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The Ultimate Thanksgiving Planner

Today I decided to create The Ultimate Thanksgiving Planner! A while ago I created this Cute Editable Meal Planner Template With Grocery List and it was so helpful to so many! This Thanksgiving planner printable isn’t just a bunch of lists for you to stumble around to figure out HOW to use them. This little 17 page planner is full of real life tips, tricks and hacks PLUS helpful lists so you’ll be ready to have your BEST Thanksgiving EVER!!

The holidays can send even the most organized into an all out frenzy. The amount of things that need to get done before we have a houseful of guests seems almost overwhelming.

Many years ago when I would tell my husband that we were having everyone over for Thanksgiving at our house, my husband would moan and say “Nooo!” Why? It meant that I would turn into a stressed out mess trying to get my house ready, ALL the food done and make my guests happy.  I would say “oh don’t worry honey, I’m not stressing this year.” He never believed me.

The Essential Thanksgiving Planning Guide

The events leading up to us having company over was unpleasant. My hope is that you will learn from my years of mistakes, my reluctant journey to change and not only have a fun and pleasant Thanksgiving Day where your company enjoys the day, but YOU do too!

With the busy holiday season approaching quickly I’ve created…

The Ultimate Thanksgiving Planner

Creating Memories

The truth of the matter is this; we all start out with the BEST of intentions. We want to make memories, good ones. Memories that will last a lifetime and memories that we can pass on to the next generation.

This was my motive anyway. I simply thought that I had to do everything perfect in order to create a beautiful memory. I thought that all things needed to be handmade, homemade and homespun in order for things to be just right. I wore myself to a frazzle thinking that everything had to be just so.

After all isn’t that what memories are made of?! We all know it’s not so, but when we are in the midst of getting ready…the real meaning and focus of Thanksgiving can get lost in a frenzy of “getting ready!”

Might I suggest, that “getting ready” can be enjoyable and relaxing? Organizing doesn’t have to be overwhelming and extreme.

Creating memories can revolve around many things…food, places, smells but the most important thing is that YOU are part of the memories. Set yourself up for success by being ready so that you can be present at your special gathering. So that you can sit down with your company and enjoy each other.

You deserve to have fond memories to, not just ones of how stressful it is to have a bunch of company over. So relax and let’s get ready one little step at a time. Let’s not overthink or over analyze. Enjoy the planning process.

Below is the very process that I use to have a relaxing, non stressful Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Guest List

Who’s coming to Dinner?

Sometimes creating a guest list is easy and sometimes it can be gut wrenching depending on your family dynamics. Let’s not kid ourselves; there are usually a handful of difficult people in our lives that kind of make our hearts ache. Do we invite them or don’t we?

I simply cannot tell you who to invite of course, but I can encourage you to pray about each person. Each family is different and only God can tell you whether you need to embrace someone or put up boundaries. I’ve had to do both and each can cause a certain amount of discomfort.

The most important thing is that you are in the will of God, because no matter what he asks you to do, you can be sure that He will get the glory and you will find peace…even if it’s temporarily uncomfortable.

Remember…we don’t live just for today, but for the future. I’ve had to make decisions that were super hard with my family but have yielded a fruitful harvest down the road. Whether embracing difficult ones or putting up boundaries, do it all for the glory of God and see what the future will bring.

Decide if you will be inviting others that are outside the family circle, such as friends of family, church family etc. When inviting those outside of your immediate family, keep in mind that not everyone may enjoy this.

For some it is a blessing, for others it can feel like an invasion. We do both, off and on. Letting others feel uncomfortable isn’t a horribly terrible thing on one hand. After all Thanksgiving is about…giving and giving thanks! Again, pray about what you want your Thanksgiving this year to look like.

What Type of Thanksgiving Dinner?

Potluck

After many years of doing everything myself and missing out on fellowship and relationships with family and friends on this very special day because I was in the kitchen trying to be the perfect hostess, I decided that I needed to start doing potluck. Plus my family has grown quite LARGE.

Don’t get me wrong, I had many family members visiting with me in the kitchen, but it was nothing like me being able to truly focus on that relationship and visit individually. I wanted to relax too! I sacrifice day in and day out with my family, so it’s not like I am selfish, but then I am! HA!

Benefits of a Potluck Thanksgiving

  • Your guests get to bring their favorite recipes! Everyone likes to be able to cook their favorite dishes and share with others.
  • Your guests that hate to cook…can bring drinks!
  • SO much less work for the hostess.
  • Usually a potluck is a more relaxed atmosphere
  • Many hands make light work!

Since potlucks are usually more casual, there is less to manage. Most foods are simply put on a table or large counter and the guests serve themselves and sit where they like.

The down side; sometimes there may be person/persons that are late and a main dish may not arrive on time…my experience, have them bring something like rolls so that it doesn’t disrupt the flow of things. It’s not worth the stress and upset of having them bring the dish after everyone has eaten.

