Family Moment Monday

Motherhood for Dummies hosts Family Moment Mondays, check her out to get more ideas on how to spend time together as a family!

Thanksgiving is all about gratitude and spending time with your family, but preparation can be very stressful and time consuming. Here are a few tips to help you get through it faster so you can spend more time with your family. :)

*Casual Buffet - Instead of going all out with fancy table settings and centerpieces, set up an area to place all the finished food, drinks, plates, and other items needed for dinner. Have people serve themselves and then sit and visit where they are most comfortable.

*Paper/Plastic - Although this is not as environmentally friendly, try using paper or plastic plates, cups, and utensils. This will allow you to skip a big portion of clean up time so that you can spend more time with your family and friends.

*Make ahead - A lot of the side dishes and desserts can be made ahead of time. Pies can be made and stored several days in advance, while many side dishes can be prepared ahead of time and reheated on Thanksgiving day.

* Use a Roaster - If you have limited oven space, use an electric roaster to cook the turkey in. Then you can cook the side dishes in the oven, and not be stressed out about not having enough time to cook them.

*Split the Responsibility - If your guests ask if they can help, don't hesitate to ask if they can bring a side dish or a dessert. My sisters and I split the responsibilities so that no one is stuck making the entire meal by themselves.

*Be a Duck - Many times, bickering and arguing are ways in which some people deal with the stress of the holiday. When something goes wrong with the meal, or you hear an unwelcome comment from a family member, try to remember that getting upset will only make it worse. Roll with the punches and you may find that your peaceful attitude is contagious.

Does anyone else have any Thanksgiving tips?