Thanksgiving Tradition

This post is sponsored by Marks & Spencer. All opinions are my own.

I love Thanksgiving because it is truly a season when we give more time and attention to express gratitude for all our blessings. Even when it gets busy, the spirit of the holiday makes it so that we are willing to prioritize time together and making memories. It is one of the few times we honor and appreciate traditions. We have a lot of family in town so the holidays are especially special for us. For Thanksgiving, we get to spend time with everyone, from all sides, catching up, having fun and taking part in any (and all) longtime family traditions. Since most of holidays are driven by the larger groups, in the last few years, we have started a few traditions of our own. Simple ones that are just for us, and ones that are not necessarily holiday specific but have become something I look forward to each year. So…here’s what our Thanksgiving usually looks like….

Early morning hike – Before the turkey and pie, we get some light exercise. We have beautiful hiking trails in Orange County, so we take advantage of the cool crisp mornings and hike to a vista with the best ocean views. Starting the day outside always puts me in a better mood, and also builds up a nice appetite! This morning tradition started with just John and I, and of course now we just strap Little J on (a hiking carrier) along for the ride.
Thanksgiving brunch is the tradition in my family. I love it because it’s not the traditional turkey spread, but more a mix of foods from all over the world. We have turkey (of course!), a little prime rib, a bit of dim sum, other Chinese delicacies and plenty of dessert!
For our second feast, we head to John’s family. A more traditional meal with a nice turkey and all the trimmings.
After eating enough food for a week, we head home for some peace and quiet. We see up to 60-70 people throughout the day, so relaxing with a night cap in PJs is more than necessary. We usually catch up on a show or movie on Netflix, and relax in pure gratefulness for a fun day and exhaustion!

As for Thanksgiving day attire, I opt to dress the family in something classic, comfortable and festive. And since our festivities are a mix of formal and casual, comfort is key!

I turned to Marks & Spencer once again to style the perfect Turkey Day ensemble. For me, it’s really hard to go wrong with a good knit sweater, leggings and a pair of OTK boots (similar here). I try to up my trend factor with one piece, and this year, my fur vest will surely make a statement! This faux fur is sooo soft, and the color is the perfect shade of Fall neutral.

For the boys, chunky sweaters are a must which will keep them stylish and toasty! And the minimal effort and comfort always wins with them. But…I’ll let you in on a secret! I usually ask John to layer a collared shirt under his sweater in case the situation calls for something more dressy or……the inevitable gravy spill. I recently picked up a bunch of the classic Marks & Spencer’s shirts for these holiday occasion, and John loves the slim fit option. They are currently 30% off with a purchase of 2 or more, so we made sure to stock up! I love this grey stripe sweater on Jaxson. It matches with everything so its great for any mid-day changes that need to happen.

With Black Friday and holiday sales coming up, be sure to lookout for deals on party wear for the whole family, dresses, sweaters and cold weather accessories!

Hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving!