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Simple Ways to Show Appreciation

Today, we’re sharing simple ways to show appreciation this holiday season.

One of my favorite ways to practice being intentional with my time and resources during a busy holiday season is to keep an attitude of appreciation.

I try to do this all year long but sometimes there are weeks that go by before I realize I haven’t written in my gratitude journal for days.

In an effort to keep gratitude and appreciation front and center this year, I thought I would share a few super simple ways to show appreciation this holiday season.

Blessings Wreath 

In the past, we’ve made a blessings wreath which is our own take on the popular trend of the blessings tree.

Each day every family member writes down something they’re thankful for on a pre-cut leaf.

Then they attach the leaf to a predetermined surface like a mirror, window, chalkboard, hutch, or frame.  The wreath starts out with only one or two leaves and grows each day leading up to Thanksgiving.

But by the end of the month, the wreath has grown significantly and is filled with everything from unexpected blessings to special memories.

If you don’t have a place for a large wreath, consider adding leaves to your coffee bar or breakfast nook area!

How to Create a Blessings Wreath-Adding Leaves to the Breakfast Bar-The Crowned Goat

DIY Grateful and Blessed Table Runner 

We’ve also created a DIY Grateful and Blessed Table Runner as a simple way to show appreciation this holiday season.

For the entire month of November, we kept the brown kraft paper runner on the dining room table.

Each time someone came to visit and every night before going to bed we’d all write down one thing we were grateful for.

Then on Thanksgiving night, as we were gathered around the table we would read every entry.

It was such a special way to recall the events of the month and to also share in the celebration of the people that had come to visit during that time too.

Appreciation Branches

Our DIY Appreciation branches have been one of my favorite ways to show appreciation this holiday season. 

It was a project I originally created for Team Crowned Goat but have since shared a similar installation for my Mom’s milestone birthday as well. 

Here’s what you need to know if you want to show appreciation to someone you care about this holiday too…

Appreciation Branches Supplies:

  • Bundle of Branches or Place to Create a Display
  • Bleach/water mixture
  • Container for soaking branches (if you choose to use branches)
  • Fishing line (if you’re bundling branches)
  • Jute/twine
  • Different colored or patterned scrapbook paper
  • Single hole punch
  • Markers or Ink Pen

Appreciation Branches Steps:

I gathered limbs from around our property, soaked them in a mixture of bleach and water, and dried them out in the sun for several days.

Any time you bring items from outside indoors you need to make extra sure they are completely free from pests.

Always use caution and care when deciding how much bleach to use and make sure to read the instructions on the bleach container as well.

Once the branches were completely dry, I bundled the twigs together and secured them with fishing line.

I hung the appreciation branches bundle from the hooks in the entry.

If you don’t have hooks like this in your entry don’t sweat it at all. You can use a tree, wreath, message board, or fall garland.

Just make sure whatever you choose to use is completely secure so it will hold the weight of the embellishments.

Next, use a leaf pattern of your choice.

I found this one at a local craft store for less than $1 and traced the pattern on several different sheets of heavy scrapbook paper.

Carefully cut the leaves out with scissors.

Keep in mind, scissors will be extremely sharp so use caution and care when cutting out each leaf.

You can do one leaf for each day of the month or one leaf for each day until Thanksgiving Day.

Next, write one thing that you like, love, or appreciate about the person (s) that will be enjoying your appreciation branch display.

Use a single hole punch to make a hole at the end of each leaf.

Thread pieces of jute in several different lengths through the hole on the end of the leaf

and secure leaves to the wood bundle or whatever you’re using to display your appreciation leaves on.

Displaying Your Simple Ways to Show Appreciation Branches

If possible, place the appreciation display in an area where participants will have easy access no matter what time of day you decide to share.

I personally love sharing the reasons I like, love, or appreciate someone in the morning in hopes they’ll have a good day all day.

Heartfelt words of affirmation are such an easy way to make someone feel special, loved, encouraged, and appreciated.

Truthfully, these simple ways to show appreciation this holiday season didn’t take very long to create at all save for the drying time for the branch bundle.

It’s something the entire family can enjoy and participate in together too.

