Leisure World News

Leisure World News • Community • November 2018 A15 Shop Savers ® for Fall and Thanksgiving decor There’s no reason to break the bank! 2110 S. Power Rd., Mesa (480) 396-1713 * Excludes Red Tags Open at 9 a.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday Donor Appreciation Card You’ve made a difference in our community. Get up to 30% off your purchase with your Donor Appreciation Card when you donate reusable clothing and household items to benefit local nonprofits! See store for details. SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 50% OFF* Select Tags 50% OFF* Every- thing! Senior Discount 30% OFF* Entire Purchase *Excludes red tags. Mustbe55+ 50% OFF* Select Tags Club Members 25% OFF* 50% off select tags 50% OFF* Select Tags 50% OFF* Select Tags Discounts available at all Arizona locations NEW ROOF INSTALLATION- TILE, SHINGLE, FOAM ROOF REPAIRS • MAINTENANCE • WARRANTIES FREE ESTIMATES www.azroofpro.com www.johnnysroofingaz.com BUY 1 GET 1 FREE OF EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE One coupon per customer, per visit. Exp. 8/31/17 1696 N. Higley Rd Gilbert, AZ (NWcorner Higley & Baseline) 480-924-6550 FREE BLIZZARD Offer now available at Power Road location! 316 S. Power Rd Mesa, AZ (NWcorner Power & Broadway) 480-985-5676 Exp. 11/ 0/18 Marco’s Pizza Mesa 446 N Higley Rd, Suite 105 Mesa, AZ (NW corner Higley & University) 480-396-4300 www.marcos.com Pizza*Subs *Salads*Wings 10% OFF Total Bill *Not valid with any other offers. . . The holidays are here, but the stress of entertaining family and friends doesn’t need to be.ThisThanksgiving, there’s hope. Simply follow these 10 Thanksgiving entertaining tips to simplify your life: 1. Food Hacks: Don’t make everything from scratch! Use your store’s deli, bakery and frozen food aisles. Then add your own touches. From the deli, you’ll find salads and meats; the bakery offers fresh apple and pumpkin pies; and the frozen food section includes mashed potatoes and vegetables. Add fresh herbs to salads and vegetables and whipped topping or ice cream for pies. 2. Be Flexible: Toss aside your roasting pots and pans and make this year an “anything goes” holiday by buying or preparing your favorite appetizers and other nibbles such as chips and dip, pizza, chicken wings and tacos. For added fun, ask your guests to bring their favorite food to share! 3. Leave the House: If you wince at the thought of cleaning your home, consider holding the festivities elsewhere. For example, if weather permits, use your patio, backyard or unused garage. If celebrating outside, buy or borrow a fire pit or reserve a room or the patio at your community center. Don’t forget to decorate the tables with small pumpkins, flowers or holiday- themed tablecloths. 4. Opt for Catering: Why not let the experts handle it? Grocery stores, specialty stores and restaurants offer Thanksgiving meals to go. A typical meal usually includes a 10 to 12-pound turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, cranberry relish and rolls. Also ask about other options. 5. Dine Out: If you would rather skip the cooking and cleaning, why not meet your guests at a restaurant? And if your family and friends don’t agree, compromise by meeting at someone’s home afterwards for dessert and coffee. There are many places around the Valley that offer delicious meals, but most need a reservation, so book in advance. For a list of restaurants, visit Phoenix.org or Open Table. 6. Ask for Help: Nothing is more stressful than spending days grocery shopping, cooking and baking. So, simply ask for help. Every guest or family can bring part of the meal. To make sure you don’t end up with five heaping plates of mashed potatoes, hand out assignments. Designate categories such as a vegetable, starch, salad, fruit, bread and dessert. Remember that most people want to help. All you have to do is ask! 7. Choose a Setup Crew: Have a guest who’s artsy, helpful and efficient? Ask her or him to come early to set the table, chairs and decorate. Make sure you have everything needed on hand, including enough chairs and tables, tablecloths, plates, napkins and flatware. Buy inexpensive decorations, such as window or wall hangings, pumpkins, candles and flowers to give your home a holiday feel. 8. Enlist a Cleaning Crew: Don’t spend several days cleaning. Instead, enlist the help of grandchildren, nieces and nephews or other guests who don’t mind helping. Start several days before the event and reward your helpers with pizza or ice cream afterwards! If that’s not possible, ask friends or your community advocates for referrals. 9. Make a plan: Take the advice of renowned author Napoleon Hill who said, “Plan your work and work your plan.” If you’re hosting a large event, it’s crucial to plan your menu, shopping list, guests and responsibilities ahead of time. If it seems like too much, find a willing co-planner to keep things in perspective. Entertaining should never be stressful; just follow your plan! For a week-by-week guide to stress-free hosting, visit https://www.bhg.com/thanksgiving/planning/ thanksgiving-countdown/. 10. Have fun: Relax and join your guests! Don’t worry about checking if people need more wine or another slice of pie. Set out all the food and drinks out so people can help themselves. Mingle with your guests, indulge in that second slice of pie and enjoy the company of family and friends. Make this your best Thanksgiving ever. Relax, have fun and count your blessings. Then take a deep breath because the next holiday is right around the corner! 10 Thanksgiving Entertaining Tips