Thanksgiving Guide with Free Printable Planner

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Today I am sharing ideas and inspiration on how to organize, prepare and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. This planner is broken down in different segments to guide you through the Thanksgiving holiday from the beginning of the month all the way through Turkey day. Preparedness and organization minimizes stress and aggravation, which allows enjoyment for the holiday with ease and comfort. The planner is downloadable for easy customization and the best part is this Thanksgiving printable planner is free for your own personal use.

Entertaining family and friends can be stressful if you are not prepared and organized. Let me share how to ease the stress and enjoy yourself thoroughly as you open your doors wide, welcoming guests into your home.  The Thanksgiving holiday is all about being thankful and this free planner is a special token to you as a thank you for following along and being a loyal Masterpiece reader.

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Welcome to Styled 2 Ways – Thanksguving Printable Edition

Although Susan and I both like many of the same things, we both have unique styles of our own, and we want to share how the same idea can be expressed in different ways. Both ways are equally as fantastic, and appreciating other unique takes on the same idea expands our own personal style.

When you are done here, please hop over and visit Susan. If you are here visiting from Susan’s place, welcome, I am so happy you are here. Leave me a comment down below; I would love to get to know you. Come on in, have a seat and enjoy!

Inspiration for the Thanksgiving Guide Printable Planner

As I mentioned above this free Thanksgiving planner printable is a thank you from the bottom of my heart to all you readers for showing up and giving me support. For this I am thankful and I hope this helps you in your own Thanksgiving duties.

This planner is broken up into segments to help you navigate the different aspects of the holiday. I encourage you to customize and tweak it for your own use. The table of contents below helps guide you as you organize and prepare.

Like I said before the meal is the main event for Thanksgiving, more than any other holiday. And although some folks roast their turkeys, while others grill them and let’s not forget about the deep fryer method, the steps to prepare for the meal remain the same. Regardless of what sides you choose or what desserts you prepare, the key is to stay ahead of the game. Start early, make lists and avoid the hectic days at store level leading up to Thanksgiving Thursday.

Thanksgiving Menu

Thanksgiving is centered around the meal more than any other holiday. Once you have your menu set, many of the other pieces fall into place. You know what food to buy and once you establish the guests list, more on this below, you know how much to buy.

And another key is when to buy all ingredients as well, which we will dive into deeper in another section. The key is to make a comprehensive list, including all the dishes and drinks. Review your recipes and double check all the ingredients from appetizers to desserts. I keep a party journal where I write all details of events, including guests, food and beverages and any extra notes to help me year to year. I hope this planner can be that guide for you.

Thanksgiving Guest List

Creating your guest list helps in deciding the vibe for your Thanksgiving celebration. Is it a formal sit down affair or is it a bustling mixer with multiple tables? It all works. Just make sure to have your guest list completed on the earlier side of November so you know what you are preparing for.

Make sure to prepare for littles who might require high chairs or folks with special needs like walkers and wheel chairs. You want your home to accommodate for these details and also be aware of any dietary constraints, which is always a fun twist for any host. All these small details might seem insignificant person by person but all together they can become overwhelming. Having all the details organized in one place helps manage all of it.

Thanksgiving Assigned Tasks

I encourage you to lean into the people you know are helpful souls and assign them a task. Besides food options, folks can also contribute with ice or extra chairs or I even provide dish pans and to go containers from the Dollar Tree. This is a small expense for someone to pick up and it helps with the clean up after the meal.

There are many moving parts to the Thanksgiving holiday and the more a host can delegate the easier the day unfolds. You know the saying, “Many hands make for light work” or something like that. Embrace that and assign as many tasks to friends and family as possible. Also make sure everyone is on the same page. For example, ice obviously arrives the day off, but do you want chairs delivered in advance? Having these details clarified avoids unnecessary stress.

Thanksgiving Grocery List

Once the menu is determined you can prepare your grocery list. I encourage you to buy as much as early as possible;e to avoid the craziness the week of Thanksgiving. I pick up all non-perishables, beverages and party gear early in November to cross it off the list.

Produce and perishables are best picked up early in the week of Thanksgiving and the only thing left are the turkey or any other meat you are serving plus fresh bread. We only do turkey but I know many families, do ham or duck and other selections.

Thanksgiving Timeline

Start early and stay organized. Below I break down tasks which can be done weeks before the holiday and then the days leading up to Turkey day.The grocery stores become crowded and crazy the weeks leading to Thanksgiving. Buy as much as you can weeks and even a month ahead to avoid getting caught in the chaos.

