The secret to a really happy Thanksgiving Dinner is serving the classics that your family loves and looks forward to. With your menu planned and lists prepared, you should be organized and on your way to entertaining your guests. I’m looking forward to having our family and friends around the table and a wonderful weekend!

Two days before:

- Defrost your turkey and get all the fresh and perishable ingredients you need at your local market. If you are organized, this should be your last trip to the store
- Prepare a cooking and baking chart of what needs to go in the oven and at what time. This really keeps me stress-free on Thanksgiving Day
-  Organize all your cooking materials; including roasting pans, twine, gravy separator, baster, turkey lifters and thermometers

If you are having out of town guests, be sure the guest room and bathroom are in order. I include a luggage rack, extra hangers, a blow dryer, iron and ironing board and for a final touch, I always place a bottled water on the nightstands

One Day Before:

-Bake pies and desserts
-Peel potatoes
-Clean Turkey- prepare to roast and refrigerate
-Prepare stuffing, vegetables, casserole dishes and cranberry sauce
-Set your table, arrange your flowers, arrange place cards, put candles in holders and also place them around the house or in bathrooms. Don’t forget the guest towels!
-Prepare hors d’oeuvres and cold appetizer platters
-Make salad dressing, wash lettuce and store
-Organize your serving bowls & platters, forks, spoons, gravy boat and any other ‘special’ items you use for the holidays. I mark my serving pieces with post-it notes with what I am serving on each dish

This is also a good time to set out butter, salt and pepper and the water pitcher. Be sure that champagne, white wine, bottled water and soda are in the refrigerator or on ice.

The Morning of Thanksgiving:

-If you are serving breakfast, make it an easy one in preparation and cleaning
-Stuff the turkey and put in the oven while you prepare any last minute recipes
-Have all your cooking utensils in order and in reach of the stove and oven
-Keep your list posted to the oven or near the stove top and refer to it often
-Delegate tasks or ask your family to pitch in! Everyone should be able to get their own rooms in order and beds made for your final ‘walk-through’
-Set out cocktail napkins, appetizer forks, spreaders, small plates, cocktail, champagne & wine glasses and any fruits or mixers you might need. The ice bucket should be filled about 15 minutes before your guests arrive
-Forty-five minutes prior to your guests arriving is a good time to set out cold or room temperature hors d’oeuvres
-Twenty to thirty minutes prior put appetizers and hot hors d’oeuvres in the oven. Have serving plates, spreaders and garnishes ready

The Final Touches:

-Turn on the music
-Light the candles
-Take a few minutes for yourself and family to relax
-Greet your guests, serve dinner and give thanks!

I hope these tips help make your Thanksgiving Day everything you desire it to be.

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

Photos from MarthaStewart.com

As you know, I love entertaining for any holiday, but when it comes to Thanksgiving, I definitely show my passion. I was really in the mood for a fall harvest setting on the dinner table this year and found the perfect plan. While in flight last month, I was scouring the November issue of Martha Stewart Living (as I usually do each month) – and there it was! A Harvest Table filled with wonderful splashes of color and warmth created with fresh fruits, dried gourds and whole walnuts filling the table. Dried and hollowed gourds are transformed into tableware and piled high with pears and walnuts.  They are also used as votive holders and even small salt and pepper servers. The napkin rings are made of grapevine wreaths and tied with simple velvet ribbon.

The finishing touch…that I absolutely adore…includes a very perfect Pear Place Card. They are simple to assemble and will complete the look that I’m after for this year.

Whether you are planning a feast for a crowd or something more intimate, get inspired by those natural elements around you this year.  Festive fall leaves, your personal style and all their favorite things on the table are really what your guests look forward to the most!

For these and other wonderful table setting ideas, visit www.marthastewart.com/thanksgiving.

Happy Organizing!

