@GirlontheProwl here, and before I begin, I just wanted to give a quick shout out to all my fellow Canadians and just say Happy Thanksgiving! This long weekend is all about turkey and pie, but above all, it’s about giving thanks and appreciating good fortune. So I just want to say thanks to all of you who have subscribed to my blog these last couple of months, as well as to all of you silent readers, I really am grateful for all the support. But on that note, here are ten things you need to know in order to survive this crazy Thanksgiving holiday dinner.

Happy Thanksgiving!

1. Invite a friend. I mean there’ll be enough people there anyway, one more couldn’t hurt…right? At least this way after you’ve been re-introduced to old relatives who constantly remind you that you used to be the size of their palm and as cute as a button (because obviously now you’re an ogre), and after you’ve shaken hands with your neighbour, and your neighbor’s neighbour, and their neighbour’s neighbour—you get where I’m going with this right?—at least then, when you’ve been long abandoned by everyone in the room, you’ll still have your friend (boyfriend/girlfriend/roommate etc.) to keep you company.

“I’ll be there for you…cause you’re there for me too”…Invite a friend, or friends!

2. Wear layers. I know it’s October and we should probably be wearing parkas, but seriously I’ve seen the sun more times this month than I have my best friend—needless to say, I’m sure the house you’re at won’t be freezing cold. In fact, it’ll probably feel like a hot summer’s day because of all the people and all the cooking, so come prepared! This is Canada, not the arctic, we don’t live in igloos and you certainly don’t need those holiday sweaters yet.

Seriously…no matter how much you want to put that sweater on, at least wear layers.

3. Leave room for dessert. I know this one seems kind of obvious, but it can also be the hardest one of them all. It’s so easy to get lost in the turkey, and the stuffing, and the oh-so-yummy mashed potatoes and gravy—but for the love of Dean Winchester leave room for the pie!

If Dean Winchester says pie, you get pie.

4. Avoiding a tantrum. If you have a child this really applies to you. You know your kid, and sometimes crowded spaces and unfamiliar faces can be unnerving…now imagine how your toddler feels! So my advice—though I have no children of my own, and because I don’t want to step on any parental toes you can feel free to totally disregard this—bring some toys, make sure there will be other children, bring an alternative snack because we all know turkey to a five year old might just resemble Big Bird, and most of all make sure they know they have your attention. There’s nothing more annoying and frustrating to a toddler than their parents not paying attention to them or their needs. And if what I’m saying makes no sense, feel free to ignore me and just shove all the children into one room, crack open a window, and pray that the hunger games doesn’t ensue. (I’m kidding about this last part, but seriously to avoid having your own meltdown I would seriously consider this.)

5. A gift. Okay, so you’re headed to someone’s house, but you don’t know if it’s customary to bring a gift…well, it is. But not like a “here’s a statue” kind of gift, more of a “here are some flowers for your table” kind of gift. You could even bring cranberry sauce because it’s the most forgettable food item, or even wine…wine is always appreciated! Something small will do the trick, but remember if you are unsure of whether you should, you can always call the host and ask them what you should bring because more often then not they’ll tell you exactly what you can bring.

Some people give wine…others give slaps! Happy Slapsgiving all!

6. Entertainment. Depending on the size of your party, entertainment may be very important. Don’t just put the TV on and hope things will sort themselves out; play! Rally a game of flag football, that’s always fun! You are never too old to play, unless of course you are too old and you might break a hip…in which case have a seat and observe the fun! Thanksgiving isn’t just about eating, so go on and have some fun.

Just a little friendly competition.

7. Drinking. While drinking is inevitable…I mean honestly, after listening to Aunt Ruth go on and on about another one of her ailments, I would expect a lot of drinking to occur… so make sure you have a designated driver! I cannot stress the importance of not drinking and driving enough. If a designated driver is not an option, call a cab. We may be on holiday, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be responsible!

Pace yourselves, Guys! Geez.

8. Enlist helpers. If you are hosting the party, don’t get caught up on dinner duty, you too deserve to have a little fun. So, have people help you out, more often then not they’ll be more than happy to do it, and you won’t be slaving over a hot stove for hours by yourself.

9. Prepare for things to go wrong. I’m not saying this will happen, but sometimes things don’t pan out the way we planned, but there is no reason to stress. Take a deep breath, remain calm, and have a plan B.

And when things don’t pan out…wear the turkey as a hat?

10. And last but not least, if you are this year’s host, be prepared to be eating left overs for the next week because I assure you, even if it doesn’t look like it, you’ve made way more food than will be eaten!

Well, that’s all I’ve got. Feel free to share your tips in the comments down below and don’t forget to hit that subscribe button. I hope you all enjoy your holidays, and once again Happy Thanksgiving!

-Cheers,