Thanksgiving is a time where many of us will be celebrating with friends and family, celebrating without your family can be lonely and even depressing. Often, spending Thanksgiving Day alone     can’t be avoided for college students. Be it time or distance, regardless of the reason, here’s a how-to for creating your own Thanksgiving celebration.

Thanksgiving Day has long been a tradition bringing loved ones together to enjoy food, fun, and laughter. Even if you are living alone, you can host a memorable Thanksgiving party. It can be stressful at times deciding who to invite. Depending on the size of your apartment, you may want to stick with inviting close friends, and your girlfriend or boyfriend.

You’re not alone in wanting to make your Thanksgiving dinner party a perfect, enjoyable, and memorable occasion. Creating a dinner party in your apartment can be tricky, especially if it’s your first time hosting such an event. Advance party planning is best to assure an easy and stress free day for you to enjoy along with your invited guests.

Preparing Thanksgiving dinner is all about pre-planning. For an easy, stress-free day you’ll want to make sure everything is prepared on time without forgetting anything you need to complement your meal. A good recommendation is to decide on your menu a week in advance so you have ample time to create a shopping list. Establish a time line when and how to prepare each dish for proper meal timing.

Two or three days before Thanksgiving you need to clean out your refrigerator to make room for the meal you’re planning to prepare. Food items that don’t need refrigeration can be purchased well in advance. If cooking a fresh turkey, purchasing two days before is recommended. Frozen turkeys can be purchased in advance if you have freezer space to store it. Don’t forget the time it takes to thaw – follow packaging directions for this step. Be sure that you have all the necessary tools and equipment to prepare your meal; adequate number of stove burners, roasting pan large enough for a turkey, crock pots, etc.

Decorating for your Thanksgiving dinner party is not only a good idea, but can be fun as well! The first thing to do is to focus on your table. Replace table linens, napkins, place mats, plates and silverware if you have the ability to do so, or keep it simple by purchasing cheap table linens with turkeys on them to make it look more festive. You could also try solid fall colors for the table and place settings. Red, yellow, orange, or maroon look great and can create a dramatic but classic look. Use matching linens, napkins, place mats, and plates. Place flowers or other fall décor in a vase or bowl in the middle of the table to add ambiance.

Organize your furniture in a manner to make best use of your space. If your apartment is small, arrange in a circle and allow the dinner table to extend into your living room. Most importantly, make sure your seating arrangement is set up so that everyone has a place to sit. Keep in mind when you rearrange your furniture if you will want a view of the television.

These tips provide for a traditional Thanksgiving meal, but you can host a dinner of your choosing. Enjoying the day is what’s important whether you prepare an elaborate meal, have pot-luck, or order in pizza. Living alone doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a memorable Thanksgiving Day!