Hosting Thanksgiving Just After Youve Moved

Moving during the holidays can be unavoidable. Particularly if you are used to hosting family and friends for dinner, there is no reason to alter your plans just because you’ve relocated. With a little planning ahead, out of the box thinking and organization, your first Thanksgiving in your new place can be memorable. There’s no better way to show off your new house to family and friends than by hosting a festive feast!

Depending on your move plans, you could have plenty of time to get settled in your new home and prepare for Thanksgiving. But more often than not, your regular Thanksgiving plans will need to be modified due to your move. Don’t be caught with surprise turkey day troubles. Plan, adapt, and get ready for some new memories in your new home!

Planning Ahead

Prior to your local moving company or long-distance movers drop off your items into your new place, you should already have a plan ready to make a perfect Thanksgiving for you and your family. Prior to packing at your current home, you will want to create a list of your holiday must-haves. Whether it’s a cherished set of china, your grandma’s recipe for candied yams, or table decorations, be sure you think through the event from start to finish, and write down a list of everything you traditionally use.

Once you determine what you will need for the event, the time has come to pack. If you are using your local moving company or long-distance mover to pack for you, share your list with the movers. The crew can make sure those items are packed together and properly labeled. Labeling your boxes with “Thanksgiving- cookware” or “Thanksgiving- recipes and decorations”, will make it easier to unpack in your new home. Everything you’ll need for your event will be together and ready to go. Another idea is to take pictures of your family recipes, just in case you forgot where you packed your favorite cookbook!

If you can completely unpack before your guests get to town, this is is always the most desirable situation. Especially if you are planning to houseguests that stay several days, prioritizing unpacking important items and getting guest rooms set up should be your top priority.

If you’re tight on time and guests will arrive soon, then you have to prioritize! Main areas of the home, such as living rooms, kitchen and bathrooms, should be set up first. Home offices, garages and outdoors spaces can always be arranged later. Your guests will understand if the whole home isn’t ready for a full tour yet!

Keep it Simple

You no doubt have your Thanksgiving dinner prep down to a science! Though, if you’re not totally unpacked or settled into your new home, it could be time to consider something else. Finding options to make you move-in process and meal prep easier while still letting you host a meal worth remembering is easy.

The key to all successful moves is communication. Relocating during the holidays is the same! When you get to your new house, you likely already have a plan laid out with your local moving company or long-distance movers. Ask the movers to place any boxes labeled “Thanksgiving” in a centralized place in the house, making your unpacking and setup tasks much easier.

If you have to adapt your cooking plans to match your move situation, there are some simple and low-cost options for you.

Grocery Store Boxes- Some grocery stores offer Thanksgiving meals in a box, complete with a turkey and sides all cooked and ready. These boxes a wonderful option because they will come with their own serving trays and are already to eat.

Meal Kits and Delivery Services- There are numerous boxed meal companies these days, and many will curate a Thanksgiving box. These services can mail your main and side dishes right to your door, complete with all the ingredients and recipes to cook each dish.

Slow Cooker- It might surprise you, but did you know you can cook a holiday ham in a crock pot? Utilizing smaller appliances can free up your range, saving time and energy. That leaves you more time for what’s truly important, your family and friends!

Leftovers- You likely have not unpacked any of your food storage containers, so how can you send people home with leftovers? Try disposable muffin tins! These tins are cheap, and an easy way to let each guest leave with the right size serving of every main and side dish..

Borrow From Neighbors

A lot of the experience of moving to a new home is getting to meet your new neighbors. Seeing as the opportunity is already presenting itself, asking your new neighbors to borrow necessary items you haven’t yet unpacked can be a good fix. Asking for a casserole dish, extra chairs or wine glasses will save you time unpacking. You can even get bonus points with your new neighbors by bringing them some of your dinner or pie when you give back the borrowed items!

If moving to Ann Arbor is a new town or area for your, be sure to talk to and get to know your long-distance mover. The staff aiding the driver with delivering your household goods will know and be familiar with your new town and they can certainly direct you to local Ann Arbor thrift stores, grocery stores and many other places to pick up your holiday staples!

Call Corrigan

Because we are a family owned and operated Ann Arbor local moving company and long-distance movers, Corrigan knows how important family is. If you hire Corrigan as your local moving company, that usually means your family and friends are still in the area, easing your transition to your new place. However, we also know that long-distance movers may feel like the closest feeling to family you have at the moment. We treat every customer like extended family and we will exceed your expectations to ensure a smooth, stress-free move. Regardless of your move’s specifics, you can count on Corrigan Moving Systems to keep your holiday season warm with impeccable service!