When my husband and I first moved in together – back when it was just the two of us – there was a lot of togetherness. We lived together. We ate together. We commuted to work together. We watched television together.
In fact, there was so much togetherness that we used to make a formal announcement when we would leave the room.
“I’m heading to the kitchen.”
or,
“Be right back, just need to use the bathroom.”
It just felt odd … awkward … to get up off the couch and walk out of the room without some kind of preface. Do you know what I mean? Though, announcing our comings and goings was odd and awkward too …
We were also exceptionally polite to another another. Lots of pardon me’s and excuse me’s and an over abundance of thanks you’s … typically followed by a back-and-forth stream of no, thank you …
And our exceptional politeness — and excessive thank you’s — continue to this very day. In fact, they’re greatly encouraged (and, at times, prompted) among our children. Because please and thank you’s are magic words, after all. Just ask Barney …
Speaking of thank you’s, in the spirit of Thanksgiving I thought I’d parse out some here, starting with my husband who works so hard to support our family. I’m thankful for the gift he has given me that allows me to stay home and raise the kids. And of course I have to thank my son and my daughter for being such fabulous kids. Sure, we have our moments, but at the end of the day I wouldn’t trade them for anything …
There’s my mom and dad and sister and brother and brother-in-laws and nieces and nephews. Even though we’re geographically challenged, they’re always close to my heart. And I’m also thankful for my “adopted” Chicago family in the form of Mike’s sisters and their children and grandchildren and their extended families.
I’m thankful to you, my readers, for coming here and sharing in my adventures. And I’m thankful for all the new blogging friends I’ve had a chance to meet virtually – and in person — along the way.
And my thanks you’s wouldn’t be complete without sharing my deep and utter thanks to the founder of Dollar Tree and the creative genius who invented chalkboard spray paint …
Seriously, chalkboard spray paint is the little black dress in my craft closet. Just look at what a few quick coats did to some super shiny red plastic chargers I picked up at the Dollar Tree …
They look so rich, right?
And dare I say it … sexy?
And they’re so photogenic that I had a hard time choosing my favorites …
Oh, and in case you were wondering, Mike and I no longer make formal announcements when we leave a room.
P.S. Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday surrounded by your loved ones!
P.P.S. If you’re curious about the white pumpkin on the place setting, I made it from a dryer vent. The tutorial can be found here …
Sharing …
* Savvy Southern Style * House on the Way * Funky Junk Interiors * Under the Table & Dreaming * Between Naps on the Porch * Decor & The Dog * Two Twenty One * Home Stories A 2 Z * Cozy Little House * My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia * A Bowl Full of Lemons * Fox Hollow Cottage * At the Picket Fence *
What an awesome idea! Thank you so much for sharing it. Happy Thanksgiving!
I totally believe a few more thank you’s and please and you’re welcome’s would make so much difference in this world. It was one of the first words were son and now my grandchildren were taught and said. Love the chargers. I know the plastic red chargers you are talking about. I have a stack waiting to for some creativity to rub on off them. Love this idea and love the pumpkin, too. Happy Thanksgiving.
Love those! Great idea. I’m a sucker for black and white!
–Katie
What a nice, thoughtful post! I know what you mean about extra politeness… Maybe it’s us Jersey girls….
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Erin
Happy, happy Thanksgiving to you!!
Have a great Thanksgiving, Linda!
I looked for chargers a few weeks ago and couldn’t find any that looked vintage. I, of course, never thought to paint them…and I had no idea there was actual chalkboard spray paint. Live and learn! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Have a wonderful weekend ~ Ann
Well I never would have thought to spray paint the chargers!!!…they are fantastic…and yes, hard to choose the best one! :)…..your place setting is the cutest and over the top creative…I so love reading your stories…and now that I have had the great pleasure of meeting you, the stories really come to life!…Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your beautiful family!!…
Happy Thanksgiving, Linda! Your chargers have knocked my socks off. 🙂
xo Heidi
Hi Linda! I love the chalkboard paint on the chargers. I don’t know why it doesn’t come to mind more often for me, but now that you’ve called it the little black dress in your craft closet, I know it will. 🙂 Your pictures are beautiful and I love the dryer vent pumpkin, not to mention the post itself. Happy Thanksgiving!
