There's nothing quite as pleasant as a leisurely breakfast on a sunny morning. Maybe it's because it's very much a rarity here or because maple syrup is so delicious, but I would be content if that was my Christmas present this year. Of course, I would ask for one of these breakfast nooks to go along with it. Don't they look wonderfully cozy?

Thanksgiving is just two weeks away, and for those playing host, the planning stages are in full swing. While most people would agree that the menu is the most important element, have you thought about what to dress the table with?

I've compiled some simple ideas that you'll be able to pull together without too much stress. For the look above, simply gather up white bowls and other containers and spray-paint a few pumpkins to scatter around. And now for some more table designs ...

Celebrities! God love 'em, even when they’re famous for nothing but being famous, they feel like they’ve got something to say about every little thing. When they’re not writing cookbooks, knocking off designer clothes, or putting out albums, they’re ... home design experts?

On her blog, Kourtney Kardashian proudly declares she’s “absolutely obsessed with decorating my home,” because “I think of decorating a home similar to dressing stylish!"

Now that she has a new home, she promises she’ll be blogging about every little detail of its décor. This is her first acquisition: a set of gold-plated salt-and-pepper shakers from L’Objet.

Little quiz: How much do you think these babies cost: $50? $100? More?

You don't really think you're invited, do you?For those of you who long to be GOOP'd, the fantastic news is that Gwyneth is offering you even more opportunities to live just like the actress/singer/reality show host/chef/mom does. 

Oh, Gwyn, you're such an easy target. But at least this time, the kitchen and dining goods you're hawking, alongside your new cookbook, My Father's Daughter, are affordable. The presentation, however, is still very, very Gwyneth. As in, you find yourself wanting to pull out your credit card with one hand while smacking the real-life Barbie doll with the other.

Check out the most passive-aggressive dinnerware ad campaign of all time.

Oh, some of the prettiest of homemakers are at it again -- this time using white paint to clean up around the house. Yes, white paint. It can make all the difference.

Maybe your dirty-looking house doesn't actually need a good cleaning but a good paint job after all. Isn't that a relief? You know, anything to get out of housecleaning is what I say. Perhaps it's time to turn in the mop and scrub brushes and get out the paint roller and brushes.

Let's check out three white paint room makeovers that did more for each room's appearance than all the elbow grease in the world could do.

Thanksgiving is bearing down like a freight train on all us stressed-out hostesses, but while you're fussing over the turkey and the sides, don't forget the table on which your delicious feast will be laid out. A nice tablecloth and place setting can go a long way toward making even a random collection of card tables look festive, but a real grown-up dining room table can help give the meal a sense of occasion. And if you're in the market, you're lucky; many furniture stores have good sales on tables right now ahead of the holiday entertaining season.

The American Home Furnishings Alliance, a trade group of furniture manufacturers, has a website called FindYourFurniture.com that lets you search many companies' offerings by style, size, color, and shape and links to stores where you can buy in your area, which is a useful time-saver.

Where do I sit?You thought everyone coming to dinner was over 14? You know things never go the way they should!

Babysitters cancel, uninvited guests “pop” over (and stay), your sister-in-law didn’t read the email correctly and brought her brood ... there are any number of reasons why you might suddenly be in need of extra table space to feed those kids.

So what do you do when you’re faced with a pile of kids just hours before the big meal?

Improvise!

Fruits and vegetables make the very best Thanksgiving centerpieces for several reasons. 1) They're affordable, if not cheap. 2) They're naturally gorgeous! They come in the fun shapes, rich colors, and pretty textures that nature does best. And 3) most the time, you can reuse them!

Now pumpkins and red berries might be your first pick, but we've also rounded up some fruits and vegetable centerpiece inspiration that will encourage you to put less classic combinations together. It's fun, and the outcome is delightful. Let's take a look.