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Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday!
Family, friends, good food and
no presents to buy. To make it your
best holiday ever, consider these organizing tips:
- Choose
your preferred style: formal with everyone dressed up and using their best
manners or a more informal relaxed style.
If you’ve invited more people than your dining table will seat,
decide whether to add extra tables or a set up a buffet and use couches and
occasional chairs for seating. Arrange
for extra chairs if necessary.
- Keep
in mind the ages of the people involved and choose a time for the meal that
will fit their needs young children may get too tired if you wait to sit
down at 1:00 pm. Consider
seating for children based on ages. Teenagers
might enjoy the day more seated together.
- Ask
guests to identify their favorite dish include as many of them as possible. (If someone wants a
pecan pie, and you don’t like to bake them, check out your local restaurant or
bakery.) Don’t assume you have to
do everything why not invite guests to bring a favorite dish?
(Or ask them to bring a table centerpiece or bottle of wine.)
- Plan
your menu well in advance, make a shopping list, and purchase
non-perishables at the same time you do your regular shopping. If you’re
planning to use a fresh turkey, place your order early.
- Get
out the table linens before Thanksgiving morning make sure you have the sizes you need, and check
to see if they need to be laundered, or ironed.
- Select
table decorations. If you have
children, involve them in the planning and execution of the
celebration. (My children loved to
make turkey cookies!) Consider disposable Thanksgiving napkins.
- To
save clean-up time, or if the family china is insufficient to accommodate the guest list,
attractive holiday disposable tableware is a viable option. Be sure you have
enough serving dishes and utensils for the quantities you will be serving.
- If
you’re having a sit-down dinner, consider setting your table the day
before to minimize last-minute stress.
Make a checklist of things to be done on Thanksgiving day in order or
priority.
- Determine
your clean-up strategy prior to dinner.
Do you want everyone to chip in and help
or would you prefer to spend the time with the family
and clean it up when they’re gone?
- When
the day is over, make notes about anything you wish you had done differently
file your notes away for next year, and give thanks for another special day.
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