The table is set...

So tomorrow is the big day... the day I have been preparing for since November 1st. No joke, I actually wrote out our Thanksgiving menu and shopping list on the first of November. It's been tacked to our fridge, staring back at me, silently taunting me with its 2-appetizer 1-protein 6-sidedish 2-dessert challenge. If you haven't discerned just how anal I am yet, now you definitely know. I think I am rightfully anal in this situation, though, for two reasons. I will outline them for you in an easy-to-read, understandable format: 1. This is my first time ever cooking a Thanksgiving dinner a. If you ask me, I can hold my own in the kitchen b. However, a meal of this size and scope requires careful planning c. For a lass like me, it requires meticulous planning, including planning out the serving dishes and utensils I will be using for each dish d. Why is such planning required? See #2 2. The inlaws are coming for their first visit ever. This is notable for several reasons: a. Throughout our dating life, we always lived in the same town as the in-laws, thereby requiring no overnight or extended stays by either party b. Said in-laws will be staying until Tuesday of next week, thereby requiring not only conscientious meal planning throughout the rest of the weekend and into the week... but also thoughtful activity and entertainment planning So with all of that being said, the house is clean, the dishes are prepped, the turkey is in brine, and my table is set. The table is gorgeous if I do say so myself. This Thanksgiving marks the first time we get to use our new Vera Wang Grosgrain china, a most generous wedding gift from aforementioned in-laws. For anyone who is having second thoughts about registering for china, do it anyway. I had no idea that having pretty china would make me so happy as I set my table today. Yes, it's superficial but I LOVE IT. So, moral of the story: yes, this holiday has brought about a bit of stress. However, I fully intend on enjoying it, as Turkey Day is my favorite holiday. I'm hoping the six bottles of red I have in my pantry will have some influence on my degree of enjoyment. As my gift to you, please enjoy this warm & fuzzy Thanksgiving thought, courtesy of someecards.com: