Thanksgiving is right around the corner! For some of you that means you’ve taken down your Halloween decorations to make room for beautiful fall, Thanksgiving decor. For the rest of you that means your halls are already decked for Christmas and you’ll likely be listening to Michael Buble’s Christmas album while you eat your turkey and sweet potato casserole on Thanksgiving day. Regardless of which side of the turkey vs Santa debate you’re on, I’ve lined up my favorite tips for hosting these big holidays to make them as stress-free and fun for the host as it is for the guests.
If you were to ask me to list my top 10 favorite things, hosting would rank pretty high. Anything from small dinners for family and friends, bridal and baby showers, to the big leagues like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Call me crazy (Wes sure does), but there’s just something about the planning, organizing and decorating that brings me so much peace and joy. Told you I was crazy. I especially love knowing that I get to set the stage for memories my children will cherish, just as I cherish my childhood holiday memories. Not to mention the ultimate joy of serving others and giving to others the gift of not having to prep or clean anything (can I get an amen?!) Let’s dive in!
- Make a List If you’re anything like me, stress can come from the unclear, jumbled to-do list floating around in your head. The easiest way to start the holidays off without stress is to make an old school, pen and paper list of what needs to be done, purchased, cleaned and made. Having all of this in one place will alleviate a lot of stress and anxiety you may have about hosting a big holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas.
- Set Your Table Two Days Before This includes setting out all the ingredients you’ll need for any dishes you’re making. Not only will this get you in the holiday spirit but it will allow you to see which items you may be missing, the ones you may need more of, the ones that broke while in storage, etc. Finding out you need important items the morning of the holiday when stores are closed is not how you want to start the day!
- Designate a Beverage Area I love having a small table out, whether it’s for a coffee bar, mimosa bar, hot chocolate bar, or just an area to put all the beverages to be served that day. Make sure to include everything your guests would need to get their beverages. Cups, mugs, spoons, etc. This makes your guests feel so at home because it allows them to help themselves without needing to ask you where they can find a spoon or if they can have some coffee. Not to mention these tables are so fun to set up with your favorite toppings and fixings! As stated in tip #2, set this up a few days before your holiday!
- Set Out Games and Books These holidays are for spending time with loved ones. Set out some of your favorite board games, puzzles and even books about the holiday in the living room so family members feel free to grab them for some fun. We leave a basket with all of our Christmas books on our fireplace hearth for the entire month of December (ok, and a lot of November too) so we can grab one and cuddle up to read without having to search the house for Christmas books. This is an especially great tip for preventing people from being on their phones the whole time.
- Buy Disposable To-Go Containers Wes’ aunt did this a few years ago and it blew our minds! She purchased a bunch of disposable to-go containers with lids and gallon zip baggies for all of us to take home leftovers. This is so much better than sorting through your infomercial-worthy cabinet of food containers that’s just waiting to avalanche on top of you isn’t it? Not to mention your guests don’t have to worry about returning any dishes to you.
- Have a Kids Area If you have children coming over it’s a great idea to have a little area designated for them. Whether it’s a playroom you already have or setting up a little table with coloring books, crafts and toys, this is a great way to make the kids feel special and gives the parents one less thing to worry about!
- Serve a Digestive Tea After Your Meal I guess this isn’t so much a stress-relieving tip as it is just a good tip! It’s no secret that peppermint and lemon aid in proper digestion and all things tummy-related. Fire up your kettle, set out mugs, honey and bottles of peppermint and lemon essential oils. Guests can squeeze a little honey into their mugs, add one drop of their oil of choice and top with hot water for a delicious way to end your big feast without any tummy issues. We only recommend using Young Living Vitality oils for this.
- Make the Best Turkey Ever I’m not just saying this because he’s my husband: Wes makes the absolute best turkey I’ve ever had, and everyone else who has had it agrees! He brines the turkey for 12 hours using Alton Brown’s brine recipe.
- 1 cup kosher salt.1/2 cup light brown sugar.1 gallon vegetable stock.1 tablespoon black peppercorns.1 1/2 teaspoons allspice berries.1 1/2 teaspoons chopped candied ginger.1 gallon heavily iced water.
- Have fun! Remember these holidays are not about making your home look like Martha Stewart and Julia Child teamed up to decorate and cook for you. They are about being with loved ones and celebrating far bigger things than being Pinterest-worthy. Focus on the big picture and on your family. Things made and done with love are the things people remember.
If you’ve never hosted Thanksgiving before, I know it can seem like a big challenge to take on, but I’m here to tell you that you can do it and you can rock it! If you’re a seasoned Thanksgiving host/hostess, I’d love to hear your tips and tricks in the comments below! Don’t forget to use your Thankful Jars with your families each night!
Happy holidays to you and yours!
Great tips! Love the books and games idea! Thank you!
Thank you ❤️