How to Host Thanksgiving?

Hosting Thanksgiving can be stress whether it’s your first time or your twentieth time.  To keep your stress levels low, follow these simple steps and remember to plan for enough time to get everything ready.

Establish a plan- Set a plan and follow it from when you are going to the grocery to setting the table to what time to start cooking.

Settle on a menu- Decide what you are going to make and what you are going to ask your guests to bring.  Once you’ve decided on a menu, figure out how many pots, pans, and serving dishes you will need.  If you come up short, borrow from a friend or family member.  Two important items you will need are a roaster pan with solid bottom and an instant –read thermometer to test the turkey.

Enlist helpers- Remember this is a holiday, enlist the helpers to prep in the kitchen, tend bar, set the table, or even help clean.  It’s even ok to say “yes” when someone offers to help you.

 Defrost the turkey- Make sure to defrost the turkey properly: one day in the fridge for every 5 pounds.  Don’t forget to remove the giblet.

How to Make Your Home More Traditional?

The clean lines and cozy atmosphere in any traditional home are welcoming and comfortable.  Traditional style can easily be worked into any home even if you are on a budget. 

Add textures- Add textured rugs, pillows and mix woods into rooms with neutral colored furniture.

Display family photographs, art, and mirror- Traditional style celebrates the past because it is.  Display treasured generational mementoes to add a welcoming feel to any space.  Black and white photos blend in with the neutral color palette and enhance the feeling of a home.

Display pottery and heirlooms- Pottery, wooden spoons and planters with fresh herbs all add to the traditional aspects of a kitchen.  These timeworn elements with a touch of heirlooms bring a bit of history to your kitchen. 

Keep a calm color palette- Traditional styles don’t stray too far from a neutral, calm color palette.  Look for shades of white, cream, taupe, tan, gray, light green, light blue, and light yellow.  These colors will blend nicely and set the stage for a restful home atmosphere.

Make it familiar- In traditional home, kitchen and dining rooms are gathering place.  Embrace the tradition of sitting down for dinner by making the dining space accessible and keeping it tidy.  Add comfortable seating, arrange furniture so conversation is easy, and place baskets with blankets under the coffee table for cozying up.