Wow! I can hardly believe it. Thanksgiving is this week for all of us who live in the United States. That officially kicks off the holiday season for me. We will be off to the races preparing for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. My youngest son (with all of the innocence and wisdom of an 8 year old) reminds me that we should celebrate each holiday and not lump them together. He has a beautiful soul and is always reminding me to slow down and enjoy each day. That little guy sure has great advice. I’m working really hard to not take the days for granted. Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season are a great opportunity to hug our loved ones a little more.

This month, I have been sharing tips to help your Juggle your way through the Thanksgiving preparation weeks. You really don’t need to drive yourself and your family crazy as long as you are prepared and “work your plan.” As I write this, we are 3 days to go before Thanksgiving and there are only 3 Thanksgiving tasks to complete for the day.

3 Days Till Thanksgiving

If you have purchased a frozen turkey, you will want to start to defrost it today. There are a variety of ways to defrost a turkey. The easiest way is probably the refrigerator method. Place your frozen turkey in a tray (breast side up) in the refrigerator and allow it to thaw with the packaging on it. Allow 1 day of defrosting for every 4 pounds. Safety is key here so never, never, never thaw your bird on the counter at room temperature. If you don’t have time for defrosting a turkey, you could consider purchasing a fresh turkey.
Today is your last shopping day. Purchase all of your perishable ingredients today and avoid the last minute rush. Take a few minutes to review your list and make sure you really have everything you need. It gets crazy at the grocery store. Let’s avoid that craziness this year!
Clear your refrigerator one more time. You need all of the space that you can get. Eat all of the leftovers and toss any that have been sitting too long.

We are closing in on the big day while we are also still Juggling our busy family schedules. Take it day by day and make sure you use your pockets of time to get everything done. A final thought……Do you remember all of the perfect holidays or….. do you remember all of the days that things didn’t go quite right? As crazy as it sounds, I really do believe that there is a whole lot of fun to be had in the imperfection. Enjoy the day and toss perfection out the window.

Leave me a comment and let me know one of your favorite Thanksgiving stories. What are some of the things you do to avoid the last minute rush?