What are you doing for Thanksgiving this year?
It’s certainly going to be a bit of an odd holiday, but I hope you’re able to make the most of it.
We’re doing our first “destination” Thanksgiving with my husband’s family, and I’m so glad Asheville, NC is only a 4-hour drive with lots of cabin and social distancing options! I assume that we’re not the only ones doing a destination Thanksgiving, or the only ones still making a big meal and enjoying some family (even if it’s just with folks in your bubble).
There’s always a lot to think through when it comes to the holidays, but I’ve found that lists can be your best friend in these types of situations.
That’s why I’m sharing what we’ve been thinking through to make the most of our destination Thanksgiving, and so you can, too. Even if you’re staying at home or just celebrating with a few people, you might find some of these tips useful!
1. Use a collaborative list to help plan
I absolutely love using Google Drive to help get organized for holidays, and it’s great because you can share it with the tech-savvy ones in your family to let them in on it, too. I like to set up a Google Sheet (no, this is not sponsored by Google, ha!) for daily meals and activities. I also added a sheet for Thanksgiving dishes and cooks for each this year. This will help us make sure everyone’s favorite dishes are accounted for and on the grocery list, too.
Make a copy of my Thanksgiving Organizer sheet to use for your holiday planning!
2. Share the cooking responsibilities
I know not everyone loves cooking as much as I do, but everyone can contribute (even if it’s picking up something from the store). Don’t be afraid to let people sign up to bring drinks or dessert or help fold napkins. It will help cut down on any awkward silence, too, if your family has that. Again, a list that you can all view and collaborate on (edit at the same time) helps you spread the cooking responsibilities across the group.
3. Bring staples with you
If you’re traveling to a rental home like we are, then you should first check and see what kind of supplies they have, depending on what’s listed on the home’s page. Or you can even ask the host or home owner. Then, you can prioritize what items really matter to you bringing vs. buying or borrowing.
For me, I made a list in our Google sheet for supplies I will bring, such as:
- Olive oil
- Sea salt and a black pepper grinder
- A few sheet pans and 9×13 Pyrex baking dishes
- A few spatulas
- A few good knives
Thankfully, you can probably depend on grocery stores nearby for everything else or things you forget.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope this list helps you no matter what your Thanksgiving looks like or even as you plan for holidays in the future outside of quarantine. Be safe, eat lots, enjoy leftovers, laugh a lot and embrace the time you have to be thankful for what life has given you.