The holidays are a time to enjoy. Enjoy family and friends and enjoy the reasons for the season. However, many times the “Most Wonderful Time of The Year” gets really busy and hectic with a full work day and hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Unless you don’t have to work and can party plan all day (whoop whoop … my dream job), let’s face it, we sometimes just try to “make it” through the holidays.
That’s so sad. I love the holidays, but not the stress that comes with it. I’m not sure when the holidays got so stressful for the holiday house host or hostess, but for real, let’s keep things simple this year.
So let’s talk about creating a fun Thanksgiving without killing ourselves trying to do it. I want to share some helpful tips I have found for keeping the season organized and light.
Prep Day
Taking a prep day really does help you feel ready for hosting Thanksgiving and is sure to stop you from flipping out when the door rings with the first guest arrival, and you realize you still aren’t ready or even dressed (been there, done that).
On that day, you can pick out what food item will go in which dish. You can also plan where your guest will sit and where what you want to place things on your Thanksgiving table. Even if you can’t take a whole prep day, take a few hours the day before. This will help eliminate stress on actual Thanksgiving.
Now, I want to take you through some easy tips on how I like to decorate my holiday tables. I love to keep things easy but beautiful.
Use The Good Stuff
That china in the cabinet collecting dust, whip those pretties out. Don’t be afraid to mix china pieces. I have china from my wedding, but also my husband’s grandmother’s china, so for holidays I don’t hesitate to use both. Even try mixing silver and gold for a unique look.
Recycle
Use items that you already have to decorate the table. Thanksgiving is so close to Christmas, chances are you have some Christmas decorations you can use. Also, look around the house for fun candle holders and candles you can easily mix in. These gold berries are from my Christmas décor box. These pheasant feathers are from my normal home decor.
Thrift It
I have really lucked out with these wonderful brass candle holders I purchased last year at a thrift store for my wedding. I love how they look with simple white candles for a twinkly family feast. The deer horns are also a thrifted find.
Look for Green
I live in a duplex without pretty trees close by. However, find whatever greenery you have access to, use it, and mix it. This greenery I used for the table was just a pretty little bush behind my home!
Take It Outside
When hosting the holidays, I love to serve “buffet style.” I usually use separate areas or tables to place the main meal on, a place for dessert, and a little rolling cart and set my coffee maker, coffee fixin’s, and coffee cups on. Having main course food and desserts separate makes replenishing them really easy for me. I don’t know about you, but when I get a house full of guests it can get a little stuffy. After dinner most people stick around and nap or play games, being inside so long just makes sense to take dinner outside! With some help, I relocated my dining table to outside under my carport.
Gratitude
In this simple, but elegant table I rolled out craft paper and included an “I Am Thankful” list for each person beside their plate. This is a neat way for people to share what they are thankful for. Craft paper is an easy clean up too. I’m sure my grandmother would never have thought to use craft paper, but look how chic it is. I’m sure, however, she would have approved.
Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday and I hope you will try some of these simple suggestions to help ease your holiday stress and prepare a beautiful, but easy holiday table.
