Thanksgiving is Family Time, Brace Yourself...

As Thanksgiving and the holidays approach, you might be feeling a little... stressed? I think that's only natural. Aside from the fact that November and December are both very busy months, you also have to think about – family time (a thought that can sends shivers down the spines of even the most resilient of family men/women...) Let's be honest here – we all have a crazy Aunt Eunice and a drunken Uncle Tom that test our patience holiday after holiday. So why not take a moment today to prepare ourselves for all those upcoming family get-togethers? And in an effort to help you prepare, I have compiled a list of some simple tips that should get you though the upcoming family time...

• Get some cheap houseplants and disperse them throughout your home. That way if one of your guests really starts to get on your nerves, you can excuse yourself and take a quiet moment to water your ficus. (Plus if your family is the sort that tends to get upset with each other and start throwing things... well... there will always be inexpensive plants nearby to hurl, thus saving the antique plates you have displayed on the walls...)
  
  
• Keep some cookie dough in the fridge. You never know when someone might drop by unexpectedly and ask for a snack.
  
  
• Stock up on the essentials – which normally I would say are beer, ketchup, and toilet paper, but in the case of excessive amounts of family time I would say the essentials are – beer, wine, and vodka.
  
  
• And lastly - clean out the closets – that way when the REALLY crazy side of the family shows up, you have a convenient place to hide.