Many of you are probably preparing for your first Thanksgiving as a couple.  If you’re lucky enough to be hosting the big day, you’ve scoured the Internet and your mom’s recipe book for the perfectly prepared turkey.  But, just in case you’re not quite sure you’ve got it right, here are a few tips to make sure your first Thanksgiving is a huge success!

Thanksgiving Dinner Invitation from Tiny Prints, Photo Courtesy of Hostess With the Mostess

-Take it from me–Pick and choose your dishes carefully. You may want to have everything from mashed potatoes to sweet potatoes to green beans to, well…you name it (I know, because I did).   But, if you go overboard, you’ll not only be overworked, you’ll be overstuffed!  Pick your favorite dishes and make them well.  You’ll be pleased that you did!

-Hit the grocery store early. Things DO sell out and the stores can be insane!  Have your menu prepared so you know exactly what to buy.

-When purchasing a turkey, the rule of thumb is to have 1 to 1 1/4 pounds of turkey per guest. If you are having a massive feast, try roasting two smaller birds.  Turkeys 12 pounds or less tend to be juicier and there’s less chance of overcooking.  Don’t forget to factor in leftovers!

-You will need 24 hours per 5 pounds of turkey to thaw. Make sure you set our your turkey with enough time to spare! For some great tips on thawing and cooking your turkey safely, visit Turkey Basics.

-Buy some pre-made items. No, I’m not kidding.  Why make an elaborate pumpkin pie when your local bakery probably can make it just as well, or maybe even better?  It will save you time and stress.

Do you have any tips on making Thanksgiving the best that it can be?

Hopefully, you and your honey are in agreement over who should be the next president.  Even if you’re not, make sure your voice is heard–get out there and vote!  Besides having a part in America’s future, you’ll also score some free treats.  A few companies want to say “thanks” for voting by offering free election eats:

1.  Starbucks Coffee - Show of your “I Voted” sticker and you’ll get a free Tall regular coffee at participating Starbucks locations.  Re-energize so you can stay awake to find out the election results!

2.  Krispy Kreme Donuts - The perfect compliment to a free cup of coffee?  A delicious donut!  Make a quick stop at Krispy Kreme where you’ll get a free donut in return for your vote!

3.  Ben and Jerry’s - Visit any Ben and Jerry’s ice cream store between 5pm and 8pm on Election day and show off your “I Voted” sticker.  The reward?  A free scoop of ice cream!  Who would turn down such a sweet treat?

So get up, get out and vote.  Then, take the one you love to cash in on one (or all!) of these snacks.  America–and your tummy–will thank you!

I am obsessed with anything miniature.  If a “mini” version exists, you know I have to have it.  When I was little, all I wanted in the world was a dollhouse.  Mini furniture, mini people…and all so realistic!  As we speak, I have a set of miniature glass animals on my desk that never fail to amuse me.

That’s why, when I saw these mini wedding cake pans on Amazon, I could not stop thinking about them.  I can’t wait to host a bridal shower or engagement party and make a tiny cake for each guest with these adorable tins.  Better yet–gather the bridal party together and make a night of baking and decorating the cakes to surprise the bride with.  Who wouldn’t love such a sweet treat?!

I adore the idea of an all-girl slumber party the night before your wedding. You will likely be a little nervous and jittery all night anyway, so why not gather your closest girlfriends for some giggles and games before your big day? To make the most of your last night of girly fun (without compromising your radiant glow the next morning!), try some of these delightful ideas:

