It takes me a full six days to get the most out of Thanksgiving and to transition to Christmas. So, I use two vacation days each year to prepare, enjoy, transition and rest.On Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, I finalize my menu for the big day and the subsequent days with our house guests. Having taken everyone’s preferences to heart, I head off to do my final grocery store and Costco shopping. This year, I sweetened my time at the grocery store with a pumpkin spice nonfat latte that conveniently fits perfectly in the shopping cart cup holder. Moving forward, that will become a tradition.
The rest of the day, I think about table settings and place holders. It is an honor for me to use my creativity and cooking skills to provide my family with a delicious meal at beautiful tables surrounded by family members with whom they can most easily chat. My goal is maximum enjoyment for every guest and their expressions of gratitude and praise lead me to believe I’ve succeeded. But wouldn’t it be rude for them to say nothing? Hmmm.
Once I’ve decided on the tables and the settings, Wednesday evening I iron the three or four table cloths, table runners, and napkins I’m going to use. I chop all the onions, celery, and bell peppers and set them aside for the next day. I make a pound cake, my husbands personal favorite and a Thanksgiving tradition. Before I went to bed this year, I scheduled my Thanksgiving cooking by the hour and half hour. This was a first for me as I used to play it all by ear. But since I had added a few different dishes, I thought it wise.
Thanksgiving morning, I rose at 5am, had some coffee and breakfast and set the tables. I then followed my cooking schedule designed to serve dinner promptly at 3pm. With the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade to keep me company, I began cooking. Guests arrived from out of town throughout the day and were treated to a table filled with a variety of appetizers , drinks, and football. Local guests arrived at 2pm. The first time I sat down since 5am was for dinner and that was a welcomed reprieve. My husband has made it his business to clean up after dinner each Thanksgiving and he started, but didn’t quite finish the job this year. Traditionally, once the dishes are cleared, a board game follows and then more football or a movie. We didn’t have any children running around this year thankfully, because the game my daughter brought was pretty raunchy. But it kept us all laughing (and occasionally cringing). By 8pm, I was off to bed, leaving the overnight guests to entertain themselves. This year we were blessed to have three rooms filled with guests and my husband would provide them breakfast the next morning while I shopped.
I am fond of Black Friday, but not needing to break down any doors for that great television or video game deal, I got my coffee and headed for the stores at 6am. I went to Kohls, Target, Macys, Cheesecake Factory, Clarks, and Sees Candies. For me, Black Friday isn’t just about Christmas. Along side of Christmas gifts, I purchase useful items and incentivized gift cards for myself that are never a greater deal than at this time of the year. For example, Macy’s had my favorite bras, usually $42 each for 65% off as one of their door busters. I purchased three for the only $14.70 each. Cheesecake Factory provides two free cheesecake coupons for each $25 gift card purchased instead of just one. My 1000 piece puzzles were more than 50% off at Target, plus my 5% incentive card and they gave me a 20% discount coupon at checkout.  At Kohls, I brought toys to donate and gifts at huge discounts, racking up $60 in Kohls cash. Everything in Clarks was 30% off and the $120 purple shoes I wanted were marked down last week to $69.99 plus the Black Friday additional 30%. After tax, I paid a total of $52.54 for shoes that I’ve had my eye on all fall. Yay!!!
Friday afternoon, I put my son and son-in-law to work. They were my decorating transition team. They retrieved the nine empty fall decoration storage boxes from the garage attic. I filled them with the fall decorations. They then brought down the 67 boxes of varying sizes that contain my Christmas decorations.
67 Christmas boxes
It is early Saturday morning as I write. I will spend the rest of today and late into the night as well as most of Sunday and part of Monday decorating the entire house except Michael’s office, for Christmas. It is a wonderful pleasure to unpack, admire, and place all the beautiful and whimsical Christmas decorations I have collected throughout the years.
And so the 2018 holiday season officially begins.
Your sense of organization is amazing. I enjoy the things you share, your observations, experiences, inspirations & ideas. You set an amazing example & I thank you for my Sunday treat. Your holidays are off to a beautiful start & I wish you & yours all the best in the days to come.