Thanksgiving – Francois et Moi

Last Minute Thanksgiving Table Decor

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 23:36:56 +0000

Bring something unexpected to the table this year. Floral expert, Molly of Studio Emme, teaches us how to create beautiful, sculptural centerpieces as Thanksgiving table decor! Want to do something modern, fun, and unexpected with your Thanksgiving table decor this year? Learn how to make these sculptural arrangements from my floral design friend and brainchild behind Studio Emme, Molly Yee. These arrangements use a few less flowers than your typical arrangement allowing the iconic blooms (Molly’s term for showstopping, statement flowers) to really shine. Floral frogs placed in small bowls and plates serve as the foundation, and give the impression that the stems defy gravity by standing on end. If you’ve never heard of floral frogs, they’re essentially round metal weights with a series of pins to affix flowers to. Molly’s flower shops, Studio Emme in the Twin Cities carry a great selection of unique iconic blooms like ranunculus, mums, peonies, etc. that grocery stores just don’t have, and you can buy them by the stem, so you don’t need to buy big bunches of several kinds of flowers, especially if you’re only making a few centerpieces. Let’s get down to brass tacks, shall we? Materials: Floral frogs Small bowls […]

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Thanksgiving Chic: 8 Ideas for a Modern Chic Gathering

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 18:34:12 +0000

Simple ways to throw a modern chic gathering that’s thoughtful, but not stuffy. If you’re hosting Thanksgiving, you’ve got to read! So you’re hosting Thanksgiving and looking for ways to make it feel thoughtful, but not stuffy? This post was written exactly for you! Whenever I have people over, I’m striving to make things feel special and tasteful, but not like I’m trying too hard. And it’s a hard balance to strike! So I’ve put together eight Do’s and Don’ts or things to consider for a modern, chic gathering. It’s written with Thanksgiving in mind, but it easily translates over to Christmas and any gathering really. Hope you find this helpful! Skip Formal Place Settings They’re stuffy and old fashioned! Instead, set out stacks of dishes for guests to dig in and seat themselves. Use Your Everyday Dishes, Silverware, Etc. to Elevate the Vibe None of this disposable dinnerware/serveware business. It’s less waste and way more chic. On the opposite end of the spectrum, don’t feel obligated to bust out your wedding china either. Your everyday dinnerware is effortless and homey. Do Use Specialty Drinkware Do use any fun drink glasses you might have on hand, like cut crystal or […]

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How to Pull Off a Magical Friendsgiving

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 03:29:07 +0000

Steal all our tips for throwing a truly magical friendsgiving! We’re talking table setting inspo, food ideas, and extra ways to make the night memorable. So you’re hosting Friendsgiving and not sure where to start? One of my closest design friends, Lea of Creekwood Hill, hosted a magical Friendsgiving last week, and it was one of those blue-moon-amazing-nights of styling, food, and conversation alongside a talented group of creative women. Read on for table setting inspo, food ideas (including how to create the ultimate charcuterie board), and extra ways to make the night memorable. Lea’s guest list included Kelly of Maven Events, Jennifer of Sage E Imagery, Morgan of Construction2Style, Mercedes of Mercury Mosaics, and Alyssa of Project Remodel. We arrived at Lea’s in the late afternoon where she had a pot of Harvest Carrot Soup simmering on the stove and the table set in a Kinfolk-esque vibe with white cotton linens, coupe drinkware, and brass candleholders from her shop, Curated Goods. Go surf her shop you guys–the pricepoints are insanely good. Leading up to the event, we all sort of jumped in and offered to help based on our strengths. Candlelight plays a big roll in setting ambiance, so […]

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3 Tips for Throwing a Festive Friendsgiving Gathering

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 21:51:25 +0000

Do you guys partake in Friendsgiving? If you’re new to the concept, Friendsgiving is a Thanksgiving meal cooked and shared between friends, often in addition to family celebrations. My sister, who lives cross-country and can’t fly home every year, has participated in them for years, and we’re celebrating Friendsgiving with friends here in town this weekend, so it’s definitely been on the brain lately. If you’re thinking about hosting one this year you’ve come to the right place! I’m teaming up with Butterfinger to share how and where to focus your time and energy to make it a thoughtful and festive gathering! 1. LOAD UP ON GOODIES FOR GUESTS Savory dishes always seem to be well represented on the Friendsgiving dinner menu, but let’s not forget about the sweet tooth friends among us! I like to have a variety of goodies on hand for indulging throughout the night, including these Butterfinger Cup Cereal Treats, a chocolatey, peanut butter treat that compliments all those warm flavors and spices at play during Thanksgiving. These babies are just like making rice cereal treats, only you sandwich the Butterfinger cups in between two layers of the gooey crisp rice goodness. Easy, right? AND browning […]

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Fast and Festive Pumpkin Votives

