Our Thanksgiving: Simple, Shared, and Exactly What We Need

Thanksgiving has always looked a little different for us.

With my husband working in the medical field—and for the first seven years of our marriage being required to be in the hospital on holidays—we’ve never really had the traditional “go home, eat with family, watch football all day” experience.

Instead, we’ve always hosted.

We’d have a Thanksgiving lunch for those who were off during the day but heading into night shift later. Then we’d do a second round of dinner for those just getting off their day shift.

Two meals. Overlapping groups. Everyone is welcome.

And honestly? It’s been really special.

We’ve never celebrated Thanksgiving (or Christmas) in our hometown with family—and that’s just part of life in the medical world. And while it can be hard sometimes, there are worse things.

We’ve been so lucky to always have a little community wherever we’ve lived—people to share holidays with, even if they weren’t our “original” people.

That matters.

Some Years We Go All Out… Some Years We Don’t

Some Thanksgivings, we’ve gone BIG.

Like: Full spread, tons of people, all the sides, all the desserts, all the chaos.

Other years, it’s smaller. Quieter. Simpler.

And I’ve learned this: both are okay.

Do what works for you. Do what protects your peace. Do what your energy allows.

Holidays don’t have to look the same every year to be meaningful.

Our Thanksgiving Menu (Nourished, Not Perfect Style)

We don’t overcomplicate this. Here are some of my favorite gadgets I use to help make life easier too!

Breakfast: Easy Mode

Store-bought cinnamon rolls. Pop them in the oven. Done.

No one needs a homemade breakfast at 7am on Thanksgiving.

Lunch / Dinner Spread

We don’t do a whole turkey—we do turkey breast. It’s easier. It’s less stressful. It’s just as good.

Here’s what we usually serve:

🦃 Turkey breast🍖 Spiral ham🥔 Hash brown casserole🥖 Rolls🥬 Green beans🧀 Mac and cheese🌽 Corn casserole🥧 My homemade apple pie

Classic. Comforting. Crowd-pleasing.

Pro Tip: Disposable Dishes & Take Home Containers Save My Sanity

Listen… I know. Save the Earth. I get it.

But on Thanksgiving? I buy disposable dishes and containers.

And when the day is over?

I give everyone leftover containers to take food home. Take it all.

I save what we will reheat and eat.

Then, I throw it all away.

No massive pile of dishes. No hours of cleanup. No resentment.

One (or a few) days a year, I give myself this grace.

Forgive me.

What We Don’t Do

We are not a Turkey Trot family.

And I am very thankful I did not marry into one.

No 5Ks. No 6am wake-ups (well...not to run anyway). No matching running shirts.

But we do love a Thanksgiving round of golf.

That’s more our speed.

My Favorite Thanksgiving Traditions

Some of my favorite parts of the day:

🦃 Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

🏈 Football on in the background

🧩 Pulling out a White Mountain puzzle (my absolute FAVORITES)

🛍️ Browsing Black Friday deals

📝 Making Christmas lists for family

🧺 Using my special Thanksgiving towels

Yes. I have special towels.

The Towels That Changed My Life

If you have not yet been introduced to Crae kitchen towels, allow me to:

✨ CHANGE.✨ YOUR.✨ LIFE.

I’m linking them here. Buy them for yourself. Buy them for your friends. Buy them for anyone you love.

You’re welcome.

(Trust me on this one.)

My Favorite Quiet Thanksgiving Moment

Before the day gets crazy—before the food, the guests, the chaos—I like to take a few quiet minutes in the morning.

I send thoughtful messages to people I love.

Not just:“Happy Thanksgiving!”

But:“I’m thankful for you because…”

It’s one of my favorite traditions.

Start someone’s day by filling their cup.It sets the tone for everything.

What Thanksgiving Means to Me Now

Thanksgiving isn’t about a perfect table.

It’s about:

• Who you’re with

• Who you’re feeding

• Who you’re loving

• Who you’re remembering

It’s about gratitude—yes—but also about grace.

Grace for:

• Different schedules

• Different traditions

• Different seasons

• Different expectations

And that’s something I’m really thankful for.