Thanksgiving with Tree Classics

Rachel’s dining room, set for Thanksgiving. Kennedy Fir, 7.5’ via Tree Classics. Table layered with favorite dishes, linens and silverware. Sources listed below.

Rachel’s dining room, set for Thanksgiving. Kennedy Fir, 7.5’ via Tree Classics. Table layered with favorite dishes, linens and silverware. Sources listed below.

Happy November! In Michigan, it' is officially late fall (this is not based on the calendar, but the temperature) and ready or not, the holidays are upon us! In our family, the week of Thanksgiving has always been ushered in by a flurry of celebrations. We have 6 family birthdays between Thanksgiving and the New Year, and Brock and I celebrate our anniversary to boot . Side note: I was 23 when we were married and couldn’t fully appreciate the stress/busyness of the holiday season. : ) Yet somehow, despite birthdays, anniversaries and 3 major holidays, my mom and grandma always made the holiday season feel special and full of “sneaky surprises.”

Growing up, I was firmly in the, you don’t decorate until after Thanksgiving. In fact, I remember my mom waiting to get a Christmas tree until mid-December. But over the years—and I’m sure that working for a tree company has influenced me a bit— I’ve grown to love the slow roll out of holiday decor. I start early in November, and by Thanksgiving, I’m in pretty good shape on the decor front. Pre-decorating has opened up my December schedule, and has allowed me to do a bit more holiday baking & entertaining.

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This year, I started decorating at my friend & photographer, Rachel’s house. She has lovely 9 ft ceilings and a great dining room for entertaining. I chose one of my favorite trees, a 7.5’ Kennedy fir from Tree Classics to add a bit of holiday ambiance. It’s amazing how twinkle lights brighten a gray fall day!

To bridge the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, I mix some of my favorite holiday greens, along with fall accents. This year I chose warm cozy touches—mostly a mix of creams, green, gray, and dark brown hues. So much of decorating is trial and error. I pick some of my favorite colors for the season, shop my houses and then fill in with a few new pieces. Once I start decorating, I just layer, layer, and layer some more.

Layering includes color, texture and size. Note that on the tree I used oversize ivory colored florals, miniature pumpkins, and faux wheat and common cat tail for color and texture. I added black and white buffalo check ribbon that ties together the table and coordinates with pumpkins at the bottom of the tree.

Tree Classics, 7.5” Kennedy fir. This particular tree has been a perennial favorite of mine. It has a slender profile and real feel tips. And it fits beautifully in Rachel’s dining room—providing the soft white lighting and winter foliage, but allow…

Tree Classics, 7.5” Kennedy fir. This particular tree has been a perennial favorite of mine. It has a slender profile and real feel tips. And it fits beautifully in Rachel’s dining room—providing the soft white lighting and winter foliage, but allowing guests space to move around the Thanksgiving table.

Something old: Buffalo checked ribbon from Michaels, a black and white runner from Ikea, ivory dishes via Pioneer Woman, silverware and linen napkins from World Market. For a full list of all my sources, see my list below with links.

Something new: Water hyacinth pumpkin, candles and candlestick holders, all from Target. Transfer ware dark brown plates from TJ Maxx (I could only find six, and I hit at least 6 TJ’s from Ann Arbor to Grand Rapids. ; ) For the tree: Faux pumpkins, gingham pumpkins (TJ Maxx), silk flowers and faux wheat (Target dollar section) and wood garland (Creative co-op

7.5” pre-lit, quick set Kennedy fir.

7.5” pre-lit, quick set Kennedy fir.

On social media, I did a quick poll on whether you were team “decorate before Thanksgiving” or “decorate after Thanksgiving.” You all definitely had opinions, which I love, and it was a split decision with a variety of rules surrounding pre Thanksgiving decorating. For me, it’s slowly decorate with a mix of fall and Christmas decor. But definitely no Christmas music or movies until Thanksgiving weekend. Some of you said, yes to decor, but no tree until Thanksgiving. Love it! Others said after Thanksgiving because it’s the natural start of advent, and some strongly believe that Christmas decor belongs in December only. I would love to hear some more of your holiday decor thoughts & favorite Thanksgiving traditions!

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Ready for Thanksgiving. The table is set, tree and wreath are fluffed and decorated. Wreath: 24” Classic Festive Fraser Fir from Tree Classics. Tree: 7.5' prelit, Kennedy Fir.

Ready for Thanksgiving. The table is set, tree and wreath are fluffed and decorated. Wreath: 24” Classic Festive Fraser Fir from Tree Classics. Tree: 7.5' prelit, Kennedy Fir.

And clearly, I’ve trained my own children to anticipate the holidays. No sooner had we cleaned up the Halloween candy, when my 10 year old daughter asked, “when can we put up the Christmas trees?,” naturally, I was delighted. She loves the the coziness and beauty that comes from a house filled with twinkle lights. And in the midwest, where fall ushers in cold weather and shorter days, twinkle lights and holiday celebrations are a delightful reminder that winter is a great time to cozy up together. So bring on celebrations—family, friends, abundant feasting, warm drinks, and cozy nights before the fire.

A big thank you to Tree Classics for sponsoring this post. Check a few of my other blog friends as they share some of their favorite Thanksgiving memories! Come back next week when I will share a few favorite “Friendsgiving” recipes!

Kicking off the holidays with these Blogger friends!

Kicking off the holidays with these Blogger friends!

