The Guide to Surviving Thanksgiving (With Cute Vibes Only 🦃✨)

Is it just me, or does Thanksgiving sneak up on us every single year like, “Hey bestie, hope you’re emotionally prepared to answer 14 questions about your life choices!” Luckily, it’s also the jackpot of cozy sweaters, stretchy pants, and the kind of family drama that pairs beautifully with mashed potatoes.

Whether you’re traveling across the country or just across the living room, here are a few cute and practical things you can bring to the family gathering so you can float through the day like the festive queen you are.

🍯 1. A Dish That Looks Like You Tried

You don’t need to be the next Food Network star. Just bring something that looks adorable and tastes good enough that people ask for the recipe (which you totally stole from TikTok, but we don’t have to talk about that).
Some fail-proof options:

• A big sparkling mocktail in a cute pitcher. (Bonus points if there are floating cranberries.)
• Pumpkin Pie (Marie Calendars makes a GREAT pie 🤪)
• Pumpkin cheesecake dip with cinnamon graham crackers

🕯️ 2. A Cozy Gift for the Host

If your family has a designated Host Goddess (every family has one), show up with something small but thoughtful:

• A fall-scented candle
• A cute kitchen towel set (Obviously Christmas themed because it’s already that time ✨)
• A bottle of wine with a bow slapped on top
  It says, “Thank you for hosting,” without you actually having to scrub a single dish.

📸 3. Something for the Aesthetic

Yes, Thanksgiving is about gratitude and togetherness… but like, why not make it cute?
You can bring:

• Cute fall-themed paper plates or napkins
• A mini centerpiece you DIY’d with Target dollar-spot finds
  Your family will act like they don’t care, but watch them pose when you pull out the camera.

🧃 4. Backup Snacks (for Survival)

Let’s be real: in every family there’s one dish that someone insists on making every year even though it’s… not good. Bring a snack you actually like—just in case. I’m a big fan of a bag of chips for everyone but then also something little for just yourself:

• Chocolate covered almonds 
• Kettle Chips 
• A little treat for yourself (Reese’s trees? Absolutely.)

And Finally… Can We Talk About Black Friday?! 🛍️🖤

As soon as the leftovers are in the fridge, the real sport begins. Black Friday. The Olympics of girl shopping. The day we wake up at 5AM(no joke, I will be at my moms by 5 am so we can start our day 🤪) for deals we absolutely do not need but will buy anyway because they’re 40% off.

I’m already making my list (mostly sweaters, toys that my kids don’t need, and anything that TJ Maxx and Target tells me I need!). The chaos, the carts, the coupons—I thrive in it.

So eat your turkey, take a million cute photos, survive the family interrogation… and get ready, because Black Friday is calling our names! 🫶🏻♥️