November 2010

Giving thanks, gathering family, making it easy

Back in August, when most of us were grilling burgers and roasting sweet corn, our food team was sitting in on an early Thanksgiving meal at the California home of Food Network chef Tyler Florence. The meal was, as expected, memorable, right down to the homemade banana pudding for dessert, page 165. But as much as our team loved the food, Tyler's family was equally impressive.

What I Learned This Month

Better Now

WE ASKED OUR READERS: How do you make holiday entertaining easy and fun?

Receive Flowers for a Year

Celebrate the Holidays with BHG.com

$15,000 Black Friday Sweepstakes

Things to Do This Month

Gather 'round to share a memory, give back, and savor the warmth of the holiday.

Turkey Platter

This American Pie

Slow Down

Memory Makers

Featuring

Morning Glory

Rescue

Dip into tradition and bring back the guest book...

Container Stores

Let the Good Times Roll

Capture all the moving parts of the holidays with a shoot-and-share camcorder. Go with a simple one-button-record pocketcam or step it up with a device that lets you zoom in on faces and track people and pets so they stay in focus.

Well Dressed

An unexpected palette and new twists on classic Thanksgiving touches set a pretty table.

Pretty Smart

Sophisticated style buddies up with kid-friendly ideas to create an open kitchen and family room-- and better living.

Maple Gold

Nature's last burst of color before winter inspires a. collection of rich golden yellow you'll fall for.

Bedtime Stories

Let your most personal space relax you around the clock. Take inspiration from these four examples.

Guest Services

Just in time for the holidays, these easy ideas for outfitting your guest room make hosting overnighters a welcome experience for everyone.

Premium Blend

How a couple with modern tastes fell in love with a traditional house... and made it work.

Flex Time

These days, we're all marvels of multitasking, and furniture is following suit. Designer Elaine Griffin picks 10 of the most flexible, function-packed, so-worth-the-money pieces on the market. Please do try these at home.

25 simple ideas to get it done... ...and beat the stress!

1 Do whatever you can in advance. For example, set the Thanksgiving table the Sunday before; you won't have to think about tending to a wrinkled tablecloth or spotty glasses the day of.

Signs of Life

Outside, this house takes its Colonial style seriously. Inside, it's seriously fun.

Glass Act

Whether you drink from fine crystal or everyday glass, a little TLC will keep your stemware looking its best. Yes, you can put most glassware in the dishwasher. Be sure to use a delicate wash cycle, skip the heated drying cycle, and space glasses so they won't clink.

Going Undercover

Storing Special Tableware

Take Care of Everyday Messes

Full Power

Fall Finale

A backyard garden cranks up the autumn color, creating a vibrant backdrop for a family's outdoor revelry.

Drama Queen

Designer Laura Crockett, known as the Garden Diva, shares lessons for creating alluring landscapes.

Compost Made Simple

Replenish your garden soil organically with homemade compose, the rich and crumbly-as-chocolate-cake product of decomposed plants.

Bird Buffet

One in five Americans (48 million of us) are backyard bird-watchers, according to the American Bird Conservancy. Now that's something to tweet about! What's the best way to bring in the birds? Provide the food they love.

Front Door Decor

Roots in Cahoots

WISDOM

Pasteurized Eggs

Give More Than Thanks

Bread Warmer

Must-Haves

"Cabbage is a staple in my produce drawer--it's super nutritious and lasts over a week in the fridge...

Dose of reality

Dial down family stress

Beat bedside burnout

Holiday game plan

Menus. Money. Meddling. The season's eatings and greetings-- and your family-- can have you dreading this time of year. Here's one expert's prudent advice.

Drawing table

Stuff the holiday kids' table with activities guaranteed to keep your littlest guests in their seats.

Vintage savings

Bank on it

Saving by degrees

Family affairs

I Did It!