Motivational Monday: We've Got This!

Are your hearts racing? Brains spinning? Adrenaline pumping?

That's right, it's go time. The holidays have arrived.

If you are hosting Thanksgiving, attending Thanksgiving nearby or traveling...this week will be busy.

But I'm here to say... We've got this.

I know...those to do lists are looooong. Mine is too. But let's look at this like a challenge.

Can you accomplish everything on your to do list? Can you do it with a smile?

Here are some tips to help make it through this week...

1. Prioritize. Make a Must Do, Should Do and Want To Do list. Do your Must Dos first then move on to the Should Dos. If you have time, tackle some Want To Dos.

2. Remember...progress over perfection. Do I want to move my couch and mop under it? Yes. Can I get away with a deep swiffering? Yes. Progress.

3. Take some time for you. Eat your meals. Take some time outs to do something you like to do. Use some nice lotion on your roughed up hands. Anything small that you can do to keep your energy up and your spirits high.

Ok. I think we are ready. Go get a Must Do done. Have some fun with it.

Remember. We've Got This.

Need some real time cheerleading and motivation? Follow along with me on Instagram. @adventureswithjennie

What is the most daunting To Do on your list? Share below!

Housewife Life: My Plan to Be a Calm, Cool and Collected Hostess

I love to host Thanksgiving. It is one of my favorite days of the year. It combines my love of cooking with my love of logistics and planning. 

But, even I get a bit flustered during the "get the food on the table" rush. 

So, I have some plans to address some of the craziest parts of my Thanksgiving dinner.

1. I'm going to utilize my slow cookers.

I have plans to use three slow cookers on Thanksgiving. 

In one, I will be keeping my mashed potatoes warm...see yesterday's post for more information on that. 

In the second one, I will be keeping my roasted veggies warm. I did that for a Christmas party last year. 

In the third, I will be keeping my turkey warm. My husband will be smoking the turkey breasts earlier in the day and my plan is to have them done and sliced at 3:00 PM, 90 minutes before our 4:30 PM dinner. 

2. I'm going to prep everything on Wednesday.

From casseroles to the deviled eggs, everything will be prepped by the time I go to bed on Wednesday night.

3. I'm going to be done with cleaning on Tuesday. 

Other than sweeping, dishes and taking out the trash, I plan on getting everything done by the time I go to bed on Tuesday night. 

And that is my plan. 

Do you host Thanksgiving? What are your tips to get the food on the table with little or no chaos? Share below!

Kitchen Tip: Thanksgiving Edition---Use your Slow Cooker

Last year, on my favorite cancelled day-time television show, The Chew, I learned a fantastic tip...you can keep your mashed potatoes warm for up to 4 HOURS in your slow cooker!

What?!?!?!

Stay with me...If you have previously hosted Thanksgiving, you know the "get the food on the table at the same time" struggle. It is a rush of pans, pots, casseroles, and hands moving food around in the best kind of chaos. I love it.

But I also love the idea of being a cool, calm, collected Thanksgiving hostess. One who can sip a class of spiked cider moments before effortlessly setting up the Thanksgiving buffet. This year, I might just accomplish it...because of my slow cooker.

I tried this tip last year. I made my mashed potatoes 2 hours before dinner and put them in the slow cooker. I stirred them every 45 minutes and they were perfect. I highly recommend you try this tip.

Check back tomorrow for more tips on how to be a cool, calm collected Thanksgiving hostess!