Tis the Season to Give Thanks

In the midst of the season’s hustle and bustle of parties, shopping, and gifts we often lose sight of what the holidays are all about. Bill Chisnell Productions encouraged the community to participate in an event called Giving Thanks that took place on November 18, 2012 which helped feed the needy of the Pittsburgh Homeless Shelter during a lunch and dinner seating. Many prominent event vendors and local restaurants donated their services and cuisine to this event, and Mosaic was thrilled to participate for this worthy cause!

The event included two seating of over one hundred diners with the help of a hundred volunteers! Donations from twelve local restaurants and caters made the dinner possible serving turkey, stuffing, rolls, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans casserole, mixed vegetables, apple cobbler, pumpkin cupcakes, macaroons, ice cream, coffee, apple cider, and more.

Sleeping bags filled with water, first aid kits, hats, scarves, gloves, snacks, toiletries, blankets were donated from ten local organizations and individuals, and the kids received goodie bags made by one of our donors' daughters included toys, games and other treats. All of the event planning and time were donated by event planners, and the dishes, linens, tables, chairs, food service and preparation, photography, music were all donated by vendors as well.

Giving Thanks would have not been possible without the time and resources of the following companies & organizations:

DONATIONS by: Astor & Black, Autumn Zankey of Mary Kay, Charles Spiegel, Create Studio, Hair by Damian, Erin’s Hallmark, Getting to the Point, LLC, Groff Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Hepatica, Laurel Breuner of Supercuts, Marina Lehn, Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, Plantscape, Trau & Loevner, UPMC Health Plan.

FOOD by: Big Burrito Catering, Dave & Andy’s Homemade Ice Cream, Duqusene Club, Girasole, La Crème, Rania’s Catering, Square Care, Two Louie’s Deli, Vic & Debbie Fortunato, Vanilla Pastry Studio, Spoon, Cruze

PLANNING by: Extraordinary Events, Natalie Berger Party Planner, Susie Franklin Planning

RENTALS by: AOPR, Mosaic Linens, Party Savvy, Studio E Band, Delta Foundation, Nate Sherer Videography, Lendable Linens, Nate Sherer Videography, Goldstein Photography

Here at Mosaic we believe in the power of working together to give back to the community. During this holiday we’d like to give thanks to all of our supporters and partners, and look forward to continuing to grow together in the New Year. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Mosaic!

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Thanksgiving Centerpieces

A centerpiece has always been known to anchor your Thanksgiving table, providing visual excitement and energy to the setting. It helps bring everything together and makes the table more inviting for guests. Centerpieces shouldn’t be expensive or hard to make, in fact you probably have everything needed to make a special centerpiece at your fingertips right now. Use fall’s natural resources and a little accent here and there to create some magic in your decor. Be sure to use a table linen that compliments and brings attention to the look you are trying to achieve so the table reads as a cohesive and personal backdrop for your celebration. And dont forget to start early. Setting the table early allows you to focus on the meal so that by the time Thanksgiving arrives, you are ready to share the special day with family and friends. This year, allow Mosaic to help you bring your Thanksgiving table to life!

FESTIVE 

Make use of the natural gifts autumn has to offer by creating vases out of gourds and placing fresh seasonal flowers in them for a colorful and festive look. Pair them with a linen that creates a background that pops, like this burnt orange pintuck from Mosaic.

ELEGANT

For a simple and elegant centerpiece use your finest candlesticks and dishware to showcase white and orange pumpkins and even add some branches of bittersweet berries. Finish the look with a luxurious print in classic colors such as this Ivory Venice linen from Mosaic.

CLASSIC

If you’re dinner party is themed around the original Thanksgiving dinner, go for a centerpiece that entertains the origins of the holiday, with wheat and ears of maize.  Choose a table linen that will complement the autumnal colors of your traditional centerpiece, like Mosaic’s Sunset Mayan linen . Find more directions on how to create this centerpiece HERE.

