Category: Thanksgiving

Fun Thanksgiving Traditions to Start this Year

Are you thinking ahead to Thanksgiving? Do you want to start a new tradition this year with your family and friends? If you are searching for inspiration, consider the following fun Thanksgiving traditions to start this year.

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  1. Gratitude Jar: Have each person who is attending Thanksgiving write down things they are thankful for on slips of paper. Place all the notes in a gratitude jar. Pick a person to read them aloud during Thanksgiving dinner.
  2. Turkey Trot: Participate in or organize a “Turkey Trot” or a fun run on Thanksgiving morning. The early morning activity is a great way to stay active before the big meal.
  3. Thanksgiving Crafts: Set up a crafting station. Use a corner table and place crafting supplies for making Thanksgiving-themed decorations, place cards, or handprint turkeys with the kids. Not only is this a fun activity but young children focus on the crafts while you concentrate on the meal.
  4. Recipe Swap: Do you have mostly adults attending your Thanksgiving meal this year? Ask each family member or friend to bring a dish from a different culture, creating a diverse Thanksgiving meal. Also, ask each family person to bring the recipe to share with others.
  5. Football Game: Play touch or flag football in the backyard. If the weather is too cold,  watch a football game together.
  6. Thanksgiving Movie Marathon: Choose some classic Thanksgiving-themed movies or family favorites. Thanksgiving weekend is a great time to start watching holiday classics. A movie marathon is the best way to relax after a big meal.
  7. Volunteer: Give back to the community by volunteering at a local shelter or food bank to help those in need. The experience is uplifting.
  8. Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt: Create a Thanksgiving-themed scavenger hunt around your home or backyard with clues and riddles. Place small trinkets as treasures. Children and those young at heart love searching for goodies.
  9. Gratitude Tree: Create a “gratitude tree” by placing a branch in a vase. Cut out paper leaves and attach strings on the end. Ask guests to write on the paper leaves. Write things you are thankful for or what you like most about this Thanksgiving.
  10. Thanksgiving Parade: Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV. Or, if available, consider attending a local Thanksgiving parade. Being outdoors is a great way to start your Thanksgiving holiday. Many Thanksgiving parades end with a visit from Santa Claus.
  11. Family Photo Session: Take lots of photos. Capture your day with candid photos. Ask for group photos too. Organize a photo booth with props for fun pictures.
  12. Board Games: Play board games or card games together after the meal. Even set up games at the kid’s table.

Choose the traditions that best suit your interests. Make Thanksgiving a memorable and enjoyable day for everyone. Happy Thanksgiving!

7 Tips to Avoid Holiday Burnout

Many people believe November is the start of the holiday season. In the United States, Thanksgiving is November 23, 2023. Holiday decorations are already on full display. The days march toward Christmas and the new year. All the hustle and bustle of the holiday season can be overwhelming. If you are searching for tips to avoid holiday burnout, consider the following ideas.

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  1. Plan: Purchase a spiral notebook for to-do lists. Add important dates. Organize your holiday schedule in advance to minimize last-minute stress.
  2. Set Realistic Expectations: Remember you do not have to do everything. Do not overcommit to activities or events. Prioritize what’s most important to you. If you do not want to attend an event, it is okay to say no. Send your apologies in a note or simply decline the invitation.
  3. Practice Self-Care: Make time for yourself. Your well-being is critical. Try meditation or simply make time to relax. Get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise regularly to stay physically and mentally resilient.
  4. Delegate: If you are hosting a holiday party, dinner, or other type of gathering, delegate. Share your responsibilities with family and friends to ease the workload. Remember you do not have to do everything yourself.
  5. Set a Budget: Sit down, drink a cup of hot tea, and create a budget for the holiday season. Write out gift ideas, menu, and other expenses. Stick to your budget to avoid financial stress during the holidays.
  6. Limit Social Media Use: Unplug and enjoy the moment. Limit your social media usage. Avoid the comparison trap and unrealistic holiday expectations often found on social media. Trying to keep up with others may lead to stress and extra expenses. Concentrate on your holiday season.
  7. Seek Support: Do not be afraid to ask for help. Reach out to friends, family, or a therapist if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Remember, the holidays are a time for enjoyment and relaxation, so prioritize your well-being and what makes you happy. Have a fantastic holiday season.

Recreating the First Thanksgiving Meal

Do you want to reenact the first Thanksgiving as part of your family’s celebration? In 1621, the first Thanksgiving was a meal shared by the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoag people. The exact menu and specific foods served at the first Thanksgiving are not fully recorded. However, historical accounts and records provide enough data to give an idea of what might have been on the Thanksgiving table.

