Kicking off the holiday season…  

Thanksgiving officially kicks off the holiday festivities. For many of us, this means we’ll be spending a lot of time with treasured family and friends — People we may not have seen since previous holiday gatherings. This is a time for joyous, festive, reflections and maybe a little stress too. There are a few things we can do to ease the strain and assure our success at hosting a memorable gathering.

The Fireplace — This is the time of year when the hearth holds a prominent position. It truly is the most beautiful holiday focal point of the home. Scented candles add a touch of elegance and activate aromatic nostalgia. If you’re an early christmas enthusiast, the mantle, of course, is a perfect place for a touch of christmas cheer.  However, since we’re still pre Christmas, I recommend family mementos and photos. 

The Food & Drink Extravaganza…

For me, being Cajun French, Thanksgiving is all about sharing food and drink together, recovering from that, and then spending time with family and friends.  So how to create a home that is welcoming with a special holiday twist.  Well, for starters, we invite them to ‘share’ in the food & drink extravaganza…

Communal Table – The striking thing about Thanksgiving is that everybody gathers for the formal feast together. Lets keep the decor sprinkled in lightly, to make room for the main attraction, which in my world should always be the food!  Also, why not gather around a communal table throughout the day? How else can we bond around taste testing and recipe sharing? Make the feast prep work a fun, bonding process.  

We forget to slow down…

With the hustle of the holidays, many of us often find ourselves a bit stressed, peripherally counting down to January 2nd. This is generally because we forget to slow down and feel into the season. We forget to slow down. And so, what better way than to do it with a glass of wine?

Wine Bar: This means wine and hors d’oeuvres. If you don’t have a specific wine corner, your kitchen island is a perfect place to set them out. It could be as simple as setting out some wine and cheese. 

Why not consider stocking up? Maybe even some pre dinner wine tasting with your guests in the comfort of your home?  Here’s a quick link to Sam Dangremond’s “2017 The 9 Best Wines to Serve at Thanksgiving” featured in Town and Country Magazine.

Recovery and Bonding…

Games Games Games: The way we eat down South, there has got to be recovery time. That’s what the games are for.  Bring the grandparents, siblings, children and distant cousins together for bonding, by getting out your game table, cards and board games. Watch the games and memories unfold.

Pet Soulful Home…

Family is Family. If your Thanksgiving dinner party is a success, Puppy or Kitty will want to join in.  And this is a true mark of success.  However, a friendly reminder – extra-rich foods can be hard for animals to digest   Allow for a quiet area in your home where you pets can take a break, especially during your main festivities.

 

Overnight Hosting…

Chill Spaces: If you have opted for a truly Cajun style sensibility, be sure and make up your bedrooms, bonus rooms, and other chill spaces, so your loved ones can stay and recuperate… You never know, they may just stay for a little while longer.  And isn’t that what Thanksgiving is all about?

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