Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year (or did you, if you’re in Canada)? Last year we celebrated at my daughter Kylee’s house in Portland after just moving into our new home. This year we’re the hosts. Our gathering will include my sister and her family, the grandparents, our son Luke, daughter Kylee and her husband Lance, and my daughter Courtney and her husband Dong. It’s a full, lively house and I’m already looking forward to every moment.
This Monday Mood Board is all about the warmth of gratitude and the joy of being home with the people you love at Thanksgiving. It celebrates the senses: the music playing in the background, the chatter in the kitchen, the scent of roasting turkey and baking pie. We always have a soundtrack for the day, and there are playlists we’ve shared if you want suggestions. The kitchen is where everyone gathers—peeling potatoes, stirring stuffing, checking on the turkey. Kylee often assembles a charcuterie board for guests while the meal comes together, and Courtney brings her famous pie. My parents enjoy helping in the kitchen too. Just thinking about it brings the aroma of the meal to mind.
We can’t wait to have our family gathered here. Thanksgiving has given us so many treasured memories—whether we celebrated at the family beach house near Cannon Beach, at my parents’ home, in our own home, or now at our children’s homes. The location changes but the meaning remains the same. We don’t need a perfect meal or an elaborate table setting to make the day special. Children have always helped set the table, and those small helpers are part of the memory.
For us, Thanksgiving is about being together—around the dining table, around folding chairs and card tables if we need them—and sharing gratitude for the many blessings in our lives. It’s the conversation, the laughter, and the simple rituals that matter most.
I hope this mood board inspires you to create your own atmosphere of Thanksgiving—one filled with comfort, connection, and delicious food.
Mood Board Sources:
Almond Cream Kitchen Aid Mixer // Ceramic Pumpkin Shaped Deep Pie Dish with Lid // Silicone and Wood Double Spoon // Copper Pepper Mill and Salt Shaker Set // Pumpkin Spice Dish Towel ‘give thanks and eat pie’ // Forest Feast Gatherings: Simple Vegetarian Menus for Hosting Friends & Family // Pumpkin Spice Spread // Bird Dessert Plate // Jute Woven Round Placemat // White Sauce Boat // Mouse Place Card Holder // Small Wood Bread Board // Slate Cheese Board and Chalk Set // Marble and Wood Oval Serving Board // Thanksgiving Pie Crust Cutters
Related posts:
Monday Mood Board: Autumn Dining Room
How to Decorate Your Kitchen for Fall: 17 Cozy Ideas
Simple and Charming Thanksgiving Table Decorating Ideas
Simple and Natural Table Setting Ideas
Simple Cozy Fall Tablescape in our New Dining Room
My Book Simple Gatherings: 50 Ways to Inspire Connection
See all Monday Mood Boards here