Celebrating Thanksgiving with friends, family, and enjoying delicious food is always a cherished blessing. However, entertaining guests in a living area that is not functional or outdated can indeed be frustrating. Here are 7 signs it might be time to re-design that kitchen and living area.
- Limited Seating: Guests had to stand or find spots in other rooms, hampering interaction and enjoyment. This often resulted in a disjointed experience.
- Limited Counter Space: Inadequate counter space posed challenges when it came to preparing and serving food and drinks. Some guests struggled to find a place to set down their plates or glasses.
- Outdated Appliances: Old, ill-fitting, or malfunctioning appliances caused difficulties in keeping dishes warm. It’s possible that guests experienced delays in meal preparation or unevenly cooked food?
- Noise and Crowding: The situation could be described as “Too many cooks in the kitchen.” It often felt like someone was always in the way, especially during those crucial moments of meal preparation.
- Inadequate Storage: Limited storage space resulted in cluttered countertops and disorganized cabinets. This made it challenging to locate essential kitchen items at the most crucial moment!
- Limited Serving Space: Setting up a cluttered buffet led to a spill, or leaving guests juggling plates, utensils, and condiments.
- Inconvenient Layout: The layout made multitasking and spending time with guests challenging. It was often difficult to efficiently prepare meals while engaging with loved ones.
Want a second opinion on your kitchen and living area layout? We can help.
Thanksgiving is a beloved holiday in the United States, steeped in rich traditions that bring families and friends together to express gratitude for the blessings of the year. These traditions vary from household to household but often revolve around the themes of togetherness, reflection, and giving thanks. In this blog post, we’ll explore 20 of the most common Thanksgiving traditions that make this holiday so special.
1. The Thanksgiving Feast: The centerpiece of the holiday, the Thanksgiving feast typically includes roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and various side dishes and pies.
2. Turkey Trot: Many communities host “turkey trot” races on Thanksgiving morning, allowing people to burn off some calories before the big meal.
3. Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Families often gather around the TV to watch the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, featuring massive balloons, floats, and performances.
4. Football Games: Football is a Thanksgiving staple, with families and friends gathering to watch their favorite teams play.
5. Giving Thanks: Before the meal, it’s common for everyone at the table to share what they’re thankful for, fostering a sense of gratitude.
6. Friendsgiving: For those unable to be with family, Friendsgiving is a tradition where friends come together to celebrate and share a meal.
7. Volunteering: Many individuals and families volunteer at local charities or shelters on Thanksgiving to give back to their communities.
8. Pumpkin Pie: Pumpkin pie is a quintessential dessert on Thanksgiving, often served with whipped cream.
9. Black Friday Shopping: The day after Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday shopping season, with many people heading to stores for Black Friday deals.
10. Leftovers: Leftovers are a cherished part of Thanksgiving, with turkey sandwiches and reheated sides being enjoyed for days.
11. Wishbone Tradition: Two people tug on the turkey’s wishbone, and the person who ends up with the larger piece gets to make a wish.
12. Thanksgiving Decorations: Many households decorate their homes with autumnal and Thanksgiving-themed decor, such as wreaths, cornucopias, and candles.
13. Kids’ Crafts: Children often create Thanksgiving-themed crafts, like handprint turkeys, as part of the festivities.
14. Watching Thanksgiving Movies: Some families have a tradition of watching Thanksgiving-themed movies like “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” or “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.”
15. Breaking the Wishbone: After the meal, two people will break the wishbone from the turkey and make a wish.
16. The Turkey Timer: Using a timer or meat thermometer to ensure the turkey is perfectly cooked is a common practice.
17. Giving to Food Drives: Many people donate non-perishable food items to local food drives to help those in need.
18. Homemade Gravy: Making homemade gravy from the turkey drippings is a tradition that adds flavor to the meal.
19. Family Photos: Thanksgiving is often a time for family photos, capturing cherished moments together.
20. Saying Grace: Saying a grace or prayer before the meal is a tradition for those who embrace religious or spiritual aspects of Thanksgiving.
These 20 Thanksgiving traditions reflect the diversity of ways people celebrate this special holiday. Whether you’re feasting on turkey, watching the parade, or volunteering to help others, Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude, share love, and create lasting memories with loved ones. Whatever your traditions may be, the spirit of thankfulness and togetherness remains at the heart of this beloved holiday.