There is nothing I love more than opening my home to celebrate something special with family and friends and this year has really put a damper on that. It has pushed us to be patient and to get creative. Drive by parties, small outdoor and physically distanced gatherings, Zoom celebrations – we’ve certainly seen it all! This Thanksgiving will be small – maybe even just the four of us depending on how things are going. But however the holidays look for you, these tips we subscribe to still apply!
- Enlist your littlest helpers!
Yes, this can take a little extra time, but I like to build in those opportunities for Margaret and Catherine to help. In our house it is mainly Margaret, because at newly 2 years old, Catherine is a bit of a wild card! But an easy assignment for children is to help you make place cards. One way we do that is to let them water color the place cards. This time Margaret drew pumpkins and practiced her spelling by writing the names. Nothing is cuter than Kindergarten handwriting.
2. Plan ahead.
This one might be obvious, but I’ve found that every little thing adds up. I put post-it notes on all the plates and dishes I’m going to use. I get out the plates, napkins, glassware, and silverware. If you can set the table in advance, great! If not (like us, we have just one table) I still get it all out and put it to the side.
3. Play to your strengths.
Figure out what to outsource. Whether that is asking family to bring certain things, or ordering from a local shop, figure out where you want to spend your time. I love creating centerpieces and enjoy the time, energy, and money that goes into doing so. But if you know you’ll struggle and stress through that, then call up your local florist or ask your talented MIL to help! If your mom makes the best gravy in town, or you know your brother would be thrilled to take charge of the turkey, then let them at it! As a control freak, I know how tempting it is to want to take over everything, but I’d kindly suggest you rethink that strategy. I may or may not have learned this the hard way! P.S. Did you know you can order complete meals from Williams-Sonoma?
4. Rely on your tried and true!
This is not the time to try all new recipes. Pick one or two things you want to try out and for the rest, stick to your comfort zone. Of course, if you feel ready to blow everyone away with your skills and do all new recipes, then by all means go for it! These are just my two cents!
5. Speaking of recipes …
Check out my friend Kelly over at Dinner with the Duffy’s for her Thanksgiving dinner advice. She’s a relatable mom of two, sharing ideas that we can all take on, no matter our skill level or available time! We’ve had the chance to connect over Instagram and I seek her page out for family friendly, nutritious, and tasty recipes! Head to her blog to meet Kelly and check out her Instagram feed for an endless supply of inspiration!
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For The Kids Table
