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What to Do with Thanksgiving Leftovers?
Have A Potluck Party!

It's November. Which means it's the beginning of the holiday season--starting with Thanksgiving. Every Thanksgiving, we bring together our families and friends and share a full day of feasting and fun. But when it's all said and done, there's a lot to be packed away in the fridge come evening!

So, the Party Girl (that's me) has a great idea. Why not take the Friday night after Thanksgiving and make it into a Pot Luck Party for the friends you didn't get to see on Thursday? Most people spend the day with their families, and believe me, by Friday we're all ready to blow off some steam, aren't we?

Invitation

Do a fun invitation (a flier works fine) asking those you invite to bring their leftovers for a buffet-full of goodies…who cares! You'll have leftover turkey and stuffing and Jello molds; you'll have desserts including pumpkin pie and other goodies; you'll have appetizers like crab dip, avocado dip and more. I know. We've done this for years. Until we explode!

Have little table tents available for your guests to fill out when they arrive. This way they can put down what they brought, their name and the recipe! Ask them to decorate it with a Thanksgiving/fall motif and you have a built-in activity.

Decorations

That's right. Use miniature pumpkins as place cards (using magic marker to put names on each). Use fall fruits and vegetables center table for a cornucopia centerpiece and add some great harvest votive candles. Collect some beautiful leaves and use them to decorate tables and buffets--almost like confetti but lots better. However, if you're not driven to run through the woods picking out leaves, we have Fall leaf plate and fall leaves garland, and even a fall leaf border roll to help with the mood. 

Use brown and orange linens if you don't mind renting some or buying some fabric at a local store. Use gold or copper leaf garland around each napkin and you'll have every touch you need. Top off with taper candles in autumn colors or use these spectacular Indian corn candles. Finally, check out the Give Thanks, Fall Harvest or Thanksgiving scrapbook paper goods to finish off your table. The napkins are fabulous, the plates are great and the matching guest towels tie everything together. Because the Thanksgiving meal is hearty, you may want to stick to dessert plates, but that's up to you. The less to wash is the less to wash--if you know what I mean.

By the way, another centerpiece idea (for one table or more) is a gift basket filled with fruits that someone can take home (maybe the one with a winning leaf under their plate?) or if you have multiple tables, can be given to a shelter, etc. A nice thing to do, don't you think?

Check out the menu from the first Thanksgiving in our history section and be as true to the Pilgrim and Indians thing as you can or want to be (if you have finicky eaters, it may not work). On the other hand, we have loads of menus for you to use! Be sure to decorate your buffet! Choose from this table kit, a Pilgrim Hat, leaf garland and more.

Menu

Well, your leftovers, of course! Set up a nice buffet and decorate as you would for the other tables.

Favors

There's nothing wrong with going to the next level with the party so people can have some additional fun and feel like kids again. Pass out yo-yos, glow jewelry and necklaces.

Activities

Since it is Thanksgiving, you may want to come up with a way for you and your friends to feed and shelter the homeless. I know it sounds trite, but it is a good, caring thing to do. Possibly have people bring canned goods, gently worn clothing, and other needed goods. Take the food stuff and make baskets to be delivered. It's a thought.

If it's on or if you can rent the tape, watch "The Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" special. Everyone will thank you for it.

Thanksgiving Decorations and More

Decorate your home, your family and friends as well as your table! There are loads of Thanksgiving and Football watching party stuff…(use it now, use it New Year's Day and use it at your Super Bowl party) so have fun!

• Thanksgiving Party Products