially today).

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Holiday Decorating Ideas

The holiday season is upon us! If you have any doubts about this, just take a look in any store you go into or any store window you go past. Witches, ghosts, jack o’lanterns, black cats and candy corn adorn every corner.

Halloween is here and it’s traditional. Its colors have always been black and orange. And white is usually in the mix to add a ghostly element. In more modern times, purple is also added as an accent, along with copper metallic, to give your Halloween décor a more upscale and contemporary look.

If there is one “trend” it is all things “vintage”. Reproductions of vintage Halloween post cards, and reproductions of jack o’lantern figures, witches and ghosts from the 1930’s and 1940’s help baby boomers return to the holidays of their childhoods. In this way, we can also celebrate the holidays of our parents, and even our grandparents. After all, Halloween has become a huge family social occasion, with parties, trick-or-treating and Halloween decorating an important part of it all.

To make your Halloween even more “spooky”, try tying different lengths of purple, black and orange satin ribbon to the stems of apples. These make great party decorations as is, or can be used for “apple bobbing”.

You can take the same idea, and hang different lengths and widths of white satin and white sheer ribbon from doorway openings, and in front of windows, to create a “floating ghost” feeling. If you make a few of the ribbon streamers long enough to touch the top of your head, it will even enhance the “ghostlike” feeling!

Make a great Halloween party centerpiece, by combining multi-loop ribbon bows in copper and black lame, and place tall black tapered candles in the center, or even black and orange pillar candles. Then sprinkle candy corn around everything. Your guests can pick and munch on these! (Just make sure to put a large platter under the whole centerpiece, so you can move it easily.)

It’s pretty easy to move from Halloween forward into Harvest season, and then Thanksgiving. If you have carved faces into your pumpkins, simply turn them around, so that the uncarved side faces out, and add Indian corn, gourds, turkey feathers and berries, such as bittersweet to create a lush, “harvest” look.

This concept works great as outdoor décor, especially when accompanied by a large scarecrow. There are many fantastic ones to be found at farmers’ markets, and gift stores, and maybe even in your local supermarket. Of course, all of this is made even more dramatic and eye-catching by adding complementary ribbons and bows in orange, rust, chocolate, moss green, antique gold and yellow. Purple is still a great accent color with these warm tones, and you can find mum plants in lovely shades of lavender and purple to go along with this.

The most important thing is to have fun! It’s not a serious thing. Make sure the kids as well as moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas participate for a true family effort!

Harvest is closely followed by Thanksgiving. The fundamentals are already in place. Just add turkeys, cranberries, pilgrims and again, the “vintage” Thanksgiving trend items, like a banner reproduced from an old Thanksgiving postcard, or an antique cornucopia.

For Thanksgiving, you definitely want to embellish your front door, to give a warm welcome to your guests and neighbors. A dried wreath, made of leaves, berries, mini-gourds and “pods”, and embellished with a large multi-looped bow of seasonally colored ribbons is just the right touch.

Honestly, there’s no wrong way to do your holiday decorating. Don’t be intimidated! Let your imagination guide you, relax, and have fun! We don’t want your holidays to zip by too quickly, so we’ll tell you about Christmas trends and decorating ideas real soon!

Martha Stewart Demonstrates Thanksgiving Decorations

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Martha Stewart demonstrates a Midas touch that will add a festive glimmer to your holiday decorations:

Golden harvest wreath how-to
This 22-inch wreath form was decorated with about 90 magnolia leaves, 150 wheat stems, and 25 feathers. If you can't find magnolia leaves, use any other sturdy, broad leaf. This wreath can last for several years: After the holidays, place it, front side up, in a flat box cushioned with tissue paper. Keep it in a cool, dry place. If a few of the magnolia leaves look tired when you unpack it, replace them with freshly painted ones.

Tools and materials

* Floral spray in brilliant gold
* White feathers
* Magnolia leaves
* 24-gauge gold wire
* Gardening shears
* Wheat stems
* 22-inch wire wreath form
* Hot-glue gun

1. On a clean, dry surface protected by paper in a well-ventilated area, spray the feathers and the top sides of the magnolia leaves gold. Let dry.

2. Bundle 3 leaves with a small piece of wire; snip end. Bundle 5 wheat stems with wire, and snip end. Repeat with the remaining leaves and stems. Wrap the bundles to the wreath form with a single piece of wire, alternating and overlapping bundles of leaves and stems. Keep them tight and close together.

