In 2010, I was just starting to get more serious about food blogging and I had all these grand ideas of making a perfect turkey and side dishes and photographing it all to share. But as the day progressed, reality set in. I was so exhausted from the festivities and all the cooking that I got to a point that I didn’t care if my photos were stunning.
I decided that the most important thing for me to do was to relax, enjoy my family, and it didn’t matter if I had blog-worthy photos or recipes.
As you can see in the scrapbook layout above, I did take some quick photos. A year later, I looked at these photos and I am happy with them. I still remember the details of them, but I know I won’t remember them forever, so I decided to scrapbook them right away so that I will always preserve the memories of our Thanksgiving 2010.
My Thanksgiving 2010 photos say:
- David was sweet and helped me peel sweet potatoes (because I was stressing out).
- This was the first year I made homemade cranberry sauce.
- The yeast rolls were left to rise way too long.
- I made my usual Mrs. Cubbinson’s dressing
- The sweet potatoes with marshmallows was baked too long and the marshmallows were like cement on my baking dish.
- We brined our turkey for the first time (and it was really good, even if it looks overdone)
- I made a huge amount of gravy
- My mashed potatoes were rich & creamy. I didn’t skimp on butter or cream.
- I made green been casserole although hardly no one in my family eats it.
- I made my husband’s favorite Lime Green Jell-O Salad (and he’s the only one who eats it)
I challenge you to take steps to preserve the memories of your Thanksgiving 2011. If you are able, take few photos of the day and think about the ways you will document Turkey Day. Need some inspiration? I’ve put together a list of my 5 favorite ways of preserving Thanksgiving memories:
1. Create a Thanksgiving scrapbook layout: If you scrapbook, like I do, I encourage you to do at least one layout about your Thanksgiving Day. It doesn’t have to be a big production – one layout is easy to do and can be all that is needed. The scrapbook page you see above displays 9 photos and all the details that I wanted to share.
2. Put together a Thanksgiving recipe album: Take photos of the finished dishes and 1-2 photos of the food prep. Pair these together with your Thanksgiving recipes and you will be well on your way to creating a family recipe book. There are many ways to actually create the book – you can create digital scrapbooking recipe album or place your recipes and photos into a 3-ring binder recipe book.
3. Start a Thanksgiving Memory Tablecloth: Buy a light colored tablecloth and fabric pens to cover your table. Encourage your guests to write what they are thankful for, notes about their year, doodles, and add their name & year. Each year, continue to bring out the tablecloth and continue to add to it.
4. Maintain a Yearly Thanksgiving Journal: Each year, write the details (menu, guests, funny stories, special notes) of your Thanksgiving in a journal. Tuck the journal away until the next year and repeat each Thanksgiving. Anyone can do this idea, but it’s especially great for young families to start as one of their traditions.
5. Create a Thankful Jar: Choose a jar that has a lid and cut multiple strips of paper. Set the jar out and the strips of paper with a pen. Guests are invited to write down what they are thankful for (with name and date) and then place it in the jar. Each year, the same jar becomes part of the festivities and is filled with even more strips of paper which share what people are thankful for.
Do you have your own favorite way of preserving Thanksgiving memories? Leave me a comment and share your ideas.
Christy says
I love all of your Thanksgiving ideas! The thankful jar is my favorite! Thanks for sharing and I hope you have an awesome, stress-free Thanksgiving this year!
Rosemary says
I think your turkey looks perfect! I love all of your suggestions for a fun holiday with family and friends and to start our own Thanksgiving traditions. Happy Thanksgiving!