It’s the Friday before Thanksgiving! I am in full on pre-houseguest, pre-holiday panic mode.
- I have managed to work out several days this week. It is a relief to be getting back into a routine. The workout I did yesterday was a weighted cardio and strength routine. Usually I stick to strength training videos and I was reminded why: I am too uncoordinated to manage the cardio! Tracy would give a quick little demonstration of how to do something, like a high knee kick with a punch, and then she’d jump right in… and it would take me at least 20 of the 45 seconds allotted for the move to figure out how to do it. If I could do it at all. Oh well. No one is grading me on how well I can copy the moves. But my complete inability to follow the moves reminds me why I prefer to work out at home.
- It’s been a while (yes, Suzanne, a whole year) since I’ve revisited my Thanksgiving Planning Documents. I really need to open them up and start making my grocery lists and planning out what to do when. But I am feeling, more than usual, the weight of how much work it is to carry off this holiday. (I almost typed “stupid holiday,” but refrained. But that’s where my grump level is at the moment.) Bleh. If I could go back in time, I would tell my mother-in-law that I was not up for hosting Thanksgiving this year. But Past Suzanne was full of naivety and optimism and everyone has plane tickets so I’m stuck. It’s not that I’m not looking forward to seeing family! I am! We haven’t seen any of these family members in months, and none of them have seen the new house, and I am dying to spend time with my niece who continues to be more delightful every time I see her. It’s just that the whole undertaking is so MUCH. The houseguests and the cooking and the cleanup. It will be fine. It’s not a big deal, nothing is terribly difficult on its own. It’s just a one-foot-in-front-of-another kind of situation. I do wish I’d done some advance gravy work though. There is never enough gravy.
- One thing I have not planned for is DESSERT. In years past, our traditional Thanksgiving dessert has been pumpkin bars. But a few years ago, my husband admitted that he has grown sick of them. Neither he nor I like pumpkin pie, and while I would be fine with someone else making it, I don’t really wanna. We are getting a free apple pie from our real estate agent, so we’ll have that. Except a) no one besides me and my husband like apple pie and b) we have to pick it up on Monday and I don’t know if it will keep until Thursday. (Can you freeze an apple pie?) Perhaps I will eat it for breakfast. But that leaves us without a dessert! One of our guests likes chocolate things – and so do my husband and daughter. Two of our guests either avoid dessert entirely or eat it very sparingly. My choice might be cranberry crumble bars, because they are easy and I love them… but I don’t think most of the family members really like fruit desserts. What do you think I should make? Or kindly ask one of my guests to make?
- Another thing I am fretting about is the accommodations. We have a guest room; my in laws will stay there. My niece will sleep on a futon in Carla’s room. My sister-in-law will sleep on a mattress in my daughter’s craft room. I feel a little bad about the mattress! I mean, it’s a perfectly nice mattress, and I have sheets and blankets and a comforter that she can use. I did not have any extra pillows, but Target resolved that problem for me very quickly. We have a little end table and a lamp that we can borrow from elsewhere so she’ll be able to have a makeshift nightstand. I bought some extra nightlights to help her navigate from room to room. She’ll have access to an adjacent closet and bathroom. But what else should I do to make a craft room into a comfortable-enough guest room?
- My in laws called my husband last weekend to chat, and asked what the plans are for Thanksgiving weekend. Plans? What plans? My plans are to spend all week prepping for Thanksgiving dinner, then spend Thanksgiving day making dinner, then eating dinner, then collapsing from exhaustion for the rest of the weekend. I had sort of thought people would entertain themselves? We have games and puzzles, and there’s bound to be some sort of football game to watch. Should there be other plans? I am feeling like a terrible hostess! It does look like there may be a new Trolls movie out, so perhaps some faction of people could go to a movie the day after Thanksgiving? And there’s always walking, as long as the weather is amenable. Or people who like shopping on Black Friday can do that. But that’s really all I can come up with, and that will have to be enough.
What are you doing this weekend? Are you fretting about anything in the lead-up to Thanksgiving? Any ideas for how we in the US can persuade the country to move the holiday back to line up with Canada’s Thanksgiving?
