(But We’re Celebrating Anyway)
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You know what kills me every year? The way Thanksgiving gets totally skipped.
One day it’s Halloween and skeletons, and the next – *BOOM* – Mariah Carey has defrosted and Santa’s already taking up half of Hobby Lobby. And can we talk about how Christmas starts in July there? I love a garland moment, but calm down, Hobby Lobby.
Every year, I tell myself I’m going to take Thanksgiving back, but the truth is, it’s hard when the family that made it special isn’t close by anymore. When I was little, Grandma and Pop’s house was full of cousins running around and aunts and uncles catching up. Now, those days live mostly in memory.
These days, it’s quieter. We still see my husband’s family that Saturday, but Thanksgiving Day itself feels… different. Not bad, just missing that old familiar noise. And that’s when it hits me… the nostalgia I miss is what my girls are living right now. These are their moments. Their smells, sounds, and memories in the making.
So this year, we’re starting fresh. We’re reclaiming Thanksgiving – our way.
We just moved into a bigger house. Well- a townhouse, but at least it’s no longer an apartment! We finally have enough space to cook and breathe in the same room and I’ve been making my “what we need” list. It’s mostly stuff for entertaining, cozying up, and pretending I’m a host from HGTV.
A few of the things I’ve been eyeing are simple little touches I can sprinkle around the house between all the unpacking chaos I’ve been living in for, oh… a week and counting. My absolute favorite thing to decorate with is garland – it’s my go-to magic trick. I wind it around knickknacks on the tables, drape it over door frames, and even run it above the kitchen cabinets to fill that awkward empty space that just begs for a little leafy drama.
I might even make a Benable list too because let’s be honest: I need all the inspiration and easy links I can get.
Bringing Back the Holiday Dress-Up
When I was a kid, we dressed up for every holiday – Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas – you name it. There were matching sweaters, shiny shoes, and probably a few itchy tights in the mix. And honestly? I miss that.
Somewhere in the last decade, the tradition faded into “pajamas all day,” which, don’t get me wrong, has its own kind of magic… but this year? I want to bring a little of that old-school sparkle back.
I’m putting together a few outfit ideas for the whole family – something festive but still comfortable enough for chasing kids and sneaking extra desserts.
We’ll probably save the fancy outfits for when we see family that Saturday after Thanksgiving, but hey- why not look good while making memories?
The Great Turkey Rebellion
Now when I say we’re reclaiming Thanksgiving our way, I really mean our way. See… We don’t eat turkey on Thanksgiving.
Never have, probably never will.
Growing up, I’d watch my grandma every year, prepping the turkey like it was a full-blown science project. She’d dig out the innards, set aside the liver and whatever else for “later,” and then spend the entire day wrestling that bird into submission. She always started at the crack of dawn because, apparently, you need a solid twelve hours to roast something you’ll be sick of by the next morning.
By mid afternoon, we’d finally sit down – usually around two or three – and there it was: a massive, slightly battle-worn turkey, Grandma’s favorite mystery parts off to the side, cranberries that still held the shape of the can, stuffing, and string beans. Sometimes corn, too- until Pop choked on it one year and it was banished forever.
I really couldn’t stand having turkey for dinner on Thanksgiving, then a turkey sandwich the next day, then turkey again that night, and eventually – because no one could escape it – turkey pot pies. It was like a slow, savory Groundhog Day.
After years of enduring the Great Turkey Force-Feeding, I was honestly relieved when my husband’s family did their own thing for Thanksgiving. And once we started hosting ourselves, we decided to make our own yearly meal for this day we’re supposed to show our thanks for.
(Sorry, Grandma… I do thank you for making every Thanksgiving dinner, though. I just don’t miss the gizzard years.)
My husband and I started to make lasagna every year. A super cheesy platter for me and a meaty platter for him. It was the best comfort food, with minimal fuss, and zero dry bird emergencies. But now that we have a backyard and a grill in the works, this year’s Thanksgiving menu is taking a smoky turn.
We’re talking BBQ chicken, pulled pork, ribs… basically a southern Thanksgiving revival.
Hopefully we’re grilling on the pellet grill and smoker my husband wants. He says it’s expensive but overall less expensive due to the pellets. I have no idea since he’s the griller in the family but knowing my husband, I’ll come home from Boo in the Zoo on Tuesday and it’ll be in our backyard!
What I’m Cooking This Season
Here’s the thing: I don’t really cook.
I mean, I can follow a recipe (mostly), but I’m definitely not one of those people who just “whips something up.” I’m still in my “measuring everything twice and hoping the smoke alarm doesn’t join in” era.
And grilling? Yeah… no. That’s a whole new level of bravery I haven’t unlocked yet. But I’m learning! Slowly. I’ve been experimenting more on the stove and in the oven, trying to find my groove.
I’ve been collecting recipes that actually make me excited to cook again. Not Pinterest-perfect, just real-food, real-life meals that I can actually pull off between mom-ing, working, and pretending I’ve got it all together.
Some of my top picks this season:
- Mac & cheese with lots of cheese (because that’s the law)
- Baked beans but with actual flavor .
- Cornbread muffins – probably from a mix… hopefully from scratch (NO real corn!)
- A dessert that looks fancier than it is, maybe Rachel Green’s Thanksgiving Trifle.
I know I’ve got some learning to do – especially if I’m planning to be a full-time stay-at-home mom soon. Ordering out is great until you realize you’ve got twenty sauce packets and nothing that resembles a vegetable.
So this season, I’m making it a goal to get comfortable in the kitchen. To find those recipes that feel doable, delicious, and maybe even fun.
If you’re in the same boat, I saved all my favorite recipes here.
Lately, I’ve been really leaning into the slower rhythm of the season – the kind where the kitchen smells like something warm, the kids are playing nearby, and for a minute it actually feels like time isn’t running ten miles ahead.
And before anyone starts blasting Christmas music… no.
At our house, Christmas decorations don’t go up until the second weekend of December.
It’s tradition, it’s sanity, and it gives Thanksgiving the attention it deserves before tinsel takes over.
So what’s your Thanksgiving vibe?
Are you a turkey traditionalist or a “BBQ and call it a day” kind of soul?
Drop your family’s chaos menu in the comments—bonus points if it involves smoke, spice, or sugar.
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