As with so many other aspects of our lives, we at MDG are of the party where there are no rules for Thanksgiving. Well, there's gotta be turkey. And wine. And tons of laughing. And stuffing. But who says Thanksgiving dinner has to be in a stuffy dining room with only the best china? Why don't we switch it up and head outdoors?

We could spend a late Thanksgiving lunch spent under the autumn afternoon sun, wrapping plaid blankets around our shoulders and eating sweet potato casserole off of mismatched plates. The leaves on the ground will crunch under our boots as we pass the gravy and take turns saying what we're thankful for. Someone will inevitably quote Joey from Friends. ("I"m also thankful for thongs.") As it gets darker and we light the lanterns on the table, someone will break out Cards Against Humanity and cold fingers will clutch tumblers of hot toddies.

While an outdoor dinner party is obviously weather dependent, we've assembled some of our favorite tips to keep guests comfy.

Keep guests warm by draping plenty of flannel blankets over the backs of chairs and set out a couple of these affordable fire pits full of crackling logs around the table.

Conversations and appetizers call for a yummy spiced cocktail that's easy to mix up and simmer. Pour a warm glass and keep apple slices, lemon peels, and cinnamon sticks on hand for stir ins.

hot toddy pic.jpg — **Good Sippin'**

Apple-Brandy Hot Toddy recipe borrowed from Food & Wine.

Keep each others faces illuminated as the sun begins to set with plenty of lanterns and candles. Don't worry about matching metals and you can even throw in other accessories like place card holders or chargers in natural materials for added textures.

Every Thanksgiving plate needs its bit of green among the piles of potatoes and towers of turkey. One of our favorites is Brussels sprouts. They're delicious with a bit of savory and a hint of sweet, like in the recipe below.

Sizzle

Find a cast iron skillet veggie recipe here.

Finally, nobody leaves the table until they're hungry again for a slice of pumpkin pie. We dig this recipe's genius addition of a gingersnap crust. It is only when the final crumbs are swept up with the rest of the whipped cream and coffee cups are drained that happy guests slowly get to their feet for the trip home.

gingersnap pie.jpg — After dinner...

Click here for a silky pumpkin pie with a gingersnap crust and tuck in.

We at MDG are all about our designated sit and sip stations in our homes, and we beg you to name one better than a breakfast nook. OK, sure, porches are pretty great, too. As are cozy dining rooms. And bathtubs, fine, there isn't a bad one but let's talk about breakfast nooks for a while.

Snuggle up and drink coffee by the window, a fluffy blanket on your lap and you're picking crumbs of almond biscotti out of the cable knit. Maybe the window is cracked and the breeze that makes you think of Honeycrisp apples rustles the pages of a magazine. Lazy Sunday sun streams through the curtains across mismatched coffee cups and plates of toast.

From day to night, flickering candles sparkle in glasses of pinot noir while Brie is munched and anything but politics is discussed. A quirky base holds the flower he brought over hours before.

Whether you're setting up for a weekend morning retreat with a full coffee pot, a marathon homemade brunch session with your best friend, or an intimate date spot, we hope you enjoy some of our favorite things for the perfect breakfast nook.

Photo Reference

marlena design group llc - 100 S. Madison St. Denver, CO. 80209