I heartily recommend Chocolate-Crusted Pumpkin Cheesecake: https://www.swistle.com/2006/11/17/chocolate-crusted-pumpkin-cheesecake/
It has chocolate! It has festive holiday pumpkin! I do not like pumpkin pie at all (like, would have trouble eating a polite slice), but I love this cheesecake. And I worried the first few times I made it, because my understanding was that cheesecake was difficult—but it has never come out wrong. It HAS cracked, and my further understanding is that there is a lot of effort put into Making Sure Cheesecake Doesn’t Crack, but I could not possibly care less if the cheesecake cracks or not.
Actually, if I were you I would make the cranberry crumble bars you want to make. I think you are over-accommodating what you think people might like or not like. If you KNOW FOR SURE that most of the guests don’t like fruit desserts, and that that includes cranberry at Thanksgiving (I feel like cranberry desserts at Thanksgiving are different than, say, apple pie and blueberry crumble), then I guess I wouldn’t make them; but if this is a THINKING that they MIGHT NOT like fruit desserts IN GENERAL, then I say they can eat what they’re offered or they can decide not to, and that each of them is free to offer to host Thanksgiving and do it their way.
I do like to have two desserts at Thanksgiving, though, so maybe the cranberry bars AND the pumpkin cheesecake.
Your Thanksgiving plans sound perfectly good to me. I don’t think of there being plans other than cooking, eating, cleaning up, chatting, and making endless little snacks of leftovers. If I were you I would assign my husband to take my in-laws and child(ren) to a movie, because I would really, really, really need the space and quiet for a few hours.
That sounds DELICIOUS, thank you. And a thousand times yes on shooing everyone out of the house on Friday.
Suzanne, when you said you were hosting, it wasn’t until this moment that I realized OMG SHE JUST MOVED SHE CAN’T HOST. So, um, I get this. Yikes. That’s a lot.
Also, I think you can freeze apple pie! My MIL does this all the time, she makes like three or four pies at a time and then freezes them, and although I don’t eat them, the boys say they are good. They are teenagers so the bar might be low though.
LOL to your teenagers comment! But yes, I could totally try freezing it!
Haha, plans! Your answer would definitely be my answer: Uh, we’re eating the meal on Thursday, and that is The Plan! I feel like I’ve been asked this in years’ past and it always baffles me. But I also remember that we do sometimes go to the movies on the Friday or Saturday, so that might indeed be an easy/fun (though expensive) outing.
In fact, though, I was thinking yesterday, that GAH, we also have to plan meals for all the OTHER nights of next week. I always forget that.
I’m grateful we only are “hosting” Alex, home from college, and his girlfriend (probably more days than I would like). 😉
For dessert we might be going wild and trying this: https://www.instagram.com/p/CzWimttJwgl/
It looks like it’s going to have pumpkin pie consistency (boooo) but the donuts ought to cancel that out!
Good luck with all your guests! It’s going to be lovely! (Guest room/art room sounds perfect! Don’t stress!)
That pumpkin donut bread pudding thing looks very intriguing! Please report back.
And right?! We have to make other meals????? I think I have my meal plan for the week all set but I still have to Make The Food ugh.
BUY THE DESSERT. That’s my suggestion. I dialed in our Thanksgiving as you know (and I realize that’s not an option because you make the best mashed potatoes). But dial this in as much as you can. BUY THE DESSERT.
Yes, you can freeze apple pie. It can make the crust a tiny bit “doughier” but it’s fine – it’s great – and no one needs to know.
I’m sorry this is so overwhelming. I’m still just so relieved we have Thanksgiving in October.
You could move to Canada? That would at least solve your Thanksgiving issue.
And I hosted Christmas right after we moved into our house and everything went to H in a handbasket and I vowed I would never do something like that again. Not to scare you, but just to let you know you’re stressed because this is stressful. Take a deep breath, and BUY THE DESSERT. And outsource anything else you can. Hire someone to clean your house. Ask guests to do grocery runs. Ask your in-laws (or husband) to come up with some “plans” so everyone is out of the house so you can just work in peace. I don’t mind all the prep sometimes, it’s having to prep AND entertain people and keep them out of my kitchen space etc.
