Do-it-yourself ways to celebrate friends this Thanksgiving

Caci Stella, DN
Caci Stella, DN

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it has come time to give thanks to your loved ones during the holiday season. While your family may be having its own Thanksgiving celebration, consider also showing your closest friends how much they mean to you too with a celebration of their own. Here are a few do-it-yourself ideas help you create a Friendsgiving dinner party.


Instead of printing off invitations, make digital invitations to send to your friends over text or email with Canva. Caci Stella, DN


Invitations 

What you need

  • A computer
  • Messaging device

Directions

  1. Go to Canva.com.
  2. Click on the sign-up button or the log-in button if you already have an account.
  3. Sign up with whichever method you prefer —  your Google account, Facebook account or email. 
  4. Click the blue button in the top left corner where your screen says, “Create a design.”
  5. Choose the “Invitation Portrait” template.
  6. Scroll through the design and layout options, and pick a design for the invitation you like best. 
  7. If there is not a particular design suited for the party, make it from scratch.
  8. Include the time and date of your Friendsgiving party as well as what guests should bring. 
  9. When you are finished creating your invitation, download the invitation, and either email or text your invitations to your friends. 


Because the table is where most of the time will be spent at your Friendsgiving dinner party, make it a statement with this tablescaping DIY. Caci Stella, DN


Tablescaping

What you will need

  • Table runner
  • Utensils 
  • Scented faux pinecones 
  • Napkins
  • Paper
  • Sharpie
  • Scissors
  • An evergreen sprig
  • Cinnamon sticks
  • Main dish plate
  • Tealight candles
  • Artificial berry garland
  • Cups
  • Twine

Directions

  1. Clear the table, and wipe it down before putting anything on it. 
  2. Lay the table runner down the center of the table. The tablescaping layout will be based around the table runner.
  3. Place each main dish plate on the table at each designated area.
  4. Place each cup by the top right-hand corner of each plate. 
  5. Place each dinner fork to the left of each plate and the dinner knife and spoon to the right of each plate.
  6. Roll up each napkin fairly loose, and grab a piece of evergreen sprig. Wrap the twine around the napkin and the sprig. Place the napkin in the middle of the main dish plate to create a simple, polished look.
  7. Place tealight candles sporadically on the table runner.
  8. Run the artificial berry garland in between the tealight candles across the table runner.
  9. Create name tags for your tablescaping by taking your scissors and cutting the paper 2 1/2 inch by 1 inch. 

10. With the paper facing horizontally, write the name of each guest with your sharpie.  

11. Place a pinecone in front of each place to serve as a holder for the name tags. 

12. Place each paper name tag in between the layers of a pine cone. 

13. Admire your completed Friendsgiving tablescaping. 


Avoid awkward silences at your Friendsgiving dinner party with a playlist going in the background. Unsplash, Photo Courtesy


Playlist

What you need

  • A quiet space
  • A speaker
  • A smart phone
  • A music app

Directions

  1. Find a quiet space in the home.
  2. Sign into a music app of your choice, such as Apple Music or Spotify. 
  3. Play a song that could be of interest for the playlist.
  4. Turn on the speaker, and connect your smart phone either through Bluetooth or a cable.
  5. Play the song.
  6. Turn the volume on a low setting — not too loud and not too quiet.
  7. Sit in the quiet space with the volume down, and imagine sitting at the table with all your friends and ask the following:
    1. Does this song give off the vibe I am aiming for?
    2. Would this song bring joy to the group?
  8. If the answer is yes to both, then add that to the playlist.
  9. Repeat until there are around 15 to 20 songs on the playlist.

 Contact Caci Stella with comments at cjstella@bsu.edu.  

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