I cannot believe the holidays are once again upon us. The kids are already giddy, drafting Christmas wish lists, while I’m trying to sort out plans with family members for the holidays. Last week, I attended the second annual Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog event, held in the heart of Rockefeller Center® which helped juice up my holiday spirit.

It was such a cool experience that I was psyched to do it again this year. Hosting any holiday, especially Thanksgiving, can be a super stressful undertaking, with so much to organize and prepare, first timers may become overwhelmed. I’ve only hosted one Thanksgiving for my family, and while I enjoyed preparing my recipes for everyone, it was a lot of work. I remember having lists all over my apartment, and sending Jason out to the store multiple times, to pick up something I had forgotten.

After attending the Ocean Spray event and getting fun hosting tips from expert CranMa’s, I’m considering doing it again! Thanksgiving is such a special time, as it ushers in the remainder of the holiday season.

A few tips I’ve learned from the experts that stuck with me!

Start prepping and cooking two to three days before Thanksgiving.

If you have a lot of people to cook for, why not make it a potluck and have each person bring a dish, even if it is just an appetizer or dessert.

Prepare a signature cocktail for when your guests come in.

When decorating your tablescape, it can be fun to decorate with fruits, vegetables and flowers. And try to set your table the day before.

And most importantly, focus on your family because that it what matters the most!