So, let your kids say what they like, love, or appreciate about their siblings, parents, or caregivers.

It’s never too early to teach them the impact of positive and uplifting words!

Let us know the simple ways you plan to show appreciation this holiday season. Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Other Holiday and Thanksgiving Posts to Enjoy:

Many blessings,

CoCo

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34 Comments

  1. Really nice idea ! Thanks !

    1. I appreciate it, Martha, thank you! Hugs, CoCo

  2. What a thoughtful way to make people feel appreciated. I’m definitely doing this for my family. Thanks for the idea!

    1. It was a lot of fun to make Brandy and I know your littles would get a kick out of all the leaves 🙂 Hugs, CoCo

  3. Love this idea, CoCo! We get so caught up in the “daily grind” we forget to tell those closest to us what we love and appreciate most about them. Thanks for the gentle reminder.

    1. You are so welcome, Sarah, I’m so happy you’re excited about this idea. Hugs, CoCo

    1. I appreciate your kind words, thank you! Hugs, CoCo

  4. LOVE these ideas! Thanks for sharing them.

    1. Thank you so much, Linda, I really appreciate it. Hope your week has been a special one. Hugs, CoCo

  5. Oh my golly, I need to do this! Such a cute and fabulous idea. Now to get my bratty kids to actually do it will be another story. I hope I don’t have to disguise my handwriting and say nice things about myself. 😉 Pinned

    1. ha ha you are so funny Cindy! I can’t imagine any of your kids would have to think longer than a few seconds to come up with something amazing about you. I usually keep them in a big jar and if I’m ever having a bad day I go through them and laugh. The littles write some funny things like, “We love Aunt CoCo because she sneaks us candy.” or “Aunt CoCo can’t dance or sing but she made a fun video with me anyway.” or “She doesn’t make me brush my hair because she has curly hair too.” They’re a mess but a sweet mess. Hope your day is all that you need it to be. Hugs, CoCo

  6. Oh my goodness, CoCo! I just LOVE all of these ideas! What wonderful ways to show how much you love one another! Thank you for the inspiration! I definitely need to create appreciation branches for my husband, LOL!

    1. So glad you like these Christine! They’re always fun to make, read and hear too 🙂 Big hugs, CoCo

    1. Thank you, Kim! I think sometimes we forget to tell the people in our lives how much we like, love, and appreciate them because they’re always there and somehow they should just know. These branches are so easy to make though and it’s fun to read something new each day. Not to be a total cornball but it makes the holidays that much sweeter 🙂 Big hugs, CoCo

    1. Thank you, Patti! It’s always fun to think of new ways to appreciate each other. This didn’t take long to put together at all but we’re still talking about the sweet sentiments. Hope you’ve had a great week, CoCo

    1. Thank you, Donna, I really appreciate it. They were really easy to put together too. Hope your week has been a special one, CoCo

  7. I really like these projects.
    We’ve done blessing trees before and blessing chains. But I like putting a wreath on a mirror and the branch craft. It makes doing the blessing project a part of the decor, not just a construction paper craft.

    If you’d like, come and share your ideas at the Homestead Blog Hop! We need some good inspiration for Thanksgiving!

    God bless!
    Laurie
    Ridge Haven Homestead
    Homestead Blog Hop
    https://www.ridgehavenhomestead.com/category/homestead-blog-hop/

    1. Thanks so much, Laurie, I really appreciate it! All of these ideas were super easy to create and something you can get the whole family involved in on too. Hope your Fall season has been a special one so far, CoCo

  8. This is such a beautiful post CoCo! You have given us all so many wonderful ideas to show how we are all grateful! I have done this in the past with the kids and I’m so happy you posted this and gave me a little nudge to do this again. Wishing you a beautiful week!

    1. Thank you, Kristin! It’s such a simple to way find things to be grateful for each day and to get the whole family involved too. It definitely forces us to slow down a bit and remember all the gifts we’ve been given this year. From “Mimi gives the best candy” to “I’m thankful for our family Halloween party” it warms my heart to read each leaf. Sending you lots of hugs for a happy week, CoCo

    1. You are so welcome, Kathleen! They were all super easy to put together. Hope you have the best week, CoCo

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