• Break out the classic boardgames! If you can find your old versions of Mall Madness or Truth or Dare, you can have a blast reviving your favorite games from the past. Life, Twister and Jenga are always good for a laugh!
• Watch your favorite romantic movies. Curl up on the couch in your “bride” pajamas and watch “The Princess Bride” for the millionth time, but steer clear of tearjerkers! Watch something that will make you smile in anticipation of your nuptials, like “Wedding Crashers” or “When Harry Met Sally.”
• Look through old photo albums or yearbooks. Laugh hysterically at your best friend’s rockin’ 90’s hairstyle in her senior picture, reminisce about your college days and discuss how much your taste in men has improved since the ninth grade!
• Keep up with your beauty routine. The day before your wedding, you are likely to have already had a manicure, pedicure, thorough shower and intense moisturizing session. That night, don’t ruin all your hard work by drinking too much alcohol, staying up late or chowing down on junk food, or you might end up looking puffy for your ceremony. Drink plenty of water and snack on fruits and veggie crudites instead.

I’m a Food Network junkie, so over the weekend I watched Giada make a beautiful baby shower lunch that included these tomato, basil and watermelon skewers that look absolutely scrumptious. I was enthralled by this simple recipe, and I couldn’t really figure out why. Then, halfway through the episode it occurred to me that whether it’s a baby shower or a bridal shower, all shower food should embody the three qualities that these lovely little skewers exemplify: delicious, beautiful and memorable.

This means that anyone preparing a shower should focus not only on taste, but presentation as well. You don’t have to create off-the-wall recipes to give your shower a unique and stylish flair. Keep your food simple, and then give it some elegance through creative presentation ideas. Take these finger sandwiches, for instance. You can make classic cucumber, tuna or ham and cheese sandwiches, and then turn them into something incredible by skewering an olive or half of a cherry tomato on top with a toothpick. It doesn’t get much easier, or elegant, than that!

You can always add some original recipes to the mix as well, but that doesn’t mean you can forget about the presentation. These green tea cupcakes are certainly unique, but it’s the artfully arranged frosting and cute little flower on top of them that makes them truly memorable as a part of the celebration.

Wedding favor shopping has become synonymous with stress, sad little catalogs and the same old stuff you see at every wedding in town. For a couple looking for a gift with a little more flair than the typical picture frame or key chain, consider branching out and trying some of these tasty favors that are sure to leave them smiling!

Edible wedding favors are chic, simple and sure to please. Everyone from your great aunt to your punk-rock-loving little brother will love to sink their teeth into a candied apple or a white chocolate dipped Oreo. And, with so many options available at inexpensive prices, you can get creative with your treats without blowing your budget.

If these edible favors are as scrumptious as they are stylish, you will turn your guests into genuine foodies in no time. The dipped strawberries are my favorite because they look so cute, funky and downright delicious. What about you?

With the gluten-free movement taking the country by storm, more and more people find themselves getting tested for–and diagnosed with–food allergies. As a member of this illustrious group, I am loving the idea of an allergy-free wedding.

Normally, eating at restaurants and social events is a huge hassle: Do you cook with corn oil? Does that sauce have corn syrup in it? Can you check and see if your powdered sugar is made with cornstarch or flour? The list of questions becomes so tedious after a while that you inevitably settle for a salad, sans dressing, and call it a day. It’s great for a diet, sure, but a wedding is supposed to be a chance to splurge! So when planning your menu, think about those of us who haven’t tasted a gummy bear, tortilla chip or sip of soda in a decade. With adept catering or just a little extra elbow grease on your part, you can host a fabulous allergy-free event that everyone can enjoy.

I ran across this BrideFu post on the topic and, although it fails to mention my particular allergy, I think it has a lot of great insight into allergy-free weddings in general. You might think it’s impossible to cook without the items on the site’s Big Eight list–eggs, milk, wheat and fish in particular–but it’s actually really easy to do with a flexible caterer. You don’t even have to change your entire menu. Just add a few delicious dishes without these ingredients and advertise them to your guests, as The Lovely Scones blogger did for her nuptials.

Creating your own allergy-free wedding is a great way to make sure that no one is fretting over the fritters on your big day. Just don’t be surprised if you find someone like me hungrily hunkered down over a heaping plate of your corn-free culinary creations!