Thanksgiving 2020| Safety First šŸ¦ƒ šŸ„§

2020 seems to be the year that just keeps on giving and itā€™s now official, Thanksgiving is going to look a lot different this year. There are many recommendations this Thanksgiving from the state, the cdc and so on.  They include avoiding travel and large gatherings, but there are still many ways to celebrate without putting yourself or others at risk.

Whether youā€™re hosting a meal with immediate family or keeping it low key this year, now is the perfect time to create new memories and make new traditions. 

Anyone who knows me, knows that Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday.  I love everything about it.  Family, Food, no pressure to buy gifts.  Just a day to eat, relax, nap and do whatever it is that makes you happy. And for me, eating and napping are at the top of my list!

Iā€™ve been dreading Thanksgiving this year due to covid.  Not only dreading it, trying to come to terms with the fact that there really wonā€™t be a Thanksgiving this year.  At least not a traditional one with my family.  

So I need a plan, what can we do to make Thanksgiving special this year during all the pandemic craziness? I need to focus on a few quarantine-friendly Thanksgiving ideas!  So letā€™s see what we can do, to make the day special.  

Hey everyone and Happy Thanksgiving.  Itā€™s Cori your local Real Estate expert with Monmouth County Dream Homes located in Marlboro NJ.  Iā€™m here every monday talking about all things Real Estate, Monmouth County and Marlboro Township.  But this week, iā€™m going to change it up a bit and talk about Thanksgiving during a worldwide pandemic!

Now let me start off by saying, iā€™m no expert and Iā€™m not here to judge how or what decisions people are making in their personal lives to stay safe.  Truth be told, I would have had Thanksgiving with my family If I could have.  But not all my family members feel the same way I do, and thatā€™s okay.  Iā€m not here to tell anyone how to behave during these trying times, Iā€™m just going to give some suggestions on how to make the day special. 

Thanksgiving is a time when many families travel long distances to celebrate together. Travel, as we have been told, increases the chance of getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Staying home is the probably the best way to protect yourself and others. If you must travel, be informed of the risks involved.

Iā€™m going to try and break this down into 3 categories:

Low Risk, Medium Risk and High Risk.  Letā€™s get started!

Low Risk:

  • Having a small dinner with only people who live in your household
  • Preparing traditional family recipes for family and neighbors, especially those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and delivering them in a way that doesnā€™t involve contact with others
  • Having a virtual dinner and sharing recipes with friends and family
  • Shopping online rather than in person on the day after Thanksgiving or the next Monday
  • Watching sports events, parades, and movies from home

Medium Risk:

  • Having a small outdoor dinner with family and friends who live in your community
  • Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing
  • Attending a small outdoor sports events with safety precautions in place

High Risk:

Avoid these higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19:

  • Going shopping in crowded stores just before, on, or after Thanksgiving
  • Participating or being a spectator at a crowded race
  • Attending crowded parades
  • Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors
  • Attending large indoor gatherings with people from outside of your household

So now letā€™s just agree to be done with the negativity and the sad feelings of losing our traditional holiday and letā€™s focus on what we can do to make the day special!

Have a Virtual Dinner with Family and Friends

Traveling to visit family this year will be difficult, but that doesnā€™t mean you canā€™t still celebrate together! Share recipes ahead of time and host a virtual dinner over Zoom, Skype or even Facebook, so you can still spend time with the people you care about most while eating an obscene amount of food.

Spice up your virtual Thanksgiving dinner by playing a game, toasting with a signature (or any) cocktail and sharing what youā€™re most thankful for this year.

Decorate Your House to get in the festive mood

If getting together with loved ones just isnā€™t happening this year, you can still get festive by decorating with fall accents. This is one of my favorite things to do anyone, so maybe this year Iā€™ll just have to take it to the next level!  You do know that Hobby Lobby, and HomeGoods and Target, well you can order online if youā€™d like or do curb side pick upā€¦. Or you can put on a mask and head inside if you are okay with that!

Move Thanksgiving Outdoors

Okay, so if you live here in Monmouth County this may not be an option, but if the weather cooperates  this Thanksgiving, maybe you can celebrate outside?  Maybe if they predict decent weather you can have a Thanksgiving lunch vs dinner and gather outdoors?  

If you have yard space, host a small gathering outside.  So many of us here have fire pits and chimineas and the ā€œsolo stoveā€ seems to be the hot topic lately, in fact I think we want one of those!   Set up  tables, chairs,  bring out warm blankets, and even supply everyone warm fuzzy socks.  ( who doesnā€™t love those)  Make warm drinks the theme of the night, and keep in simple!  I know itā€™s not ideal, but it is a way to get together with family and friends while taking advice from the CDC.  

Use your creative side

It stinks being stuck inside,  and weā€™ve been doing this for almost 8 months.  If you have young kids Iā€m sure you have just about had enough of the togetherness.  So why not change it up and do a family craft together.  Check out a few of this ideas I found on pinterest:  

Pinterest Crafts:

Luminaries: https://bit.ly/2KyCyuN

Feather Turkeys: https://bit.ly/3lX8FlF

Yummy Treats: https://bit.ly/3m252Le

And trust me there are plenty more.  Just head over to pinterest and check them out!

Enjoy Family Time

I know it may seem totally out of your normal tradition.  But how about you watch a fall movie as a family or do a fall puzzle after you eat.  Donā€™t jump and say oh so boring.  Itā€™s not boring, and itā€™s family time.  I will leave a few movie ideas and a place to order a few fun puzzles in the description box, so check them out.  You just may surprise yourself and enjoy these things!

And finally,

Do Something Charitable

As upset as we all are about Thanksgiving this year, try and remember there are people in much MUCH worse situations than we are.  I am personally trying to help 5 families for Thanksgiving.  There is still a bit of time left so if youā€™d like information on how you can help, iā€™ll also leave that link below.  Trust me, it makes you feel great to help others!

I want to wish each and every one of you a Happy,  A Healthy and a Safe Thanksgiving.  Open your mind to experience something different this year.  You just may be surprised and realize new traditions arenā€™t all that bad.

Thank you so much for joining me this week.  Iā€™ll see you all next monday!

Planning the Thanksgiving Meal

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