Hugs <3
*buy the desserts*
YES. Buy the dessert! This is very smart!
I love this comment so much. 🙂
You ask, Should there be other plans? In my experience it is wise to task houseguests with something useful to do. It can be having them go to the store a few times for something you “forgot” or helping tidy up the yard or putting up the Christmas tree early. Find something, tell them to do it, then watch them scurry away and not bother you.
Yes, giving them something useful to do is a great idea. Maybe they can help my husband hang artwork so I can cook in peace.
It does sound like a lot, hosting after a move. I think an apple pie would freeze fine.
We haven’t done much planning but it’s just the four of us and we generally eat the same things so it’s not as big a production. The main complicating factor is that Beth will be out of town from today until Tuesday and she’s usually the shopper, so I have do it this weekend.
Oooh that is tricky! Good luck with the shopping!
What Elisabeth said but one step further…you’re allowed to BUY an entire Thanksgiving dinner if you want. Or parts and pieces of it – make the turkey but buy some of the sides. If everyone thinks you made everything from scratch you are not required to correct that impression. The important thing to know is that the fam cares about seeing you and the new house way more than they care about anything on the table.
What you said about cardio – I put in a good show of trying to follow along with Caroline Girvan HIIT workouts before realizing that they made me feel like an idiot and they weren’t doing anything for my fitness level. I’m happy to walk, run, or bike for cardio – a flat out NO for anything that requires coordination.
I bought frozen pies from a local farm stand, and they will stay frozen until I put them in the oven on Thanksgiving day. I say freeze the apple pie and buy something chocolate. Though those cranberry bars sound divine and if I were coming I would bring them for you.
Hosting is so much more stressful than having it just you, or going to someone else’s house, because you have all of these other factors. Activities, sleeping arrangements, etc., and your brain goes into overdrive hoping you haven’t forgotten something. In my experience, something will go wrong, so if you just accept that and don’t worry about it, maybe that will help. YES to those who say to delegate some things. Trips to the grocery store if needed, plans for the weekend if needed. Doing the dishes. Decide ahead of time if you would be happier with other people helping you in the kitchen or not, and then let people know.
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Good heavens. Go buy some chocolates and a nice cake. Or go buy a pecan pie or some other kind of dessert. You just moved! You shouldn’t be hosting a full Thanksgiving at all.
As far as “plans” for the weekend–WTF?! Your plan was accomplished: you made the main event. Everyone is now free to pursue their bliss as they see fit.
I think outsourcing buying the dessert is the way to go. Whoever buys it has to figure out the who likes what and why.
Do people have Thanksgiving weekend plans? Is that a thing? We will put up the Christmas tree and I have Saturday plans with a friend, but otherwise, it’s just…veg out time, right?
Oh, my word, did I laugh at your response to “what the plans are for Thanksgiving weekend”! You are absolutely right, you should not have to do ANYTHING more for people than Thanksgiving dinner and basic guest-hosting (which you have covered). If your husband’s parents want more, he can come up with something. Tell him I said so.
Also, yes, apple pie freezes just fine, but buy something and don’t worry about it.
Yay! I am glad to hear you got some workouts in! I would be struggling with that combo too!
Sending you lots of <3 for Thanksgiving. I would totally feel that way too. It's hard to enjoy the company when you're hosting and doing such a big meal on top of it. I hope you get some help!
LOL plans for the following weekend. Are these the types of folks who need to be entertained?!
This weekend I am teaching a rock painting class, then my usual workouts, errands, and chores. I am not fretting re: Thanksgiving because it's just us two and it's not my fave holiday. We'll cook all the traditional things, but it shouldn't be stressful.
My current Thanksgiving fret is that Lil Momma has asked me not to make the dinner rolls I’ve been making in past years and switch to make rolls like the restaurant Bertuccis does that we can dip in oil. New recipes on holidays (even if it will be only the 3 of us here) are not my jam – so, now it seems that I am making a test batch this weekend and then making them again on Thursday. Hopefully they freeze well?
