Thanksgiving is just around the corner, bringing with it tender turkey, football freak outs, and bodacious Black Friday sales. Which means it’s time to get your home holiday ready! Whether you’re hosting a fun Friendsgiving, entertaining out of town guests, or skipping the kitchen for the casino, use this handy guide to get the most out of your long holiday weekend. We’ve compiled the best recipes, activities, and products to help your holiday go off without a hitch.

Family, Friends, and Food

If you’re planning to go full Iron Chef this Thanksgiving, let us hook you up with our favorite recipes. We’re ready for slow roasted turkey, creamy garlic mashed potatoes, bacon filled green bean casserole, and of course, pumpkin pie. These recipes from The Food Network and Taste of Home are sure to be a hit with your guests. If your family is like mine, then you’ll need some crafty cocktails to keep the party going. Check out these Thanksgiving inspired concoctions, sure to delight your guests and help you keep your sanity while being the host with the most.

Get Ready for the Holiday Rush

Is anyone ever really prepared to host their first major holiday? You can give yourself a leg up on the situation with some of these great products from HomCom.

If you’re the type who generally eats in front of the tv (or over the sink), this might be a good time to invest in a proper dining table. This beautiful prairie school style table and chair set will be sure to impress any grandmother. Add a modern touch with this rustic industrial hanging lamp pendant, or turn some heads with this elaborate crystal chandelier. These accent lights are a great way to add a decorative touch to your home.

When it comes to the kitchen, function and fashion go hand in hand. That’s why we’ve designed these stylish appliances to give your kitchen a modern twist. Whip up some blended cocktails or creamy soups in this festive industrial strength blender, and keep your kitchen tidy and odor free with our motion sensor garbage can. Stock up on your favorite mini kegs and serve up authentic draft beer using this mini-kegerator. Your guests will love the novelty of frosty adult beverages on tap!

Give Your Guests Something to Talk About

It’s not enough to keep your guests warm and fed. You must also provide entertainment. Outsource this job to the T.V. whenever possible, like with this live stream of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, or the Thanksgiving Day NFL lineup, including an apt pairing of Redskins v Cowboys.

When it’s time to bring everyone together, bust out one of these cool gaming tables. Our full-sized poker table seats eight and even has designated cupholders, so your cards and chips won’t get drowned in Uncle Ed’s wayward beer. The younger crowd will love this ping pong table, which can likewise double as a beer pong table after the kids have their fun. We also carry a mini version of a classic Foosball table, so you’ll only be one Fez-wearing Turkey head away from a true Friends-style Friendsgiving. Your guests will talk about your exceptional hospitality skills for years to come.

Breaking Turkey Day Traditions

Not into the traditional Thanksgiving? I usually spend Thanksgiving home alone with my dogs, eating takeout and playing video games. It might be my favorite holiday, but don’t tell my parents.

Not into family drama and carbo-loading, but still want to get out of the house? Check out local events and volunteer opportunities. Here in Portland, we have the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, a 4 mile all- abilities walk and run through Washington Park and the Oregon Zoo, which raises over $25,000 annually for the care of zoo animals and community outreach programs. Additionally, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and nursing homes are always happy to have volunteers to help serve the less fortunate. Volunteering is a great way to feel good while doing good.

If the weather permits, then pack a picnic and head out to a state park, or go for a hike. Not the outdoorsy type? Many wineries and casinos host special events on Thanksgiving, including buffets, performers, and inclusive packages. Take advantage of the long weekend and get out of town!

Our Favorite Products to Make Your Thanksgiving a Success

Did you pull the short straw for hosting duty this year? Whether you’re channeling your inner Martha Stewart and going all in, or procrastinating your preparations for Wednesday night, let us give you a hand planning the festivities. Here are some more great products to make your Thanksgiving celebration a hit.

Give the kids table an upgrade this year. These handy and stylish fold up tables are ideal for indoor get-togethers as well as outdoor picnics and camping trips when the sun returns next year. These folding tables are a great source of extra seating for adults and kids alike. Sturdy and durable enough to keep your guests happy during dinner time, they fold up and store quickly for next year.

Convenient Folding Tables

Need extra seating to accommodate your guests? Check out our huge selection of ottomans. Versatile and easy to move, ottomans are certainly a great solution to seating shortages. Many of them double as storage and can be used throughout the year.

Versatile and Stylish Ottomans

Want to add a little extra wintertime ambiance to your home? Pick up one of our electric fireplaces and give your home that cozy and warm feeling. With a variety of styles to choose from, you’ll be able to find the perfect holiday accent piece that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. These cute space heaters emulate a real fireplace to provide comforting ambiance to your guests while keeping their rooms nice and toasty. Able to thoroughly heat any space up to 325 square feet, you’ll enjoy basking in its warm glow throughout the winter season, long after your guests have gone home.

Cozy Fireplace Heaters

If you have out of town guests staying with you, it’s time to invest in a pull-out sleeper sofa. We have a range of styles to complement any home decor. Fold out sofa beds are a great addition to any family room or guest room, pulling double duty as extra seating during the festivities, while giving your overnight guests a comfy place to sleep off their turkey and cider induced hangover. These trendy couches are also super comfy and easy to clean.

Trendy Sleeper Sofas

Is your kitchen lacking counter space? Add some valuable real estate to your kitchen set up with one of our rolling kitchen carts. Many of these carts double as a wine rack and utensil storage, so you can get the most out of your kitchen this holiday season. We carry a variety of carts to match any kitchen style.

Convenient Kitchen Carts

Celebrating with an Attitude of Gratitude

In the pandemonium of the food, drinks, guests, and games, let’s not forget the spirit of the holiday- giving thanks. This year, we are thankful for you, our amazing customers, for supporting us year after year and trusting us to bring you great products. So thank you, for welcoming us into your homes, gardens, workspaces, and everywhere else you take us. We wish you an Aosom Thanksgiving!