3. Once the wreath form is covered, insert the feathers at equal intervals. Glue in place.

Oak-leaf cornucopia how-to
The cornucopia, that traditional symbol of fall's abundance, assumes a stately presence, thanks to a coating of shimmering floral spray and a wreath of gold-leafed oak leaves and acorns. The stems of pale gourds are given a burnished sheen as well, and gold-rimmed dessert plates and Venetian glassware reiterate the palette. A caramelized apple spice cake, rich with pecans, is frosted with a brown-sugar-meringue buttercream and adorned with marzipan pumpkins and acorns dusted with luster to complete the glowing scenario. At the table, below, a napkin and a handwoven sparkling favor echo the cornucopia's shape, while more gilded leaves and acorns festoon the napkin and the place card. Sugared almonds and pine nuts fill the cornucopia favors.

We used faux gold leaf for this project, but metallic floral spray also works well. A large sheet of gold leaf covers about 6 leaves and 8 acorns. If you paint, omit the liquid adhesive, gloves, gold leaf, and brush.

Tools and materials

* Spray primer in white
* 18-inch cornucopia basket
* Floral spray in brilliant gold
* Acorns, gourds and oak leaves
* T pin or thin awl
* 6-inch lengths of fine gold or copper wire
* Paintbrush and soft-bristle brush
* Size liquid adhesive
* Cotton gloves
* Faux gold leaf
* Hot-glue gun
* Floral tape in brown

1. On a paper-covered surface in a well-ventilated area, spray the basket with primer. Let dry. Follow with 1 or 2 coats of floral spray. Let dry. Set aside.

2. Remove caps from acorns; set nuts aside. Poke 2 holes in the top of each cap with T pin. Thread wire through holes, and twist ends together. Repeat with remaining caps; set aside.

3. Paint nuts with adhesive. Let dry. In a draft-free room, wear gloves to lift 1 gold-leaf sheet from packet. Tear off a piece, and wrap it around nut. Smooth it with your fingers. Use brush to even out the texture of gold leaf and remove any flakes. Repeat with remaining nuts.

4. With the hot-glue gun, secure nuts to caps. Let dry. Wrap each acorn stem tightly with brown floral tape.

5. Cover 1 side of each oak leaf in gold leaf, following step 3. With the hot-glue gun, secure wire to the back of each oak leaf. Let dry.

6. Make a cluster of leaves and acorns by wrapping their wires together with floral tape; do not snip wire. Repeat. Attach cluster to the next with floral tape until the garland is long enough to cover the basket's rim. Secure with hot glue. Let dry.

7. If desired, gild the gourd stems following step 3.

Oak-leaf napkin ring how-to
Follow steps 2 to 6 of the cornucopia how-to, above, to make clusters of leaves and acorns. Then fold a napkin into a cone, and tie with a 1/2-inch-wide gold ribbon. Slip an oak-leaf cluster into the knot. Curl ribbon ends.

Tools and materials

* 10 feet of gold lametta ( 1/4-inch tinsel roping)
* Scissors
* Styrofoam cone
* Sewing pin or T pin

1. Cut four 7-inch pieces and one 4-inch piece of lametta.

2. Twist the long pieces together at their midpoints to create a star with 8 points. Hook end of short piece to center to add a ninth point.

3. Trim ends to same length; space evenly.

4. Hook end of remaining lametta near center of star.

5. Trim cone so tip measures 4 inches. Place tip at center of star; secure with pin.

6. Press the 9 lametta lengths against cone. Tightly weave remaining lametta through the lengths until all but 1/4 inch of cone is covered.

7. Remove cone. Bend ends over last row.

8. Curve the tip of the cornucopia.

Supermarket Displays Thanksgiving Quiz

What do you think will enhance your supermarket sales for thanksgiving?

Answer: thanksgiving maze? No! thanksgiving wordsearch? No!thanksgiving word search No! thanksgiving trivia? No! thanksgiving bingo? No!

The answer is none other than Thanksgiving decorations for your supermarket!



Here is what is mildly hot on the internet today.

Hoteness: Mild

thanksgiving maze, thanksgiving wordsearch, thanksgiving word search, thanksgiving trivia, thanksgiving bingo

Instore decorations to match your store's colors

Seasonal Display can customize our instore decorations to match your store's colors and instore logos.

For your convenience, we have various pre packed kits, or kits can be selected based on price.

The rich and vibrant colors will help to add to the Holiday season.

Our excellent service and experience we will make ordering very simple.

Thank you for choosing Seasonal Display.

