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An Event Organizer's Guide to Preparing for Thanksgiving | ACE Events + Home

10/26/2020

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Thanksgiving might look different this year because of the pandemic, but we're firm believers in making celebrations special regardless of guest count. 
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Already, we've seen the articles circulating letting people know how to have a more low-key Thanksgiving holiday since they won't be socializing or hosting anyone outside of their household. 
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There is a certain kind of bliss to sweatpants, but we'd like to make an argument against this mentality. Low-key doesn't mean minimal effort, it means scaling back.

A celebration is still a celebration, regardless of guest count. 

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You'd be surprised how often we need to remind our clients of that, particularly those getting married. Sometimes, couples get caught up in what their guests expect of them based on trends rather than what they'd actually enjoy. 

"I know we like cupcakes, but would people rather have cake served?"

"We don't ever use a photo booth at other weddings, but all of our friends like them."

If you like cupcakes, serve cupcakes. If your guests don't like cupcakes, they don't need to eat them. It's isn't their wedding. Their job that day isn't to be impressed by you, it's to celebrate you. 


Thanksgiving and a wedding are different, but the idea remains the same in the example I've given: Don't let outside forces dictate your decision-making or influence what would make you happy. 

Thanksgiving 2020 is going to look different in many ways. That doesn't mean it needs to take on a less exciting tone.  We'd love to surround ourselves with loved ones, but many of us can't this year. What we can control? Enjoying the other parts of the festivities that we look forward to all year. 

In our home, we're celebrating by making our favorite foods, spiffing up the house, and practicing a heck of a lot of gratitude.

Below, you'll find our preparation plan and tips on how to make a simplified celebration feel like a celebration no matter how many are in your household. 
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Yes, preparations begin this week. 
  • Make a decision about who will be invited to your Thanksgiving meal. It's crazy that we're in a position to consider if celebrating with extended family is too risky, but that's the reality of where we are right now. You must do what feels comfortable for you and what's safest for loved ones. 
  • Order a turkey. Consider checking-in with your local restaurants... many are offering turkey's as part of their Thanksgiving to-go menu and could use your support.
  • Place a floral order. Speaking of support, consider purchasing a floral centerpiece from a local florist this season. ​

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It's all in the details, and this year they're for you.
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  • Decide on a menu. ​Is there a dish you've always wanted to try, but would have been a nightmare to make and serve to fifteen people? Now is your chance! 
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  • Delegate. There might be less to make, but the responsibility doesn't need to fall on you alone. Have a burgeoning baker in the house? Boom, dessert duty. A hesitant sous chef? Trust me, no pre-teen boy will pass up the opportunity to announce he's cutting the cheese (#appetizerduty). 
  • ​Make grocery lists. ​Yep, that's plural. Make a perishable and non-perishable shopping list. 
  • In the past, if you were having houseguests, this is when I'd tell you to start prepping the guest room. If someone from your quarantine circle is planning to stay with you for the holiday, keep this one on your list.
  • Make and freeze dough for dinner rolls. The portions might be smaller, but anything you can prep and freeze in advance is still a win. ​​
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  • Start cleaning. This is the part where you might be laughing at me, rolling your eyes. But you deserve to celebrate in a freshly-cleaned home too. ​​
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  1. Clean the windows. If you're going to gaze longingly out at the world it might as well be through clear glass, yes?
  2. Sweep and wipe the baseboards. And delegate one child to casually mention how lovely they look on Thanksgiving morning. 
  3. Wash bedding. Especially if you are having houseguests. 
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  • Schedule your shopping trips. ​You might want to break them into trips for non-perishable and perishable items. Don't forget to bring along the lists you made!
  • ​Keep cleaning.
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  1. Give the bathrooms a deep-clean. We're talking soap-scum, grout, the dusty vent... all of it.
  2. Declutter the bedrooms. Especially the guest room if you're hosting houseguests.
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  • Decorate. If you have Thanksgiving-specific decorations, get them out! And if Halloween is still up (#NoJudgement), take it down. 
  • Keep cleaning.
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  1. Straighten the coat closet. Even if you aren't making room for guest's coats, give this closet a spruce-up so it doesn't give you anxiety every time you open the door. Don't have the time but could still use the help? Connect with us! 
  2. Give extra attention to area rugs.  Remember that when vacuuming a shag rug, it should be flipped over so as not to ruin it - run the vacuum along the bottom where the beater bars (the hard plastic-feeling stuff) are. 
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  • Stock your bar. Give non-alcoholic beverages thought too - a kid-friendly signature drink or punch will add a festive touch to the holiday! Did you know you can make a big-batch beverage and freeze it flat in sealed bags? 
  • Clean the kitchen.
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  1. Clean the stovetop, surfaces, and grates.
  2. ​Clean out the refrigerator to make space for your holiday grocery haul. Before refilling the fridge, wipe the shelves.
  3. Wipe appliances that are sitting out. If you're feeling ambitious, you can also wipe those in drawers and cabinets.
  4. Wipe the cabinet exteriors and any backsplash. You'd be surprised how much grease clings to these. And for the love of COVID-19, really disinfect those handles and pulls. 
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  • Prepare seating arrangements. If you're having guests, assigning seats helps with the awkward stumbling. Even if you're not hosting guests, assign your family to seats that they don't normally sit - the change will keep the meal from feeling like another weeknight dinner.
  • Clean china, if applicable. 
  • Make the dough for the pie crusts and freeze. You can freeze the dough in pie plates if you want to save yourself a step later.
  • Move the turkey to the refrigerator to thaw. Depending on the size of your turkey, this might need to happen earlier. ​​
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  • Shop for perishable items if you haven't already.
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  • Make and freeze pumpkin or pecan pie's, if you wish to handle this early.
  • Make gravy. ​After it cools, transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate. 
  • Pick up your floral order. 
  • Make cranberry sauce. After it cools, transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate.​
  • Consolidate recipes. Make sure you've got all of the recipes you need and all of the ingredients. 
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  1. Dust ceiling fans and surfaces. As the weather changes and the heat comes on, the rotation of the ceiling fan changes in our house - if you don't know about this, look into it. To keep dust from flying around when you do this, get rid of the dust. You're welcome. 
  2. Give the kitchen sink a good scrub. Feel free to scrub the bathroom sinks while you're at it. 
  3. ​Sweep the entry. 
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  • Brine the turkey, if applicable.
  • Dry stuffing bread(s). 
  • Chop vegetables for recipes. ​Most vegetables can be stored in sealed bags or containers in the refrigerator overnight. 
  • Bake pies, if you haven't already. Pumpkin is a custard pie, so it goes in the fridge. Pecan can stay out, covered, at room temperature. 
  • Last big cleaning day.
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  1. Thoroughly clean the bathroom one more time. Since you gave it a deep-clean earlier, it should really just be minor maintenance now.
  2. Sweep and vacuum. 
  3. Mop the kitchen floor. 

