Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving Table Decor Ideas and An Easy Vegan Strawberry Mousse Recipe

I had so much fun creating a spring tablescape using lovely, affordable finds from Giant Tiger, a Canadian-owned discount retailer that sells fashion, food, decor, linens and more. I'm pleased to partner with Giant Tiger again to bring you ideas for a budget-friendly yet beautiful Thanksgiving table. Thanksgiving is all about food, family, fun and, of course, gratitude. While those things should be the focus, it's nice to set the scene and welcome guests with a festive seasonal table. A tasty, colourful dessert doesn't hurt either! In that vein, I am sharing a new recipe for easy-to-make, family-friendly vegan strawberry mousse.

Read on for table decor ideas and a celebratory dessert recipe!

*This post is sponsored by Giant Tiger. All opinions are authentic and my own. Thank you for supporting the awesome companies that partner with Woman in Real Life.*

Dehydrated Pear Chips With Quick Vegan Caramel Sauce and How To Care For Pears

I bought a simple, inexpensive dehydrator machine at my local grocery store (a Real Canadian Superstore) last Christmas as a gift to myself. You can also find dehydrators online, of course, as well as at Canadian Tire. I often scan the Canadian Tire flyers for sales on small kitchen appliances. As I've said before, I have a bit of an addiction. Often when I get a new kitchen appliance (I'm looking at you spiralizer) I don't use it right away. At first glance it looks like I'm jam-packing our kitchen with machines for no reason (ahem). But I always end up using these appliances in the long run.

The dehydrator is no different. I needed an opportunity to get comfortable with it and it turns out that the abundance of Bartlett Pears from California available this summer inspired me to plug in the dehydrator, finally. California Barletts are available several weeks before the Canadian ones, for just a few weeks in July and August. Read more about the benefits of pears in my last post, which also includes a recipe for Kale Salad With Avocado Dressing and Fresh Pears.

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are authentic and my own. Thank you for supporting the awesome companies that partner with Woman in Real Life.*

Kale Salad With Avocado Dressing and Fresh Pears (Recipe)

Summertime eating is all about fresh, vibrant, colourful fruits and vegetables. It's the perfect time of year to take advantage of nature's bounty of nourishing whole foods. California Bartlett Pears are available for just a short time in July and August - in other words, you gotta get 'em now! Not only are they a delicious, portable snack, but Bartletts from California contain antioxidants, Vitamin C, potassium and folic acid. Bartlett pears are also a good source of fibre, with 6 grams of fibre in one medium pear (a mix of soluble and insoluble fibre). And, if you're counting calories, a medium pear has only about 100 calories!

Fresh sliced pears are a lovely topping for this healthy kale salad with avocado dressing and roasted chickpeas. The crisp pear slices make a nice, crunchy contrast to the base of kale leaves and smooth, creamy avocado dressing. Read on to see just how easy it is to make this delicious kale salad recipe.

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are authentic and my own. Thank you for supporting the awesome companies that partner with Woman in Real Life.*

50 Vegan Instant Pot Recipes, From Soup To Entrees To Dessert

I purchased my Instant Pot pressure cooker six months ago and I was immediately on the hunt for ways to use it to create vegan instant pot recipes like chili, soup and other kid-friendly family meals. I have found the Instant Pot especially useful for cooking dry (soaked) chickpeas and beans. It also makes creamy oatmeal using healthy steel cut oats (recipe linked below).

For more inspiration, I turned to some of the best vegan bloggers out there for their top plant-based Instant Pot recipes. I'm confident you won't be disappointed with this varied collection of whole food, vegan pressure cooker recipes. Among these recipes are high protein vegan instant pot recipes, kid-friendly recipes, whole food no oil pressure cooker recipes and overall healthy, nourishing, plant-based Instant Pot recipes.

Glazed Banana Walnut Scones Recipe (Vegan)

Sometimes you just want a scone for breakfast. Yes I want a healthy start to the day, and most of the time I go for smoothies or avocado toast or this Vegan Yogurt Breakfast Bowl or oatmeal topped with berries. But on some days - you know the days - you just need a warm cup of tea and a sweet little treat. Because self-care is healthy. On those particular days, scones are just the perfect breakfast. Or afternoon snack. Or evening treat for that matter.

Because I love scones so much, I have a few variations of scone recipes on this site. The basic scone recipe doesn't change much. That's why these yummy vegan Glazed Banana Walnut Scones are a variation of my Peach Perfection "Buttermilk" Scones, which are a variation of my basic vegan Scottish Scones. I also have recipes for Vegan Ginger Chocolate Chip Scones and Vegan Strawberry Scones (great for strawberry season!). In terms of which is the best scone recipe, I really can't choose. I think it's very personal - it depends on the combination of flavours that you enjoy most. Try them all!

About My Dad Free Father's Day Printable Keepsake Worksheet

Father's Day is a good time to get cutesy with gifts, cards and activities. This About My Dad free printable definitely falls into the cutesy category. I intentionally designed the activity sheet with very open-ended starter statements because I love the creativity (and wild abandonment) that kids bring to their art and activities. I can just imagine the adorable, amusing sentences they'll come up with.

The other great thing about printable Father's Day crafts, besides the fact that they make lovely gifts, is that they occupy your children for a good period of time. After all, occupying children is a the major goal for parents in the early years. If your child's responses come quickly, have them colour in the stars and the heart too!

Easy 4-Ingredient Guacamole Recipe (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Everybody needs a go-to recipe to make simple, creamy, dreamy guacamole. This is mine. This guacamole is fast and easy to make and it takes just four ingredients (not counting salt and pepper). My kids love it. They actually fought over this very bowl of delicious, healthy guacamole pictured. Perhaps I should have doubled the quantity? This recipe makes enough for two to four people to enjoy as a snack, but I definitely suggesting doubling it up to serve at a gathering (or for hungry teens just getting home from school!). The recipe is naturally plant-based, vegan and gluten-free.