Debbie
Very sexy chargers, indeed. Though I find please and thank you to be all the aphrodisiac I need. 🙂 Wishing you a great holiday. Thankful to have connected with you this year.
Hi Linda,
First of all, I am thankful for You and your blog – you’ve made a real difference in my life {you’ve featured my paint projects twice when I thought (and still do, sometimes) nobody knew my little blog existed}. Your talent and creativity always inspires me. Who would have thought to use a dryer vent to make such a cute little pumpkin. Can’t wait to get me some chalk paint in a can – after all, doesn’t every girl need a LBD in their craft closet?
Happy Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Jeannie
Linda, the black is oh so sexy and fabulous. Thanks for sharing at Wow and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
After Thanksgiving which I will host, I am spreading the chalkboard love all around my house. My in laws would be the kind to think I took a job at a chalkboard paint factory. After tomorrow every surface is a potential chalkboard. I want to bring sexy back.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving my friend.
Bliss
Wow, I have to try this! They look great! Thanks for sharing this project and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
These are super cute! I definitely need to check out these dollar store chargers! 🙂
I loe the chalkboard chargers! Please and thank you are always good…now, if you’ll excuse me…I’m going to go into the other room now.
Kelly
What a beautiful place setting! I actually picked up those red chargers from the Dollar Tree! I think a can of chalkboard paint is in order!
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Leslie
Linda what a pretty setting.And a cool idea for a pumpkin with that dryer vent! I am thankful we were able to meet up! I hope we will meet up again and have more time to chat! That time went by way too fast! Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving!
xx
Anne
Beautiful Table Setting! And my hubby and I were the same way on the politeness thing when we were first married!!! LOL!
Happy Thanksgiving 🙂 love everything about your table setting and thank you for being such a wonderful blogging friend 🙂
This is a lovely post, great idea for the chargers!
adorable pumpkins! have a wonderful Thanksgiving, the weather is going to be beautiful!
Love the post…my hubby never leave for the day with out a love you or hang up on the phone….always a love you…and right now my grand daughter is dancing and singing Thank you Thank you you are the best…..melt….out of no where
Love the setting, especially the silver pumpkin that caught my attention… 🙂 have a great holiday….
Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving.
LOL …. with our month of vacation and house guests I feel like I’ve missed so much. This post gives me the urge to apologize for not announcing that I was going to be away. Happy to report, I am back. 😉
I never thought a charger could be so sexy! I’m thankful for this here lil blog. I’ve been out of town so I’m just now catching up! Hope you had a marvelous thanksgiving.
Dear kindred chalkboard paint spirit,
I love these. Definitely sexy!
Sincerely,
IHaveASprayPaintManicure
These are wonderful! I love the dryer vent pumpkins so much. Such a clever idea and they really look nice on each place setting.
Thank you so much for joining Dare to DIY!
WOW that table setting ROCKS!!! Love it. I have to check out the pumpkin too. love!!
I will definitely be making these for the holidays this year! So gorgeous!
Thanks for sharing theses Qt’s at the Dollar Tree party Linda!!
Fantastic Linda. Love your sweet story too. Please and thank you are certainly always the magic words here too. Thanks for sharing with our Dollar tree party.
Love your chalkboard chargers… another great idea! I love this time of year, when I’m always reminded of the many things I have to be thankful for. Happy holidays, Linda!
I am crazy crazy over chalkboard paint – I’ve noticed it does smell a little weird though. I will be spraying some plates – I love the black. I wouldn’t have thought to use chalkboard paint. Great idea!
Love the black&white 🙂
Great idea, Linda! I think these would be cute throughout the year, but I’d love to make some for our “Grands'” Christmas Eve table. Oh, I’m so excited! Thanks for sharing!