Yes, it’s all about gathering and being with family and friends! Hosting Thanksgiving has taken on new significance this year since we have been separated so much lately. So, what makes one year better than another? Why do we remember one year more than another? How can you make this year’s gathering one to remember? We wish we had the answer to this, but we don’t. Like most people, it’s a huge effort for me to get dinner on the table at a reasonable hour. As the host, we strive to serve a delicious meal on a beautifully set table. We dream of a gathering where the salad isn’t wilted, ice is not melted in glasses, side dishes are served while still warm, and the turkey is perfectly cooked! Oh, and as the host you’re able to change out of cooking clothes and aren’t so frazzled that you need a nap! Years ago, we hosted 29 people for the Thanksgiving weekend. It was a ton of fun and everyone pitched in to pull it together. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, but it was memorable, and we learned the importance of hosting essentials on hand. Here’s how I get ready for a big holiday gathering: Plan and prep. Do as much as you can ahead of time. Then try to relax and go with the flow of the day. This is the key to success – plan and prep! Do as much as you can ahead of time and don’t be afraid to ask for help. If there are specific things that we would like to incorporate into the day, we either save them as my tasks to complete or we ask for help and provide a guideline. This can be a specific recipe, image of what you envision, or a list of items needed. Orchestrate and delegate. Assign people to help with all aspects of the day. Identify a general schedule for the day to achieve your expectations. Pulling together a big meal while entertaining the crowd can be overwhelming if you try to do it by yourself – solicit help and ask people to do things that are show off their strengths. Relax and enjoy. There is more fun in the kitchen, at the table and afterwards, when people are helping. Thanksgiving is a community effort. Most people want to have a hand in preparing the meal and coordinating festivities for the group. As the host, it’s your job to identify the overall order of the day but allow for flexibility so that everyone savors their time together. Ultimately, when hosting Thanksgiving, you want everyone to enjoy themselves, relax a bit, eat well, have fun, and remember the holiday as a good one. From our families to yours, best wishes for a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Beach Getaway…
Although we officially welcomed fall this week, today we are reflecting on the summer. We’re so happy that my family was able to squeeze in a beach getaway with the whole crew. Families with children that are in their late teens and early twenties, can appreciate that the ability to plan family vacations, where everyone can attend, is somewhat of a challenge. My sister and I spent hours trying to find a week that would both fit everyone’s schedule and a house that would meet the needs of our entire group. We had to navigate around our work schedules, internships, summer classes and many commitments. Miraculously, we were able to find a single week that would fit in with everyone’s schedule. We rented a beautiful house on Hilton Head Island that could accommodate all of us and we piled in for a week of R & R. The beach was a wonderful change of scenery. We thoroughly enjoyed being by the ocean, riding bikes, spending time together in our pool/hot tub, seeing Greg Russell in Harbor Town, taking turtle walks and enjoying sunset dining at the beach. Because of the pandemic, we were reluctant to participate in some of our “normal” activities. As an alternative, my sister had the brilliant idea to have a casino night (with play money and chips) at the house. We had a great time getting dressed up and playing together. The kids enjoyed it so much, that they have suggested we host another casino night when they are home over the holidays. We are so thankful to have had this time together, while being mindful that we continue to battle the Covid-19 pandemic. It was another arduous season battling this virus, but we are grateful that everyone in our family is now is vaccinated. We are once again able to spend time together safely. It is our sincerest hope that everyone able to, will get vaccinated. It’s the best way to put this isolating deadly disease behind us and plan future beach getaways.