Changing Tables Is Easy When You Keep It Simple (And It Helps If You Can Embrace Imperfection)

My motto for the Season this year is "Keep It Simple And Enjoy"!



I am joining Susan for Tablescape Thursday, after visiting here please join our hostess Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch to view her beautiful Christmas tablescape and then click on the other participants to view some more wonderful creations.

My Thanksgiving table is usually decorated in all the beautiful Fall colors, but this year I didn't go with the traditional. I used creamy white pumpkins and I kept the centerpiece very simple. All I used was a vase of white roses.
This was my inspiration:



And so I went with it!





I kept the place setting very simple too:





I used the turkey dishes that I had found at TJ Maxx (only $12.99 for a set of four, I bought two sets):



Unfortunately there was only one set of dessert plates left, so...



...no problem, I used the plates from a set of amber dishes that once were my Mom's:


And I used the shallow bowls from the amber set as salad plates for all the place settings:



I like that the amber dishes are transparent enough for the strutting turkey to still be seen.


And once this tablescape serves it's purpose...



...it will be very easy to change to this!





My usual color scheme at Christmastime is the traditional red and green, or silver and gold, but again, this year I am breaking my tradition and going with creamy white for my dining table.


I added some decorative bead branches to the vase:




I switched out the pumpkins for a floral tray and filled it with decorative beads and Christmas decorations:

The beautiful doilies were crocheted by my very talented friend Diana and they arrived just a few days before Thanksgiving and I was happy to be able to include them in both tablescapes!

I exchanged the creamy marble candlestick holders for silver:




Another very simple place setting:



I was so happy to find these Christmas plates as they weren't the usual Christmas tree pattern I see everywhere. I also loved the color, not a true red, more of a rose/pink/red. They fit in well with the color scheme I wanted this year.





Unfortunately I could only get a set of four (I'm still searching to add to the collection), so, again, no problem, I'm Blessed, I was able to use dishes that have been gifted to me. They are a plain creamy white and I thought they coordinated with the Christmas place settings:



I also did the same with the salad plates, they don't match at all, but I thought they went well with the dinner plates:



I used these small decorative green plates for bread:



I was lucky to find these red napkins, they too were not the true Christmas red:



The cups are actually coffee mugs from Ikea, but I reach for them a lot when setting the table as they are sturdy, they hold a lot, they are not a 'traditional' coffee mug in that they have no handles, and so I use them for other beverages:




Last look during daylight:




Candlelight:







These tablescapes are not at all elegant table settings (in fact, all my table settings are exceptionally casual, they are more a hodgepodge of dishes, glassware, and flatware). Yes, my tablescapes are far from 'magazine quality', and my home never did live up to 'Martha Stewart standards', but I find as I've grown older (and now with grandchildren underfoot) I've become very comfortable with my imperfect life and I hope my guests are too.

And I wish you all a wonderful, Blessed Thanksgiving, and I hope the Christmas Season finds you taking time to enjoy special moments with family and friends, and take time to enjoy the simple things in life! (And embrace imperfection! It's liberating!)