There are so many wonderful things about fall. I mean pumpkin spice latte’s are back for which I am certainly thankful.
Many think of thick sweaters and fall leaves. I have memories of that having lived in Illinois but now I’m in Northern Florida. A place where we have a fall…it just looks a bit different. Our mornings are a light jacket weather, while the high for the day creeps up to nice pleasant 75-80 degrees. Most of our trees stay green and the ones that turn don’t usually consider it until the end of December and then from green to brown. I really don’t miss the thick sweaters or the snow.
Fall also brings the excitement of family gatherings with the big one of Thanksgiving Dinner. Hosting Thanksgiving for some can also carry a certain amount of overwhelm. I love entertaining and I realize I naturally do something so that I don’t get frazzled and I really enjoy the day--I plan!
I didn’t even realize that I did it until I was co-hosting an event with a friend and I came to plan with a clipboard and an agenda in hand. I was ready…she just didn’t understand me.
Creating your Thanksgiving Plan – What to Think About.
I love to imagine the day and create lists like:
Who’s coming [guest list]
The Menu
The Shopping List
The Decorations
The Table Seating
The Activities (if any)
The Itinerary – both the day of and the pre-party items (more on that later)
Easy right?
Are you with me love to plan a Thanksgiving dinner gathering? OR Are you like a friend of mine who simply doesn’t understand me….and the idea of Thanksgiving dinner planning make you fill up with dread and the feeling of overwhelm.
Here is the BIG TIP I have for a stress-free Thanksgiving Dinner:
Do everything you can do before Thanksgiving Day before Thanksgiving Day!
Grab yourself a planner and Identify what you can do ahead of the actual get together. I mean days ahead.
✔️Can anything in the menu be done ahead and frozen?
✔️Are there any complete dishes or parts of the recipe that can be chopped, diced, or prepped the day before and placed in the fridge?
✔️Cleaning that can be completed and ready before prep day? I get there is a fine line between the house being fresh and tidy but most things can be accomplished earlier in the week with no problem.
✔️Decorations placed out before the big day? I have actually been known to set the table the day before especially when I’m bringing out the china. I do love the tradition of a set and dressed table..
I even pre-choose the pans and serving pieces based on my menu so I don’t even make that decision the day of…to you non-party planners, this will probably seem a bit crazy to you but it is what keeps my overwhelm down. I don’t make decisions well on the fly so even that simple task that the mashed potatoes will go in the yellow covered dish and roasted sweet potatoes with pecans will go in dish from grandma’s china helps with the calm.
Next Plan the Day of Itinerary
I then nail down the items that absolutely have to been done the day of and create an itinerary.
Which dinner item has to go into the oven when based on cooking time?
Based on cooking time, which item do I pull together and work on first?
They key here is I actually write it down and go over the timing / order and check things off as I go.
This simple acts of creating, planning and doing what you can ahead
makes for a stress-free day–so try a planner.
This year I have created the Eat, Drink and Be Thankful printable planner. Print the pages you need and if you find yourself changing your mind with your plans, just print another page and start again.
It is designed with Thanksgiving Day in mind with those gorgeous fall colors, yet I have made it so you could use it all year long. Plan the menu, guest list, including that itinerary I spoke about. Clipboard anyone?
You can get it over at my printables shop New to the shop? Use Code WELCOME25 for 25% your first order.
Have a wonderful fall season and remember Live Live Treasured Everyday.
Leave a Reply