Thanksgiving Checklist

It’s that time of the year again, folks! Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with family and friends to give thanks for all the wonderful blessings in our lives. If you are hosting a Thanksgiving celebration this year, this is just the kick in the bottom you need to get your fall cleaning and organizing underway! Many of the Thanksgiving checklists I have seen only go one week out. For some of us, this is simply not enough time to get everything done.

So, if you plan on hosting a thanksgiving feast at your home this year, check out my three-week Thanksgiving checklist below for some ideas. Note: This list is organizing/cleaning-based, not food-based. Each week has a cleaning list, suggesting which chores are okay to get done during that week without everything falling apart by the big day.

3 Weeks Before – The Organizing Phase:
• Invites: Email all guests to invite them to your celebration. I like to use email because then you can get the menu negotiations going, and everyone can see who is bringing what so there are no duplicates. For example, if you are doing the turkey but you need help with side dishes and desserts, express your needs in the email, with a simple “Let me know what you’d like to bring!” at the end.
• Rentals: If you are renting tables, chairs or linens, book them now!
• Take Stock: Do you have enough in the way of decorations, dishes and serve ware? If not, then you will want to put paper plates and napkins at the top of your shopping list, and consider making or buying some extra decorations for the occasion.
• Menu – Start the Process
• To Do List: Make a list of all the cleaning that you will need to accomplish, then divide them up by 3 weeks to stretch out the work. Assign chores to the whole family, letting them know when you expect things to get done so that you are not left to do all the work.
• Week 1 Cleaning: Polish Silver, Cobwebs and Dusting, Cleaning the Fridge, Weeding

2 Weeks Before: The Cleaning Phase
• Menu Coming Together = Start Shopping List
• Week 2 Cleaning: Windows, Carpet, Scrub the Kitchen

1 Week Before:
• Confirm Rentals
• Menu should be Set, now get your Shopping List together
• Week 3 Cleaning: Outdoor (Mowing, Raking Leaves, Sweep Driveway), Vacuum, Sweep, Mop & Tidy House
• Grocery Shopping
• Cook, Eat & Enjoy – You Deserve It!