Last Minute Thanksgiving Tips!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends and family! We are all rushing around trying to remember if we did, indeed, order that organic, brined turkey! Should we serve wine because someone always drinks too much and do I have to make candied sweet potatoes (because Grandpa always asks for them, but he NEVER eats them!)???? Sometimes it is alright to just slow down and think about what it is we really are thankful for.

Five Things that make Thanksgiving tolerable!

1. Pizza delivery!

It is 4:00 p.m.the day before Thanksgiving. Your house is clean and you are high-fiving yourself because you think you have all the groceries for Thanksgiving, but remember that you have nothing for tonight's dinner! You have Super Shuttle dropping Aunt Madge at 4:30 p.m. at your house. What to do? Order a pizza to be delivered at 6:00 p.m., open a bottle of wine and relax!

2. Grocery Stores open on Thanksgiving Day!

Can I tell you how many years that I relied on stores to be open because we forgot the butter to make the pies ( or decided we didn't want to make one)? Oh yeah-we need more wine-Aunt Madge drank 2 bottles last night!

It is also a good escape from the family for an hour!

3.Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Football!

It keeps the kids and the men out of my kitchen-enough said!

4. A Good Laugh!

Watch the latest installment of my favorite ladies, "The Real Housewives of Late Night" -they will make you forget your own family holiday drama! If you have time, watch the 4 episodes prior-they are hysterical!

5. Be Thankful!

For your family, your home, your health,your self, your job, your friends, and the food on your table.

(and be thankful that there is still another month until Christmas!!!)

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving from my family to yours!!!

Shop Local: Setting Your Thanksgiving Table

Speaking of going local, don't forget Heath's simply classic-yet-always-modern tableware. Don't you just love these? So lovely.

Shop Local: Oysters to Start

Appetizers before Thanksgiving can sometimes be, well, yawwwwn.

So what about starting off with an all-time local fav? Hog Island Oysters from our mineral-rich coastal waters! Fun and zexy! A new way to kick-start the holidays! A real taste of place! (And you'll feel good, too, supporting our local purveyors.)

Shop Local: Look for Jesse

When you go to the next Farmers' Market, look for Jesse Kuhn (right). Look for his lettuces, onions, and pungent garlic (among many things) from his much-adored organic farm Marin Roots in Petaluma. Yummmmmm.

For Fun! Thanksgiving Staples

For the kids (and adults, too!), these Pumpkin Whoopie Pies are SUCH a sweet play on traditional pumpkin pie. (And a lot less work!)

Your Pantry: Thanksgiving Staples

Add to your T-giving stuffing. Heaven. From Dean & Deluca.

Your Pantry: Thanksgiving Staples

Try this: Instead of butter in those mashed potatoes, try a splash of divinity! Provence olive oil from Norma Kamali's BarXV, gourmet and wellness purveyor in New York.

Thankfully Fabulous: Lavender Citrus Spritzer

This is my newest creation! A lime and lavender-infused spritzer.

I'm working on new recipes for cocktails (and mocktails for kids and designated drivers!) that will turn Thanksgiving from dowdy to deliciously sassy! I promise! I'll post recipes soon!