ROMANTIC

For a more intimate setting, make a lower centerpiece that creates a warm glow and emphasizes romantic ambiance, encouraging eye contact and conversation. This centerpiece uses pillar candles, fall leave and a wooden plank to set a romantic mood for an intimate holiday gathering. Use a dark rich colored linen to accentuate the warm and intimate atmosphere you’ve created, like Mosaic’s Brown Maple Leaves.

KID-FRIENDLY

Get the kids involved in the table setting festivities by having them write down what they are most thankful for this year on paper ornaments and clipping them to tree branches. After dinner, while relaxing around the fire, read the wishes from the ornaments to spark conversation and thought. Save them and add more each year, to make a family tradition. Pair this with neutral yet friendly colored linen like Mosaic’s Sage Moire Bengaline linen. Find out more on how to make this centerpiece HERE.

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Thanksgiving Cocktails

Raise a toast to everyone and everything that you are thankful for this year, with a

delicious cocktail in hand. Choose something festive that compliments the flavors
of the season: cranberry, cider, pear, or rosemary make great choices this time of
year. These recipes will surely please the palates of your guests and can be great
conversation starters among those who might not know each other. Cheers!

Cranberry Old Fashion



Warm up with this classic cocktail that blends bourbon and the berry of the season.
This is a strong one so don’t be afraid to add a little extra water when you muddle.
Get the recipe HERE.

Mulled White Wine Sangria




This is an irresistible mixture of star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and honey with
pieces of seasonal fruit like pears, apples and kumquats. Make a large batch of
this autumn inspired sangria and watch your guests collect around the punch bowl
as they come back for more! Get the recipe HERE.

Apple Pie Cider



Greet your guests with a warm drink to soothe the bitter cold. This drink uses apple
pie spices and brandy for a unique spin on a classic beverage. Garnish with a
cinnamon stick for festive stirring. Get the recipe HERE.

Sparkling Apple Ginger Mocktail



Don’t forget to include your Designated Drivers and non-drinkers with a tasty mocktail
like this sparkling cider spiked with ginger and cinnamon. This tasty beverage is
perfect for a party of teens or family celebration with young kids. Get the recipe HERE.

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Holiday Theme Parties

The holiday season is almost in full gear and a little planning will make things run more smoothly for your holiday get togethers. First, you must consider what kind of holiday party you would like to host.  Will you be throwing a formal, elegant party for family or colleagues, a fun cocktail soiree with your friends or a kid friendly party with activities and bite size treats? Once you’ve figured out what kind of party you want to have, planning the details will make your event unique and memorable for all of your guests.  We’ve come up with three complete crowd-pleasing party ideas to help you start planning your holiday get together.

The Elegant Party 

Impress the boss and your colleagues with an elegant get-together that is both traditional and chic!

Elegant Holiday Party

Décor: For a classy, elegant holiday party choose linens, napkins, and table décor in rich, decadent colors and textures. Dress up the table with floor length satiny linens. Use candles to add ethereal warmth to the table, creating a magical ambiance around the table.  Be sure to have a fabulous centerpiece; choose simple clear glass vases and fill them with flowers that fit your color theme. Consider using chair covers for a complete and luxurious look.  We like these choices from Mosaic. 

Gold Satin Linen

Mosaic Chair Cover 

     

Snacks: Ham, Gruyere and Honey Mustard Palmiers (Recipe)  and Toasted Brioche Roasted with Crème Fraiche Caviar (Recipe) 

Drink: Champagne

Music: A Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack (Listen) 

Gifts: Have your guests come with a small gift, wrapped anonymously. Later while enjoying drinks and dessert, play a trivia or guessing game.  Let whoever answers correctly (try to choose at least one suitable question per guest) gets to pick out of the present pile.

The Theme Party 

Invite the friends over for a night of fun holiday games, karaoke and tasty seasonal cocktails.  Holiday theme parties are a hit amongst close groups of people.  Have an Ugly Christmas Sweater party – for one night only you and your guests can wear your ugliest most obnoxious holiday sweaters for laughs! 