Hmm how do I know this… This way when/if they arrive late, you can greet them with open arms rather than frustration.

Traditional Thanksgiving Meal

Aww the beauty of a traditional Thanksgiving meal around the table. Done for many, many years it is a blessing to gather and be able to see each other’s faces as we eat and give thanks.

I encourage you to go for it, if you have the energy and room around the table. If space is limited, create a special table for the little ones near the adult table. I wouldn’t move them to another room. Just my opinion but I feel they need to feel a part of the family festivities.

Traditional Thanksgivings around a table also offers the opportunity for playing fun games using those fancy dishes that you might not use otherwise!

Eat out on Thanksgiving

Have you ever eaten out on a holiday? We have and it was so much fun. Over your lifetime there will be years when things simply can’t come together. Then what? Don’t let your world fall apart, it’s just one year. Have fun and enjoy all of the things to be thankful for. If you really enjoy it, you could even make it a tradition!

Thanksgiving Dinner Delivered

Did you know it’s not illegal to do this? Hahaha! No it’s not. One year our family was in a HUGE crisis. Not our WHOLE family, but our little immediate family. My sister was dying, I was 9 months pregnant and our son had just been in a life threatening accident and was in the hospital in critical care. It was a SUPER HARD YEAR!

There was no way that I could cook and someone surprised our family with a Thanksgiving Feast delivered right to our door from the local grocery store. You can just imagine how that blessed our family.

No matter what is going on in your life…you can always find a way to be thankful without the stress and work of a huge meal. It’s perfectly ok to Order Out!

Thanksgiving Decorations

I’ve never been one to go overboard on decorating for holidays. I’ve simply never had the energy, time or money to super go for it. I DO like to put out some simple decorative things that are reflective of the season we are in.

By simple, I mean super simple. For instance my daughter and I went to the pumpkin patch with my grandchildren and other daughter. While we were there we bought a couple of pumpkins and some corn stalks…it cost us $7.00 total. I then put them on our front porch…done!

I like to have a centerpiece on our tables (we have 2) and I usually use things from the outdoors. Sticks, leaves, pinecones, berries, holly… dried flowers, branches. Centerpieces are just so easy to make, so are mantle decorations! Check out this simple Christmas Centerpiece I made last year.

Tablecloths are also a super simple way to create beautiful seasonal décor without taking up room when storing for the next season. There are just so many beautiful tablecloths that are fun, beautiful and inexpensive.

A simple candle here and there is also nice. I do have special little salt and pepper shakers and such that I bring out for Thanksgiving day, but as far as home décor…that’s it! Whether you plan on decorating big or small, it’s a good idea to plan out an hour or two of your time to make sure you get your decorating done in advance!

Cleaning the House for Thanksgiving

I used to go CRAZY getting my house ready for company. I don’t know why because I keep my home fairly clean! Somehow though, when I was younger I felt that my value and worth were connected to how clean my house was when company came over.

I would also wait until about the week before my company came and then start cleaning. I would drive my whole family crazy cleaning and then if one thing was out of place I would get so upset with everyone for making a mess. I know…

After a while my family dreaded having company over. It meant too much stress. Isn’t that sad!?

That was years ago…now I plan ahead and this is what I do… I’m not going to go into a big housecleaning system…there are a million ways to clean a house and a million systems out there…this is my simple way of getting ready for company.

  • I clean one or two rooms a week…that’s it. No I’m not kidding.
  • Some rooms may take a couple days, depending on the time and effort needed. Like I may take a couple days for my family room, because that’s where we live and I have lots of books and magazines and things to sort through.
  • I start at the top of the room and work my way to the floor.
  • I do not take more than 1 hour in a room. I simply don’t have time.
  • I ask my family to cooperate and pick up after themselves.

A day or two before company comes, I have my family:

  1. Vacuum
  2. Dust
  3. Make sure bathrooms are super clean
  4. Make sure my fridge is cleaned out for food
  5. Make sure house is picked up
  6. I don’t worry about my house being perfect…after all we DO live here.

While they make sure these simple chores are done, I finish up shopping and cooking.

Housecleaning hint: One thing that helps me to enjoy housework a little more is to have good cleaning tools and cleaning supplies. Sometimes I will even buy a couple of new things just to make my experience more enjoyable.

I also created this fun Hello Fall printable that you could use for your Thanksgiving! Simply click and print!

Hello Fall wall art with leaves

Other ideas and printables for the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas season:

Thanksgiving Craft Ideas
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Linking up with these amazing parties!

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4 Comments

  1. What a great planning guide, Shari Lynne!

    I tweeted your post and followed you on Twitter. Glad to find your site.

    I was parked near you on Think Tank,

    Hope you have a blessed day~
    Melanie

  2. This is wonderful!
    Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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