Easy Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Flower Center Piece

Fall is such a beautiful time of year.  I just love all the leaves changing colour, they are so colourful and vibrant.  So, here is a great way to bring some of that colour into your home to enjoy.

This centerpiece is so easy and looks great, just follow along.

What You Will Need

• pumpkin
• potted plant
• ribbon
• bowl (approximate size of the flower pot)
• sharpie
• knife
• spoon

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Flower Center Piece

Step One
Position the bowl on the top of the pumpkin.  Make sure it is centered and even, as this is where your potted plant will go in.  When you have it in a good position, trace around it with your sharpie.

Making Pumpkin Center Piece

Step Two
Cut along with line with a sharp knife, making a complete circle and remove the top.

Making Pumpkin Center Piece

Step Three
Scoop out all of the inside of the pumpkin, making sure you get all the seeds and stringy pumpkin guts (oh yes this is my official term) out.  Make a very nice a clean inside.  You might have to scrape the sides a bit in order to get a nice smooth inside.

Feel free to separate out the pumpkin seed and dry them out.  They make a wonderful snack and are very healthy for you.

Making Pumpkin Center Piece

Step Four
Now check to see if the plant fits, you might find you need to trim a little more.  Now depending on the size of your plant pot it will either sit on the bottom of the pumpkin or you will want the top of the pot to fit firmly in the opening.  Just make sure the plant itself is not squished and cramped looking.

Step Five
Once you have the right size hole in the top, here is a little trick for you to keep the pumpkin for getting moldy.

Swish around some bleach inside the pumpkin.  Make sure you cover the entire inside of the pumpkin, the spill out any left over bleach out.

Note:  you might want to air it out for a few hours before putting it all together and placing on table to get ride of the bleach smell.

Step Six
Fold over the wrapping of the plant so it is even with or slightly below the top of the pot.

 I like to keep the wrapping on as it holds in the water for the plant, making sure you do not have a puddle of water growing in the bottom of the pumpkin.

Them fit in the plant, tucking in the wrapping so it is not visible and finish with a ribbon bow.

Making Pumpkin Center Piece

Now that's Creative!

Standing Up Ab Workout

Here is a very creative way to get in your ab workout without having to get out your yoga mat-- now, there are No Excuses for not getting your abs in shape no matter where you are.

Studies have shown that even a 1-minute workout has health benefits.
Now this is not to replace a regular workout schedule, but to be used in conjunction with it.

Taking just 10-15 minutes out of your lunch hour to do a mini workout where you are raising your heart rate will increase your metabolism, and its metabolic effects last long after your workout is over.

You will find it gives you increase energy, clarity and are able to focus more on your afternoon tasks.  No more 3pm slump, and even better no need for that afternoon sugar filled snack.

Companies like Chatelaine recognize the benefits of these mini workout and have incorporated them into their daily work schedule.

I love her workouts.  She had created a series of workouts that are short, but action packed.  When doing her 20 minute workouts you are using your whole body; incorporating abs, legs and arms in one move speeds up the workout process so you can do 20 minutes and get a total workout.

Another thing I like is that most of her workout require little to no equipment, using only your body weight for resistance.  Her fierce formulated workouts add strength and ab moves to dynamic cardio for increased fat loss in a shorter time frame.  Now who wouldn't like that?

Now that's Creative!

Try out this great Standing Up Ab Workout from Jillian Michaels.

Check out some of my favourite workout videos from Jillian Michaels.