Harvesting gratitude: We have tips for hosting a Thanksgiving with ease and heartfelt hospitality. Below we will highlight things such as planning, delegating and collaborating, creating a cozy ambiance, offering thoughtful entertainment, practicing gracious gratitude, and embracing imperfection.

Here is a list to help you plan a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. We hope these ideas will give you some menu planning inspiration for a delicious family Thanksgiving dinner.

As a small business owner, I realize just how meaningful it is to have wonderful customers who are loyal and repeatedly shop and support my business. It warms my heart every single time an online order goes through. I also love preparing your packages, and I try to make sure your order arrives with a special added touch. It is amazing to hear back from customers who loved what they received, and sometimes I even get photos of you enjoying what I've made. Then you keep coming back for more handmade goodies, and I am always so excited to have new friends who use things I've made, and give my special handmade items as gifts.

Shopping from a small business sparks a happy dance from the owner, and you know that doesn't happen with major retailers. So shop small to make a really difference, and bring joy to the people who work so hard to build a brand from scratch. By doing so, you are helping a small business family put food on the table, and expand their positive and influential community involvement. For us, the community connection is through our Priceless Mission, where we provide needed items and Christmas gifts for families who are facing disadvantages. We just love to offer a hand to lift people up, and you help to make that possible when you purchase from my family owned small business. Thank you so much! - Alice

One of our family Fall traditions is going to the pumpkin patch. We go to a Wisconsin farm market called Skelly's where we enjoy a pumpkin spice cappuccino, freshly baked pumpkin donuts, apple cider donuts, play some family games, see the corn maze, go on a tractor ride, and we also pick out pumpkins to decorate. I think we have only carved one of them because my daughters usually paint cute faces on them.

​You will find some painting tips below, if you want to avoid the carving mess.

Have you been looking for ways to make your gift giving more special?  They say it's the thought that counts, so how can you make your gifts more thoughtful?  I have some ideas to share with you of how I try to add that special personal touch to giving gifts!
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#1 Use High Quality Gift Wrapping Supplies!...Make it SPARKLE and SHINE!
I always stock up on shiny metallic wrapping paper when I see a good sale!  The same goes for wire-edged ribbon!  I buy and use it so much that I joke, "Ribbon is my love language!" and so is metallic wrapping paper!  I love to wrap gifts to help people feel special...so giving is definitely my love language!  I figure that if I am going to give, I am going to give well!  Give my best, and that shows love to the recipient!  I believe that a gift wrapped in fancy paper even feels more special in the hands than that cheap stuff that rips easily.  Presentation is so important.  If I give someone a pen from the dollar store which is wrapped in dollar store paper, it feels like a dollar store item.  If I give the same pen in a gift box, wrapped in glittery paper with a sheer ribbon bow and a handmade flower on top, it even makes the inexpensive pen feel like a special and thoughtful gift!  The wrapping can really make a difference!

#2  Deck it out!...EMBELLISH AWAY!!!
Make the present look amazing from the outside!  It gives a great first impression and the extra thoughtfulness goes a long way!  She or he will feel that you value her/him just by the appearance of the package!  Use flowers, ribbons, fancy gift tags, a pop of color, something shiny...just anything that offers that WOW factor!  Wouldn't you love to be on the receiving end of a gift that says, "You matter to me!" by how it looks?  I just love it when I give a gift that is "too pretty to unwrap" because I made it extra special for someone extra special to me!  In general, I prefer to use a wrapped gift box.  If I need to use a gift bag, I will will make it super fancy...whether it's through the use of a gorgeous hanging tag, or adding sparkle and ribbon to the bag.

#3 The card matters!...SAY SOMETHING WONDERFUL!
You can find nice greeting cards with long verses, but the best part of the card is the personal message you write in there!  Don't just sign your name.  Say something amazing!  For this reason, I create gorgeous handmade cards that are blank inside.  That's how much I think the personal message matters, which you get to write from the heart!  Go ahead and use a fancy gift tag if you don't have a card, or if a card is too large for a small gift.  Tags can be beautiful, too!  Just say something special on it, besides the To/From!

#4 Give the gift in person!...BE PART OF THE CONNECTION!
I realize you cannot always give a gift in person.  Schedules and distances do make a difference.  But whenever you can, avoid a gift drop-off and instead wait until you can hand the gift to the recipient!  This is an extra dose of thoughtfulness that connects you to the present.  It makes it more memorable for both of you, and you get to see the reaction she/he has to the amazingly wrapped gift!  Now it can be more likely for the person to remember you with each use of the gift, because they had that connecting moment with you!  GIVE PRESENTS WITH PRESENCE!!!!

#5 Be spontaneous!...GIVE GIFTS JUST BECAUSE!
It is great to remember birthdays, anniversaries, and other holidays!  Yes, do that!  However, sometimes the best gifts are the ones you give just because you want to!  Do you really need a reason to be kind?  Let someone know they are important to you all the time, not just when you should think of them for their birthday!  Maybe today is a day when they just need to feel loved!  I like to keep a "Just Because" gift bin that I stock with special little thoughtful gifts I find on sale.  I may have someone specific in mind when I purchase each item.  Then I have a go-to stash whenever I feel the urge to give a gift to someone "out of the blue" because they are on my mind.  You could use a box, bin, closet, or room for this purpose!  Just make sure it is in your budget to keep your gift stash stocked regularly.  If you cannot afford it, don't do it this way.  In that case, a card made out of paper with a thoughtful note will work just fine to let someone know you care!  Just do what you can, as you can!

I love giving presents with a personal touch, and for me it is often handmade.  I believe it adds value to the gift and to the relationship when it is personal like that.  If someone is important to you, they should know that.  This is the Priceless way!

​Handmade Hugs,
Alice