We enjoyed our first Thanksgiving as a married couple, and our first Thanksgiving celebrated in the USA this weekend. We invited our other Canadian friends over to celebrate too, since they also recently moved to California. As Canadians, we were dyin’ for a bit of Thanksgiving grub as ours usually falls during the middle of October. We were overdue for a feast!
I had the chance to order food at no cost to me, thanks to Walmart Grocery once again, so I took full advantage of that and placed my order over a week ahead a time so we would be prepared. It was delivered last Wednesday and we had our Thanksgiving planned for Black Friday. Unfortunately my order was a bit of a flop, as chicken wings arrived in replacement of two whole chickens. Walmart assured me that I should always check the box that allows substitutions which in any case they run out of food, they will give you an upgrade. However, I’m thinkin’ chicken wings are a total downgrade from whole chickens. They also didn’t include my chicken stuffing for the birds. In a panic I had to rush out before any of the stores closed early due to Thanksgiving the next day. Not something I had planned to do! I was disappointed in that, and of course had to go on a wild goose chase to find fresh not frozen, chickens. In the end, it all worked out and everything else arrived perfectly fine. Just not those dang chickens and stuffing! While my delivery did have a mishap, I’m still really pleased with the service and still recommend it to people. Especially those who live a busy lifestyle, don’t want to grocery shop on their time off or those who have newborns at home. Imagine diapers being dropped off at your door at a moments notice! Perfect, right?
Since our friends have a young child, we had our Thanksgiving meal earlier in the evening since the lil’ bud had to go to bed at an early hour. We had a really nice evening with loads of good food and wine. I made two whole chickens, mashed potatoes, baked asparagus with feta, carrots and cauliflower puff (which I still have to post a recipe on).
Over the course of a few weeks, I picked up some decorations from all over, and put together a nice spread for ourselves, and our guests. The only true decorating I did was these fancy looking but super easy to recreate napkins that I saw on Pinterest. But I picked up some flame less candles for the table which I totally forgot to turn on, and I also made a Christmas Ball wreath from a coat hanger, which is more like a triangle wreath, but hey — it at least definitely looks homemade, haha!
Now, I’ll let the photos do the rest of the talking :)
What are some of your Thanksgiving traditions?
What’s your favourite part about Thanksgiving?
Favourite: Turkey, Ham, Beef or Chicken?
I’m really looking forward to continuing these traditions over the course of the years.
Are you wanting to try out Walmart’s grocery delivery service? Your first order delivery is for free – and if you want an additional 15 bucks off you can use my referral link. Â I’ll get $15 for each friend who tries out their service, and YOU will save $15 too. Why not share, right?
Disclaimer: Walmart-to-go provided me with a gift card to try out their delivery service.
70 Comments
I actually went to NYC this year, so we ended up having Chinese food for Thanksgiving. It felt odd.
@Robin (Masshole Mommy): I’d love to see NYC during this time of the year – I haven’t been. You’ll have to have a chicken or turkey for Christmas then! (If you celebrate) :)
Nancy recently posted..Our first American thanksgiving
Well, the first thing I must say is that your pooch is TOTALLY adorable! Secondly, did Walmart think that chicken wings were a good substitute because football games air on Thanksgiving or what? What a strange replacement.
Dawn recently posted..RSVP for the #GuyAtWM Twitter Party
It looks like everything came out just perfectly anyhow! It would be nice if they needed to substitute that they’d email you to get your ok first.
Liz Mays recently posted..Life Lessons from the Hunger Games #FandangoFamily
@Liz Mays: Thanks Liz, I’m pretty pleased with how everything turned out in the end! :)
Nancy recently posted..Our first American thanksgiving
Wow it all looks so good Nancy! You are quite the hostess! We did our usual turkey and all the trimmings with just us! My absolutely favorite part is the stuffing I could eat Thanksgiving stuffing at every meal!
@Jeanine: That’s so funny Jeanine – because I only make stuffing to make the birds taste better. No one eats it! Lol.
Nancy recently posted..Our first American thanksgiving
We have our immediate family over every year.. 30 people, and we feast all day and watch football!
We usually have Thanksgiving dinner with my husband’s large family. This year, one of the cousins was getting married in NY, and we couldn’t go due to work, so I made a traditional turkey dinner at home. Much more relaxing and more leftovers!
Angela Price recently posted..December in My Garden
Looks like you had a great Thanksgiving meal. I prefer ham so we made a ham this year.
Everything looks so delicious, thank you so much for sharing this great post and beautiful photos :D
Wow, what a beautiful meal. You put a lot of thought in the details. Great job!!! You go girl!!!
