Yes, I’m getting ready for Thanksgiving even though Halloween isn’t over yet. It doesn’t always work that way. I generally like to wait until one holiday has passed to start on another. However, Halloween isn’t that big of a deal (I’m more into major holidays) and besides, I’m ready for Halloween anyway.
So, here are a few tips I like that you might find useful if you also like to plan and prepare ahead:
Plan your Menu
Obviously, most people are going to have turkey and some other basic items. However, it just makes sense to get everything down on paper, especially if you’re adding anything new or different this year. I like to arrange my list where I add each ingredient I need under a heading for the main item, like this:
STUFFING
- Chicken broth
- Bread
- Celery
- Onions
If you’re not sure how much turkey and stuffing you’ll need, check out this cool calculator from Butterball (recipes and tips at this page as well).
Check your Spices
Check not only to make sure you have all the spices you need, but also check to make sure the spices you have on hand are still good. For example, if you’ve had that same jar of sage for the past two years, you might want to toss it and pick up a fresh one.
Clip Coupons
Pay attention to coupons since you’ll likely see good ones now for things you’ll use for Thanksgiving, like sweetened condensed milk, chicken broth, and other ingredients you’ll need for making your favorite dishes. Clip them and circle the expiration dates. If one is going to expire soon, pick up that item and stash it in a special place in a cupboard or pantry. You can keep adding items and keep them all in one spot, so you’ll know where everything is and know what else you need, at a glance.
*Bonus tip… book an appointment to get your hair done soon. Not only will it be more difficult to get an appointment close to the big day, but it will also be harder for you to fit it into your schedule. Besides, I always like to get mine done a couple weeks before an event so I’m used to it when the big day rolls around (not to mention you have time to get something else done if it doesn’t turn out how you planned!).
Holidays: It’s all about Planning
Thanksgiving: Turkey Day Checklist