Ideas for a Stress free Thanksgiving

Ideas for a Stress free Thanksgiving so you can sit back and enjoy the day with family and friends

In 20 days from today (hard to believe)  many of us will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day. A day to gather with family, friends, maybe even strangers and celebrate the blessings of the past year. It can also mean hosting an event or attending one and with that may come with some anxiety and stress trying to pull it all together. Relax… I got you and a few ideas for a stress free Thanksgiving.

Welcome to another Cozy Living Series. I am joining my Cozy Living pals who are sharing more creative and inspirational ideas to create a cozy home this season. All the links will be at the end of this post. Special thanks to Jennifer from Town and Country Living who hosts this series each month. Click here to see all my previous cozy living posts.

Ideas for a Stress free Thanksgiving

Plan your meal now

As soon as I heard about this years dinner costs and supply chain issues, I picked up a turkey weeks ago. Although our exact meal is not entirely planned, it’s nice to know that at least I have the star of the show….Tom the Turkey. I also ordered dessert. 🙂  Planning your meal now and picking up those items weeks before Thanksgiving will help alleviate any extra pressure. Beside, you’ll be assured you that you will have the items you want.

Start thinking about ideas for your table

We typically are not fancy table eaters although I do like to set a pretty table at Thanksgiving. Pretty doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy new tableware or glasses. Use what you have and add if you need to. I’ll use my everyday white plates and  go forging in the yard for some flowers or branches. Throw on some candles and call it a day. This is a time to be creative….and use what you have. This years table I am using pampas grass and silver votives for a casual but chic look. Click here for more of my creative Thanksgiving table ideas.

It’s not about perfection

I am not a cook..at all, but I can prepare an amazing Thanksgiving meal for my family. This is not the time to try out fancy recipes. It’s time to cook what you like, buy what you like and serve what you like. I am a super big fan of embellishing store bought desserts and customizing them with my own toppings. My secret weapon is  I use this on everything. Thanksgiving is not about the best meal, turkey or apple pie. It’s all about the people sitting around the table to enjoy it with you.

Get others to help

A few years ago I started a tradition in my house that everyone contributes something to the Thanksgiving meal or snack leading up to dinner. Since thanksgiving is really about being together it’s nice that everyone helps out. Last year Lily made apple bombs and they were delicious. Check out the recipe here. Jacob made a pumpkin pie using the recipe off the Libby’s pumpkin pie can and it was incredibly easy and good! Even Colton my oldest made our favorite cobbler recipe.

Create family traditions

Something else we have been doing for as long as the kids could write is our ‘thankful leaves’. Throughout November everyone will write down what they are thankful for on a precut leave and I will string them together and place on the Thanksgiving table. It makes for good conversation around the dinner table. You can also store the leaves and bring them out each year and add to them.

I hope the some of my ideas for a stress free Thanksgiving will help you and you’ll be able to sit back and enjoy friends and family that gather around your table.

Ready for more cozy living ideas? Click the links below.

Enjoy the weekend!

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