@Paula Parker: Thank you Paula! :)
Your thanksgiving set up is adorable!! And I love your home. Its so beautiful and exactly how I’d want mine to look.
Bianca recently posted..Giving Thanks
Such a delicious looking meal, I’d have love to have been there myself.
Everything looks amazing – especially your darling dog! Hope you had a great Holiday!
Claire recently posted..Helping Your Man Stay Active
Well that plate definitely looks like you nailed it for Thanksgiving dinner. Sorry you got chicken wings – you didn’t let that stop you! I love hot turkey sandwiches which come from leftovers!
Andi recently posted..J’adore #58 – Book Edition
how fancy! it all looks so delicious!
missy
popofstyle.com
Missy recently posted..Viva La Juicy!
@Missy: Thanks! I felt fancy having it all prepped and having it tasting as well as my Mom’s home cooking.
Nancy recently posted..Our first American thanksgiving
Well, everything looked beautiful and delicious. How did you enjoy your first American Thanksgiving?
@Carmen Perez (listen2mama): I had a really great time, thanks for asking! We celebrated with some of our close friends, and had a really nice evening :)
Nancy recently posted..Our first American thanksgiving
The food looks relish! I think you did pretty well with your 1st American Thanksgiving! I love the dessert plate and what you did with the napkins! You are so creative!
Yaitza recently posted..Thanksgiving Leftovers Soup
Looks amazing and thoughtful!
Candace recently posted..Hello, December…
What a lovely spread! I may have to steal that cinnamon/sprig napkin holder thing too. So sorry about the chicken fiasco, and you were so prepared too!
Angie Scheie recently posted..Thanksgiving Weekend Recap
It looks like you guys pulled it out and had a great Thanksgiving even IF you got replacement wings instead of actual chickens. O_O
Krystal recently posted..Give Extra: I Spy Christmas Ornament
omg…i can’t stop laughing at the fact walmart thought wings were a good replacement?! what the heck?
ruthy recently posted..2014 Holiday Gift Guide :: Fashion
Looks like your Thanksgiving went well!
karissa recently posted..Enjoy life now, this is not a rehersal – How to find your passion
Lovely photos! This year we skipped out on the extended family and hit the beach for surfing… no one was there and the weather was perfect! We were really thankful!
Happy first American Thanksgiving! Everything looks lovely and delicious! :)
Heather recently posted..The Return of Oatmeal the Elf + Link-Up
Looked very nice, I wish I was invited too! I love your pictures.
Shaney Vijendranath recently posted..Why Drinking Red Wine in Summer is Awesome
Besides getting together with family our biggest tradition is the stuffing. It is a recipe that has been handed down for generations and we look forward to it every year, so much so that sometimes I make it anyway and just pretend it’s Thanksgiving!
Rena McDaniel recently posted..COSCHEDULE MAKES LIFE ABOUT WRITING AGAIN!
Can you just imagine having the Thanksgiving meal minus the chicken?! haha what a nightmare! I think the handmade decorations look beautiful! and Alfie looks so happy with his bone!
Katie <3
Katie Matthews recently posted..Jemaa El Fna and Les Bains d’Azahara
Looks like a nice elegant Thanksgiving. Normally we have turkey but this year we had steak – I know not traditional!
Mama to 5 BLessings recently posted..Peter Pan Live! Is A Must See This Thursday! #PeterPanLive
That is one of the best Thanksgiving set up. Such an inspiration.
Manu Kalia recently posted..Knee Arthritis Treatment Self Traction
Looks like it was a delicious dinner! We don’t really have any traditions for thanksgiving, we get together as a family and drink wine and eat lol. Always turkey!
Glad everything worked out for you. The food looks super yummy and your table settings I am in love with.
Ashley Taylor recently posted..Elf on the Shelf Ideas Link Up Week 2
I’m glad you were able to grab another chicken! Chicken wings are SO not a substitute for a whole chicken.
Brenda recently posted..Gift Guide: Gifts for Him
Looks like you had a fabulous Thanksgiving. It was mine and my son’s 5th celebration of it. I love both the turkey and ham. And of course not to forget the desserts! :)
Lynndee recently posted..November Recap
Looks like you had a lovely Thanksgiving! It’s a wonderful time for my family to get together, despite our conflicting schedules. Therefore, I always look forward to Thanksgiving, but my family was unable to get together this year since practically everyone was sick with something.
HilLesha recently posted..Stocking Stuffers: The Ultimate Beauty Gift Guide
Groceries delivered to your door? Sounds magical!
Happy thanksgiving! Everything looked amazing!!
kendall recently posted..Hallmark Northpole Holiday
Looks like you had a fabulous Thanksgiving. We don’t celebrate it here in Ireland but I kind of wish we did :)
Your dinner looks perfect! Love your table settings!