Christmas Decorations and gift ideas, Christmas party supplies, Wedding Planning, guest books and albums, accessories and decorations, Wedding Anniversary, Birthday, Christening, Naming Day, Hen Night party supplies, tableware, and gifts from The Quality Celebration

Holiday Store Decorations Deck your store out for the holidays with these decor items hand-picked just for the holidays. From cutouts to complete store decorating kits, you'll find just what your store needs to celebrate the season.

ThanksGiving Instore Decorations - Holiday Displays for Supermarkets

Thanksgiving Decorations is easy with Seasonal Display!

Go to our website and view the large selection of thanksgiving instore decorations.

Here are somethings that we specialize in:

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Merchandising for the Season

Teddy Mueller wrote a great post about merchandising your store on his blog.

He writes:

Hello, Hope you are all fine! We are going to talk about “Merchandising a Retail Store” today. Walking by a store and looking in the window makes you decide to go in or go on, unless you are already going there for a specific reason. So merchandising your windows is your 1st major outlook. What do we put in there? How do we arrange it? What is the theme? Give these all much thought before you begin. And remember you must change your window at least monthly, if not more depending on what type of store you have.

I would like to talk about 4 different types of store Clothing, Auto Parts, Electronics, and Sporting Goods. For a sporting goods store you really only need to change the window seasonally, and only part of the window. The reason is you want fishing, weight equipment, clothing, and all of your goods that make year around sales, yet you want to change part of your window for seasonal product. We do hunting in November, football starts in August, fishing and water sport product you display in summer, and there is spring and fall product, yet overall you want almost all your product in the window always, yet highlighting a part of it seasonally...

The Rest of the Article

2007 Holiday Shopping Trends and Strategies

From the Sun-Sentinel.com

By Jaclyn Giovis

Scrooge might spoil this holiday shopping season.

The sluggish housing market, rising insurance costs and high gas prices are taking a toll on consumers. Holiday sales will hit their slowest pace in five years, growing only 4 percent, according to the National Retail Federation.

Shoppers in South Florida and across the nation are expected to cut spending for Christmas and Hanukkah, making it tough for retailers to hit sales goals. And a slew of recent recalls on toys made in China, including models of popular brands such as Barbie, Thomas & Friends and Dora the Explorer, have many parents and grandparents wary of buying the items that top kids' holiday wish lists.

Continue Reading

Selling The Season

Emily Lambert, wrote a great article for Specialty Retail Times with the 5 secrets to Yuletide retail success.

She Writes:

Happy Holidays! That cheery saying means something specific—and bankable—for specialty retailers. For the year-round specialty retailer, the October-December holiday selling season is the time to reap the fourth-quarter profit you’ve sown during the year. And for the seasonal retailer, this is it—showtime!
In either case, you want to be ready for retailing prime time. Your business has to run smoothly and efficiently so that it’s easy and maybe even fun for busy shoppers to find your products.

And that takes planning. Mistakes are too costly at a time like this. You’ve got one shot at the holiday season, and you want to do it right. How? By focusing on the five key elements that seasoned pros recommend.

To read the rest click here.

Welcome to the Seasonal Display Blog

Welcome to the Seasonal Display Blog, where we hope to bring to you interesting news, deals and quality information about decorating your retail store for the seasons.
Creating the right ambiance for your consumers is extremely important to the overall shopping experience. They are in the holiday mood, and feel welcomed and at home in a colorful and seasonally decorated environment. Custom designs with colors and decorations which are easy on the eyes help place your consumers in a joyful and spending mood.
Functioning under the premise of Co-Branding, if you can convince your customers to associate you and your store with the trillion dollar branded holidays, you can be sure make them feel like they are amongst friends, in a familiar environment.
Perhaps they will remember fond childhood memories with their family or simply "get in the spirit" which represents sharing, caring, giving, family values, friendship,etc...
What do you think about when you think about Chirstmas, or Thanksgiving? Is it spending quality time with your friends, or perhaps an enjoyable neighborhood Bar-B-Q on the fourth of july. I know I associate the holidays with joyful and pleasant memories. A time when we put aside our differences, and come together in a common neutrality. The holidays are a time of looking beyond ourselves, and contributing to a greater society. A time of rekindling friendships, catching up with old-timers, enjoying the people around you. Sharing. Giving. Spending. Focusing on the important things in life.

Seasonal Display LLC offers a custom suite of original designs catered to helping you create the perfect seasonal atmosphere to enhance your shoppers experiences.

We hope this blog is useful to you, and look forward to sharing more wonderful information about maximizing your retail efforts during seasonal shopping trends.