Whether you invited all the family this year or accidentally cornered yourself into pulling together Friendsgiving, hosting Thanksgiving can be overwhelming and expensive. Luckily, there are some tried and true ideas to make planning and executing this holiday a little easier and will have you feeling less #stressed and more #blessed in no time.

Please don’t do it alone. If you are solo-ing it this year due to an away/deployed partner, save yourself some energy, skip the elaborate meal, and consider not hosting. Maybe have a Turkey breast instead, make a small batch of mashed potatoes (or whatever floats your gravy boat), but don’t make it any more complicated than it has to be. If giving up on a traditional feast is out of the question, consider asking someone who is also solo-ing it if they want to do something untraditional with you or split the festivities together. 

If you have decided you are indeed the kind soul hosting this year, plan. Check the dark and scary parts of your cabinets for those random spices, make a list of everything you need, and do most of your shopping in advance so you’re not swearing under your breath about having to head to several different (& more expensive) stores for a random ingredient. Plan your turkey. Many stores have promotions to get you shopping at their store in exchange for a deeply discounted bird. 

ASK FOR HELP. You don’t have to be Martha Stewart here. Inviting people into your home is already so considerate it’s okay to ask for help, especially if your guests ask. Every “What can I bring?” should have a reply of, “A side dish or dessert, please!” or “Could I count on you to grab some wine & juice boxes?” “Can you please bring an extra cooler and some leftover containers?” List ways others can help and cross things off as you assign. Maybe someone coming has excellent decor/ DIY skills and could help plan out your table decor? One of my favorite items for the kid’s table is this disposable tablecloth that has fun Turkey Day activities on it! You could even ask one of the bigger kids to create an activity for the kids. Everything you dish out is one less thing you must deal with the day of. 

Here are some ideas to ask for help:

The night before the big day: lay all tools, cookware, and measuring cups in piles so you have everything out for your morning cooking, make sure the turkey is thawed, prep side dishes, decorate/ plan your table (if someone is helping with this facetime them or have them help), get games/activities readily available for post-turkey hangouts

The Big Day: Get that turkey in the oven, make your sides, and place it in a homemade warmer* to keep food toasty before serving. If possible, try to clean up the kitchen as the day continues; it will make one less thing to do before the big rush. Set up buffet stations for food and drinks. Finalize touches on all your seating tables. Then go and get yourself ready- you deserve it!  

* You can make a homemade warmer using your cooler! Pour a large pot of hot water inside your cooler and let it sit for 5 minutes. Then dump the hot water out, line the bottom with foil, and put your food inside. 

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