Reply to S/O: 'Civilized' Holiday How-To

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[quote=Anonymous]Yes, I'm being tongue-in-cheek with the word "civilized" in the title of this thread. If you want to use paper plates at holidays to avoid stress, please do, and enjoy!

But for people reading the "paper plates at Thanksgiving thread" who want to know how to pull it off with the real stuff (or for those of us who routinely do it who might want new strategies for doing it even better), now we have a thread!

My tips:
1) Iron linens, if needed, a week out. 
2) If you have the means and feel like treating yourself, have a professional house-cleaning a few days before. I treat myself to this about four times a year.
3) Set the table(s), as much as possible, the night before 
4) Do prep work two days out/the day before: chop vegetables, make cranberry sauce, make mashed potatoes:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/delicious_creamy_mashed_potatoes/
5) Do your stuffing in a crock pot...you can get it started early, and it's out of the way. Make the spice blend for the stuffing a few days before, so all you have to do is dump spices from a small Tupperware instead of getting out lots of spices the day of
6) If people offer to bring dishes, take them up on it; especially dessert. I always make pecan pie the day before and ask people to bring other desserts. If they don't offer, make your favorite dessert and then order special chocolates or another "impressive" treat, maybe from a nice bakery
7) Clean as you cook...this is a big one! I use Rachael Ray's "garbage bowl" tip, and reuse pans (after quickly rinsing/wiping) when and where you can
8) Make a menu plan and keep it simple. No, you don't have to make both oyster dressing and regular. You don't have to have 15 kinds of pies.  
9) You don't have to do ALL the cleaning all at once. Clean in "shifts" so everyone can help out a bit. Mix it up. It doesn't have to be you and two other women in the kitchen all evening. 
10) Buy a ton of flowers 2 days before, and break up into several vases/containers. That's enough for the centerpiece, just a small, low arrangement and a few candles. No big deal

What are your tips?

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