This Thanksgiving, I have many things to feel grateful for. And I will make a list here for posterity. With the attitude of gratitude, I share with you my dear Aalayam family, the list of things I am Giving Thanks for. And a thought to pay the good fortune that I have been bestowed with....forward.
Here's My Thanksgiving List:
1. I am thankful for Aalayam, the blog, the collaboration with Deepa and the other fantastic artists we work with, and of course, the interaction with you all. I am thankful for the opportunity to express myself via a social media platform, instantly and easily. Thankful for "push-button" publishing.
2. I am thankful for my family - my kids, my husband and my parents, who listen to me love and laugh, scold and fuss, worry and nag, unfettered! Yet, they love me. I am truly thankful for that.
3. I am thankful for my friends - who do not judge. Who accept me for who I am. And for what I am not.
4. I am thankful for tranquil landscapes, the peace and harmony of living a driving distance away from natural green spaces. I am thankful for Sunday Morning newspaper and coffee, sitting and watching the lake gurgle, while day dreaming. I am thankful for the means afforded to me to indulge in good food, drink, (chocolate included!) and gyms. ;)
5. I am thankful for my career, my co-workers and my clients, Yes even my boss! :) I am thankful to them for allowing me to lead, manage and ideate - all things I love to do, and still get paid for it!
6. I am thankful for my unflagging enthusiasm - to entertain, decorate, create, write, and always do something. I am thankful that I always have something to look forward to.
7. I am thankful for my home and my garden (that my husband carefully tends). I am thankful for my sweet husband who lets me decorate my nest MY WAY!
8. I am thankful for nature's bounty and color - in fruits, vegetables and greens. I am thankful for the seasonal varieties of farm fresh produce I have access to, for creating scrumptious meals for my family and friends.
9. I am thankful for my indulgences - my favorite authors, my favorite foods and favorite hang-outs (yes, shopping places included!) which bring me solace, help me recharge and rejuvenate.
10. Finally, I am thankful for all my faculties - physical and mental, that allow me to function to my maximum potential....
With this humbling thought, I make my plebeian attempt to pay it forward, to the not so fortunate, in whatever way I can. Sometimes through the means afforded by currency..sometimes through mentoring...sometimes through time contribution..but all the time through compassion and heart-felt, profound sense of gratitude.....How do you pay it forward?
Here's wishing Aalayam readers a fabulous holiday season.
Love,
Supriya
By the way...all the pictures you see above are copyrighted to Aalayam. So, please use with permission/link back. Thanks guys!
Thanksgiving is all about gratitude. Today I am grateful for my family, my friends, my career and of course - Aalayam! Through this blog, I am grateful for the opportunity I have to partake in the beauty and color in this world - one blog post at a time.
So, dear readers, here's my humble digest of Thanksgiving tableaux. Simple, frugal, natural and beautiful ideas and inspiration from my home to yours!
This year, I want to take my Thanksgiving outdoors. Weather permitting, why not try that yourself? Create a cozy conversation area around outdoor benches or patio furniture with soft colorful cushions, rugs and throws, add seasonal touches with fall fruits, vegetables and foliage.
You cannot go wrong when you incorporate the color scheme, fragrances and textures..think the crisp Fall breeze, the heady scent of pine cones, and the glorious colors of mums... that Mother Nature has dictated for this time of the year!
Entertaining outside when the days are short and cool can be tricky. You can balance the beauty of the outdoors with the warmth of the indoors by creating easy and non-fussy tablescapes like what I tried in my home (above) with natural decor elements which can either be consumed outside, or easily brought indoors when it gets too dark or cold for comfort! Of course, adding tealights, candles, holiday stringlights and lanterns to your outdoor tablescape adds that extra bit of oomph for enjoying the beautiful dusk!
Use fruits, pinecones (I spray painted mine gold!) and candles to dress up your table. It adds that touch of natural whimsy, without being tough on the wallet! Hey - just because Thanksgiving and Black Friday are calendar neighbors, it does not mean we have to break the bank trying to keep up what the retailers tell us we should celebrate Thanksgiving with!
Notice the gold pumpkin in the picture above? I picked up a bright orange paper maiche pumpkin from the local Dollar Store and spray painted it Gold!!! Adding that touch of gilt accessories to your tablescape creates a sophisticated look. Of course, I love the ochre of the natural pumpkin..so I had to let a couple of real pumpkins adorn my tablescape. You could do the same with any Fall vegetable - they come in all shapes, sizes, textures and colors! You can have a cornucopia of natural, edible decor items which add beauty to your Thanksgiving table!
Do not forget the colorful berries! They could add a pop of color to your centerpiece, to a floral arrangement or to your placecards! Look what I did with the berries from my backyard.
Oh! I love everything about this arrangement (above)- the confluence of colors and the natural elements layered together is just so refreshing..
Now..its time to move the party indoors! Turn on the soft ambient lights..warm up the decor a tad bit - and you are ready for an extended evening of Thanksgiving celebrations with good food and great company.
I toured around the house before setting the table - collecting chotchkies that would "Indianize" my tablecape. These placecards and elephants add that authentic, ethnic Indian touch that one cannot escape in my home!
Do not be afraid to be unconventional and bold in your choice of decor pieces - look how glorious this embellished silk pouch looks on the table. Nestled within the pouch are the silverware for the guests. On top of the salad plate is a colorful, jeweled tealight from Diwali. I am planning to let my guests take home one of those each..Do you like the idea?
I am in love with these Kalamkari table runners from Pedana, Andhra Pradesh (above). I have to admit they look gorgeous on the table and on the dining bench..It is definitely a conversation starter..I cannot get over how simple it is to dress up a tablescape with colorful Indian fabrics with their rich textures and magnificient patterns.
So! That was my Thanksgiving tableau dear reader. I hope you enjoyed these snap shots and hope you were inspired. Do share your Thanksgiving ideas and inspirations with us at aalayaminspiration@gmail.com.
I for one, cannot wait to fill up that wine glass you see over there with the spirit of the season! I wish you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving!
Aalayam also wishes you a joyful and inspired Holiday season!
Love,
Supriya
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