We hope you enjoy this Thanksgiving Holiday - and that it's full of peace and enjoyment!

              Tips for a Calm, Heartfelt Thanksgiving

     Go easy on yourself this year and allow some breathing room to enjoy the holiday.

This Thanksgiving, learn to embrace imperfection for a less stressful and more meaningful holiday. Whether it’s setting a simple table and preparing dishes ahead or finding mindful moments throughout a busy day of cooking and socializing, these ideas should help make your Thanksgiving more relaxed. Now that’s something to be grateful for!

Think of your own top-five favorite things about Thanksgiving and be sure to include them in your celebration.

 Set a simple table (and set it early). If you love pulling out the heirloom china and linens for Thanksgiving, honor your tradition but give yourself enough time to get everything just right without feeling rushed. Doing it the evening before is ideal. And what if you’re not that interested in setting an elaborate table? Give yourself permission to keep it basic. Everyday white dishes, clear glasses (or even jam jars) and cloth napkins let the abundance of the Thanksgiving meal take center stage.

 Prepare as much as possible ahead of time. Lots of traditional Thanksgiving dishes can be prepared the day before, if not earlier. Take advantage of this fact and make a dish or two ahead. Ready-to-serve food in the fridge is like money in the bank. Even if you have only half an hour the day before to devote to prep, you could wash and chop the veggies, saving time (and precious counter space) on Thanksgiving.

 Enjoy a moment to yourself before guests arrive. Remember, when you are relaxed and happy, your guests will be too. So light a fire (or some candles), put on music, get dressed and pour yourself a little glass of wine or cup of tea. Savor the stillness before the storm of cooking, family and friends descends upon your house.

Set up a drinks station outside the kitchen. The living room or a spacious foyer would make the ideal spot for a beverage station — it’s out of the way of the cooking and easy for guests to find as they come in. Keep beer, white wine and bubbly chilled in a cooler, drinks for kids in a bucket of ice, and glassware and other beverages on a tray.

Pick your favorite cooking tasks and accept help for the rest.   Whether you love to bake, make a killer gravy or always do the green beans, claim your preferred dishes and farm out the others. Invite family and friends to contribute something and don’t worry about picking up a few store-bought items to fill in gaps.

These are my favorite ideas,   for more- click on the link below: 

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/56409605?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u2103&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery0