Thanksgiving Hosting: Perfect First Thanksgiving Tips

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Choose Fool-proof Recipes

After the number of guests is finalized, you should make decisions about what you want to cook and how much you will need. Make sure to know about possible allergies or health conditions of your guest, so you can make informed decisions. After that, ask yourself about what you have experience with and what you are comfortable cooking.

Now it’s time to choose your menu. Stick to a few dishes, you really don’t have to do it all. If you want, ask for help from your guests or family; they could bring a dessert or wine, or a side. Just make sure to know about it early on, so you can plan accordingly. When choosing your dishes and recipes, read them first, check the rating if available and scan through reviews.

Choose only recipes that are fool-prove, with easy to follow directions and that all ingredients can be found fairly easy, preferably at only a couple of places. Ideally, choose recipes you have cooked before or if you have time, make a test-run. Also, make sure you have all necessary equipment at your disposal. But don’t be shy on buying desserts or fresh appetizers from a store if you want. Just make sure that the majority of things served are made by you. The dessert is also really important since it closes the meal and leaves a lasting impression.

Decide on a strategy and stick to it

Now that you have your recipes, work out a strategy and time plan that you will stick to. Of course there should be room for some adjustments if necessary. Make at least two lists of things you need: one for things you can buy several days before Thanksgiving (plates, pantry items, decorations, beverages etc.) and one for things you will need to buy just a couple of days before Thanksgiving (e.g. fresh fruits and vegetables).

Plan your grocery trips carefully, so you save on time and money. Also, make a day – to –day to-do-list where you can write down what needs to get done each day the week before Thanksgiving. Plan ahead for the turkey to thaw (it needs about a full day for each 4 pounds of turkey) and cook ahead of time whenever possible; many things can be frozen or kept in the fridge until it’s time to serve them, just remember to thaw or warm them up in time.

Also, plan in time to clean the house, decorate it and clean and prepare your tableware. If you are awaiting overnight guests, prepare the guestroom at least a week ahead. Check at a glance everything the day before Thanksgiving to ensure everything is in order. Don’t forget your porch or entrance; it’s often the first impression that makes all the difference.

Shop Burlap and Succulents for Thanksgiving Dinnerware, aprons, recipe binders and more!

Think about the flow of Thanksgiving Day

Imagine how the big Day should go, how it should start, where your guest should be at the beginning or where they should take a seat. Make sure to have enough sitting opportunities and spread out serving tables with appetizers and drinks if needed. If you have many guests and want to have a buffet, think about where you will place foods, drinks and tableware.

Also, don’t forget to plan in entertaining details, like music or games for small guests. Write down any details, which will make sure you won’t forget anything and no chaos will be created on the big day. And make sure to have something planned for after the dinner is over, like a late coffee, tea or hot cocoaserving and have some boxes ready if anyone wants to take some leftovers with them.

Don’t leave too many things for the Last Moment

Set the table even days ahead if you can, fold napkins a week before and prepare your decorations sooner than later. Prepare a cleaning kit, so you can attend any emergency cleaning on Thanksgiving without being ashamed of that dirty mop. Wash vegetables and fruits you will need on Thanksgiving days before, strain them or wipe them dry and store them in airtight containers or zip-lock bags in the refrigerator.

Cut foods if possible into the pieces you need and store them until needed. Also make sure everything works and is in good condition. You don’t want to be needing the microwave just to find out it doesn’t work for some reason a few hours before your guests arrive.

Keep control over your First Thanksgiving Day

On the big Day, stick to your plan. Get an early start. Check all rooms and settings for a last time and make any corrections. Prepare your dishes and drinks. Ask your closest friend or family member to help if you need, there is no shame in that! Also, if possible make sure someone is in charge of looking after your guests, if everyone has a drink or if the music needs to be louder.

Bring gifts for the host or hostess!

One last thing to remember is to seek advice from experienced Thanksgiving hosts like your mom or an aunt… there is always something to be learned from the generations before us! So go ahead and follow these tips and it’s sure that your Thanksgiving hosting will be a full success. And of course never forget to have fun and be in a good mood on this special day! After all, the meal is not that important, if you have good times, laughter and fun with your loved ones to remember!

For more Thanksgiving entertaining tips on Stagetecture, click here.

