By SARAH WELCH and ALICIA ROCKMORE
getbuttonedup.com Even if money and time are tight, you can still have a wonderfully rich and full Thanksgiving. All it takes is a little organization and a willingness to let go of the need to do everything.
Sarah on "Never Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth":
My mom is an incredible entertainer. She can cook like Julia Child, dress a table like Martha Stewart and get people to dish like they're on "Oprah" -- all after a full day's work at the hospital. It's pretty impressive. Her Thanksgiving dinners are legendary. But for the life of her, she will not accept a bit of help, even if that means she's up all hours stressing and cooking in the days before the big event, and running around like a chicken with her head cut off as friends and family arrive.
Because she's my mom, I just stopped asking her if she wanted help and started bringing a side dish and a dessert to her house the day before Thanksgiving. It feels great to be able to contribute, and it means that there are a few less things for her to do, which means we'll get to see more of her on the big day. If you're hosting the big Turkey Day this year and have a tendency to do everything yourself, give your stress meter and wallet a break by letting others help by bringing a dish, some wine or a dessert. Not only will it save you time and money, but more importantly, it gives them an opportunity to truly share in the day.
Alicia on "Relax Those Perfectionist Tendencies":
The purpose of Thanksgiving is to celebrate all of those things in our lives for which we are truly grateful. It's not a contest to see how many fancy dishes you can cook or how perfectly you can decorate the table. Before you start on the preparations for this year's dinner, take a beat to think about the true spirit of Thanksgiving. Then relax. It's much easier to make decisions about what to serve and how to pull it all together when you're not putting pressure on yourself to pull off a "perfect" event. You can have a wonderful celebration eating less-expensive chicken instead of turkey and using paper plates instead of fancy dishes.
Here are a few more tips for staging a Thanksgiving feast that doesn't gobble up your wallet or too much of your time:
- 1. Make A Little Less: Do you really need 10 side dishes? And do you really need to make enough to feed 24 people when only 10 are coming? No. Sure, it's nice to have leftovers, but the more you make, the more likely you are to end up throwing things away down the line. This year, make one or two fewer dishes and make just enough for the group you have coming over.
- 2. Take Two Minutes and Download Some Coupons: It has never been easier to use coupons. Before you hit the store, take five minutes and go to www.coupons.com and your local grocery-store Web site and print out coupons for the items you know you will need to buy. No clipping from circulars, no fumbling for coupons at the checkout counter only to find that the ones you want to use have expired. Just point, click, print and use.
- 3. Use All-Natural Decorations: Rather than heading to a fancy store to load up on Thanksgiving decorations, just head outside. Pine cones, colorful leaves and things like dried hydrangeas are free, and make wonderfully decorative statements. Take a marking pen and write each guest's name on a leaf to use as a place-setting card. Gather a handful of pine cones and stack them loosely in the center of the table as an autumnal centerpiece. Clip some dried hydrangea leaves and flowers, tie them with ribbon and put them in a vase or two around the room.
(The writers are co-founders of Buttoned Up, a company dedicated to helping stressed women get organized. Send ideas and questions to yourlife(at)getbuttonedup.com. For more columns, go to scrippsnews.com.)
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Home and Garden Television Holiday guests coming? Follow these five guidelines to ensure a stress-free weekend for you and your visitors.
The first rule of thumb, says entertaining expert Dana Christine, is to know the limits of your home; don't invite more guests than you or the house can accommodate. If children are on the guest list, determine whether you'll need to line up a baby sitter if adult-only outings are on the schedule. If pets will be visiting, either make it clear that they're welcome in the house or offer contact info for local kennels.
Most importantly, Christine says to establish arrival and departure dates -- in other words, avoid inviting friends and family for an open-ended stay. "If you can't handle guests for more than a week, don't be shy about setting limits. This puts everyone on the same page and avoids surprises."
1. Plan ahead. Without adequate preparation, playing host to a houseful of overnight guests can be a challenge.
2. Gather guest necessities: Whether your guests arrive by plane, train or automobile, they're bound to be weary travelers in need of rest and relaxation.
3. Guest-proof the main rooms. Before guests arrive, look at the main rooms with a critical eye, and tidy up with a quick 20-minute cleanup.
4. Stock the pantry. Don't labor in the kitchen while your guests are in town.
5. Work out a schedule. Once the guests have arrived and settled in, it's essential to formulate a plan for the weekend's events.
Courtesy of Jennifer Huskey on hgtv.com