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 02:58:57 +0000

Yikes. Thanksgiving is in two days! Need a last minute table centerpiece? These fast and festive pumpkin votives will have your table dressed and ready to go in 20 minutes. I started by giving my little pumpkins a coat of spray paint in Montana, Color Petrol. I love Montana spray paints because they’re highly pigmented resulting in good coverage and pure, vibrant coloring. (This is NOT a sponsored post–I’m just sharing my experience as I spray paint a ton over here!) Skip the spray paint step if you’re crunched for time. The pumpkins also look gorge in their natural orange or white coloring!After letting the pumpkins dry, I carved out the spots for the votives and lit ’em up! Fast and easy, folks! Find more tidbits on how to rock this project on Homedit. Follow

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Minimal Thanksgiving Banners

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 23:54:25 +0000

I’ve long been a fan of the “It’s OK” banner by Secret Holiday Co. Her affirmation banners are so simple with positive messages, and with Thanksgiving just about here, I decided to create a few banners for our place inspired by Secret Holiday Co, and centering around messages of thankfulness. I’ve been really into the awesomeness that is iron transfer paper lately. Exhitbit A & B. And have come to find this transfer paper works the best in terms of transferring the image with the most clarity. Just sayin’ not all transfer papers are created equal. Just sayin’. I especially love the way the “Choose Gratitude” banner came out, so I might keep it up year round hanging above our bed. Head over to Homedit for the tutorial! SHOP THIS SPREAD Recycled Glass Wine Carafe | Large Cake Dome | DIY Cheese Tool Set | White Flour Sack Napkins | Marble Pastry Slab | Brass Tongs are Vintage (But find a similar pair HERE!) Follow

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Gratitude

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 16:30:34 +0000

Today on Thanksgiving I wanted to share Karmomo’s thoughtful recipe for practicing gratitude. (Read her post here!) It’s a good reminder for me not only today, but everyday to slow down and take notice of the beauty, the little things, and the overall good around me even as things may not be going exactly as planned (or I’m straight up having a bad day!), because, well, from gratitude comes happiness. I’m thankful for so, so many things this year, especially you guys for stopping by however often you do! I wish you and your loved ones much happiness and gratitude this Thanksgiving and everyday.

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Scandinavian Holiday Home

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 13:49:55 +0000

When it comes to decking the halls, I’m a strict, no-tree-before-Thanksgiving kind of girl because I think decorating beforehand, waters down Thanksgiving, skipping right over “The Day of Thanks” to focus on the next holiday. (This stance is heavily debated at our house, because if you ask Ken, Christmas can’t come soon enough!) However, now that we’ve wrapped up Thanksgiving, I’m all for decking out our place for the Holidays. As I’ve mentioned before, I love Scandinavian design and love incorporating the look into our decorating repertoire through natural elements, classic clean forms, and cozy accents. Below are some of my favorite ideas for bringing the Scandinavian Holiday look home. 1. Swedish Star Lantern, 2.Berry Branches, 3. Simple DIY Wreath, 4. Faux Fur Throw, 5. Felt Ball Garland, 6. Strala Candelabra, 7. Rosemary Napkin Garnish, 8. Homemade Ornaments, 9. Cloved Oranges, 10. Amaryllis Bulbs

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Gratitude

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 15:01:21 +0000

Today, we give thanks. Wishing you and yours a happy and fruitful Thanksgiving! Photo via Ginny Branch.

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Walnut and Honey Baked Brie

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 14:07:28 +0000

So you’re headed over to a friend or relative’s for Thanksgiving, and though you were told not to bring anything, you feel silly showing up without a dish to share in hand. Not sure what to bring? Baked brie is an impressive appetizer that comes together quicker and easier than you might think. Five ingredients and 1/2 hour is all you need to pull this impressive appetizer together. Ingredients: 8 oz Brie Round 2 tbls Honey Large Handful of Walnuts Sprig of Rosemary for Garnish French Baguette sliced in 1/2″ thick slices or crackers Special Tools: Brie Baking Dish. If you don’t have one, you might want to consider making the investment. Though you don’t necessarily need one to make baked brie, it makes it a lot easier to transport the appetizer if you’re heading to someone else’s home. Crate and Barrel has one for under $20. Technique: Toast the Walnuts: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and place walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes, checking every few minutes until the walnuts are aromatic. Set aside. Unwrap the brie wheel, place in your brie baking dish and cover with the dish’s lid. Heat the brie in your oven […]

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Frosted Cranberries

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 13:22:50 +0000

Happy Monday! This weekend, I came across a recipe for sugared cranberries in Sweet Paul Magazine. They looked so festive and fun; I thought I just might give them a go. Though these little bursts of sugary perfection, come together easily, they do require a little foresight, as they need to be started the night before serving. The night before, create a simple syrup by combining 2 cups of granulated sugar and 2 cups of tap water in a saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Place 2 cups of cranberries in a medium bowl, and pour the syrup over top, cover with cellophane and refrigerate overnight. The next morning, drain the simple syrup from the bowl of cranberries. Place roughly 1/2 cup coarse sugar or white sugar sprinkles (which is what we used) in another bowl and coat the cranberries with the sugar a handful at a time. Place the sugared cranberries on a baking sheet to set. Et voila! The coarse sugar and simple syrup will team up to create a crunchy sugar shell. Here I’ve perched the cranberries atop a white buttercream layered cake, but they’d also make a great addition to a cheese plate or simply served by […]

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