Thanksgiving Prep: It’s About More Than Just The Turkey

You’ve ordered the turkey, you’ve finished your guest list, but there is still a lot to be done before you can sit down at a brimming table with loved ones for Thanksgiving dinner. While planning my Thanksgiving this year, I took some time to really consider the essence of the holiday. I’ve long considered this my favorite holiday, but this year I finally asked myself why. I thought about the warmth of family around me; the comfort of wholesome, plentiful food; the cozy décor, and I also thought of the perfectly chosen Thanksgiving Day attire (something sort of fancy, but also stretchy – a Thanksgiving day outfit must be very stretchy). And then I remembered the real reason for this wonderful celebration: to give thanks. This holiday is the gateway to the season of giving. We give gratitude first so we can then give more.

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Image via goodwilleasttexas.com

Coincidentally, that was when I learned from Goodwill Industries of East Texas (Tyler) about Giving Tuesday. It’s a day that follows Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, but with a purpose that I think we can all admire: giving back to create a better world. It’s not surprising that Goodwill would eagerly support this movement seeing as giving is written right into their mission statement! “Goodwill gives people a chance everyday by providing employment opportunities.” We can each participate, and help to strengthen the world around us, by doing our holiday shopping with organizations like Goodwill who work hard every day to improve the world, starting right in our own communities. To find out more about the movement, head over to this post!

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Image via browneyesblackcoffee.blogspot.com

In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, this weekend I’m going to put together a donation box for my local Goodwill. While I’m there dropping it off, I’ll poke around in search of something else on my list: that perfect Thanksgiving Day outfit. Inspired by Christina of the blog Brown Eyes, Black Coffee, I may even consider a few options for the big day. After all, having choices is never a bad thing. Christina has chosen three different looks that would be great for various Thanksgiving affairs (and she made sure that all of them have elastic waists). One is pictured above, but you can check out her other two options here!

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Image via goodwilltips.blogspot.com

With attire and intention set, there’s just one more thing to plan: some festive décor. For those of us whose to do lists are already long enough, sitting around while brainstorming holiday displays doesn’t seem like the best use of time. That’s why I love this Thanksgiving décor DIY round-up from Goodwill Industries of Michiana (South Bend). Visit the post for six great harvest-inspired décor ideas that will warm up your home and welcome your guests this November 27 without taking up too much of your time.

What does your Thanksgiving celebration look like? Does your family dress up or down? Do they go wild with elaborate décor or keep things simple? Do they make it a point to give thanks? As with any holiday, every family has slightly different traditions and expectations, and these are just a few suggestions that I thought might fit. No matter how you spend the day, though, I hope it’s enjoyable.