10 Creative Ways to Celebrate Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving offers a wonderful time to gather with loved ones, express gratitude and create memories. Whether you're hosting a traditional feast or looking for new traditions to start, here are ten creative ways to make this Thanksgiving special.

Host a Friendsgiving 

Thanksgiving isn’t just for family—invite your friends over for a Friendsgiving celebration. It's a great way to include those who may not have family nearby and enjoy a diverse array of dishes and cultures.

Volunteer Together

Give back to the community by volunteering at a local food bank or soup kitchen. It's a meaningful way to spend the day and share the spirit of Thanksgiving with others. 

DIY Decorations

Get creative with your Thanksgiving décor by making handmade centerpieces, place cards and gratitude trees. Involve the kids for a fun family activity that doubles as holiday décor. 

Cultural Potluck

Invite guests to bring a dish that reflects their cultural heritage. It’s a delicious way to learn about and celebrate different traditions.

Recipe Exchange

Organize a Thanksgiving recipe exchange among friends and family. Share your favorite recipes beforehand and try out new dishes for the big day.

Outdoor Activities

Take advantage of the cooler weather with outdoor activities like a family hike, backyard games, or a picnic. It’s a great way to enjoy the fall scenery and get some fresh air.

Gratitude Journaling

Start a gratitude journal and encourage everyone to write down what they are thankful for. Sharing these reflections during dinner can create a meaningful and heartwarming moment.

Embrace the spirit of Thanksgiving with these ideas and make this holiday a time of joy, gratitude, and togetherness. Happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween Costume: Paper

This is another tutorial for an inanimate object. Inanimate objects are fun and unique ideas for costumes. This tutorial explains how to be a piece of paper/notebook for Halloween.

Costume:

I was inspired to do this costume from this shirt I found here. You can pair a shirt like this with jeans or leggings. Sneakers would be a good shoe to wear with this look. I've also seen this design in a dress if you can find one.  

Accessories:

Consider carrying a notebook around with you as an accessory. You can also buy a jumbo pencil to carry, such as this this one:



If you don't mind your shirt getting ruined, you can bring around sharpies and ask people to write on you.

Makeup:

For the makeup, you could use a white eye shadow eye look to match the paper. You could also use matching blue and pink eye shadow that matches the lines of notebook paper:



Nails:

This video explains how to do matching notebook nails:

Halloween Costume: Leopard

Animal costumes are a great Halloween costume. This tutorial is for a leopard costume. I think leopard costumes are pretty easy to do because you can find leopard print items everywhere. You can also change this costume to represent another animal, such as a zebra.

Costume:

For the costume, use a leopard print dress you have or find a new one such as this one from Overstock: 

If you don't have a dress, you can also pair a leopard print top with leopard print leggings or black pants.

Accessories:

You can add leopard print ears and a tail to this costume. You can buy ears and a tail or make them yourself. To make ears, take a headband and cover it in fabric. Use construction paper to make ear shapes. Cover these in fabric and use glue or wire to attach it to the headband.



If you have a leopard print purse or other leopard print items, consider bringing them as part of your costume. Any leopard print items work great as accessories.

Makeup:

Leopard print makeup can be a lot of fun to do. Here's an intense leopard makeup tutorial:



If you don't want to go full out, you can always just do leopard print eyes and draw on a nose and whiskers in black.

Nails:

This tutorial explains how to do leopard print nails:

10 Creative Ways to Celebrate May

May is a month full of life and color, marking the transition from spring to summer. It’s a time to enjoy the outdoors and appreciate nature’s beauty. Here are ten ways to make the most of May.

1. Welcome Spring with a Flower Festival

Attend a local flower festival or organize your own. You can adorn your home with fresh flowers and invite friends over for a floral themed party.

2. Participate in May Day Traditions

Celebrate May Day on the first of the month by dancing around a maypole or leaving surprise baskets of flowers on neighbors’ doorsteps.

3. Go on a Nature Walk

Take advantage of the warmer weather by going on a nature walk. Discover local trails and observe the new plant life.

4. Host a Garden Party

Invite friends and family over for a garden party. Serve light refreshments and enjoy the company amidst the beauty of your garden.

5. Try a New Outdoor Activity

Whether it’s kayaking, rock climbing, or outdoor yoga, use May as an opportunity to try something new and adventurous.

6. Visit a Farmers’ Market

Support local farmers and enjoy fresh produce by visiting a farmers’ market. It’s a great way to find ingredients for a picnic.

7. Plan a Picnic

Speaking of picnics, pack a basket with your favorite foods and spend an afternoon at a park or by a lake.

8. Bike Ride Through the Countryside

Take a leisurely bike ride through the countryside and enjoy the scenic views that May offers.

9. Start a DIY Project

Use the inspiration of spring to start a new DIY project. It could be anything from home decor to building a birdhouse.

10. Celebrate Mother’s Day

Don’t forget to celebrate Mother’s Day! Show appreciation for the mothers in your life with a thoughtful gesture or gift.

May is a month that’s bursting with possibilities. Let me know if you try any of these out.