A Well Organized Space

It’s time for the holiday season again!  We are just few weeks away from Thanksgiving and this year I would like to help you be well organized for Thanksgiving dinner.

 

If you are planning on hosting Thanksgiving dinner you should first have an idea of how 

many people are planning to attend and what you would like them to bring. You should prepare a menu and use it to create your shopping list. You may also want to create a to-do list to help you stay on track of everything that needs to be done. I use a color system identifying what I must buy now, what I can buy later and finally what can be bought at the last minute.  The same technique can be used with the to-do list by using  different colors to prioritize what needs to be done. Put the two lists up on 

your refrigerator or somewhere with easy access – you want to see the lists each day to make sure you don’t forget anything.

 

The Menu 

 

Creating a menu is a great way to make sure you buy exactly what you need. Once you have created a menu you should purchase some items in advance, items such as canned goods and baking supplies. Many supermarkets will have good deals on flour, sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin puree, etc. if you buy ahead of the holiday season. If you plan on ordering a Turkey then you should get it several weeks in advance and freeze it. Produce such as onions and garlic can be cut and frozen ahead of time. You can also prepare pie crusts and baked biscuits in advance and freeze them as well.

 

Three days before start defrosting the Turkey 

Couple of day before shop for fresh produce that you may need for the dishes 

One day before make the gravy 

Bake dessert and prep. all the dishes, cut potatoes and let them in the fridge covered 

with enough water for them to not get dark. 

defrost any dishes that you need 

The day of Thanksgiving 

Prepare the dish you could not before, chill beverage 

Prepare the wines and chilled beverage 

•   Preparing the house 

 

 What to start doing a head, 

1- Clean the house way in advance and have the family help you to keep in clean 

2- Get the decoration out and check if you have enough chairs, table, napkins 

If you want to have paper goods make a list of what you should get 

3- Start collecting container where your invitee can bring home for left over 

4- Clean the fridge and make room in the freezer for the items that are in your menu 

5- Make sure you have all the tools you necessary to prepare your meals 

 

 Couple of days before 

1-  If you plan on having a formal dinner set the table and cover it with a white clothes 

Otherwise make sure that you have all your china out or the paper goods ready to be 

used. 

2- Plan on some activities if you are having children, so they enjoy thanksgiving with 

some crafts to do.  My favorite is the paper tablecloth that kids can draw on.  Arrange a 

couple of crayons on the table and they will enjoy staying sitting for a longer period of 

time. 

3- Make sure you have camera ready and enough battery 

 

 The day before 

1- Make sure your guest are coming and call to remind them kindly if they have to bring 

a dish. 

2- Prepare the flower arrangement 

 

 The day of Thanksgiving 

Give yourself enough time to be ready, have someone to help you with the preparation 

of the dishes and with welcoming your guest. 

Make sure you take an hour to take a good shower and take time to apply make up.  

Don’t stress everything is under control you are well organized! 

If you decided to have a Thanksgiving Potluck make circulated a list of the items that 

you wishes people brings according to the menu that you have decided upon. Don’t let 

people just brings whatever otherwise you end up with a chaotic thanksgiving. 

Remind kindly your guest a couple of days before what they are supposed to bring.