Thanksgiving is America's favorite holiday for so many reasons, but I love it first and foremost because it lends itself to tradition yet is steeped in simplicity. On this glorious Thursday of all Thursdays, costumes are irrelevant, gifts are unnecessary, and even decorations are optional. In fact, all you need to have an incredible Thanksgiving Day is loving family by your side, delicious food to enjoy, and a sense of gratitude for both.

But when traveling to see said family is simply not an option (because you're on-call to work the next day), and it's up to you to provide all of the delicious food for your tiny family... Well, you have to learn to make do. Which is why, based on my recent experience of trial-and-error, I've come up with a simple seven-step guide to creating a successful Thanksgiving meal—and overall, a happy Turkey Day—for two.

Step 1: Draw out a Turkey Day menu and timeline.

 Even though I'm not all that great of a cook, when it came to preparing for the Thanksgiving feast, I had time on my side: long before November arrived, I knew would be in charge of my own family's (read: mine and Scott's) holiday meal, so I planned accordingly.

First on my to-do list, of course, was to draw up a solid menu. This was the fun part. While my typical Thanksgiving dinner of previous years consisted of comfort food with a Cajun twist, Scott grew up eating the traditional Thanksgiving dishes—roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, bread stuffing—which seemed like an obvious starting point. But, if I was going to do this right, I would need instructions to follow every step of the way. That's where Pinterest came in handy.

Within ten minutes, I had chosen a recipe for the turkey and one for each side I planned to make. After skimming them all, I then came up with a strict timeline for the big day. (I've been known to spend hours on end putzing around in the kitchen, so having something to keep me on track was a lifesaver; it eliminated any potential stress from cooking so many things at once, and it helped ensure we ate before 8pm.)

Step 2: Bake dessert ahead of time.

Expecting to be in the kitchen for the better part of Thursday, I decided to cut my future self some slack by whipping up a scrumptious dessert the day before. Pumpkin pie seemed like a great choice because 1) unlike a cherry crisp or apple pie, it keeps well in the fridge overnight and is best served cold, and 2) it makes for a delicious Thanksgiving Day breakfast. Don't judge, mine was paleo. (Which brings me to another lesson learned... skip the paleo desserts on Thanksgiving. They may save you a few calories, but nothing beats the real thing.)

Step 3: Delegate responsibility. 

Just because you've volunteered to be in charge of the Thanksgiving cuisine this year doesn't mean you have to do it all single-handedly. The key to also enjoying your day is recruiting assistance when you need it. For example, don't be afraid to nicely ask your husband to de-giblet and rinse the turkey as you prepare the stuffing. Because as much as you want to impress him with your mad kitchen skills, putting your hand up a giant bird's butt and pulling out loose body parts is not your idea of fun. Let's be real, that's what husbands are for. Plus, if he's anything like mine, he'll be happy to pitch in.

Step 4: Clean as you go.

This one's self-explanatory. The more dishes you wash before sitting down to dinner, the less you'll have to clean up afterwards, when you find yourself teetering on the edge of a massive food coma. Do yourself a favor and clean as you go. (I may have learned this the hard way...)

Step 5: Resist the urge to drink alcohol on an empty stomach.

Around 2pm, while the turkey was roasting in the oven, the stuffing was cooking in the crockpot, and the potatoes were boiling on the stove, I figured it was the perfect time to throw together my version of this refreshing Holiday Sangria and take a break from the heat of the kitchen. Probably my biggest mistake of the day. A glass (or two) later of the bubbly drink, and I was not feeling my best. (Even though, I must say, it was absolutely delicious.) While I was more than able to finish up the last of the cooking—I had come thus far, and nothing was going to stop me now—the mess I made trying to light-headedly handle turkey gravy, mashed potatoes, and veggies was so overwhelmingly huge that I almost had a mental breakdown trying to clean it all up. (Thank God for my super accommodating, completely sober, and mentally stable Scotty, who did a wonderful job calming me down.) The moral of the story: don't drink on an empty stomach, even if it is a holiday.

Step 6: Fill up your plate... And go back for seconds.

This is the one day a year that you can eat all the carbs you want without feeling guilty. Why stop at one plate?

Step 7: Wind down with a movie, your beloved, and (finally) a drink.

By now, chances are you're pretty tired, painfully stuffed, and nursing a few battle wounds from the day's events (thanks to the new set of very sharp kitchen knives you received as a wedding gift). Once the leftovers are safely stowed away in the fridge and the dishes are washed and dried, feel free to take a load off by snuggling on the couch with your man and sipping on a glass of sangria. Because there's simply nothing better than relaxing after a rewardingly busy day. And, let's be honest, you've earned it. :-)

Happy belated Thanksgiving, my friends. Hope it was splendid!

The hubster generously gifted me with this beauty for my birthday, and ever since, I've been dying to spend a whole day snapping photos of something other than my neighborhood. So when Scott recommended we spend our free Saturday at Ren Fest last weekend, I knew it'd be the perfect opportunity to try out my newest prized possession.

Well, as expected, the camera is perfect in so many ways: it's lightweight and easy to maneuver without compromising on photo quality—exactly what I was hoping for! My camera skills, however, are a bit rusty these days. It saddens me to admit that I don't shoot nearly as much as I used to, and when I do bother to pick up a camera (instead of my handy dandy iPhone), the Auto setting is my best friend. Oh, the shame! My college self would be extremely disappointed in my current lack of ambition. I'm hoping that this new trinket of mine will boost my desire to practice, practice, practice.

But, Ren Fest. First of all, I don't know why I don't make it a point to go every year. When we do go, it's always a blast! Flame jugglers, jousting knights, mulled wine, the most creative medieval costumes you've ever seen... Honestly, what's not to love? But I will say, this time, the highlight of my day was running into THE Sanderson Sisters. (If you don't know of those I speak, you don't deserve to know. Okay, just kidding.) If you know me at all, you're probably aware of my longtime obsession with the movie Hocus Pocus—so as you can imagine, I was completely beside myself. Scott had to quite literally shove me towards them, I was so nervous, in order to take a photo. But we got it, thank heavens, a portrait of me and three of the coolest 17th century witches around!

...I may have even pulled Winnie aside to ask her if they'd be interested in adding a fourth witch to Hocus Pocus the Sequel (#shameless). She said she'd call me.

All I remember about Venice was the gelato.

Two, no, three scoops of velvety stracciatella and coffee flavored heaven piled high atop a crunchy waffle cone, every bite floating over my tongue like a cloud. And the pizza! The pizza was pretty life-changing, too, even if it was thin-crust. (Give me Chicago-style deep dish any day, unless I'm in Italy.)

Then there were the masks—hundreds of them, of all different colors and intricate designs—hanging from store ceilings and placed strategically in shop windows, staring you down as you crossed the narrow lanes and swerved through strangers. We finally gave in and bought each a one (red wire for me, gold papier-mache for Kristen) and wore them to a fancy masquerade feast with the rest of the group.

But before that, a (seemingly) drunk Italian man in a striped uniform steered us through the canals of Venice by gondola, rowing oar in one hand and half-empty beer bottle in another. It was something else, that gondola ride—enchantingly romantic, with the beautiful views and a mid-afternoon breeze and curious onlookers crossing bridges above—almost as wonderful as the gelato.