November is my favorite month for several reasons; it usually snows, it's full of footballs, pumpkin flavored EVERYTHING, and Thanksgiving! It's hard to believe we moved two months ago, and it's ALREADY November!!
With three weeks to Thanksgiving, and seven to Christmas, it's everyone's busy season. To help make life easier, and help you make the most of your time I'd like to offer a few tips and tricks to help plan for the Holidays.
If you are hosting the main event at your table about a week before make sure you have a finalized guest list as well as a menu. If people ask what they should bring, take them up on it... even if it's something as simple as a bottle of wine, or ice cream for a pie. If someone asks to bring something, ask what their speciality is- don't assume they know how to make a dish. Delegate jobs to those that ask what they can do to help your dinner run smoother- running around like a maniac is absolutely something to avoid.
Four days before your guests are to arrive, do a full, deep cleaning- dusting, vacuum, cleaning windows, scrub the bathroom, really get into the corners... that way, you won't be leaving it to the last minute, and the day before you'll just have to do a quick surface clean (if you can't get to it yourself, Errands Etcetera is happy to help!)!
Also, try to get all of your grocery shopping done two or three days before- if you've waited till the last minute, you know what a nightmare the grocery stores can be! It also gives you time to realize if you've forgotten something, or if you just don't have time to get to everything you had hoped (in which case, you might need to take a deep breath and call in a favor from your sister in law, or third cousin that is always asking to bring a dish!).
Make sure you have snacks and niblets out for your guests to nosh on before dinner is served- nuts, olives, and a veggie plate are always big hits. Having things out on a plate, or bowl in another area keep people out of the kitchen, and hopefully out of your way while you are putting the finishing touch on your bird!
You also want to be sure you have enough ice- if not, again, you might need to make a call and ask someone to grab a bag or two on their way over. Since November is usually pretty chilly, having a cooler just outside a door is a great place to store drinks & other items that you might not need immediate access to.
Finally, remember to enjoy the day. Thanksgiving is about being thankful for what you have, whether you are spending the day with your family, friends, or coworkers, take a moment and tell people why you are glad they are in your life.
Stacy Mafera
www.ErrandsEtcetera.biz
703 304 4067
No comments:
Post a Comment