Hey, Sweet Friend!

Well, would you look at that.

I just realized I haven't emailed this whole list since October 15th.

WHOOPSIES. 🫣

Now, before you think I've been sitting around eating bonbons and watching the leaves fall, let me tell you what I've been up to!

All October long, I hosted something called Prepsgiving. Every single day, I sent an email with one small task to help us get ahead of the holiday season.

Nothing extravagant. Nothing requiring a trip to HomeGoods and a second mortgage.

Just little things we could do NOW so Future Us wouldn't be standing in the kitchen on Thanksgiving morning wondering why we didn't start preparing three weeks ago.

We cleaned out spaces. We made lists. We thought about our freezers. We planned ahead. We gave ourselves permission to make the holidays a little easier this year.

And now?

THE REAL WORK BEGINS.

Because Thanksgiving is THREE WEEKS FROM TODAY!

And here's what I've decided.

I'm taking ALL of you along for the ride.

Whether you participated in Prepsgiving or you're just now realizing Thanksgiving is coming at you like a freight train, there's room for you here.

Welcome to the November Thanksgiving Playbook!

Every Sunday, I'm going to send you a little game plan for the week.

A handful of things you can do to get ahead. A few things you can make and freeze. Some good, hearty dinner ideas that feed you more than once because, quite frankly, I think leftovers are better than the original meal. (Which is saying something... I do NOT enjoy leftovers!!)

We'll talk about the grocery store, the freezer, the guest list, and all those little details that make hosting feel like a whole lot of work.

But on Wednesdays?

We're going to talk about something even more important.

Why we're doing all of this in the first place.

You know, I believe dinner parties can change the world.

And Thanksgiving? Well, Thanksgiving might just be the Ultimate Dinner Party.

It's the one day of the year when millions of people intentionally gather around tables. They cook recipes passed down through generations. They make room for family, friends, neighbors, and sometimes complete strangers.

And I think there's something pretty extraordinary about that.

So on Wednesdays, I'm inviting you into a different kind of conversation.

We'll talk about hospitality, belonging, traditions, and how to create the kind of table people want to come back to.

I'll also tell you what's happening in my own kitchen. What I've already made, what's in my freezer, what I'm working on, and probably what I've forgotten.

Because I promise you, even the woman who gave a TEDx talk about dinner parties forgets things.

Here's your assignment for today:

Get out a piece of paper and write down three things:

1. What MUST happen before Thanksgiving?
2. What can you make, buy, or delegate ahead of time?
3. What would make this Thanksgiving feel really special to YOU?

That third question matters more than you think.

Because I don't want you to spend the entire holiday making magic for everybody else and missing it yourself.

I want you sitting at the table.

I want you laughing at the stories.

I want you eating your food while it's still warm.

And I want you to remember that hospitality isn't about perfection.

It's about making room.

So, here we go, y'all!

Three weeks.
One Ultimate Dinner Party.
And a whole lot of little things we can do to make it wonderful.

I'll see you Sunday with our first game plan!

With love and a very full freezer,

Ashley

P.S. Hit reply and tell me: Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year, bringing a dish, or happily showing up with a bottle of something bubbly? I want to know who's around our table this November! 💚