Today for our countdown to Thanksgiving, I’m suggesting you print a banner that says “Thankful” or “Happy Thanksgiving” or some other gratitude-themed saying. I know it’s hard to read, but the one in the above photo over my French doors says “Thankful.” It was my printer’s idea to print it with blue letters, as all my other colors had run out! Then my teen daughter had the great idea to then hand color the pieces with a peachy orangey background which I love! I found the printable banner free online but it’s been over a year now since I found it and now I can’t remember where I got it. The great news however is that a quick search such as “free printable Thanksgiving banner” will reveal other options for you. Whatever you choose, print the pieces on cardstock for extra durability and then just tape the letters to yarn or string and hang it wherever you want a festive touch. (Hint: use frog tape on the back of the pieces of the banner to stick them to the wall.) I realize mine isn’t hanging straight in these photos. That’s what happens when you enlist your children to hang it up for you and you never fix it, LOL. It still adds a lot of cheer. Here’s how it looks this year:

I just love gathering in this room in our dining room for mealtime and family game nights. I found the leaf garlands on clearance at Walmart, you can also find lots on amazon. I love that the yellow walls are a great neutral color for any of my decorations any time of year. Banners and garlands are my absolute favorite seasonal decorations. They are super cheap, sometimes free, easy to pack and store, and easy to get out and use. I have some for every season and almost every holiday. These garlands and banners have become a family tradition at our home. They make me look forward to each season. When Christmas is over, I’m excited to get out my brightly-colored pom pom garlands to hang up for January. If you want more Thanksgiving family tradition ideas, check out my new website on family traditions here. Scroll down to the bottom to the November section, then look under “Activities: About Gratitude and Thanksgiving.”