Next week, Americans all over the country will be celebrating Thanksgiving — that time of the year we can all put our differences aside, appreciate all the many things we’ve been blessed with, and eat all sorts of incredible coma-inducing food.   This week, though, we here at LBW recommend throwing a Friendsgiving party first . If you haven’t jumped on board this new trend it yet, we highly recommend it. Friendsgiving can best be described as an opportunity to hang out with amazing friends and have amazing food.  Anything else beyond that… Well, that’s just gravy.

Here is a quick roundup of some ideas to help you make the most of your first (or next) Friendsgiving party.

• Make it a potluck – Invite your friends and encourage everyone to bring a dish… and if came directly from the grocery store and the sticker is still on it, well that’s just fine.  Friendsgiving should be more casual than the real Turkey day anyway.

• Test new recipes – Think of this as your opening act for Thanksgiving.  Curious if cranberry sauce and taco meat would make a great side? Now’s your time to find out.

• Play boardgames – Here are five of our favorite games you should probably have on your shelf right now.

• Create a makeshift photobooth – Use these apps to turn your Android or Apple phone / tablet into a photobooth in 5 minutes flat.

• Design your own signature Thanksgiving cocktail (or steal one from the Interwebs) – like these, these and these.

• Make an overstuffed playlist –  Here are three songs to get you started – Adam Sandler’s ‘Turkey Song‘, Weird Al’s ‘Eat It‘, and a Meghan Trainor parody about being ‘All About the Baste.’

• Make your own boardgame –  We’re thinking Mousetrap meets Pictionary… or take a page from Marshall Eriksen to create something like this.

• (Attempt to) Play True American – Because after all: it’s 50% Candyland.

• Go around the room and share your gratitude list – There is so much to be thankful for. Take a few moments to vocalize it with the people who care about you most.

However you decide to celebrate this Friendsgiving Season, our hope is that you do it with people who make you happy and make you want to be the best version of yourself.  Happy Friendsgiving!

 

This post is part of Life Between Weekends’ Tuesday Takeaway series. Every Tuesday, we’ll share the most compelling insight we’ve gleaned from a book, movie, tour, documentary or article.