Maryann recently posted..7 Reasons to Stay At the Mandarin Oriental San Francisco {Review}
Looks like the meal was a success and the food looks delicious, we celebrate thanksgiving in october too in the UK
Myrabev recently posted..Week 53: Personal Confessions ~ My Christmas is different to yours
What a cool idea! Bummer about the chickens, but I’m glad everything worked out :)
Caitlin Cheevers recently posted..December Goals: 2014
Looks delicious to me!! Your table settings were on point! LOL we just let the food do the talking and didn’t have special place settings.
Lauren recently posted..Social Media Tools To Grow Your Blog
It all looks so perfect, Nancy!! Totally stealing the napkins for Christmas.
@Erin: Do it!
Nancy recently posted..Just in time for our visitors!
Looks like you had a very successful first Thanksgiving :)
Lindsay recently posted..My Vegan Story :: Ally Ramser ::
I know this is a little off topic but I was just talking to a friend who use to drive to Canada for Thanksgiving to eat dinner since everything here was closed and he told me the only bad thing about it was how they don’t have black Friday so the traffic coming back to the US was horrible due to everyone going into the US for black Friday.
erica recently posted..The perfect gift for her. BreMarie Jewelry
What a wonderful event and our pictures are awesome! Looks like it was so fun and yummy!
What a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner. Looks so very tasty. We usually have turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, green bean casserole, gravy, rolls, pumpkin and apple pies and our family tradition, fudge.
Wishing you and your fam a great Holiday season!
What a great looking meal. I can’t believe Walmart thought chicken wings would suffice for Thanksgiving. Great photos.
Aww looks like you enjoyed your first American Thanksgiving. Do they usually have chicken instead of turkey in Canada or was that just a personal preference? Everything looks like it came out lovely and I adore how you went simple, yet elegant with your decor. Sometimes less is more!
Iris recently posted..God: A defense against defense mechanisms.
@Iris: Oh! The chicken was personal preference really. I think cooking a turkey for the first time, for guests really daunting.
Nancy recently posted..Just in time for our visitors!
I prefer ham on Thanksgiving – I know, total rebel. ;) Your table looks so pretty, and the food looks like it turned out great!
Jenn @ hellorigby! recently posted..Holiday Gift Guide: For Your Furry Friends & Giveaway
@Jenn @ hellorigby!: I LOVE Ham on Christmas or Thanksgiving – we usually have both (turkey + ham) and I was going to make two meats for our Thanksgiving, but I thought it’d be too much for four people and a toddler.
Nancy recently posted..Just in time for our visitors!
It looks like your first American Thanksgiving went great! I love the idea of using the premade pies and putting ice cream on top. Great idea!
Carly Anderson recently posted..Food Pantry Holiday Makeover
@Carly Anderson: So much easier! I am not a good baker lol.
Nancy recently posted..Just in time for our visitors!
I love making a sandwich the next day with turkey, cranberry sauce and mayo. My favorite part of the holiday is the pies. Cute dog, BTW.
Congrats on an amazing first American Thanksgiving! You set a pretty table!
Anita recently posted..Christmas Chocolate Double Mint Fudge
@Anita: Thank you! At first I thought it was a little too simple. But with the plates, cutlery and food – it all came together well.
Nancy recently posted..Just in time for our visitors!
What a great idea! You’re spread and pictures are all divine. I’m sure using wal-mart to go took a load off getting ready for the big day! :D
Tanya Coffman recently posted..Wordless Wednesday {at the dog park}
@Tanya Coffman: It was definitely a lot of help, especially not having to hit the busy streets (minus the whole chicken fiasco lol).
Nancy recently posted..Just in time for our visitors!
Looks like a fun day, even if you had a little snafu with the groceries!
Brooke @ You’re In Brookelynn recently posted..What I Wore: Thanksgiving Break + Yoga Outlet
@Brooke @ You’re In Brookelynn: Snafu! Lol. That word is awesome.
Nancy recently posted..Just in time for our visitors!
I love old fashioned apple pie, all of your foods looks yummy, I hope your thanksgiving event was great :)
All of the food looks delicious! We actually have our own tradition and have fajitas instead of turkey or ham.
April @ Everyday Fitness and Nutrition recently posted..How to Balance Running and Life
You did a beautiful job and your home is beautiful. Love everything about this, including, or should I say specially the napkins settings. Is that a cinnamon stick? I love this so much. Great job!
Great photos! Hope you’re ready for Christmas next week!!!
Jess recently posted..Weekly Wishes #45