Take a few moments to reflect on what parts of Thanksgiving you most cherish. Make your favorites the centerpiece of your planning. What foods and people are featured? What activities do you enjoy the most? Do you want to do something different this year?
Prepare your kitchen:
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Plan your menu and gather recipes.
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If you are trying new recipes this year, try them once before Thanksgiving so that you can test their taste and practice the preparation.
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Create a master list of ingredients and stock your pantry over the next few weeks.
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Check your oven’s temperature to be sure that it heats properly.
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Sharpen your kitchen knives.
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Inventory your dishes. Do you need to borrow any for the big meal?
Prepare for guests:
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Now is the time for any deep cleaning such as shampooing the carpets or dry cleaning the draperies.
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If you like to do a major house cleaning before the holidays, consider recruiting or hiring help for a big house cleaning effort.
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See if your guest room needs any clearing out or rearranging.
Plan your travel:
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Book your air travel and hotel reservations now.
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Travel at off-peak times to avoid the heaviest crowds and delays.
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If you are driving long distances, have your car checked for road worthiness.
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Stock your car’s emergency kit with supplies such as a blanket, flares, a flashlight, bottled water, snacks and a flat tire fixing kit.
Rachel M. Gambone is the owner of ReOrganize with Rachel, LLC. In addition to general home organizing, she specializes in helping you organize your office, papers and digital information. Her signature approach is positive organizing where she builds on your strengths, helps you find your treasures, and teaches you life-long organizing skills. See more organizing tips and a link to her free podcast at www.reorganizewithrachel.com.