Mrs. O

Two Weeks Before:

• Confirm your guest list.
• Order your turkey if it will be fresh or purchase a frozen turkey at your local market.
• Complete your plans for appetizers, side dishes and desserts on your menu.
• Prepare your final shopping list.
• Take inventory of the dinner table and other supplies that you might need to take out of the storage area and clean, borrow or rent. These include: tables, chairs, dinnerware, glassware, flatware and linens. If you will rent tablecloths and napkins, be sure to place your order this week.
• Decide on flowers, placecards, candles and other items that will make your table festive.
• Be sure that your kitchen is complete with “Thanksgiving Cook’s Tools and Must-Have’s.” Think about any items that were missed or that need to be replaced from last year.
• Make sure you see my “Recipe for the Perfect Thanksgiving” located on the top right hand corner of my blog page.  This “recipe” includes all the Cooking, Baking, and Tabletop Ingredients you’ll need for a successful day!

• What’s for dessert? If you are planning something other than pumpkin or apple pie (2 of my favorites!), do you have the right serving pieces ready?

• When you entertain for a large number of guests, think about a garment rack for coats and a boot tray to keep those wet shoes and boots where they belong. You’ll also need extra guest towels in the restrooms. I like to add fresh flowers and candles, too.

One Week Before:

• Wash and iron or dry clean linens (make sure to give yourself time to pick up from the cleaners).
• Polish the silver.
• Shop for anything non-perishable (a good time to shop for Costco items).
• Schedule a day for cleaning.
• If you are having out of town guests, get the guest room ready and don’t forget luggage racks, bathroom accessories and extra hangers.
• Prepare bathrooms with hand towels and fresh flowers.

We’d love for you to post a comment with some of your Thanksgiving tips and ideas.  Let’s hear it!

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

As with any entertaining or party planning, the preparation time should be organized and done in advance in order to enjoy the event itself. With the right plan and checklists, you will be able to enjoy your guests and join in the holiday celebration and have fun.

It’s important to go back to basics this year and keep it simple. Delegate or graciously accept offers for guests to bring their favorite or specialty recipe. Whatever you decide your menu to be, the warmth of your home, good food, wine and conversation will give everyone something to be thankful for.

Plan a family game this year as you enjoy each other over dessert. Sharing memories of past Thanksgiving dinners, funny stories about a “famous” relative, or finding out just how much everyone knows (or doesn’t know!) about the story of Thanksgiving can be great fun.

Being organized will help you to prepare and plan for a stress free holiday. To get you started, we’ve put together some of my tips to keep you on track along the way. Also check out this wonderful recipe from Martha Stewart for a Perfect Roasted Turkey with a chestnut stuffing. Maybe I’ll shake things up a bit this year and try a new one!

3 Weeks Before
Confirm your guest list and choose the recipes you want to make.  Keep in mind the space you have in your refrigerator and oven when planning your menu. Once you have prepared your menu, you can decide what can be made ahead of time. Start a list of what you need to accomplish on each of the days leading up to Thanksgiving and be sure that you have all the right cook’s tools. We’ve put together a list that’s got you covered!

Happy Organizing!

Mrs. O

Carving a Pumpkin: Use the right tools. A long serrated knife or a Jack-O-Lantern pumpkin-carving knife with teeth is the best tool for carving the thick flesh of a pumpkin. If you are marking your pumpkin or using stencils, use a sawing motion and take your time for the best results. Cut the top at an angle, rather than straight down. This will stop the lid from falling straight in. While holding the pumpkin like a bowl in your arms, scoop out the seeds and pulp with a large spoon. This will give you the most leverage to scoop. For a simple face, draw eyes, a nose and mouth on a clean pumpkin. A felt tip pen works great. Cut out your features and push through from the inside out. Carve a small indentation in the bottom of the pumpkin to hold a candle. When you are happy with  your pumpkin, add a votive candle to create a spooky Jack-O-Lantern.

Also be sure to see one of my Halloween favorites for fall baking. I love this Pumpkin Patch Muffin Pan from Nordicware. They are simple to make, fun to decorate and serve!