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Stay tuned! We'll be releasing our day-of cooking timeline with recommended menu. 
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Stop Avoiding the Laundry | ACE Home

10/26/2020

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Laundry isn't an exciting chore and is easy to procrastinate, quickly becoming overwhelming. I've outlined an easy-to-follow laundry system, below.
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So easy that everybody in your house can handle it on their own... dirty clothing goes into the hamper and wet towels get hung. 
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In my home, there's only two of us, and the laundry doesn't take especially long to get done. But, like you, I wasn't a big fan of prioritizing the laundry and so I'd pull it from the dryer and let it accumulate on the guest bed. No longer, friends. You're not doing anybody any favors, yourself included. 

Twice weekly, starting in the morning, get that laundry done start to finish. And when I say finish, I mean hung in closets and folded in drawers. Trust me, it'll feel so good to have it out of sight. 

In our house, we also wash the towels twice a week, specifically on Wednesdays and Saturdays (Saturdays are also sheet/pillowcase-washing days!). By choosing specific days of the week not only helps you remember to get it done, but it's fresh in other people's minds too: my husband often throws the towels in for me in Wednesday and Saturday mornings because he knows the drill! 

As the sister of a firefighter, I feel irresponsible not reminding you to empty your lint trap between loads of laundry. 
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If you're someone who purchases laundering supplies at the grocery store, take a peek at your inventory before you leave so you can add it to the list. There's nothing worse than getting surprised by an empty detergent bottle after you've already poured clothes into the drum of the washer - I know you know what I'm talking about. 

In our home, we use plant-based products which can be diluted and last us a few months at a time so we assess our supplies on a monthly basis. Adjust your schedule to what you use and how often! The point is not to leave the house for shopping or going online to order without checking your supplies first. 
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Another big part of preparedness is knowing in advance what you might need ready-to-wear. Nothing is worse than rummaging through your closet for a dress at the last-minute that hasn't been washed or remembering someone borrowed a favorite blouse- again, I know you've been there too. 

With the pandemic still rampant, it's unlikely your social calendar is as filled as usual this time of the year; however, making a calendar check part of your regular routine will only help get you into the habit of mentally and physically preparing your wardrobe for any upcoming events. 

Some other items you should be focused on washing monthly?
  • Bath mats
  • Pillows
  • Fabric shower curtains
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Personally, I rotate my clothes seasonally because our closet's aren't particularly large and I like to see everything. If this is you, add clothing rotation to your list.

Every member of your family should be paring their closet down seasonally, even if the items are there year-round: if it's outgrown or worn out, donate or toss it. If the item is one that gets a lot of use but no longer serves the individual, put it on a list of products to replace (and then purchase it!). Most stores offer seasonal holiday sales, so I always recommend aligning your list-building with upcoming holiday's and store promotions. 

It's also a good idea to wash your comforters seasonally. We often take ours to the local laundromat to do this because they have larger washers and dryers that make it  easier. 

Don't forget to clean your dryer's lint trap and vent! 

If going through your family's closets feels like an unthinkable task, consider hiring ACE Home! As we ease into the season of giving, it's the perfect time to address that seasonal task of paring down and donating. 
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