Happy Monday! I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. It is one of my most favorite holidays. As a child, I have such fond memories of enjoying Thanksgiving with both of my Grandmothers. They each hosted dinner on a different day. Therefore, I was fortunate to be able to attend both of their celebrations. My Grandmothers were gracious hostesses and wonderful cooks. I never saw them get uptight. They were always calm and made everyone feel welcome. I know that it must have been hard work preparing such a dinner for their loved ones, but you never would have known it.
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to be with our family, friends, and loved ones. We often get so busy in our daily lives that we forget to reflect and be grateful for what we have. Thanksgiving is the perfect day to remember what is really important.
Today, to help you with your holiday entertaining, I am sharing some of my Thanksgiving tips. Hopefully, you will find them helpful. Planning ahead and being prepared will make the day so much more enjoyable.
First, plan and set your holiday table ahead of time. Do this at least the day before, if not sooner. Don’t wait until the last minute. It will just cause added stress that you do not need. Being prepared ahead of time will allow you to enjoy the day that much more.
Second, choose, plan, and label your serving pieces ahead of time. If dishes have been stored, you will need to give them a good cleaning. I always do this if I am hosting an important dinner. It is a time saver and makes things run so much smoother.
Next, designate and create a beverage station for your guests. Stock your station with a variety of beverages, ice, and glasses. This way, while your guests wait, they will be able to help themselves to drinks. Also, make sure you have plenty of ice. You may need to pick up a couple of additional bags of ice, and store them in your freezer ahead of time.
My next tip is to assign a place for desserts. If you are like me, you are limited on space. Designating a special place for desserts, dessert plates, napkins, and forks is the perfect solution. You can use a small table, cart, buffet, or side table for your serving station. This way, when guests are ready, they can help themselves to dessert.
Last, but not least, stay calm, enjoy your guests, and be thankful. Don’t stress if something doesn’t go just right. Count your blessings, create happy memories, and enjoy the day. Your guests won’t remember how perfect everything was. They will remember spending time with you and their loved ones.
I hope that I have given you some ideas for making your holiday entertaining easier. Later this week, I will be sharing a table ready for Thanksgiving. On Monday, I will be participating in a Holiday Recipe Blog Hop with a group of talented bloggers. There will be lots of inspiration and delicious recipes to help you plan your holiday menu. Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a happy and blessed day!!
Great tips Shannon! Especially the one about serving pieces, that is always a last minute stress inducer! I’ve also learned to get out extra things because some thoughtful guest is going to bring something unexpected to share and will need something to put it in or on…I’m not hosting this year, so I can relax!
Hi Jenna! Thanks for the extra tip…what a helpful idea! I hope that you are having a great week!!!
Great tips Shannon! Looking forward to your table set for Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Shirley! I really enjoyed seeing your Fall tour this morning! I always enjoy seeing your beautiful home!!! I hope that you have a great day!!!
Shannon, I host Thanksgiving every year and prepare all the food (my choice)! Your tips are excellent…I always prepare and organize so as to reduce stress! My hubby is the best help!
Thank you, Pam! I bet your Thanksgiving dinner is most delicious!!! That is so nice that your hubby helps you! I agree that organization is key to reducing the stress. I hope that you have a great day!!!
Nice tips and inspiration ♥
Thank you, Summer! I hope that you have a great weekend!!!
All great tips, and good reminders as we head into the Thanksgiving holiday and all of the overwhelming work that can come along with that!
Thank you, Chloe! The big day will be here before we know it. I can’t believe how fast November is going by! I hope that you have a happy and blessed weekend!!!
All great tips and also some great reminders to plan ahead to avoid overwhelm.
Thank you, Valerie! You are right…it is so important to plan ahead to avoid added stress. I’m so happy that you stopped by, and I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!!!
These are wonderful tips, especially the beverage station. That’s one I don’t pay enough attention to. Thank you for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story, have a great weekend.
Thank you, Sandra! I can’t believe that Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away! November is flying by so fast! I’m so happy that you stopped by, and I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!!!
Your blue table cover is so pretty! I bet your friends are ecstatic when they receive an invitation from you.
Thank you, Sandra! I tend to gravitate toward that tablecloth. It is one of my favorites! I hope that you have a happy Friday!!!
Excellent tips, Shannon! The last one is my favorite… I used to get to caught up and crazy that I didn’t enjoy the time with family and friends. I’m a little older and a little wiser now. 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Dishing It & Digging It!
Thank you, Lori! I hope that you have a great week!!!
great tips and you shared a lovely table too. thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things link party xo
Thank you for the sweet words, Katherine! I hope that you have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!!!
Wow, Shannon, now everyone is going to want to come to your house for Thanksgiving! Thank you so much for sharing these great tips.
And thanks so much for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. I’m featuring you this week!
Hi Richella! Thank you so much for your sweet words, and for featuring me. You made my day! I hope that you have a great weekend, and a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!!!
Shannon,
Great tips for a successful, stress-free meal. Thanks for sharing.
Judith
Thank you, Judith! I hope that you have a wonderful day!!!
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Thank you so much for sharing with us at Dishing It & Digging It & congratulations on being featured this week!
Thank you so much, Angie Rose! I hope that you have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!!!