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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

How To Do Thanksgiving For Two

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Thanksgiving is one of those holidays firmly planted in the realm of "the bigger, the better": large family gatherings, lavish dinners and no small amounts of hustle and bustle. But what if, by some wayward circumstance, you and your significant other find yourselves just a duo this holiday season? Here are three simple and fun ways to partake in the spirit of Turkey Day, when it's just two of you.

1. Start Your Own Traditions in the Kitchen. Chances are the older womenfolk in both your families handled much of the holiday cooking, so here's chance to take both of your traditional recipes and get creative. You could even do it Top Chef competition-style to see whose family really does make the best gingerbread cookies. Afterward, you two can cuddle in each other's arms and lapse into a communal food coma. Read: The Sexual Side Effects Of Thanksgiving Dinner

2. Go Black Friday Ogling. Black Friday is only stressful and aggravating if you're actually participating in the melee. Stepping back and observing the chaos around you can actually be a rather amusing pastime. Delight in the warm feeling of schadenfreude while you two calmly sip hot chocolate at the mall and watch soccer moms battle over Twilight Barbies. Should you choose to join in on consumer mania, you can double-team it. A favorite tactic of mine: One person gets in line immediately upon entering the store while the other starts shopping, then you trade off line-standing duties. Read: Men vs. Women, Shopping vs. Sex

3. Be Two Goody Two-Shoes. Rack up some brownie points with your significant other by donating time together to charitable causes. Beyond just volunteering at a local soup kitchen, how about going door-to-door, Girl Scout-style to collect canned goods? Another idea is to go through each other's closets for clothes to donate to the Salvation Army. (This is a great moment to get rid of those ratty PJs he never seems to get out of on Saturday mornings.) Read: Steal These 7 Items From Your Guy's Closet

More Holiday Survival Tips From YourTango:
Written by Julie Leung for YourTango.com

Related: thanksgiving, relationships, holiday, couples, black friday

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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 44
  • Melanie's Avatar
    Posted by Melanie Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:35am PST

    Traditions in the kitchen can extend to meals other than dinner (or late lunches). My sweetie and I always start our turkey day off with a big breakfast we cook together followed by watching our favorite movies until we have to get up and going for the days festivities. I think by having "us" time before the days events we feel more connected and ultimately have a better time.

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  • Mauna's Avatar
    Posted by Mauna Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:22pm PST

    Here's an idea...(just joking around) Flick food at each other the dishes that did not come out well. LOL!

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  • DMLady's Avatar
    Posted by DMLady Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:25pm PST

    wow, now we have spam in other languages - now we can be annoyed on a global level. anyway, my guy and i are planning to have just a quiet turkey day for two - we just don't want to deal with the family drama and b.s. this year. a nice evening in, done our way. we can set what time we eat and then just relax on the couch afterwards - the dishes can wait until the following day.

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  • MrsKlingonPasadena's Avatar
    Posted by MrsKlingonPasadena Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:26pm PST

    I decided to have a no stress thanksgiving. My hubby and I are going to pick up his mom and we are all going to TGIFridays for Thanksgiving. No cooking, no washing all those darn dishes! Plus, we never spend holidays with his mom and she ain't getting any younger!

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  • Paul's Avatar
    Posted by Paul Tue Nov 24, 2009 6:44am PST

    You should let your partner watch football, not movies.

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  • LoveN's Avatar
    Posted by LoveN Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:34pm PST

    I love the idea of volunteering together. I once went on a week-long service trip with my boyfriend. It was so much better than just lounging around focusing on whether or not to order a daiquiri or pina colada... not that these are bad options :)

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Comments 1-10 of 44

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