It's our first Thanksgiving in our new house and we thought, what better way to celebrate than to host our first Thanksgiving here with family? Little did we know how much goes into it!

To make hosting your first Thanksgiving a little more seamless, I wanted to share these tips so you have the best Thanksgiving.

Set the Table.

I love decorating for the holidays! I wanted to put my many years of perusing Pinterest to good use and create a festive tablescape. Don't be fooled - this took several trips to HomeGoods and Pier1, but I finally got it right. I mixed textures with napkins, a pretty table runner, chargers, and placemats. The good news is by picking neutral colors, I can use the white plates and chargers for Christmas too. Voila - the table is ready and set for guests!

Photo courtesy of Amy Kirby

It's All About the FoodLet's be real, one of the best parts of Thanksgiving is all the delicious food you get to enjoy throughout the day. If you're like me, you've watched 30 episodes of Food Network to learn about every side dish you can make. If you're not trying to stress out, keep it simple and stick to the basics: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Feeling adventurous? Try adding in a green bean casserole or a sweet corn casserole - you won't be disappointed! Your guests will also want to bring their favorite sides and desserts, which can fill the table with delicious options, and take some of the cooking pressure off of you! 

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But First, Grocery Shopping!

Oddly enough, this is one of my favorite parts. I typically go a few days before Thanksgiving, later in the evening to avoid the crowds. I have a standard "Thanksgiving Grocery List" that I've used and modified over the years. I organize it by listing each dish, ingredients needed, and the quantity. This makes grocery shopping easy, without having to carry around all the recipes.

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Who's Thirsty?

It's only appropriate to have fall-themed drinks to wash down all that tasty food during the holidays. I love mixing apple cider with anything to create a hot or cold drink. A favorite that you can enjoy is Spiked Apple Cider! Looking for other ideas? Simply Camden has you covered with other festive holiday cocktails.

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Now, you're ready to host the most festive and tasty first Thanksgiving ever! Too much food leftover? Not to worry - we have you covered on what to do with leftovers too. Enjoy!