Tips to Make your Holiday Easy

Planning Thanksgiving Dinner
 

 Planning Thanksgiving dinner and preparing it can be very stressful, especially if you have a large family or are expecting a number of guests. In order to make Thanksgiving more enjoyable for yourself as well as your guests, some advance planning and preparation will work wonders. Use these tips to make your holiday a stress-free, memorable occasion:

          10 Days before Thanksgiving:

A week to 10 days before Thanksgiving, make your guest list. If there are any friends or family members you have not yet contacted, do so now to give them and yourself plenty of time to prepare. If any of your guests will be bringing a special dish, add it to menu

If you will be cooking turkey, decide upon fresh, frozen, or smoked. Make sure you have room in your refrigerator and oven. You should plan on 1 to 1.5 pounds per person and even a big larger if you want plenty of leftovers.

Deciding upon your final menu should be completed at least a week before the big day. Consider the number of people you will be entertaining and if you have children on your guest list, try to plan a couple of special dishes or treats especially for them

          The Week of Thanksgiving:

The week of Thanksgiving is the time to stock up on necessary items from the grocery store. You can make certain items in advance such as bread or rolls and freeze them until Thanksgiving morning. Also make sure you have supplies such as napkins, cups, etc

          Three Days before Thanksgiving:

A couple of days prior to Thanksgiving you can prepare a few items in advance to save time on the big day.

Things like cranberry sauce or relish can be stored in your refrigerator for a few days. You may want to cut up onions, celery, and any like items and store them in plastic ware to save time on Thanksgiving morning.

Make sure you have everything on your shopping list in your kitchen at least 2-3 days before Thanksgiving morning.

If you have children, involve them in the planning. They can help organize games for the younger guests, assist in decorations, and even help out in the kitchen if you desire.

If you have purchased a frozen turkey, take it out of the freezer and place in the refrigerator 3 days prior to cooking to give it plenty of time to thaw. If you will need to iron linens, etc., do so a couple of days before Thanksgiving to cut down on amount of work you will have to do the night before the big day.

          Thanksgiving Morning:

On Thanksgiving morning, make sure you have your thawed turkey stuffed (if necessary) and ready to place in the oven. Side dishes should be ready to cook or place in your oven and it would be a good idea to have desserts prepared the night before to save time and frustration on Thanksgiving Day. Any items you have frozen should be taken out of the freezer the night before so they can be heated easily

With some advance planning and preparation, Thanksgiving can be a stress-free (almost) occasion and you will have plenty of time to enjoy the company of friends and family.

Source: http://oldfashionedliving.com/holidays/thanksgiving-dinner.html

10 tips to get your guest room ready for the holidays

With the holidays in full swing, extra guests can mean extra work. It pays to look for ways to keep the focus on what is truly important: time with those you love in a relaxing environment. So open your home..especially your guest room!

Jackie Terry from IKEA offers 10 tips to getting your guest room ready.

When you start to plan your guest room and community bathroom, think about what you'd expect to find in a hotel and try to make your room measure up to that standard. Your budget may not have enough in it to let you create a getaway oasis, but be sure to provide a quiet place to relax.

1) Clear a space to put a luggage rack or a small table/bench to set down a suitcase. No one likes to have to stoop over to the floor to pull out a clean pair of socks. Even a chair is better than nothing! Some people absolutely do not sit on a bed!

2) And your guests shouldn't have to. Place an upholstered armchair or side chair in the room.

3) Textiles are a big part of a guest's comfort when they're in someone else's home; make sure there's plenty of extra pillows and a couple different quilts or throw blankets incase it gets cold at night.

4) A large, thick rug at the foot of the bed feels welcoming, and having a smaller, fluffy throw rugs on either bedside can make getting out of bed more comfortable.

5) Having adequate lighting for a guest is important since they may need to get up in the middle of the night in a not-so-familiar surrounding (it's nice to have a light control near the bed), and providing a reading lamp is also convenient for those who like to read in bed. A small night light may also work!

6) Adding personal touches with placement of photos with family and friends in the room can make someone feel more at home, and using coordinating prints/posters can add to a cozy environment.

7) Providing a mirror for your guest is important for getting dressed in the morning and ready to start the day. A full-length mirror is ideal for getting dressed, but if space doesn't permit that, hanging a smaller mirror in the wall or having a mirror sitting on a surface can help.

8) A last finishing touch that can make guest feel more at home would be to leave a pair of slippers in the bedroom for your guests to use (or keep!) - Slippers are an inexpensive way to give them a little extra comfort!

9) If your guest room shares space with a home office, clear at least a foot or two of pole space in the closet. Or, purchase an inexpensive over-the-door hook that can accommodate some hanging clothes. Don't forget to supply hangers. A simple hook on the wall or behind a closet door can hold a robe, coat, or a purse. Or, if you have an extra chest of drawers, clear out one or two drawers for small items.

10) An alarm clock or clock/radio is good to have in the room.

Bonus: A phone in the room will also be a much-appreciated bonus item.

Source: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/lifestyle/holiday/Copy_of_10-tips-to-get-your-guest-room-ready-for-the-holidays1292263108457


 

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