I can honestly say that November snuck up on me! I’ve been so busy with blogging, life in general, travel and my new grandson being born, that I hardly noticed! I want to make this month count and enjoy the rest of the days as much as possible!

Holiday hosting, travel, shopping, family… November is often a blur of all the things we should do. This month, in my opinion, there’s only one thing you really need to do, and that’s get to the polls this Tuesday. Once you’ve checked that off your list, what you do in the weeks to come is all about embracing the traditions that are meaningful to you and letting go of the rest. This year, for me, Thanksgiving will be different because Lauren, Chris, Hudson and Baby Graham won’t be here with us. They’ve decided to stay home because Graham is still so little. I totally understand, but we’ll miss them very much! I’m still making a Thanksgiving feast and looking forward to everyone else being here! We’ll make the most of our time together and enjoy the day with a fire and all of our favorite traditions.

This holiday season, let go of the things that don’t serve you and create a holiday that feels right for you and then follow your heart and enjoy what really matters. Here are a few fun ideas for things to do in November that will leave you feeling relaxed, excited and hopefully I more in-the-moment.

Sit in front of a fire with someone you love! Hudson and I spent a night in Atlanta in the Hotel At Avalon last week and the next morning, his baby brother was born. The hotel is beautiful and they made our stay a very special one! We loved sitting in front of the warm fire…I had a glass of wine and he had cookies!

Watch my video on decorating your table for Thanksgiving and create your own easy and beautiful centerpiece.

Make this recipe for Brussels Sprouts with Maple Mustard Vinaigrette. It’s sure to become a favorite for fall!

Keep it simple with your decorations.

Take a drive and soak in the beauty of the fall leaves changing.

Get a head start on holiday gift giving and order Ina Garten’s new cookbook - Cook Like a Pro. I have every one of her cookbooks and love them all! This book would make a great gift for all the cooks on your list!

Create a cozy reading nook and curl up with a good book. My summer reading list can be found here and I’m working on my list for fall!

Plan a trip to New York! There is nothing like seeing the holiday decorations to get you in the Christmas spirit!

Consider a new pair of velvet booties! These by Madewell would be perfect for Thanksgiving and beyond!

Start a new holiday tradition with this recipe for Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes.

Don’t miss The Nutcracker and The Four Realms starring Helen Mirren. In theaters now!

What will you be doing in November? Leave me a comment below and let me know! Thanks so much for reading…Happy Sunday!