Whether it’s for two people or twenty, hosting Thanksgiving dinner is a huge undertaking. After all, people look forward to this meal all year long. However, there’s no need to have a meltdown just yet – a little organization goes a long way towards managing pre-dinner stress. Below are four easy Thanksgiving organizational tips to make hosting this Thanksgiving a breeze.

Helpful Last-Minute Thanksgiving Organization Tips

Image Via: Better Homes and Gardens

 Compile One List:

The best thing about Thanksgiving is having a veritable smorgasbord of dishes at your disposal. But managing the several ingredient lists and cooking times needed to create that buffet can get tricky. Make things easier on yourself by grouping them all into one. About a week before the event, pull out all the recipes you intend on making and merge everything into a giant shopping list and step-by-step cooking guide. While this may take a bit of time to put together, it is well worth the effort. You’ll avoid emergency trips to the store or overcooking a staple dish.

Image Via: The Southern Weddings Shop

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Embrace Make Ahead Recipes:

There’s no rule that says everything eaten on Thanksgiving needs to be made that morning. Use the refrigerator to your advantage and start cooking in the days leading up to the holiday. Desserts and dishes such as macaroni and cheese will keep for a quite a long time, if properly stored. Then, the day before, work on assembling time-consuming ingredients such as caramelized onions or hardboiled eggs. That way, you’ll only have to worry about reheating these items on the big day.

Image Via: Food Network

Know Your Dishware:

Dishware is an often overlooked, but essential component of the Thanksgiving meal. All that delicious food has to be stored somewhere, right? The night before the big meal, take stock of your dishware and decide which pieces work for each recipe. Then, label them with post-it notes to avoid any confusion. If you’re feeling particularly ambitious, you can also set your table before heading to bed. It will be one less thing to worry about in the midst of cooking.

Image Via: Fiskars

Go Pot-Luck Style:

If you’re truly overwhelmed by the idea of hosting dinner, don’t be afraid to ask for a little assistance. Call your guests and politely ask each of them a specific dish. Just be sure that you have a good feel for those on your invite list. Your vegetarian aunt will likely jump at the chance to bring a veggie-packed side dish, while it’s probably best to assign dessert to your friend who always manages to be half an hour late.

 Image Via: Strictly Simple Style 

There’s bound to be a certain amount of chaos when you’re hosting a holiday meal for others. However, there’s no reason it should obscure your ability to enjoy the celebration.  These organizational tips can help keep your Thanksgiving meal prep stress to a minimum.

For more Thanksgiving tips on Stagetecture, click here.

Curb appeal tips  to make your outdoor home appealing to home buyers.

Image via: BHG

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Topic for March. 7, 2013 Episode

“Creating Curb Appeal to Sell Your Home”

Spring is the perfect time to get your outdoor home curb appeal ready for the warmer weather.  Today on the Decluttered Home Radio Show I will show you simple ideas to make your outdoor home appealing. From your lawn and landscaping to sprucing up architectural details, join us to get your outdoor home ready this spring.

Image via: TEA2 Architects

Thursday, March 7 at 11:00am – 11:30am EST

On The Decluttered Home/Uncle Bob’s Self Storage Radio Show — > Listen here

Want to call in and ask me a question? (347) 539-5180

 

Follow on Twitter – #DeclutteredHome

 

Follow Pinterest Board – The Decluttered Home

Want to see all of the great inspiration for today’s show? Follow the Pinterest board for each episode to lend inspiration and ideas

Pinterest —> See pictures here

Can’t wait to talk to you then!

-Ronique

For more curb appeal ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Home staging your home is essential for appealing to home buyers.

Image via: BHG

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Topic for Feb. 7, 2013 Episode

“DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell A Home This Spring”

Spring is the ideal time to put your house up for sale and home staging is a proven way to appeal to home buyers. From decluttering and removing personalization to accentuating specific areas of your home, you can show of your home in its best light. Today I will help you prepare your home to sell this spring with do it yourself tips and tricks

Image via: Decor Pad

Thursday, February 7 at 11:00am – 11:30am EST

On The Decluttered Home/Uncle Bob’s Self Storage Radio Show — > Listen here

Want to call in and ask me a question? (347) 539-5180

 

Follow on Twitter – #DeclutteredHome

 

Follow Pinterest Board – The Decluttered Home

Want to see all of the great inspiration for today’s show? Follow the Pinterest board for each episode to lend inspiration and ideas

Pinterest —> See pictures here

Can’t wait to talk to you then!

