Happy Holidays! (I can say that now because Thanksgiving is officially over.) As I mentioned last week, we changed our Thanksgiving tradition this year and had our entire Thanksgiving meal catered by Real Urban BBQ. I am happy to report it was one of the best decisions we have ever made around the holidays. There were no last-minute trips to the grocery store, no one was standing over someone else in the kitchen and we had none of that unnecessary holiday tension. Thanks to Real Urban BBQ, our holiday was simple. We unboxed our perfectly packaged meal (including dessert) and set up a stunning Thanksgiving table. We spent the entire meal discussing what a fantastic choice it was to skip cooking.
Real Urban BBQ Thanksgiving catering. Real Urban BBQ Thanksgiving catering at home.Baking a catered turkey from Real Urban BBQ.
A delicious Thanksgiving meal by Real Urban BBQ.
As we talked, I began reflecting on other traditions we follow around the holidays. Were they necessary and should they continue? The holidays are truly about family and being with the people you love (no matter who it may be). This weekend we fully embraced that ideology. I spent the weekend in my new birthday sweats (I’m officially closer to 40 than 30!) and there was no getting dressed up, putting on make up or doing my hair. For the record, I love all those things, but it is not what the weekend was about. It was about my family laying around, being lazy and eating pie at every hour of the day while playing Mario Kart. There was no other place I would have rather been.
A perfect Thanksgiving meal with Real Urban BBQ.A floral Thanksgiving tablescape.Celebrating a birthday on Thanksgiving and changing perspective.Real Urban BBQ Thanksgiving Stuffing.Real Urban BBQ Mashed Potatoes.
I am so happy I made the decision to celebrate my birthday and Thanksgiving in the way we did because I really needed it. I woke up this morning with my love tank full, I had zero stress around unnecessary things and felt more centered than ever. This didn’t all happen because I had a meal catered, but by having that meal catered it allowed me to look at things differently. As we roll into a new year, I think it is important for us to reflect on what we are doing in lieu of resolutions. We should ask ourselves if what we are doing is best for our family. If you don’t know the answer, it might be time to try something different.
Real Urban BBQ Pie for Thanksgiving.Birthday gifts on Thanksgiving.Taking pictures on Thanksgiving.Zelda's Thanksgiving Polaroids.Sleeping after Thanksgiving.
There is comfort in routine, but a routine isn’t always the healthiest way. Changing our mealtime tradition gave me a new perspective. If you ever celebrate a holiday at my house, I can promise you it will most likely be catered. It was the best way ever to celebrate because it kept me present and out of the kitchen. I was able to be a guest in my own home instead of a hostess and there was no better feeling than spending the entire day immersed in family.