Fun Christmas Theme

Décor: Play with old-fashioned and somewhat cliché colors and prints for a fun, light-hearted feel that oozes holiday cheer. Use festive reds and greens in your décor and work with classic holiday motifs such as reindeer, elves and mistletoe.

Create a festive look with a bold color like red or a quintessential holiday plaid. Try these linens from Mosaic! 

Cherry Red Linen

Holiday Sparkle Plaid Linen

                       

     

Snacks:  Pigs in a blanket - or any finger food.  (recipe)  

Drink: Spiked Egg Nog (recipe) 

Music: Christmas All-Time Greatest Records (buy it here)  

Gifts: Secret Santa – A week or two before your party, try to gather your friends to pick a   name out of a hat for the person they will buy a gift for, set a money limit, and give each person a red or green bag (that way everyone’s gift looks the same) with a folded card to write the person’s name on.  Have your guests bring their gifts with the folded card to the party, the host distributes the gifts and the receiver must try to guess who the gift is from. 

The Kid’s Party

Show the kids some true holiday spirit with a party that celebrates the season.  Have a snowman building party with an array of “toppings” for eyes, noses, mouths and arms, decorate and bake holiday cookies, make ornaments, string popcorn garlands and watch Christmas movies. 

Kids Cookie Decorating Party

Décor: Fill the table with simple, fun and artsy items for the kids to use to make cookies, holiday cards, decorate ornaments or whatever arts & craft you will have them do.  Keep the feeling upbeat with bright colors and fun patterns like polka dots.  

White with Red Moon Dots linen

Snacks: Homemade Bagel Bites (Recipe) 

Drink: Hot Chocolate

Music: Children’s Christmas Favorites (try this) 

Gift: Be sure to send all your little guests home with their finished works of art, a goodie bag full of candy and a small prize.

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Pinspiration: Top 5 Thanksgiving Pinterest Boards

Getting ready for the holidays has become easier and lots more fun with sites like Pinterest which help get your creative juices flowing. You can create boards on Pinterest, which can help you organize your holiday planning.  With Thanksgiving just around the corner, use Pinterest for interesting and delicious recipes, clever decorating ideas, theme inspiration, color scheme or anything else which needs inspiration.  When done creating your boards, share with friends and have them give you their ideas too! Here are some of our favorite Thanksgiving Pinterest boards to help guide you! 

Chocolate Pumpkin Pie from Vintage Mixer 

VintageMixer : Salt Lake City foodie and hospitality guru Becky Rosenthal, shares her brilliant recipes and hosting tips on her blog, Vintage Mixer. Vintage Mixer’s pinterest boards are equally inspiring with lots of Utah-inspired recipes and traditional hosting techniques.  Find great recipes and party ideas on their “thanksgiving inspiration” board. 

Wool Acorn Utensil Decor 

The Wool Acorn:  Proudly titled “the BEST Thanksgiving Board Ever,” The Wool Acorn’s pin holiday pin board features simple yet clever ideas on how to enhance your Thanksgiving décor. 

Thankful Pie Craft by My Sister's Suitcase

My Sister’s Suitcase: Celebrate:”2 sisters who share a love of all things creative!” The two share inspiration for home décor, DIY projects, upcycling, kids activities, and free printables!  Their board “Celebrate: Fall”  has plenty of fun DIY crafts and recipes to try in the fall!

Koyal Centerpieces 

Koyal Wholesale Weddings : Not only are they one of the largest weddings and event supply companies out there, but they also have one of largest number of Pinterest boards ever!  With 100 boards of full of ideas for themed weddings, party décor, lighting ideas, and style inspiration.  Their board “Thanksgiving Parties” is full of beautiful ideas and yummy treats to suit any Thanksgiving party. 

Delicious Turkey Recipes

Family Circle Magazine :  Family Circle Magazine is dedicated to putting families first.  In both their publication and on their Pinterest boards, they deliver wonderful ideas, recipes, and living inspiration.  Their “Thanksgiving" board is full of side dish recipes and different ways to make your holiday turkey.  Also check out their “fall décor” board  for fun fall crafts and their “turkey” board for ideas on how to use leftover turkey.  