-Ronique

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.

Your pets are an integral part of your family and ensuring your home stays organized is essential.

Image via: Hoechstetter Interiors

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Topic for Jan. 15, 2012 Episode

“Home Organization Tips Every Pet Owner Should Know”

We all love our pets and can’t imagine our home without them. But keeping up with your pet’s accessories, supplies and creating a home you both love can be a challenge. Join us on The Decluttered Home Radio Show as we discuss how to choose pet-friendly furnishings, organize your pet’s home, and create a home everyone will enjoy!

How to Listen In & Call-In!

Tuesday, January 15th at 7:00pm – 7:30pm EST

On The Decluttered Home/Uncle Bob’s Self Storage Radio Show — > Listen here

Want to call in and ask me a question? (347) 539-5180(347) 539-5180

 

Follow Pinterest Board – The Decluttered Home

Want to see all of the great inspiration for today’s show? Follow the Pinterest board for each episode to lend inspiration and ideas

Pinterest —> See pictures here

Can’t wait to talk to you then!

-Ronique

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.

Happy New Year! Are you ready for a more organized home office this season? This Thursday, Jan. 3rd, join me on Uncle Bob’s Storage – The Decluttered Home Radio Show.

In December of 2012 I started to contribute to Uncle Bob’s Storage’s Blog – ‘Get Stor-ganized’ and they have been gracious enough to ask me to host their Blog Talk Radio show – The Declutterd Home! Join me twice a month as I help you get organized and find helpful solutions for your home.

Image via: Pinterest

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I will interview Judson Crowder from Restorganize.com and he will share with us tips for setting up our New Year’s home office, and help you avoid getting frusturated!

Judson Crowder with Restorganize, LLC is a Certified Professional Organizer who specializes in garage, attic and off site storage organization. Judson’s experience includes 9 years managing the storage and set dressing on the popular show Everybody Loves Raymond. Find Judson and more of his organizing tips at www.restorganize.com.

Topic for Jan. 3, 2012 Episode

“Organizing your New Year Home Office”

The New Year is the perfect time to renew your home office and get organized! From paper clutter in your home office to electronic clutter it’s time to start the year off refreshed and organized. Join us as we give you helpful tips to ready your home office for a refreshing New Year, including a special interview with Judson Crowder of Restorganize.com

 

Image via: Pinterest

How to Listen In & Call-In!

Thursday, January 3rd at 11:00am- 11:30am EST

On The Decluttered Home/Uncle Bob’s Self Storage Radio Show — > Listen here

Want to call in and ask me a question? (347) 539-5180(347) 539-5180

 

Follow Pinterest Board –  The Decluttered Home

Want to see all of the great inspiration for today’s show? Follow the Pinterest board for each episode to lend inspiration and ideas

Pinterest  —> See pictures here

Can’t wait to talk to you then!

-Ronique

For more home organization ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

I’m so excited, I recently started contributing to Uncle Bob’s Storage’s Blog – ‘Get Stor-ganized’ and they have been gracious enough to ask me to host their Blog Talk Radio show – The Declutterd Home! I will host a one hour segment each month on helping you stay organized in your home. This will be a great way to get tips for keeping your family and you organized. Whether you live in an apartment, dorm room, house, or thinking about moving.. everyone can use organizational tips.

Image via: Better Homes & Gardens

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Join Ronique for her inaugural radio show with Uncle Bob’s Self Storage as she shares tips on keeping you and your family sane through the holidays.

Image via Examiner

How to Listen In & Call-In!

Thursday, December 6th at 11:00am- 12:00pm EST

On The Decluttered Home/Uncle Bob’s Self Storage Radio Show — > Listen here

Want to call in and ask me a question? (347) 539-5180(347) 539-5180

 

Follow Pinterest Board –  The Decluttered Home

Want to see all of the great inspiration for today’s show? Follow the Pinterest board for each episode to lend inspiration and ideas

Pinterest  —> See pictures here

Can’t wait to talk to you then!

