Thanksgiving
often signifies the start of the holiday season. For most of us, this can be a
busy yet special time of year; reuniting with family members, preparing for
overnight guests and planning big meals. Planning ahead and preparing your home
for your Thanksgiving get-together is the best way to stay on track, be fully
in the moment, and enjoy the holiday.
Plan ahead
This includes a
menu, grocery list, and shopping ahead of time. Running
errands last minute is never fun and can be stressful. Reach out to guests
in advance and see what foods they plan on bringing and what foods they would
like to see on the table Thanksgiving Day. If you need to purchase specialty
items, keep in mind that these can be costly. Check multiple stores for deals
and coupons. This way, you’ll save
money and your guests will be happy too!
Prepare your home
When cleaning
our homes, we may overlook the kitchen. Our refrigerator and freezers are
especially important for this occasion as this is the place where we’ll be
storing the delicious spread of entrees and desserts in preparation for the
get-together. Clean out any old leftovers and make room for new ones. Prepare
and freeze anything you can ahead of time.
Organize seating arrangements
Once you get a
tally of how many guests to expect, you can plan accordingly. Depending on the
number, you may need to purchase or rent extra tables, chairs, and dinnerware
to accommodate guests. If you get a head count early enough, you can stretch
these out over multiple paychecks. This is where planning ahead comes in
handy!
Create a cooking schedule
This entails a
detailed schedule of how you are going to prepare food. Creating a cooking
schedule should include the amount of time needed to prep and cook each dish requires.
You may be able to cook more than one
dish at the same time, so be sure to
build that into your schedule. Safety is
always a priority, so ensure your oven is prepared and clean.
Decorate
Decorating can
also be done ahead of time. Depending on the size
of your space, the decorations may look different to each of us. Whichever
style you choose, remember not to clutter the table with decorations as this is
where all the food will be. Silverware wraps, personalized place setting cards,
and food labels are all inexpensive, DIY décor ideas perfect for any size
space.
Like any
holiday, hosting Thanksgiving should be a fun and enjoyable time spent surrounded
by the ones you love. Staying organized and planning ahead will reduce the
stress of planning a get-together and allow you to fully be in the moment on
Thanksgiving Day.
Need a
last-minute recipe idea? We’ve got you covered. Click on the image below to
download a free, fall-inspired recipe to try this Thanksgiving.
