Hosting Thanksgiving at your home can be a daunting task, as
there are many details you must pull together for the event to run smoothly.
These holiday details go beyond the preparation and presentation of the meal —
they also include taking photos, setting up a beautiful table, creating a music
playlist and providing Thanksgiving activities for the little ones. Luckily,
all the inspiration and organization tools you’ll need for Thanksgiving can be
found in your smartphone. Here are some ways you can utilize the planner in
your pocket for a memorable Thanksgiving.
Recipes
Get creative with your recipes this year. Download food apps like
Food Network in the Kitchen, All The Cooks, Epicurious and All Recipes for
unique dishes that will wow. You can also use Thanksgiving-specific apps, like
the Chow
Thanksgiving Dinner Coach, which provides recipes, ingredients lists
and cooking directions for your favorite Turkey Day dishes. If you need a
little assistance and guidance in your technical chef abilities, use your phone
to look up cooking tutorial videos by Chef Steps. For the holidays, they have a
special tutorial called “A Better Way to Turkey — Cook That Bird Sous Vide for
the Best Feast Ever.” Chef Steps is an excellent way for you to pick up some
professional chef tricks and create an unforgettable meal.
Groceries
Get your groceries in advance and beat the market rush. Create a
list on your phone of everything you will need before you go shopping and
identify which things you can be purchased in advance and what should be
purchased right before the big day. You can either make the trip yourself or
you can enlist the help of a grocery shopping service. In certain metropolitan
areas, Amazon’s Prime Now allows you to order your food online and a
grocery courier will pick up the provisions for you. If you have any
Thanksgiving Day emergencies, like you’ve run out of wine or other spirits, use
Drizly, an online liquor store app. It will deliver whatever alcoholic
beverages you need within an hour.
Decor + Tablescape
Spruce up your abode with some festive decor. Check out Pinterest, either through an
internet browser or their app, for decoration inspiration. You can plan ahead
and find cute, Thanksgiving-themed DIYs that will liven up your home with the
holiday spirit. Pinterest is a great way for you to keep all of your ideas and
inspiration in one place, and it will suggest ideas based on what you’ve been
pinning, so you don’t have to do overly broad searches to find what you need.
Photos
Make sure you take photos that will capture the sentiment of the
day. It is rare that you get your entire family together, so there will be
plenty of photo ops that pop up in a moment’s notice. Keep your phone handy, so
you can capture those special moments. Make sure you have a smartphone with a
high-quality camera, like the Apple
iPhone 7 Plus, so you have crystal clear images of the day. Don’t shy away
from editing the photos, as you can adjust the exposure, contrast, tone and
sharpness with your phone’s built-in editing software.
Music
Set up a music playlist on your phone prior to the holiday. If
you need help, text your guests and ask them to submit five song requests. This
way everyone will have their music preferences represented. You can also
utilize a radio stream like Pandora that can
play a variety of music relative to a specific genre or band.
Activities
Have fun, family activities that will entertain both the kids
and adults. Download some group games on your phone that will provide some
post-meal family bonding. Choose a game like Heads Up, where
you can all engage with one another, and not just focus on the screen of the
phone.
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