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The Pilgrims likely had a variety of foods that were common to the region at that time. If you want to replicate the first Thanksgiving meal, consider the following ideas.

  1. Wild Game: Venison, waterfowl (such as ducks and geese), and possibly wild turkey were likely part of the original Thanksgiving feast. Consider visiting specialty butcher shops to find these types of meat.
  2. Seafood: Fish, shellfish, and other seafood would have been available since Plymouth Colony was situated near the ocean. Skip the turkey or wild game and serve fish for your Thanksgiving meal/
  3. Corn: Corn was a staple of the Native American diet and played a significant role in the meal. Offer corn on the cob at your dinner reenactment.
  4. Wild Plants and Berries: Various wild plants, nuts, and berries that were foraged from the local area. Serve berries as part of a dessert or appetizer to incorporate into your feast.
  5. Vegetables: Yes, it is possible that they had vegetables like squash, pumpkin, and other native vegetables as part of the first Thanksgiving dinner. Serving these types of vegetables would be an excellent option for your meal.
  6. Fruits: Native fruits might have been included in the first Thanksgiving feast. Cranberries, a tasty small fruit, are native to the area. Adding cranberries to your dinner table is another option for your reenactment meal.

Keep in mind that the specific foods and preparation methods could have varied based on the time of year, local availability, and culinary practices of both the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people.

The modern interpretation of a Thanksgiving feast, with dishes like roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie, has evolved over centuries and was influenced by later Thanksgiving celebrations and culinary traditions. Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy!

Journal Writing Prompts for November 2023

Are you ready for November? A new month brings new opportunities to write in your journal. If you are searching for inspiration, check out the following journal writing prompts for November.

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  1. How did October go for you, your family, your friends, and your community? List the highs and lows of the month.
  2. What are your goals for November? Make a list.
  3. What are your goals for the rest of 2023?
  4. What don’t your share with others about your life?
  5. Day Savings Time! Turn your clocks back. Does the time change affect you?
  6. Free write.
  7. Election Day! How did the voting process go for you today? Describe your experience. Write about who you picked for candidates.
  8. What change would you like to see in your life? What steps can you take to achieve these goals?
  9. 5 words to describe your day. Why did you pick these words?
  10. What are 3 core beliefs or principles that guide your life right now? Why are these important to you?
  11. Veteran’s Day! Write about the veterans in your family.
  12. Write a review of your favorite restaurant.
  13. Is life what you imagined as a child? Teen? Adult?
  14. How do you like to spend a rainy or snowy day?
  15. What is one small change you would like to make to your life right now? Why?
  16. What is one big change you would like to make to your life right now? Why?
  17. What is your favorite song right now? Why?
  18. If you could meet anyone, who would you pick? Why?
  19. Who is the one person you can always count on? Describe this person.
  20. Are you happy with your current job? What would you like to change? What steps do you need to take to achieve this goal?
  21. What were you doing at 10am? Go into detail.
  22. What are your plans for Thanksgiving?
  23. Happy Thanksgiving! How did your day go? List your highlights.
  24. Are you ready for the Christmas season? Have you started your shopping? Why or why not?
  25. Look out a window. Describe what you see.
  26. How has the weather changed since the beginning of the month?
  27. How would you describe happiness? Are you happy?
  28. What is one thing you can do to improve your health?
  29. Name one positive thing about your day.
  30. List your favorite memories of November.

Have an excellent month! Keep writing!

Photo Prompts for November

November is almost here. Are you ready for a new month? Do you want to do more with your photography? Or perhaps, you are just getting into the fun and rewarding hobby of photography. In either case, grab your camera and have fun. If you are searching for inspiration, consider the following photo prompts for November.

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  1. November Selfie
  2. Photo of a Stranger
  3. Shapes
  4. Signs
  5. Time
  6. Something new
  7. Something old
  8. Wild
  9. Rest
  10. Path
  11. Veteran
  12. Travel
  13. Different
  14. 3 of a kind
  15. Grateful
  16. Pattern
  17. Rule of Thirds
  18. Mood
  19. Cozy
  20. Thankful
  21. Family
  22. Tradition
  23. Thanksgiving
  24. Upside Down
  25. Soft
  26. Corner
  27. Close Up
  28. Movement
  29. Architecture
  30. Photographer’s Choice

Have a fantastic month!

Hashtags for November 2023

November is almost here! Are you ready for a new month? Do you plan to post to your social media platforms? Using the right hashtags is the best way to draw attention to your posts. If you are searching for inspiration, check out the following hashtags for November.