1st Week November:

• Extend invitations to guests
• Finalize menu
• Organize and clean out pantry, refrigerator and bar
• Sharpen kitchen knives and scissors
• Declutter areas where you will be gathering in your home
• Make sure all kitchen appliances and tools are functioning properly
• Polish Silver
• Stock up on candles for ambience (votives, tapers, pillars, scented, seasonal, etc.)
• Create playlists to have ready to play in the background

2nd Week November:

• Confirm and finalize guest list
• Delegate and assign tasks
• Create grocery list
• Shop for beverages and non-perishables
• Make sure table linens are clean and pressed
• Access oversized serving pieces
• Prep dishes, glassware, plate chargers, etc.
• Purchase or borrow any pieces you don’t have
• Plan table styling

3nd Week November:

• Finish decorating the house
• Set the table
• Confirm task assignments with friends and family

Monday-Tuesday Week of Thanksgiving:

• Make any food that can be made this early (pie doughs, cranberry sauce, etc.)
• Clean kitchen, bathrooms, etc.
• Shop for perishables

Wednesday Before Thanksgiving:

• Pick up turkey and defrost
• Pick up flowers if using for centerpiece, etc.
• Bake | make desserts
• Prep for any sides

Thursday Thanksgiving Day!!!

• Game on!
• All hands on deck!
• Cook all the things.
• Enjoy all your hard work!

Thanksgiving Reminders

Hopefully this guide can help demystify the process if you will be hosting Thanksgiving for your loved ones. We have hosted many Thanksgiving gatherings from 20 plus people to simply 6. Either way the steps you take are pretty much the same. I love a big, bustly mixer as well as a small, intimate gathering.

The trick to an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday as a host, is to prepare and organize yourself ahead of time. I hope this planner helps you do just that.

Tips and Recommendations for Using the Thanksgiving Free Planner

How to Download

Click on the buttom below to download your free Thanksgiving planner printable. Save the planner on your computer and you can use it year after year.

Make It Yours

Customize and tweak the planner so it fits your needs and style. I know some folks have intimate holidays with just a few people while others have packed houses with more than twenty guests. Also I know some people stick to a tried a true menu while others like to mix things up from year to year. You do you and simply use the planner as a guideline, fitting your lifestyle.

Closing Thoughts

I sincerely hope this planner helps your organization and preparedness for the Thanksgiving holiday. It’s a thank you from the bottom of my heart; from me to you .

I have so many projects planned for this year, and I am looking forward to sharing them with you. If you enjoy the good life and want a reflection of this in your home, please consider joining the Masterpiece community.

Please don’t forget to visit Susan. You can also find Susan in her other spaces; give her a follow.

Wishing each and every one of you the best Thanksgiving holiday. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you again soon. It’s always lovely having you here. Au revoir!

Shop the Thanksgiving Look

• I love the look of these banners for vintage vibes, and they might be in my cart right now…just saying…Vintage Thanksgiving Banner – Large 10 Feet, Pack of 2 | Turkey Banner, Retro Thanksgiving Party Decorations
• If you like traditional fall colors this garland is amazing looking Fall Garland, 6FT Autumn Maple Leaf Velvet Pumpkin/Berry Garland Fall Decor, for Home Harvest Thanksgiving
• This set is perfect to scatter autumnal vibes throughout your home for Thanksgiving Pumpkin Decor Set, 23 PCS Fall Harvest Decorations Including Mini Pumpkins, Acorns, Pinecones, Berries, Maple Leaves for Home
• If you’re a crafter this is a great set of pumpkins to DIY for your Fall decor White Artificial Pumpkins – 8 PCS Foam Pumpkin Set for Fall Halloween Thanksgiving Harvest Holiday DIY Decor for Home 
• Serving platters are key for thanking gatherings and I love the graphics on this Pumpkin Feast Ceramic 16 inch Oval Platter
• I love the scalloped edges and details on this platter Pfaltzgraff Autumn Berry Small Oval Platter
• Spode has classic pieces for the Thanksgiving holiday and I love this platter  Woodland Turkey Rectangular Platter – 17.5 Inch Fine Porcelain Serving Tray from the Woodland Turkey Collection
• Of course many serving dishes are need for all the sides and this is a pretty Spode piece Spode Woodland Turkey Oval Fluted Dish – Porcelain Thanksgiving Tray
• And this pedestal plate is fabulous for appetizers and desserts Spode Woodland Turkey Footed Cake Plate – 10.5 Inch Fine Porcelain Serveware for Thanksgiving
• And of course you need a gravy boat…Spode Woodland Turkey Sauce Boat with Stand – 11 oz Fine Porcelain Gravy Server with Holiday Turkey Design
• This set of two white gravy boats is a great idea for bigger gatherings or to simply have for any occasion Gravy Boat With Ladle and Saucer 17 Oz,Ceramic Sauce Boat with Tray(2 PCS New Gravy Boat With Ladle and Saucer)
• This is a fun piece since it can bee decorative and practical at the same time Spode 14oz Turkey-Shaped Gravy Boat with Ladle – Dolomite Thanksgiving Serveware
• This is very similar to then roasting pan we use for almost 30 years now Stainless Steel Roasting Pan – Heavy Duty Turkey Roasting Baking 
• Butcher twine is key for trussing your Turkey Stainless Steel Holder with Cotton Cooking Twin
• Turkey fork lifters are also essential for removing turkey from pan and for flipping turkey Stainless Steel Turkey & Roast Lifters, Set of 2 
• My Mother-in-law gifted us a gravy separator back in the day and it’s a fabulous tool to have Roasting Fat Separator Gravy Strainer

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If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.”

W. Clement Stone

sharing @ between naps on the porch