-Ronique

For more storage ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Well the day is finally here! Joanne Mathis from Mathis Interiors Blog Talk Radio and myself have launched our new joint venture – Mathis & Gibson Media! Tomorrow  – September 21st at 11:00amEST is the official Mathis Gibson Media launch party – find more details here, or scroll to the bottom of this post.

Mathis & Gibson Media website

First I want to tell you about our new website located here: MathisGibsonMedia.com it will have all the information on how you can gain exposure on Stagetecture & Mathis Interiors Radio together or separately.

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Inaugural Digital Magazine

To debut Mathis & Gibson Media – we wanted to assure that all the information – who we are, what service we can provide, and exposure opportunities were in a beautiful digital magazine! Take a look below, visit us at Mathis Gibson Media.com for more information and to contact us!

Here’s a direct link to the digital magazine —> Mathis Gibson Media digital magazine.

Mathis & Gibson Media

Mathis & Gibson Media – Launch Party

Join us on Facebook | Twitter – #MathisGibson | Blog Talk Radio

When: Sept. 21, 2012 – 11:00am EST

Twitter: First – Follow me at Stagetecture  and Joanne at Mathis Interiors – then join the party – Hashtag – #MathisGibson

Facebook: Follow Stagetecture & Mathis Interiors

Blog Talk Radio: Mathis & Gibson Launch Party show  – Special surprise guests will drop in. Make sure and listen in while we Tweet & post on Facebook!

It will be so much fun! We will be giving away prizes, talking about how Mathis & Gibson Media will bring you new opportunities: whether you are a brand, enthusiasts, entrepreneur, listener, reader, international lifestyle person wanting to showcase your talents, goods, services, this party will give you details and we will of course CHAT!!

Join Joanne and me tomorrow – Friday, Sept. 21st at 11:00am EST on Facebook, Twitter, and hear us on Blog Talk Radio – talk about a Multi-media event!!!  All at the same time…. CAN’T WAIT!

For the last year I have been saying that I wanted to accomplish a few things:

• Publish a design ebook – 111 Simple Tips for your Everyday Home
• Be on a podcast and Blog Talk Radio – Artistically Speaking and Mathis Interiors Radio
• Create a Media Kit (That I put off for 2 years) – Advertising
• Create a You Tube Channel – Stagetecture You Tube Channel

and the last item on my list:

To reach a broader number of people through multi-media…

I’m excited to announce that I am joint venturing into a new project that will make this possible!

Introducing: Mathis & Gibson Media

I am joining Joanne Mathis from Mathis Interiors Blog Talk Radio show.  We are partnering to launch Mathis & Gibson Media – A multi-media venture to bring my Stagetecture readers and her Blog Talk Radio listeners multiple ways to connect and share creative ventures. Her listeners will be able to reach Stagetecture readers and vice versa. This opens up the opportunities for you to engage with Blog Talk Radio, as well as her guests to bring their creative content to Stagetecture and Stagetecture’s guest bloggers, DIY content and other home lifestyle topics will be featured on Mathis Interiors Radio.

We will be connecting:

* Radio    * Lifestyle Blog    *Video   *Digital Magazine

Find out more next week.. I’ve already let out enough!

On September 21, 2012 at 11:00am we will be officially launching and having a party!

Mathis & Gibson Media Launch Party

Join us on Twitter – Facebook – Blog Talk Radio

When: Sept. 21, 2012 – 11:00am EST

Twitter: First – Follow me at Stagetecture  and Joanne at Mathis Interiors – then join the party – Hashtag – #MathisGibson

Facebook: Follow Stagetecture & Mathis Interiors

Blog Talk Radio: Mathis & Gibson Launch Party show

It will be so much fun! We will be giving away prizes, talking about how Mathis & Gibson Media will bring you new opportunities: whether you are a brand, enthusiasts, entrepreneur, listener, reader, international lifestyle person wanting to showcase your talents, goods, services, this party will give you details and we will of course CHAT!!

Join Joanne and me next Friday, Sept. 21st at 11:00am EST on Facebook, Twitter, and hear us on Blog Talk Radio – talk about a Multi-media event!!!  All at the same time…. CAN’T WAIT!

Wheh hew!