Hosting Thanksgiving Just After A Move

Moving during the holidays can be difficult to avoid. Especially if you’re the one who hosts friends and family for dinner, there’s no need to alter your plans because you’ve relocated. With a little pre-planning, out of the box thinking and organization, your first Thanksgiving at your new home can be memorable. There is no better way to show off your new house to family and friends than by having a festive feast!

You may have many weeks to unpack and get settled in your new home and set up for Thanksgiving, depending on the timing of your move. But more often than not, your traditional Thanksgiving plans will need to be altered to accommodate your move. Don’t be caught with unforeseen turkey day troubles. Plan, adapt, and get ready to make some new memories in your new home!

Planning Ahead

By the time your local moving company or long-distance movers deliver into your new home, you need to have a plan ready to go for creating a perfect Thanksgiving for you and your family. Prior to packing at your old home, you want to write a list of your holiday must-haves. Whether you have a festive set of china, your grandmother’s recipe for candied yams, or your table centerpiece, be sure to plan out the eventall the way through, and write down a list of everything you traditionally use.

Once you have an idea of what you have to have for the event, now is the time to pack. If you’re using your local moving company or long-distance mover to pack for you, give a copy of your list to the movers. The movers can make sure those must-haves are packed together and properly labeled. Having boxes labeled with “Thanksgiving- recipes,” “Thanksgiving- cookware,” or “Thanksgiving- decorations”, will make your unpacking easier once you get to your new home. All items for the event will be together and easy to find. Another idea is to take pictures of your holiday recipes, just in case you forgot where you packed your favorite cookbook!

If you can get unpacked before your gets arrive in town, that is always the preferred situation. Especially if you will have houseguests for several days, prioritizing unpacking important items and getting guest rooms set up should be your top priority.

If you are short on time and guests will arrive soon, then it’s time to prioritize! Main areas of the home should be set up, such as living rooms, kitchen and bathrooms. Other rooms like home offices, garages and outdoors spaces can be set up later. Your guests will understand if your whole house isn’t ready for a full tour yet!

Keep it Simple

You probably have your Thanksgiving dinner preparation ready to go! However, if you are not fully unpacked or settled into your new place, it may be time to start thinking about other ideas. Finding options to ease your move-in process and meal prep while still letting you host a meal that’s a hit is easier than it might seem.

The key to all successful moves is communication. Moving during the holidays is the same! When you arrive to your new home, you probably already have laid out a plan with your local moving company or long-distance movers. Ask the movers to set any boxes with the label “Thanksgiving” in a central place in the house, to make your unpacking and setup tasks much easier.

If you need to alter your cooking plans because of your move situation, there are a few easy and affordable options to explore.

Grocery Store Boxes- Some grocery stores have Thanksgiving dinners in a box, which include a turkey and sides pre-cooked and ready. These boxes a wonderful option because they often come in their own serving trays and ready to eat.

Meal Kits and Delivery Services- There are so many boxed meal companies these days, and lots will curate a Thanksgiving box. These services will mail your main and side dishes to your house, complete with all ingredients and instructions to cook each dish.

Slow Cooker- Did you know you can cook a ham in a slow cooker? Leveraging your small appliances can free up your cooktop, save time and energy. This will leave you more time to spend on what is truly important, your loved ones!

Leftovers- You probably haven’t unpacked any of your food storage containers, so how will you send diners home with leftovers? Disposable muffin tins! These muffin tins are inexpensive, and a great way to let each guest have the perfect size of everything..

Borrow From Neighbors

Getting to know is a lot of the experience of moving to a new house. Because the opportunity is already presenting itself, asking your neighbors if you can borrow items you have not unpacked yet can be a good fix. Asking for a casserole dish, folding chairs or wine glasses will save you the time of unpacking. Score bonus points with your neighbors by bringing some of your food or pie when you give back the things you borrowed!

If your move is to Chicago is a new city or area for your, be sure to talk with and get to know your long-distance mover. The team members assisting the driver with delivery will know and be familiar with your new town and they can certainly give you directions to local Chicago thrift and grocery stores and many other ideas to get your holiday must-haves!

Call Corrigan

As a family owned and operated Chicago local moving company and long-distance movers, Corrigan knows the importance of family. If you hire Corrigan as your local moving company, that likely means your family and friends are still close by, easing the transition to your new house. But, we also understand that long-distance movers may be the closest feeling to family you may have at the moment. Corrigan treats all customers like extended family and we will do whatever it takes to ensure a simple, stress-free move. Whatever your situation, you can count on Corrigan Moving Systems to warm your holiday season with impeccable service!