Kristine of Bold Boundless Blonde, @boldboundlessblonde_

Kelly of City Girl Meets Farm Boy,@citygirlmeetsfarmboy

Mary of Selah Pines Farmhouse, @selah.pines.farmhouse

Lori of My Lovely Texas Home, @mylovelytexashome

Katie of Baker Nest, @baker_nest

Source List:

Kennedy fir, 7.5’ prelit quick set tree, Tree Classics

Classic Fraser fir decorated wreath, 24” Tree Classics

Tree:

Wood garland, Creative Co-op. I really like this brand—usually found at boutiques. I found the garland at Lake St. Design Studio in Petoskey, MI and at our local Hillsdale boutique, MaryBeth’s.

Silk flowers & faux wheat: Target Dollar Bin

Faux pumpkins (gingham & pumpkin picks): TJ Maxx

Tablescape:

Water Hyacinth pumpkin, Opalhouse for Target, fall 2019

Gold Candlestick holders , Target

Candles, Magnolia for Target

White plates, Pioneer Woman, Walmart

Brown transferware plates, TJ Maxx

Gingham faux pumpkins, TJ Maxx

Twig Silverware, World Market

Linen napkins, World Market

Tablerunner, Ikea

Plaid wool blanket, Pottery Barn (no longer for sale)


Fall Decorating with Tree Classics

Rachel’s front porch decorated with a mix of real and faux pumpkins, fall mums, and Classic Fraser Fir Festive Wreaths and Garland

Rachel’s front porch decorated with a mix of real and faux pumpkins, fall mums, and Classic Fraser Fir Festive Wreaths and Garland

Truly a picture is worth a thousand word, and what better way to welcome friends and family than a front door festooned with fall bounty. This year, we are in the process of renovating the front of our house (new door, windows, lighting, and a bit of landscaping). So I asked my friend and photographer, Rachel Cuthbert, if she would mind if we decorated her front porch instead for Tree Classics blog hop, Treasured Celebrations. Graciously, she accepted!

I chose two of my favorites from Tree Classics, their Classic Fraser Fir Festive 6’ garland and 24" wreath. It’s a collection I go back to year after year because it transitions beautifully from fall to Thanksgiving and Christmas. It includes pinecones, faux leaves and small gold buds which lend itself to fall and winter. For fall, I added miniature pumpkins that I found in the Target Dollar bin (always a treasure trove)!

We hung one 6’ Classic Fraser Fir Festive Garland and Wreath. The garland is hung on Tree Classics double door Garland hanger—no nails needed! Though it definitely helps to have two people Hanging it.

We hung one 6’ Classic Fraser Fir Festive Garland and Wreath. The garland is hung on Tree Classics double door Garland hanger—no nails needed! Though it definitely helps to have two people Hanging it.

To create a bit of visualize interest, I like to add bits of texture and pattern along with real and faux pumpkins. Needless to say, I was excited when I found black and white buffalo check pumpkins at TJ Maxx, and faux straw textured pumpkins from Target. To tie everything together, I used bits of leftover buffalo check ribbon to hang the wreath. Side note, we hung the wreath on her front door with a Command Hook wreath hanger (Love Command Hooks! One of the most ingenious 21st century decorating tools.).

It’s amazing what a bit of color and texture adds. Real pumpkins and mums from our local nursery and Walmart. Wreath and Garland via Tree Classics, and I added mini faux pumpkins from the Target Dollar Bin.

It’s amazing what a bit of color and texture adds. Real pumpkins and mums from our local nursery and Walmart. Wreath and Garland via Tree Classics, and I added mini faux pumpkins from the Target Dollar Bin.

What’s not to love about fall—it’s glorious shades of red, orange and yellow. And so before the north wind doth blow snow, I will savor fall and all of its rich color and bounty. A big thanks for Rachel for letting me use her front porch as my fall decor laboratory! And thank you to Tree Classics for sponsoring, Treasured Celebrations. Check out their current sales and prep for the holidays!

  • 10% off wreaths and garlands by using the code: TCWG10 upon checkout.

  • Coupon code is valid until Oct. 31

  • 10% discount is applied on top of the sale price

And join bloggers, Kristine of Bold Boundless Blonde, Kelly of City Girl Meets Farmboy, and Lori @mylovelytexashome for their favorite fall decorating tips. Happy fall!

Thanks to Tree Classics for sponsoring Treasured Celebrations! ANd Follow along with Kristine at BoldBoundlessBlonde.com, Lori of MyLovelyTexasHome.com, and Kelly of CityGirlMeetsFarmBoy.com as they celebrate fall along with me!

Thanks to Tree Classics for sponsoring Treasured Celebrations! ANd Follow along with Kristine at BoldBoundlessBlonde.com, Lori of MyLovelyTexasHome.com, and Kelly of CityGirlMeetsFarmBoy.com as they celebrate fall along with me!

Tree Classics Classic Fraser Fir Festive Wreath. The wreath comes decorated with tiny gold buds, faux leaves, pinecones and real feel needles. I added the faux pumpkins for a bit of a fall touch.

Tree Classics Classic Fraser Fir Festive Wreath. The wreath comes decorated with tiny gold buds, faux leaves, pinecones and real feel needles. I added the faux pumpkins for a bit of a fall touch.

Tree Classics Classic Fraser Fir Wreath and Garland. I originally intended to swag multiple garlands over the door, but decided we liked the simplicity of the single Garland.

Tree Classics Classic Fraser Fir Wreath and Garland. I originally intended to swag multiple garlands over the door, but decided we liked the simplicity of the single Garland.