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Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Whether you’re planning to stay in this year or are in the middle of planning a get-together, these tips will help you get through the night and get you crowned the rockstar hostess!
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
Alright, this may be a given, but definitely needs to be number 1 on this list! Your evening won’t go off without a hitch unless everything is either well thought through or planned in advanced. Don’t wait until the last minute to start planning the menu or cook something new for that matter. A week or so out, try scoping out the menu and ensuring you have all of the ingredients needed. If you’re planning to have table decor, don’t wait until the last minute to buy what you need. A week or so ahead, plan out how you’d like the table to be set up and where the food station to be.
Simplify The Menu
This goes along with the first point, but simplifying the menu can really help you pull off the perfect get-together. Let me tell you about a time when my husband and I hosted Thanksgiving and we didn’t listen to this advice. I had just given birth to my son about a month a half prior and for some reason, thought we should have a crazy amount of courses that evening. Right after the first pasta course, we immediately realized that everyone was stuffed! By the time the turkey was ready to be served, no one was hungry. Here we had spent all day cooking this turkey and in the end, no one was hungry for it since we served too much food. The point here? Plan a simplistic menu where you’re sure your guests will enjoy every course. Also, plan a menu that is friendly to the specific diets of your guests. If you know you will have a vegetarian attending your party, plan a dish where they can eat and feel included. Pinterest has thousands of ideas.
Create A Relaxed, Homey Ambiance
It’s all in the details, right? Create an ambiance you want your guests to experience and remember. Think of the 5 senses here – simply put, does your home smell good? Is there background music or sound? Is your home clean and tidy? All of these questions can help you be mindful of the environment your guests will be in. There are many, many ways to help bring these elements to fruition. Nowadays, home scents on the market help to ensure your home smells amazing. Same with music – if you’re hosting a holiday party, there’s many ways to get the perfect playlist going, such as Pandora, Spotify, etc. If you prefer decor to create an ambiance, check out Pinterest for thousands of ideas. I personally love being able to pamper guests, making them feel right like anything they need is right at their fingertips.
Don’t Forget About You!
Last but not least, don’t forget about yourself! You’ll more than likely be busy (and a bit stressed) the day of, so be sure to plan some ‘you’ time a few days prior or after. Get your nails done, buy a cute outfit, or just do something that you know will bring your stress levels way down. During the party, don’t forget to mingle. Your guests want to enjoy you, too! In fact, if your guests don’t see you enjoying your own party, it may be tough for them to enjoy the party. It’s all about that positive energy!