Happy Organizing!

Mrs. O

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving time-saving tip, savvy shortcut or traditional family recipe? Share it with us here and we’ll try to feature it in our Thanksgiving NEAT Idea Guide. It starts November 1st…so hurry!

Happy Organizing!

Mrs. O

Join us this Wednesday as we sitewarm the virtual walk site from 9 to 10 p.m. EDT on Twitter using the hashtag #galtogalwalk. For those new to Twitter parties, we suggest you go to http://tweetchat.com/ and put in the #galtogalwalk tag.

Please keep an eye on the following Twitter users who will be helping out with the event:

@designhergal – Jeanne Fitzmaurice from the Gal to Gal Foundation

@Girlfriendology – Gal to Gal sponsor

@kristacolvin – Gal to Gal sponsor

@JessicaKnows – Gal to Gal sponsor

@SugarJones – Gal to Gal sponsor

@organizeddotcom – Gal to Gal sponsor

@mrsOrganized – Gal to Gal sponsor

@ResourcefulMom – co-host, crowd control, prize distributor, and Gal to Gal sponsor

Prizes! Yes, this is all for a great cause, but the Gal to Gal Walk put together a fun list of prizes to be given away during the party.

- The buzz-worthy new book by Beth Feldman, @rolemommy on Twitter.
- A $100 gift certificate for Designhergals.com
- A $100 gift certificate for Organize.com
- A VIP membership to Krista Colvin’s The Shebang! (The Smart Woman’s Guide to Doing It All)
- A basket of pink Swiffers that includes Beth’s new book, See Mom Run: Side-Splitting Essays from the World’s Most Harried Moms.
- One not yet announced grand prizes that are jaw dropping…think sand, surf, and sun…

To Enter:
Complete any or all of the following steps then leave a comment to this post to receive your entry.
1. Join the walk at http://www.galtogalwalk.org/
2. Put the Gal to Gal Walk banner on your blog to spread the word about the walk.
3. Become a fan of the walk on Facebook.
4. Tweet during the event using the hashtag #galtogalwalk
5. RSVP at http://resourcefulmommy.blogspot.com/2009/10/gal-to-gal-walk-twitter-party-wednesday.html.

Happy Organizing!

Mrs. O

This year we have decided to put our support behind a very special organization, the Gal to Gal Foundation – one of the few international non-profits who dedicate 100% of their resources to Stage IV breast cancer patients and their families. For those of you who are not familiar, Stage IV is the most critical stage of this disease and at this time is considered incurable.

During October we will be inviting you to join the Organize.com Team on a “virtual walk” across America. Our efforts will help grant over 100 wishes this holiday season. These wishes include trips for the family, off-setting medical expenses, special beds, and even video cameras. It only takes a few minutes to join and it is fun! That’s our team in the picture!

Here is how it works: Click on the following link Gal To Gal Walk

• Click on JOIN NOW

• Design your virtual Gal or GUY (or if you just want to donate – click “choose an angel”)

• Register your Gal or Guy for $5 and JOIN the walk!

• Under TEAM in your registration put TEAM: Organize.com

You can find me by clicking “Search for Friends” under Organize.com.

Let’s make a big difference this month! I will be looking for you.

Happy Organizing!

Mrs. O

Along with some great menu ideas, there were some great table decorating ideas. There was a fabulous Black Glittered Chandelier piece that stood tall on the counter and would be perfect on the buffet table. We found these chandeliers that we thought would be great for Halloween and the Holiday season. Inspired by the ornate scroll chandelier, this ornament looks fantastic when added in groups at different height levels. They will dazzle any party.

It’s official, fall is here and Halloween is in the air.

Enjoy and Happy Organizing!

Mrs. O

These couple of items and some great pumpkins got me off to a good start with my Halloween decorating and took only about 30 minutes.

Happy Organizing!

Mrs. O