I am all for buying desert if it is to overwhelming. Thanksgiving is a lot for a lot of people so everyone should be able to relate. Since we don’t have family in the US and are visiting friends I don’t have to think about it. That is also what I will be spending my weekend with: driving to Las Vegas.
I think pies without dairy freeze fine. I would buy a couple of desserts or even cookies; if people eat a lot, they won’t be that interested in dessert anyway so why waste a lot of time and energy on it?
Dessert. Go to Walmart and find their section where they have a bunch of different kinds of single serving desserts. It’s like 90% pies but there are a couple little cakes and such. Buy all the different types, a couple of each. They are like $.50 each. Have Carla make up a score sheet for voting. At dessert time, cut each one into like four pieces and set them all out and then have a competition.
Guest in the craft room. Make sure they have somewhere to put their stuff. My mom has started setting out a folding table for me to unpack on and it is glorious. Do a little tray of snacks and waters. Make sure the head of the bed is pushed up against something so their pillow doesn’t fall off at night. If you have an easily moveable armchair elsewhere in the house, put that in so they have somewhere to sit.
Dessert tasting, what a great idea!
Buy dessert, buy bits of the dinner you don’t want to deal with. That is called delegating (without having people in your kitchen) and you have permission to do so. You are hosting right after moving, for crying out loud.
And no, you do not need to come up with “plans” for the weekend. If anyone wants to “do” anything send them on their way with a cheerful wave.
As of now, we are skipping the whole Thanksgiving dinner. The Happy Couple will be with her parents so it’ll be just the two of us with only two days before the wedding…so we are saving our sanity by skipping it. I told The Husband I don’t care what we have as long as there are mashed potatoes.
Oh brother. I admit to feeling overwhelmed for you. Hosting for the first time in your house WITH houseguests feels like a lot. I’d make a dessert that you can freeze. Get one thing off of your list. Many cookies freeze well. I wouldn’t stress much about the person staying in the craft room. It’ll be fine. Also, I think Thanksgiving plans will be exactly as you think: shopping, football watching, walking, games, etc. He was just making conversation. It’ll all be wonderful.
Uff. The Thanksgiving Holiday does always sound like a lot. I am lucky that we usually don’t host people ( because a) we don’t have the room to host people and b) our family is small and far away so it usually doesn’t happen. We’re currently my MIL’s house for an early Thanksgiving, because we didn’t want to travel over the holiday and it’s been low key).
I think you do not have to come up with any plans to entertain your guests. You are doing enough by hosting. Do people not just want to hang out and play games?
I’d have suggested my apple cake for dessert but you already have something with apples and not everybody likes apples. How about just having ice-cream on hand? Always a winner 😉
Oh this seems a lot. And then I already think you are also prepare a lot and no one should be asking for more.
I think it is perfectly fine to sleep in a craft room on a mattress. She could also get a hotel but she is sleeping for free. So…
I also think you could make preparations a family affair. Everyone contributes. Why is all you. Delegate task. Like I need one person cutting this. I need one person in charge of dessert this is the recipe. I need one person for clean-up, etc.
Hope it will be a wonderful weekend whatever happens and what ever you do.
After just moving in, and you’re hosting. This is MORE than you really deserve, but like you said, you offered. *sigh* Why do we get excited in the moment, then when reality hits we want to RETRACT, RETRACT, RETRACT.
I think you have enough stuff planned. You are not Julie from The Love Boat.
The makeshift guest room will be perfect. Unless your SIL is the part of the royal family, that guest room would work perfectly for most people…it certainly would work for me.
Gah, Suzanne, this feels like a lot! I do not think YOU need to worry about any other plans because YOU ARE MAKING THE DINNER. That is ENOUGH. Let other people entertain themselves and figure out what they want to do the rest of the weekend.
I do not envy anyone making Thanksgiving dinner this week. My cousin offered to host and I am so grateful she did, but it is not something I would ever offer, lol. I just get way too stressed out! In my family, though, the host only makes the big parts of the meal (turkey, stuffing, potatoes) and we all help with side dishes/dessert. Makes it a big less stressful on the host!