Countdown to Thanksgiving - Easy Turkey Votive and Air Fryer Potato Skins

 

This sweet guy is quick and easy to make, and looks cute just about anywhere you sit him. 

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To make him you will need the following items which can all be found at the Dollar Tree .

round glass bowl 

ping pong ball 

feathers 

google eyes 

felt scraps 

I used orange paint when painting the bowl and ping pong ball  instead of brown, so the light could show through the glass votive easier. 

Once the paint was dry, I hot glued the ping pong ball to the front of the glass bowl, and feathers in the shape of a turkey tale to the back.  Then then added the eyes and felt to the ping pong ball to make the turkey's face.  

In the bowl I used a battery tea light. I am not sure how an actual candle would do with the acrylic paint.  

My turkey greeted our guests on the bathroom counter near a fall flower bouquet. 

To make this easy appetizer or side dish,  you will need some potatoes, cheese, bacon, and any other fixings you like to add. 

While this is not the exact air fryer I have, this Kalorik 3.5 qt it is  the same brand and size. It has good ratings and as they time of this post is on sale.  

To make my potato skins I started with six potatoes that will make 12 potato skins.  I bake mine in the microwave, but you can bake them anyway you prefer. 

I sliced the potatoes the long way and scoop out some of the potato filling and place it in a large bowl. 

I split the potatoes into two batches, since they wouldn't all fit in my air fryer. I baked them for 3-4 minutes at 390 degrees.  This was to crisp the outer skin just a bit before filling them.  

While the skins were crisping, I mixed up the filling.  We keep our potatoes pretty simple. In the bowl on top of the potato is six pieces of bacon broken in a pieces, shredded cheddar cheese, and salt and pepper. 

I then filled the skins and placed them back in the air fryer for five more minutes.  After they baked those five minutes, to  make them extra cheesy, I added sprinkled more cheese on top and let that melt for one  more minute.  

The finished potatoes are so good, and don't last long!  

BONUS TIP  If you have any potato filling left over, just mix it with scrambled eggs the next morning for a filling breakfast. 

Today's Shopping Tip is a fun one. If you plan on going out for Black Friday shopping on Friday morning, you might want to make Kohls one of your first stops.  The first 200 people who enter the stores will be part of their TGIBF Sweepstakes.  Everyone of 18 years old will be given a game piece with the possibility to win over a million dollars in prizes.  The big prize is a trip to Legoland, but they are also giving away gift cards, appliances and Kohls cash. Every card will win something. 

I have another easy last minute Thanksgiving recipe planned for tomorrow.  See you then.  

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Countdown to Thanksgiving- Turkey Candy Dish

In today's Countdown to Thanksgiving post, I am going to share another useful turkey craft.  I made this sweet guy using basic crafting supplies, and serving dish I bought at the Dollar Tree.

He is simple to make, and could be turned into a project that you do with your kids. I made the turkey's head by folding over three brown pipe cleaners and wrapping them about halfway down with a half of pipe cleaner.   I then hot glued on two small google eyes. 

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I then added tear drop shaped orange craft foam beak, and a tiny piece of red felt for the wattle. 

I finished up the bowl by attaching the head to the front of the bowl, and several feathers to the back.  That's all there is to it.  The dish is so simple, but looks so cute sitting out for your guests filled with candy.  

I am not sure this particular bowl is still available as I bought it awhile back, but there are a few other Dollar Tree alternatives that would work.  

The 4 ct crystal cut plastic salad bowls look to be the perfect size, just a little bit deeper than my original dish.  They are also available online at Dollartree.com as one of their smaller quantities items.  

The plastic cut edge oval bowl also looks very similar to my original dish, but I think it is a little bit bigger.  On the website, they are 1.25 each, but you can buy them in a minimum of four.  

Remember if you order items from the website, including the Dollar Tree Plus items they now sell online, in many cases  you can have them shipped for free to your local store so you will not have to pay shipping costs. 

Savings tips of the day  

I found about a few new shopping deals this morning.  

If you buy online and use Rakuten, they are currently offering triple cash back for many of their online retailers.  They are also now offering cash back on many IN STORE purchases at several retailers.   It is so easy to get money back on what you are already buying so it's definitely worth checking out.  If you do not have Rakuten yet, you can sign up here.

If you are hungry you will like this second deal. Subway restaurants currently have a deal where they have 2 footlongs for $12.99 if you order online or through the app through Nov 21st.   Depending on which subs you order, you should be able to save a few dollars off of lunch. 

I think I posted this deal last week, but Oriental  Trading currently has FREE Shipping on any order.   I love buying my party supplies for my parties.   Here are a few of my a favorites which were an   Elf Themed Cookie Party, Woodland Buffalo Plaid Christmas and Gingerbread House Party

Tomorrow I will be sharing one of my favorite holiday recipes that you can use when family is visiting any time of the year..  Hope to see you then! 

 

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Beautiful Pumpkin Dinnerware Perfect for a Party

 

Are you planning a fall themed party, or hosting Thanksgiving this year? 

If you have been to the Dollar Tree lately, you know that they have seasonal dinnerware, that come in gorgeous prints.  At $1.25 a piece those plates, cups, and bowls often make for a great looking tablescape  for your guests at all kinds of parties.  

 

** This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

New this year are these gorgeous paper plates with teal pumpkins. (above)  They can be difficult to find in store, so when you do see them scoop them up. 

The Royal Norfolk 10.5 inch Pumpkin Dinner Plates are definitely colorful, and would easily be the star of the table.  It would not be too difficult to accessorize with the different colors in this design.

The 7.5 inch salad plates compliment the dinner plates with a variation of the design and the word gather that helps set the tone of the Fall/Thanksgiving season.  I know it is a time for gathering around with my family and friends this time of year. 

The pumpkin bowls are a nice size at 6 inches and could be used all throughout the season. 

Also available at Dollar Tree are pumpkins and different prints coordinating prints of pumpkin paper napkins.  I can't decide which one of these is my favorite.    

The pumpkin dinnerware is only available for a limited time and once it is gone, it's gone until next year. (Christmas designs will be hitting the shelves soon!) 

If you would like to find these plates and can not find them in your local Dollar Tree,  today and running though Sept 14th, the has a special shipping deal. They have a $5.99 Flat-Rate Shipping w/ Exclusive Code: HARVEST .  (some restrictions may apply)   Another option that I like to use is I have my items shipped for free to my local Dollar Tree and I pick them up there.  

I would love to hear how you decorate your fall themed party.  Let me know in the comments! 

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