Another day, another task as we continue preparing for Thanksgiving without overwhelm. If you are just joining our Countdown, here is what we have done already:
- Created a Plan to Grocery Shop
- Created our Soft Menu Plan
- Written a tentative guest list
- Figured out how our guests’ needs affect our plans
- Cleared the table
- Set the intention to keep it clear.
- How is that going?
- Made a point to try to stick to the weekly chore schedule
Less than a week in, and you can see how we’ve already removed a lot of the stress by breaking this event into manageable steps.
Today’s task: Place Settings
Today, count the total number of possible people you could serve and determine if you have enough place settings.
Will you be using your grandmother’s china? Is it all present and accounted for?
What beverages will you serve? Do you have enough glassware? Coffee cups, tumblers, and stemware (stemless, which is also nice).
Will you be serving a formal meal? How formal?
Do you need a formal setting with multiple forks? Do you have that cutlery? When was the last time you looked at it?
Does it need polishing?
Will you be having a casual dinner?
Do you have children who help with washing dishes, at times unsupervised? If so, do not assume that all of your dishes are present and accounted for. This is a mistake.
If you have teenagers, please count your forks and spoons. Just because no one is supposed to eat in their rooms does not mean that forks and spoons have not gone missing. These things are better to find out ahead of time than when it is time to serve the pumpkin pie and you have to send someone to the kitchen to wash forks.
Disposable works, too.
Single-use items are absolutely an option, especially if your Thanksgiving dinner is an outdoor affair. Go ahead and add those items to your shopping list now.
Do not forget the cutlery and drinkware, and ensure there is enough for dessert. Insulated cups may be needed if you will be serving hot beverages in addition to iced ones.
What about decor?
Do you use a special tablecloth or runner for Thanksgiving?
Do you know where it is? Is it clean?
Do you use special placemats or cloth napkins in your place settings? Do you have enough?
If so, now would be a good time to clean those and set them aside.
Will you have a centerpiece? Do you need to order anything for it or add anything to your shopping list?
Candlesticks? If you use them, do you know where they are? Do you need new candles?
Finally, since we are thinking about the table, how is it looking?
