Happy Thanksgiving!
- JosetteTheRealEstatebroker
- Nov 22, 2021
- 6 min read
Hello I just wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving
Please See Below for some fun Traditions and ideas to do on thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving Ideas
Sep 10, 2021
1. Write down what you're thankful for.
In all the fun and frenzy, it can be easy to forget the true meaning of Thanksgiving: gratitude. Dole out black sharpies and, before digging in, invite each guest to write what they're thankful for on a butcher paper cloth laid over the table. You can archive the sheets to look back on fondly.
2. Set up a Bloody Mary bar.
While the dinner's roasting and baking, set out a Bloody Mary bar so guests can make their own brunch classic as they mingle and watch the parade. Bonus points for over-the-top garnishes like bacon, shrimp, and lobster.
3.Connect with family members far away.
One of the few upsides to last year's downtime? There are now more ways than ever to connect with your nearest and dearest—no matter how far they may be. Keep that going this year and invite anyone who cam't make it to your gathering to join in on the festivities...virtually. Set up a virtual happy hour or a video call before, after, or even during your meal with those who can't make it to the table, so they'll feel like they're there.
4. Make personalized place cards.
Before the big day, send around a guest list and ask everybody to share one thing they love or respect about each guest. Compile the compliments on a place card with each guest's name, so they'll sit to find a heartwarming list of anonymous appreciation.
5. Keep a gratitude jar.
Make Thanksgiving a 365 day affair. Throughout the year, keep a gratitude jar of gestures you appreciate from family and friends you know you'll see in November. Pull out the jar post-dinner and share the gestures that warmed hearts.
6. Organize an ornament exchange. When Santa's sleigh appears at the end of the Macy's Parade, the festive holiday season officially begins. For those who celebrate Christmas, invite each Thanksgiving guest to bring an ornamentto exchange to kick-off the holidays and keep the joy going through December.
7. Watch a classic holiday movie.
Stave off turkey coma by gathering together in front of the TV after dessert to watch a classic Thanksgiving movietogether: pick the same movie every year, or have fun letting a different family member choose the film each time.
8. Craft a beautiful centerpiece.
Few things are more annoying (and potentially disastrous) for Thanksgiving hosts than having too many cooks in the kitchen—literally. So to keep your guests entertained while you finish whipping up the big feast, ask them to create a show-stopping centerpiece for the table. Depending on how much time you're trying to kill, you can either set up everything your guests will need—fall-hued florals, pint-sized pumpkins, wispy branches, multi-colored gourds, scented pinecones, a few fallen leaves—or you can send them outside first to forage for some seasonal supplies.
9. Play a game of charades.
Get your friends together post-dinner for a good-old-fashioned game of charades, sure to bring on the giggles (and impress you with skills you never knew Nana had). Or, try one of these games.
10. Host a Thanksgiving potluck.
No need to spend hours in the kitchen solo. Everybody's got their superstar recipe: the one passed down through the generations or borrowed from friends that they swear by. Get guests into the fun by inviting everybody to bring their best dish. As long as you've got all the major bases covered, who says you can't have four different types of stuffing?
11. Ask everyone to make a Thanksgiving toast.
A twist on the popular "everybody say what you're thankful for," encourage each guest around the table to stand up and make their own Thanksgiving toast reflecting on the previous year. Here are some Thanksgiving quotes to get everyone started.
12. Let the kids serve dessert.
Why should adults have all the fun? Get your kids on the action by inviting them to serve dessert. Better yet, let them help make a pie, and serve their own tasty creations (alongside more professional offerings, too, of course).
13. Go for a post-dinner walk.
Walking together after dinner not only burns off all those gravy calories, but allows you to slow down and savor the moment together—perfect for making room before returning home for dessert.
14.Play football.
Thanksgiving is synonymous with football, so even if you're not into pigskin, why not embrace it? Get everybody together for a rousing game of touch football before dinner—guaranteed to become one of the family's favorite traditions. Take it to the next level by turning it into the Thanksgiving Olympics and giving out mini prizes at the end.
