SHANNON URTNOWSKI
Living Editor
It is time to trim the turkey and whip up the mashed potatoes and gravy. Oh yes, you guessed it — Thanksgiving is near. A holiday for food, family and fun, Thanksgiving really is a day when people should be thankful for all they have. But, not all of us will be home this holiday season, celebrating with Mom’s stuffing or cozy watching the annual parade with Dad. The show, or feast, must go on, though. Follow these five easy steps to get the most out of your Thanksgiving gathering this year, wherever and with whomever it may be.
STEP ONE: Get in the spirit
Holidays are fun, so, this Thanksgiving, waddle like you mean it — or put on a happy face. No one likes a Scrooge at Thanksgiving time (it is way too early for that). Even if the holidays away from home have got you down, try to make the most of it. You have a lot of preparations to get done if you are going to host a successful Thanksgiving feast that will “Wow” your guests, who are probably going to be friends in the same situation as you. Yes, that is right — you are not alone. Whatever it takes, be it making a list of all that you are thankful for or filling a cornucopia with all your favorite fall goodies, keep a positive attitude.
STEP TWO: Start a guest list
What is a party without guests? Some might say a lonely one, but I say it is no party at all. And, since we have already established that you are not alone, pull out some stationary and get cracking on those invitations. You could even sign online and send them instantly through eVites, which are e-mail invitations.
The clock is ticking, so make your list and start inviting. If you want to go all out, you can trace your hand on a brown piece of paper, color in the fingers for feathers and get out the word with a big paper turkey. Nothing says Thanksgiving better than turkey.
STEP THREE: Show and tell
The best way to spread Thanksgiving joy is through decorations — and lots of them. Cutting out paper turkeys, spreading orange and yellow streamer around your home and sprinkling fall leaves around the table will take a little extra effort on your part. However, you will find that it will not only brighten the spirits of you and your friends, but also get you a few “oohs” and “aahs” from impressed guests.
STEP FOUR: Feast on this
Thanksgiving would not be the same holiday without turkey, mashed potatoes, yams, pumpkin pie and all the fixings. When it comes to the Thanksgiving feast, more really is merrier. Figure out what foods you want adorning your Thanksgiving table this holiday and make sure that they get there.
Though you may burn a pie or two or water down the gravy, what with Mom and Dad not being around, go with the unique essence and flavor you are bringing to your table. All you really need to do is make sure that everyone who attends your feast is working on an empty stomach, because then they will probably be too hungry to notice your minor cooking slip-ups.
STEP FIVE: Enjoy it
With all the stresses of planning and preparing, do not forget to save a little enjoyment for yourself. Yes, you want your friends to have an amazing time at your Thanksgiving gathering, but do not sacrifice your own need for cheer.
It is rough for even the strongest at will to be away from home during the holidays. Budget your efforts and, if some things do not turn out the way you want them to, just put on a happy face and think toward Christmas — there’s only one month to go until you get a redo.
11-16-2006