It’s that time of year, the leaves are falling and there’s a bit of a chill in the air as summer takes its last breath. Just around the corner, we’ll gain an hour of sleep. Good thing we’ll also need that sleep to prepare for the rush of holiday guests we have for Thanksgiving this year! To help you get through this Thanksgiving holiday, here are some essential tips to make sure everything goes smoothly and make your vacation a little less hectic.

The adjustment

It’s so easy to decorate for Thanksgiving. You can make a beautiful centerpiece using items from around your house. Use a basket filled with pumpkins, fallen leaves, Indian corn, pineapples, corn husks, gourds, and mini pumpkins. You can also use these things to decorate your home. A few well-placed mini pumpkins do wonders for setting the mood for Thanksgiving.

Table

Make sure you have clearly marked place cards for each person so they know where to sit. Also, be sure to leave enough room on the table for all of your serving dishes. It’s a good idea to have extra chairs on hand for any surprise guests that show up.

Meal Prep Tips

Preparing an entire Thanksgiving meal can be a big task, but with the proper preparation ahead of time, you should be able to pull it off without a hitch. First, write your menu and make a shopping list. Just in case, buy a little more of each item, so you don’t have to be left with too little of something on Thanksgiving and all the stores are closed. Make your purchases a couple of days in advance to avoid
inevitable last-minute hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving eve. Make sure you have enough space in your kitchen and refrigerator and freezer to store all the food you’ll be buying. You’ll want to start preparing your dishes on Thanksgiving eve unless you want to get up really early. Be sure to pay special attention to what should be done with the turkey. Hopefully it’s not frozen, but if it is, you can put it in the kitchen sink with warm water and keep changing the water every hour or so to speed up thawing. For other dishes, prepare as much as you can ahead of time. You can usually make a lot of side dishes and desserts ahead of time.

backup meal plans

Your turkey will probably turn out fine, or at least be edible, but if not, make sure you have an alternative available. Some good choices would be a ham, stew, salmon, or other fish.

options

It’s a good idea to call each of your guests ahead of time to make sure you don’t get any surprises, like your brother’s 15-year-old son just became a vegetarian and won’t be able to eat the turkey. Make sure you have something a vegetarian won’t have a problem with. I have found
vegetarians are often happy with some really tasty side dishes like mashed potatoes, green beans, bread, and salad. However, a Tofurky would be a good option if several vegetarians come. Don’t forget about other people with special dietary needs, such as allergies, diabetics, low sodium diets, etc.

Outsourcing

Outsourcing isn’t just for tech companies! To make your day easier, consider outsourcing a portion of the meal. Ask one or two guests to bring a side dish or appetizer. Or consider buying dessert. Some pumpkin pies from your local bakery topped with whipped cream would work just fine and I bet no one would know the difference!

Entertainment

After the meal, some guests may go home, while most will choose to stay for a while. Football and basketball games will be plentiful on TV, but what about those who don’t watch sports? Have a few board games on hand, as well as board games that involve many players.

Conversation

One of the highlights of the holiday season is getting family and friends together to catch up and enjoy each other’s company. Facilitate conversations in your home. Make sure you have some quiet areas and plenty of seating to facilitate conversation.

Children

If you are going to have multiple children at your gathering, you need to be prepared for their needs. Make sure children have a separate table or are seated next to the adults who will be supervising them. After the meal, have special games and activities for them, or have family games that can engage the children.

Prepare for emergencies

No, it’s not a natural disaster or even a medical emergency, it’s not as bad as those, but it certainly has the potential to ruin your vacation. I’m talking about the dreaded toilet backup. The last thing you want is to be stuck cleaning up that kind of mess when you’re supposed to be preparing food. Make sure you have a plunger and some Drano or Liquid Plumber handy in the bathroom that guests will use. when and if
happens, you’ll be so glad you prepared for it. Trust me! Follow these tips and you should be one step closer to a safer and happier Thanksgiving holiday.