Guest Picks: Are You Entertaining This Thanksgiving?
Jordan's pick: This chair style will work great with the Ikea drop-leaf table. I have had these for a couple of years, and I enjoy their straight lines and comfort. Hours have been spent sitting in them enjoying a meal and conversation.
Janette's pick: I love this table because it is stately, elegant and fits my home decor. They say the best tables are round because all of the guests can see each other eye to eye and aren't limited to talking to just the people across from them.
Janette's pick: I like the idea of teaming colorful chairs with the stately round table. It will add a punch of interest, but the two styles still work well together.
Jordan's pick: I have these placemats, and they are perfect for fall entertaining. I like adding a dark red plate as a charger and then a plate on top to add a layered fall look.
Jordan's pick: These dishes scream fall to me. I actually have a set of four that I pull out every year. They are sturdy, and the color is just beautiful. I get so many compliments on them, and I bet they would make your table look great.
Janette's pick: I have a soft spot in my heart for any linens made by Pomegranate because it is a locally owned company. I plan to use placemats rather than a tablecloth this Thanksgiving to add a rustic, less formal touch to the table. The colors of these placemats are perfect for the season and will look great with my antique brown and white transferware plates.
Janette's pick: We like to be practical and buy things that have more than one use or one season. These plates, for instance, have the colors of fall and would be perfect on the Thanksgiving table. But they also have reds and blues that would be great for a summer patriotic table. Or pull out the red and green with Christmas linens, and they become Christmas china. The bottom line is that this pattern would work all year if you pair it with seasonal linens.
Janette's pick: If you want to use a tablecloth instead of placemats, this one is the bomb! The main surface is white and won't distract from your china, but the edges are all enhanced with cut-out autumn leaves. You can use it from early fall through Thanksgiving, if you want.
Jordan's pick: Place cards are a must to let your guest know where they are sitting. These are great because you can use them year after year, for any dinner party.
Jordan's pick: Do you have lots of kids in your house for Thanksgiving? This adorable kids' table is a way to have the kids feel like adults while sitting at their own formal table.
Jordan's pick: Music sets the mood for any entertaining event. Bose speakers are known for their quality, and these portable ones can be moved to any room. Just plug them in to your phone or computer, put on your favorite playlist and mellow out while enjoying the day.
Janette's pick: I have this meat thermometer, and it has improved my grilling by 100 percent. It will take away the guessing when you wonder if your turkey is done. I know, I know, many turkeys do have those little red buttons that pop up, but I have found that the bird is often overcooked by then. This thermometer will totally take the guesswork out of cooking meat, no matter how you prepare it and no matter the kind of meat. There's a little guide on the side that tells you what temperature you should be aiming for.
Jordan's pick: Have you heard of a Corkcicle? It's the cleverest little invention. Keep it in the freezer, and then if you need to keep your wine chilled after it has been opened, just pop it inside. The icicle part freezes and keeps your wine at the correct drinking temperature.
Janette's pick: Speaking of wine, this aerator really does make a difference in the taste of your wine. Pop it on the top of your just-opened bottle of wine and pour through it — it does make a funny slurping noise though. I have almost zero knowledge of wines, but I did a blind taste test and picked the wine that had been poured through one of these gadgets. It's so worth having.
Janette's pick: After wishing for years that I had one, this is the year that I am buying a dorm fridge for the beverages. They take up so much valuable refrigerator real estate, and I need the space for other things like leftovers. The nice feature of this small unit is that it can be stored out of the way in the basement until next time.
Janette's pick: One of our Thanksgiving family traditions is to do a 5K walk sponsored by the local running club on Thanksgiving morning. It's a great way to work off some calories before the big feast. Before we leave the house in the morning, I put a gallon of apple cider into a slow cooker and add these mulling spices. When we come back, the house smells great and the cider warms our cold bones.
Janette's pick: Most of us would love to have an outdoor fireplace, but it isn't always practical or doable. Here's the next best thing: a portable fire pit. Spending some quality family time outdoors around a warming fire is much better than stagnating in front of the TV or computer. This is the time to make family memories. Roast some marshmallows for s'mores, sip some hot chocolate and just enjoy being together.
Jordan's pick: We love playing games after a big meal, and Thanksgiving is the perfect time to have teams play Cranium. It might not be best for the younger kids, but even Grandma can play this one.
Janette's pick: If your Thanksgiving guests are staying for a night or two, you might want to purchase a new set of flannel sheets. We have these, and what a warm, cozy feeling you'll get when you crawl into them at night. You can get them monogrammed or not, and they come in a great selection of colors. Next: 13 Ways to Make Your Thanksgiving More Meaningful
Jordan's pick: I like this table for many reasons. It can seat up to eight people but can fold up nicely into a corner of your house afterwards. It can even be a desk or a craft table when not used for entertaining.
Q