Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be chaos. This year, I pulled off a holiday that felt relaxed, fun, and full of magic. All it took was three tricks: a great partner, smart shortcuts, and a little kid power. Here’s how we did it.

1. Great Partner Energy-

This Thanksgiving ran smooth because I divided & conquered with my husband like a dream duo. We divided tasks based on what we’re good at and conquered communication on sharing exactly what needed to get done, when, and who would handle what. We ALSO managed to mow the front and back yard, clean the pool, and cover it for the season- all before football even started.

2. Smart Shortcuts in the Kitchen

Full transparency: These small shortcuts may included “boxes” but if that meant less stress, more flavor and more time to actually enjoy the day…

Simple dessert upgrade: A boxed yellow-cake mix became a mouthwatering apple-cider-donut bundt. I baked it the night before so it was ready to serve when guests arrived.
Easy bread & sides: I made a quick batch of dinner rolls that proofed overnight in my fridge and used boxed stuffing mix and gracy packets but jazzed them up a bit (with added turkey drippings and extra seasoning) so it tasted homemade.
Prep ahead: I prepped what I could in advance so everything came together easily when dinner time hit. And what HIT was the Turkey! The recipe and the blog from our First Thanksgiving Day Hosting shares it.

3. Kid Power + Fun Entertainment

Want to keep little hands busy and add extra joy? Let them help, child labor! My son, Atlas, turned into my little holiday helper: he helped set the tablescape, carry dishes, and even helped assemble decor. It made him feel like part of the celebration- and honestly, it made the day easier for me too. We also turned parade-watching into a family game (see my Macy’s Parade blog for that) while waiting for the Turkey to cook and so I could prep a few sides.

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving and you want to survive with your sanity and maybe even enjoy it use these tricks. Find your person, make a plan, split the work, and don’t be afraid to cut a few corners that don’t matter. You got this!

XoXo

Britt

This Thanksgiving felt different in the best way. We kicked it off at 630 am AZ with the Macy’s Parade yes, the big balloon-filled tradition many of us grew up watching and I turned our living room into my own little parade-watch BINGO party.

Because why not make watching fun? Bingo sheet and coffee in hand, we had our own family game going. My son was ON POINT- he practically won bingo before the floats even reached Herald Square. Since the broadcast runs long, we went with blackout style bingo so we could all stay engaged right through until the end. I printed 2025 cards from Music City Moms and their squares were so specifically on point to this year!

I need to mention the deocration that will help to take center-piece later… Mini City and Parade Balloons! Inspired by The House That Lars Built but wanting to do my own version of it we set our first buidlign and Bluey up on the tv console. When the last balloon drifted across the screen, its was time to set the table for later.

No offense, but Im tired of the usual turkey-leaf plates and beige tablecloth- this year, I decided to mix things up for Thanksgiving with bold, fun, and a little bit nostalgic, turning our backyard into a long dining mini parade route of its own.

I saved you and I the money and my my own printable cityscape skyscrapers and taxi-cars and even made some coloring sheets for the kids and word search the adults loved! Colorful Mylar balloons on sticks (taped to Jesus candles to weight them down) were rising above like parade balloons dancing over the city. The whole table looked like NYC- minus the cold and crowds! Honestly? It was a vibe. Guests walked in wide-eyed: surprise! Not your average Thanksgiving. Plates, cups, and napkins themed black and white and gold.

PRO TIP: I hit up Michaels for the small foil balloons (turns out way cheaper than ordering online).

Now, I’m not gonna lie. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the leftover balloons or extra food yet. But once the chaos calmed down and the plates cleared, I caught myself thinking: this might just become a “we do this every other year” tradition. Because here’s the thing: Thanksgiving isn’t just about the turkey or the football- It’s about having fun and making memories. And if that means turning my house into a Parade Route / Bingo Hall- I’m in.

XoXo

Britt