Follow Mosaic on Pinterest  for great party ideas and inspiration! 

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Thanksgiving Table Settings

Your table gives guests their first impression of the kind of mood you’re setting for dinner.  The biggest dinner party of the year is just around the corner, so now is the time to start planning how you want to present your Thanksgiving feast.  Making your Thanksgiving table unique is not difficult and creating it can actually be fun too.  Let the table be inspired by the season and the beautiful colors that dot the landscape, as well as a reflection of your home by adding personal touches. Consider incorporating handwritten place cards or menu cards,  or even add pictures of the family as part of the centerpiece.  Here are some great ideas on how to make your Thanksgiving table welcoming and special for you and your guests!

Festive Linens

 Fall Colored Linens 

 Start designing your Thanksgiving table with fabulous linens that will act as the backdrop for your other décor.  If you prefer printed linens, go for something subtle yet festive so not to distract from everything else happening on the table.  Or if you prefer solid linens, choose one in a bold fall color for a rich festive look, or a natural color and texture for a rustic, traditional look.  Mosaic has hundreds of linens to choose from to make your holiday table look stunning!

Moss Sonoma Linen by Mosaic

Go for a classic detail in muted colors for an elegant, traditional look.

Orange Fortuny Crush Linen by Mosaic

Play with bold colors in interesting textures for a cheerful and festive look. 

Copper Sheer Circles by Mosaic

Choose a sheer linen with a clean modern print for an updated, chic look. 




                               









Unique Center Pieces

Grape Centerpiece

It doesn’t have to cost a fortune to create a unique and very attractive centerpiece, in fact a quick trip to the grocery store or farmer’s market can be all you need for a great fall centerpiece like the one above. On trend, centerpieces can be informal arrangements comprised of grapes, mini pumpkins, gourds, kumquats, oranges and fall leaves.  Click HERE for instructions on how to make this fall centerpiece.

Printed Menus

Thanksgiving Menu

Having a menu set out on the table for your guests to see is a creative way to engage guests, adding a thoughtful touch to your evening.  If you have nice handwriting, try writing  your menu on a thick cardstock, or simply make one in a word document and print them out. Here is a great site that will show you how to make your own printed menu. 

Place Cards

Place Cards

Avoid seating arrangement confusion by setting place cards down for your guests.  These are also an affordable and fun project, and the perfect way to let the kids get involved with the decorations on for your Thanksgiving dinner.  Make sure you get a list of everyone who is coming and the correct spelling of their name.  Then the rest is up to your imagination! Print out the names and place them onto real fall leaves or paste the names to pumpkins for a cute souvenir.  Click HERE  for great place card ideas. 

Pick a Theme

As stated before, your Thanksgiving feast should be a reflection of you and your home from everything from the setting and décor, to the food you will be serving.  Here are a few themed Thanksgiving dinner table ideas. 

Classic Table Setting

Classic Setting 

An elegant classic table setting is fit for any home.  Use seasonal colored roses for centerpieces, formal china, white or ivory linens, and place your hor d’oeuvres on pedestals made from plates and bowls.  Copy childhood pictures of your guests in black and white and set them as place cards. 

Rustic Setting



 

Rustic
Natural details like fall leaves and sprigs add a rustic and simple touch to this setting.  Garnish each of your napkins with a fall leaf, use gourds as centerpieces, and branches for décor.

Modern Setting

Modern and Chic
Shiny silver pieces arepaired with a black and white base and accented with ivory pumpkins, roses, and candles -perfect for a modern Thanksgiving in the city! 

Kids Table 

Kids Table

Accommodate your young guests and their short attention spans with a paper table cover and some crayons tucked into their napkins. Perhaps provide a couple books about Thanksgiving and a fun craft for them to work while the adults linger over coffee and dessert.  Here are some great “kids table” ideas.

                                                                                   

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