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  1. #November
  2. #November2023
  3. #WelcomeNovember
  4. #GoodbyeOctober
  5. #HappyNovember
  6. #11thMonth
  7. #11thMonth2023
  8. #HelloNovember
  9. #November1st
  10. #NovemberSunrise
  11. #NovemberSunset
  12. #NovemberGoals
  13. #November Love
  14. #NovemberBaby
  15. #NovemberBride
  16. #NovemberWedding
  17. #NovemberMood
  18. #NovemberVibes
  19. #NovemberWeather
  20. #NovemberRain
  21. #FirstSnow
  22. #DayLightSavingsTime
  23. #VeteransDay
  24. #Thanksgiving
  25. #NovemberBirthday
  26. #Love
  27. #Family
  28. #Friends
  29. #Friendsgiving
  30. #PhotoOfTheDay
  31. #PicOfTheDay
  32. #ShopSmall
  33. #BlackFriday
  34. #BringOnChristmas

Have a fantastic month!

Last-Minute Thanksgiving Meal Ideas

Did you decide to host a last-minute Thanksgiving dinner? The holiday is only a couple days away. Are you now in panic mode? Don’t worry! Take a deep breath! And start planning now.  

One of the best parts of the Thanksgiving holiday is the food. Planning your meal should be your top priority. How are you going to serve your Thanksgiving meal? Check out the following for last-minute Thanksgiving meal ideas.

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  • Traditional Meal: Bake a large family-style meal. Involving your family or friends in the cooking or baking process creates a memorable experience. Don’t forget dessert.
  • Buffet Style Meal: Spread all the delicious Thanksgiving dishes out on a table or counter. Then, invite your guests to help themselves. The buffet style is great for smaller spaces. Your guests can serve themselves and then find a place to sit.
  • Potluck Style: Purchasing all the fixings for Thanksgiving can come with a high price tag. Asking your guests to bring a dish to pass is a great way to celebrate and cut expenses. The variety of dishes is a tasty experience.  
  • Pre-ordered Meal: Order your meal from a local restaurant or food establishment. Pre-ordered meals come with different options. Simply order the best meal choice for your family’s Thanksgiving. Heat and serve your meal for a quick and easy Thanksgiving.
  • Picnic: If you live in a warmer area, take your Thanksgiving meal outdoors. Eating outside is a fun option.
  • Indoor Picnic: Is your Thanksgiving going to be a casual affair with only a few people? Turn your meal into an indoor picnic
  • Candlelight Meal: Light scented candles or use flameless ones to add a special atmosphere to your Thanksgiving dinner table.

Your Thanksgiving meal may not go as you imagined. But take a step back and enjoy your day with family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving!

Last-Minute Thanksgiving Decorations Ideas

Are you ready for the Thanksgiving weekend? The upcoming holiday includes large family gatherings, traveling, and community events. Or you could be opting to stay close to home. Whether you are gathering with family or friends, check out the following last-minute Thanksgiving ideas to make your holiday more memorable.

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Please note: “As an Amazon affiliate, I earn income from qualifying purchases.”

Start Your Thanksgiving Decorating Now

Thanksgiving is only a couple days away. Consider simple last-minute decorating to make your home more festive.  

  • Paper Placemats: Creating paper placements is a fun activity for little ones. Use large pieces of construction paper to draw, paint, or color Thanksgiving designs. If you want to save your creation as a keepsake, laminate the final product. (Don’t have a laminator? You can still save your project with clear contact paper).
  • Place Cards: Fold notecards in half and decorate. Add a name, stickers, or other designs to your place cards. Creating place cards is another fun activity for children. Younger children may need help with writing out the names.
  • Thanksgiving Banner: Create a Thanksgiving banner out of construction paper or use a poster board. Write out Happy Thanksgiving. Asking all your guests to sign your banner is a great way to create a lasting keepsake.
  • Thanksgiving Centerpiece: Create a cornucopia or other type of Thanksgiving centerpiece for your table. A wicker basket with fall-themed flowers, gourds, or other nature items is a perfect budget-friendly centerpiece.
  • Flowers: Fill your favorite vases with fresh flowers. Or make small decorations with fake flowers. Bright yellow and orange flowers add a touch of color to your table setting.
  • Additional Table Embellishments: Gourds, miniature pumpkins, turkey figurines, and other small items create the perfect Thanksgiving table decorations.  
  • Tree of Thanks: Use a small branch or paint a tree on a piece of poster board. Cut out leaf shapes from different colors of construction paper. On each leaf, write down a reason why you are grateful. Give a pre-cut leaf to each of your guests. Soon, your tree of thanks will be full of colorful leaves.

Even the simplest decorations enhance your Thanksgiving atmosphere. Have fun with the creation process. If you do not have supplies on hand, check out your local dollar store for materials at a low cost.

Happy Thanksgiving!