15.Share beloved family stories.
Instead of fighting your food coma with lots of screen time—from watching a few episodes of the latest Netflix show to mindlessly scrolling through your Instagram feed—ask your older relatives to share a few of their favorite family stories. The activity will not only fill the evening with laughter (and, possibly, tears) but it will also create deeper bonds that last long beyond the holidays. According to Emory University's Family Narratives Lab, families that know and tell family stories are emotionally closer and report stronger connections than families that don’t know or tell these kinds of tales.
16.Throw a welcome party.
Who says you have to wait until Turkey Day to kick off the Thanksgiving festivities? As a way to welcome out-of-town guests—or just another way to celebrate with friends and family members—host a casual gathering the night before, so everyone has a chance to catch up prior to the hustle and bustle of the holiday. To get in the spirit of the season, you could even make it a pumpkin-themed party: Whip up a batch of spiked pumpkin spice lattes, serve some savory treats (think rosemary pumpkin hummus or pumpkin crostini) and sweet snacks (hello, cinnamon-sugared pumpkin fritters), and leave out a few pumpkins that the little ones can decorate.
17. Take a themed group photo.
This might seem obvious—but with all of the hustle and bustle surrounding Turkey Day, it's easy to forget to snap a photo to commemorate the occasion. For the ultimate group shot, surprise your guests with a pair of coordinating, holiday-themed pajamas placed at each seat which they can change into after the big meal. (Or, asks guests to bring their own). Then, gather round your friends and family for a group picture that you can share on social media with these clever captions.
18. Break the wishbone.
Here's a fresh take on a centuries-old Thanksgiving tradition: Before dinner, stash the turkey's wishbone in a secret spot indoors or outdoors. Once you're finished eating, send the little ones in teams of two to search for it. The team that finds the hidden wishbone not only gets to break it, but can also skip the line for dessert.
19. Decorate Thanksgiving cookies.
Another way to keep the kiddos entertained: Before sitting down to eat, set up a cookie decorating station—including freshly-baked sugar cookies in a variety of shapes (think: turkeys, leaves, and pumpkins), mini squeeze bottles filled with different colors of icing, and a wide range of sprinkles—so that the little ones can get to work after dinner. Even sweeter: Not only will the adults get to relax a little longer, but everyone will also go home with a tasty souvenir!
20. Write thank-you notes.
Gratitude isn’t just a concept we should visit over turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. To keep giving thanks even after the holiday is over, place a thank you card and blank envelope at each seat at your Thanksgiving table, and ask everyone to write a note to someone who made a difference in their lives over the past year. As your guests are leaving, collect the cards, and mail them the following day.
21. Take part in a turkey trot.
To start Thanksgiving on the right foot—and make more space for seconds or thirds—take part in a turkey trot. While many local and national races will be held in-person this year, there are still some being held virtually (like the one hosted by the Marine Corps Marathon), meaning you can run wherever you want to, within a given time frame, and then self-report your results. Want to go the extra mile? We recommend still dressing up in silly, themed costumes—just as you would IRL.
22.Host a pie competition.
Everybody has a pie recipe they swear by—so this Thanksgiving, put them to the test with a little friendly competition. Invite your guests to bring their favorite homemade pie (think: vintage chocolate peanut butter pie, bourbon brûlée pumpkin pie, brown sugar apple pie), and after dinner, grade entries on things like presentation, smell, creativity, and, of course, best tasting. The sweetest part, though? It'll also mean one less thing on your Turkey Day to-do list.
for a complete article visit https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/g29343132/thanksgiving-traditions/
I hope somethings on the list you find useful or can try them out! Let me know what is your favorite thing to do on thanksgiving? Text or email me 541-419-9528 josettethebroker@gmail.com
Josette Flannery
Your Trusted Real Estate Broker
Oregon
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