THANKSGIVING
Minimize stress and maximize thanks
"I wanted to bring joy to other people and decided the holidays were as much a matter of organization as they were a matter of the heart. The two work together. Organization during the holidays is an expression of the heart."
-Marcia Ramsland
Thanksgiving is the "official" start of the 5 week holiday season: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. What I like most about it is we get to celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday and still have 3 days of vacation after it!
1 - Successfully Host Company. There are two keys to successfully hosting family and guests during the holidays: 1) Keep them fed and 2) keep them moving. So plan breakfast, lunch, and dinner and fun activities in between.
2 - Get Ready One Day at a Time. Besides finishing up projects at the office and getting laundry and cleaning done at home, squeeze in a Thanksgiving prep task each day to make Thanksgiving day go easier such as:
Monday - Grocery Shop early or late in the day for Thanksgiving food, napkins, and centerpiece. Clean out the refrigerator one shelf at a time to make room for Thanksgiving foods.
Tuesday - Make Cranberry Bread or your favorite Apple or Pumpkin Pies today. Today clean out the pantry and donate unused foods to charity to be ready to cook on Thursday.
Wednesday - Do a quick household cleanup, organize the kitchen, set the table, time your menu for tomorrow on paper (Turkey in at 6:30 a.m., mashed potatoes peeled at 10 a.m., appetizer preparation at 11 .m., vegetables started at 11:30 a.m., etc. and eat at 1 p.m.
Thanksgiving Day - Shower and dress for a great day. Turn on the Macy's Day Parade on TV, serve a light breakfast, and enjoy family and friends. After dinner go for a walk together, play football, or take a nap. Enjoy a TV special or play some games at night.
3 - Be Thankful for the Year. Start a tradition between turkey dinner and dessert of putting two kernels of corn - reminiscent of the first Pilgrim Thanksgiving - by each person's place and let them finish the sentence, "This year I am thankful for ..." They drop a kernel in a small basket as they talk and pass it on. Include any unique highlights of the year for a bonding time before you serve dessert.
4 - Create Good Memories over Food and Activities. Splurge and have French Toast or pancakes for breakfast after Thanksgiving, put the Family Photo books on the coffee table for a smile, and snap some new family pictures for your Christmas card or desk.
5 - Get a Head Start on Christmas. With the extra three days, why not jumpstart your preparations and write out your Gift List plans, update your Christmas card list,
and check your Christmas decorations to make sure they are ready. Sometimes the sales this weekend can save you a bundle, too.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week!
* Don't put off ordering Simplify Your Holidays! Keep everything organized for the holidays in this one complete notebook...year after year.
Marcia Ramsland is well known as "The Organizing Pro" for her practical skills and tips to manage busy lives. She is a speaker, author, and media guest expert appearing on TV, radio, and in national magazines for her popular books Simplify Your Life, Simplify Your Time, and Simplify Your Holidays (Thomas Nelson). Visit her website, www.organizingpro.com for free tips.
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