7 Ways To Make Thanksgiving 2020 Extra Special

Thanksgiving 2020 will certainly be different for most of us. Since the pandemic has placed restrictions on gatherings, many of us will be celebrating with just our households. While I know that nothing can really replace being with friends and family, I’ve been trying to make the best of what we can do. So I’ve been brainstorming for ways to make this Thanksgiving extra special.

1. Give Thanks, Love & Laughter

Sometimes, Thanksgiving day feels like a blur of cooking, eating, and cleaning, so if you have a chance to slow down, take some time to give thanks. Whether you write a few lines in a gratitude journal, drop off a surprise gift to a friend or neighbor, or host a virtual party with family members, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to connect.

I don’t usually send Thanksgiving cards but I found this one for my mother-in-law who always appreciates a good (or bad) joke!

Front: “Thanksgiving is just plain weird”

Inside: “What other holiday do you gather around a dead bird and serve bread out of its butt?”

No time to go to the store? You can order a set of funny cards on Amazon.

2. Upgrade Your Thanksgiving Decor

When I was shopping for Halloween, I did notice how quickly Thanksgiving Decor made it to the clearance area. Thankfully, there are still plenty of options online (and at farm stands)!

Decorate Your Porch

Even though we aren’t likely to have guests this year, I decorated our porch with pumpkins, flowers, and a new welcome mat.

Create A Tablescape

Pinterest and Instagram are chock-full of ideas for gorgeous tablescapes, but I have to admit, I’m a little intimidated by them. (With all those pumpkins in the middle where do you put the food?!)

We have a minimalist approach to our Thanksgiving tablescape. You can see my Thanksgiving table from a few years ago in my Simple, Rustic Thanksgiving Table post.

This year, I went to a local farm to buy these mini pumpkins and birch tree candle holder. (You can buy birch log candles on Amazon, too). I used my Tondo 12″ Platter from Crate And Barrel to hold them so that I could display them on our end table, and later move them to our dining table.

You could also use a dough bowl, a cheese board, or a serving tray to create your tablescape.

Decorate A Shelf Or Mantle

If you don’t have a lot of time, money, or space, decorate a shelf or your mantle. Ceramic or real pumpkins, mini gourds, and dried plants are some simple ways to make a small space more festive.

3. Start A New Thanksgiving Tradition

One thing that I’ve realized during the lockdown, is that a lack of options inspires new ideas. Rather than allowing in what we can’t do, I’ve tried to focus on what we can do.

Try A New Recipe

If you can’t enjoy your aunt’s famous berry pie, maybe think of it as an opportunity to find a new family favorite. We like to mix up the dessert traditions with brownies or chocolate mousse pie! You can add some grated orange peel for some Thanksgiving color.

Capture The Year

A Thanksgiving guest book, even if it’s just for your household, is a nice way to capture your mood this year.

What about a Thanksgiving 2020 time capsule? I know we’d put in a mask, an empty bottle of sanitizer, and several newspaper clippings! What would you include?

4. Create A Healthy Thanksgiving Morning Routine

Do you wake up early on Thanksgiving morning to cook and bake? Maybe Thanksgiving 2020 can start a little later than usual?

Go For A Walk Or Run

If you’re not hosting Thanksgiving or traveling to see family, consider starting the day with some fresh air and exercise.

Eat a Real Breakfast

Do you usually gulp down coffee and then snack on pie crust? (For the record, I’m not admitting to anything here). Take some time for a real breakfast.

If you need more healthy morning inspiration, take a look at this post: How To Create A Productive Morning Routine.

Stay In And Watch The Parade

Most years, I spend Thanksgiving morning baking pies but this year I may actually get to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. This year, there will be no live audience, but I suspect it will be special in its own way.

5. Dress Up For Dinner

If you’ve been living in jeans and workout clothes, maybe it’s a good time to dust off one of your dresses! Mine is an old style from Banana Republic but this one from Madewell has a similar look. Both have room for that pie-belly!

If dressing up doesn’t work for you, pick a theme for your family. Anything from silly hats, to matching t-shirts to Thanksgiving pajamas can make the holiday a little more festive.

6. Take Photos

Of course, if you’re going to make the effort to get dressed up (or down), you’ll need to take some photos to share with your loved ones.

I’m looking at this Ubeeze 51″ Tripod Stand from Amazon so that I can take photos of our family with my iPhone.

7. End Thanksgiving Day With Self Care

Not as much to clean up? No overnight guests? End the night with some pampering and relaxing.

Movie Night

Cozy up with the family for a feel-good movie. (Free Birds is a cute family-friendly one!)

At Home Spa

If you haven’t had enough pumpkin, relax with a pumpkin spice candle while you treat yourself to a pumpkin face mask.

Pajamas, Tea And A Good Book

When I don’t have a lot of dishes to do at night, I like to curl up in my pajamas with some herbal tea and a good book. The last book I read was our friend Peter Lovenheim’s In The Neighborhood: The Search for Community on an American Street, One Sleepover at a Time. If you need an escape from lockdown, imagine spending a night with one of your neighbors! I wonder what mine are doing for Thanksgiving?

Let me know how you are celebrating Thanksgiving 2020!