29 Family-Friendly Shows for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving brings lots of food and family to your home. Are you looking to incorporate movie night with your Thanksgiving holiday celebration? If you are searching for ideas, check out the following family-friendly shows for Thanksgiving.  

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  1. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)
  2. The Care Bears’ Grams Bear’s Thanksgiving Surprise (1986)
  3. Garfield’s Thanksgiving (1989)
  4. An Arthur Thanksgiving (2020)
  5. Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow (2015)
  6. Rugrats: The Turkey Who Came to Dinner (1997)
  7. The Thanksgiving Promise
  8. Paw Patrol: Pups Rescue Thanksgiving/Pups Save a Windy Bay (Season 5, Episode 19) (2018)
  9. Animaniacs: Turkey Jerky (1993)
  10. The Thanksgiving Movie
  11. Waffles + Mochi (2021)
  12. Llama Llama: “Thanks-For-Giving-Story/Finding Dion” (Season 2, Episode 9)
  13. Trolls the Beat Goes On: Funsgiving (2019)
  14. A Walton Family Thanksgiving Reunion
  15. Turkey Town: A Thanksgiving Party (2018)
  16. Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Thanksgiving Parade (2000)
  17. A Sesame Street Thanksgiving (2017)
  18. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Alvin’s Thanksgiving Celebration (2008)
  19. Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving (1999)
  20. Pete the Cat Room at the Table & Founders Day
  21. Free Birds (2013)
  22. Blue’s Clues: “Thankful” (Season 3, Episode 29) (1999)
  23. Sister, Sister: Thanksgiving in Hawaii (1995)
  24. A Looney Tunes Thanksgiving (1979)
  25. Addams Family Values
  26. The Addams Family (2019)
  27. Beethoven (1993)
  28. The Thanksgiving Treasure
  29. Family Thanksgiving

Of course, you can always start watching Christmas favorites over the Thanksgiving weekend. Miracle on 34th Street, Polar Express, and A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving!

27 Journal Writing Prompts for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Are you ready for the holiday festivities? Do you want to add Thanksgiving-themed entries to your journal? If you are searching for inspiration, check out the following journal prompts for Thanksgiving.

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  1. Create a gratitude list for Thanksgiving. Try to reach a minimum of 10.
  2. Did you list people on your gratitude list? How do you show you are grateful to have those people in your life? Could you do more to thank them? If so, what would you do?
  3. What are your plans for Thanksgiving? Are you hosting a Thanksgiving? Or traveling? Describe your plans in detail.
  4. Are your plans your normal Thanksgiving tradition? Or are you doing something different this year? What is the same or different for Thanksgiving 2022?
  5. If you are hosting, do you plan to cook the entire meal? Or do others help you?  
  6. Is there a special dish or recipe you serve yearly at Thanksgiving? Why is the recipe so special?
  7. What is a traditional Thanksgiving dish that will not be on your dinner table this year? Why?
  8. Who are you planning to invite to your Thanksgiving meal? Are you having extended family over? Or friends?
  9. What new Thanksgiving tradition do you plan to start this year?
  10. Why are Thanksgiving traditions important to you and your family?
  11. If you could invite anyone to Thanksgiving, who would be at your dinner table? Why do wish this person could attend?
  12. Growing up, did your family host big Thanksgiving dinners? Describe a typical Thanksgiving from your childhood?
  13. What was the best part of your childhood Thanksgivings? Why?
  14. Do you still incorporate traditions or activities from your childhood into your own Thanksgiving plans? What are they? Do you change them at all?
  15. Describe earliest memory of Thanksgiving?
  16. Are you planning to participate in Black Friday shopping the day after Thanksgiving? Why or why not?
  17. What was your favorite Thanksgiving ever? Why?
  18. Are you married, engaged, living with a person? Write about your first Thanksgiving as a couple.
  19. Write about your first Thanksgiving as a family. (Yes, your dog counts as family)
  20. Have you ever been to restaurant on Thanksgiving? Describe your experience. Would you go again? Why or why not?
  21. Did you ever march or attend a Thanksgiving parade? If you marched, write about your experience. Were you in the band or did you ride a float? If you attended, what was the best part about being a spectator?
  22. Describe how your kitchen smells, sounds, or feels when cooking or baking on Thanksgiving?
  23. If you were talking to someone from another country, how would you describe your Thanksgiving celebrations?
  24. Do you watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade on television? What is your favorite part? Why?
  25. Do you believe Thanksgiving should receive more recognition as a holiday? Why or why not?
  26. After Thanksgiving, write about how your day went? Did everything go according to plan?
  27. What was the best part about your Thanksgiving 2022?

Happy Thanksgiving! Keep writing!