The calm before the turkey (and all the to-do lists in between)…
Normally, I start prepping for Thanksgiving by mid-October — so I’m a little behind this year.
Hi, I’m Becky, and I like to plan and organize. It’s a strength of mine. A dreamer I am not — but can I create a plan and execute with efficiency? 100%!
I wanted to pull back the curtain a bit on what I do, how I do it, and all the things that help me stay sane through the season.
A Little Background
A few years ago, we started hosting Thanksgiving at our home. My sister and her husband had hosted for as long as I can remember, and we visited them for many years. But as our children got older, we wanted to start a few traditions of our own.
So we “hosted” one year. It started small — our immediate family plus two family friends. Over the years, it’s grown to include our family, my husband’s family (mom, dad and his wife, sister, niece, nephew), family friends, and even our kids’ friends. I think the most we’ve had was 18!
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could pull off hosting Thanksgiving for a crowd — ever.
I used to track all my planning and prepping in old-school spiral notebooks. I’d write everything down. Then last year, a coworker and I were chatting about Thanksgiving prep, and he mentioned he keeps an Excel workbook. What?? How had I not thought of this?
I loved the idea. While I like writing things down, having everything in an easy-to-update, easy-to-save format sounded lovely. So I converted all my notes into a “Thanksgiving_2024” Excel workbook — complete with a tab for everything. (More on that later!)
Where I Start
I always begin with my recap and reflections from the previous year. The day or two after each holiday, I answer these questions:
- Overall, how did things go?
- What worked well?
- What can I change or improve for next year?
- What did I enjoy?
Invitations
Next, I make a list of invitees. Who are we inviting this year? Who needs to be added?
I’ve never made a custom invite for Thanksgiving, but this year I will — so we can text it to family and friends. I’ll create it in Canva, of course.
Thanksgiving Intentions
I like to pause and set a few intentions before diving into the logistics. I write down and answer:
- What do I want for me this Thanksgiving?
- What do I want my family to experience this Thanksgiving?
- What do I want for our guests who attend?
Yes there’s a typo in my pic but it’s real 🤣
Home Prep To-Do List & Timeline
I make a list of everything we need to do around the house to prepare for Thanksgiving week and guests — and then assign due dates. A few examples:
- Put up Christmas trees – weekend before Thanksgiving
- Guest rooms ready with clean bedding and towels – two weekends before
- Clean out pantry, refrigerators, and freezers – by 11/1
- Confirm date for home cleaners before the holiday
- Get our annual family ornament painted for 2025 – by 11/5
- Clean back porch (just in case it’s warm outside) – Tuesday before Thanksgiving
Menu Planning
Now for the fun part — food! This is where those reflections from last year come in handy. What food was popular? What wasn’t? Anything I need to add or skip this year?
I organize my menu by category:
- Morning Appetizers (a Harkins tradition)
- Beverages
- Thanksgiving Meal
- Desserts
Shopping List
Next, I create my shopping list. I categorize items by type, store, and whether I’ve purchased them yet. Here’s a sampling:
- Milk – All Day – Sprouts
- Water Bottles – All Day – Sam’s
- Meats for charcuterie – Breakfast – Aldi/Publix
- Ham – Lunch – Publix
- Aluminum Foil – Supplies – Sam’s
- Leftover Containers – Supplies – Target
- Bagged Ice – Supplies – Chick-fil-A
Full Master To-Do List
By this point, I’ve usually combined any remaining Home Prep items with my full To-Do list. I write down everything — task, due date, and a checkbox for completion.
I don’t like keeping things in my head; it’s already running at max capacity most days. If something new goes in, something else is bound to fall out. Here’s a few of my items… there’s a LONG list 😳.
Oven Schedule
With so many dishes needing different temperatures and cook times, an oven schedule is a must. I saw this idea on another blogger’s post and had to try it. Game changer.
My Schedule
Since I’m making a schedule and plan for everything else, I make one for myself too — for my own sanity. What time will I wake up? Bible time? Exercise time? Getting ready? It was new last year but so helpful.
Yep — this is how I “do Thanksgiving.” It keeps me sane, which my whole family appreciates (especially my husband).
What can I say — I’m a planner.
Once I’ve planned the work… it’s time to work the plan.
From the Porch 🍁
Every list, every plan, every checkbox is really just my way of creating space for what matters most — the laughter, the smells from the kitchen, the quiet moments that remind me why we gather in the first place. Planning may be my thing, but presence is my goal. Thanksgiving has a way of slowing me down enough to see how much there is to be thankful for right here at home 🏡.