Hosting a Thanksgiving meal is nothing to joke around about.  If you're like me, you've always had the luxury of sitting back, peaking into the kitchen periodically to attend to minor details, all the while, giving thanks that you are not the one responsible for all the hard work, just the eating.   But this year I will be cooking my first Thanksgiving meal.  Luckily, it will be for a small family crowd and I will have lot's of help. 

If you are the one usually faced with this task, no doubt, you are aware it has the ability to loom over you like a term paper deadline in the weeks prior.  The turkey alone is enough to fret about, with all the brining, twining and basting going on, it's about as needy as a newborn.  The last thing you need is to stress about the hosting factor.  Sure it's intimidating, especially if you're a novice like myself, but there are steps and little short cuts you can take to make everything easier.  I intend to use them, since I've never cooked a turkey before or hosted something solo and I need all the help I can get!  Here are five great entertaining tips you'll impress your guests with - your endeavors will appear effortless and you may even enjoy the process along the way.  

• Set the mood.  Every event needs music.  It's far too early to break out the Christmas music, so it's probably best to avoid it at least until we're finished with this holiday. However, some mellow tunes from Sondre Lerche, Norah Jones, Ray LaMontagne, NIck Drake (Pink Moon or Way to Blue), Sufjan Stevens (think the Seven Swans album) should do the trick, creating a festive yet relaxed atmosphere.  Or, for a less modern, more classic ambiance, you can never go wrong with the greats like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald  or Miles Davis. Making a mixed playlist is always fun and will most likely meet everyone's musical tastes.

• Drinks & O'rdourves.  Having a festive fall cocktail is also a fun way to set the day's mood.  Just make sure you have a little something for everybody – apple juice or sparkling apple cider for the kids, wine for dinner and dessert, and milk for that oddball uncle.  Any of these cocktails will work great:  http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/Thanksgiving-cocktail-recipes.   Keep the o'rdourves light of course, since there will be plenty of food to follow, and these little goat cheese and pecan balls are a nice option:  http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pecan-and-Goat-Cheese-Marbles-350563.

• Decorate.  You don't have to have a flair for decorating in order to create the proper setting for Thanksgiving, nor does your wallet have to suffer.  Fill up a two or three old ball jars or vases with acorns and/or mini pinecones to place on your table, instead of flowers.  You can also place candles in the vase or jar and have a few acorns or pinecones around them.  Pottery Barn would be impressed.  The fall leaves this time of year are stunning and gathering a handful or two to adorn your table (in the place of a table runner) will add some vibrant fall color.  Little gourds, acorn squash or dried indian corn cobs are other no-fail decorative options.

• Place Settings.  Place settings are always a great way to make your guests feel special.  These homemade “thankful” cards are a creative idea to set at each person's seat and you can write people's names on them too and paste a leaf on each one for some extra decoration: http://stampingcountry.typepad.com/.a/6a00e554e928b388330133f5ae1fd6970b-pi. They are easy to make and you can place a pen at each person's seat, so they can fill in what they're thankful for this year.  It will provide a wonderful conversation starter and help remind everyone there's a little more to the holiday than feasting all day long. Or, simply take a metallic sharpie and make name cards on leaves, like this: http://mommyhype.com/thankful-leaf-place-settings.  Also, you know that twine you're using for your bird?  It can also double as a nifty decorating tool.  Wrap some twine around your rolled cloth napkin and secure a leaf and a twig inside the bow for a rustic look.  These wreaths are great D.I.Y.S inspiration: http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/11/emily-thompson-wreaths.html.  

• Favors.  To show your thanks to your family and friends (besides the meal you just cooked), have a little something for everyone to take home to remember the holiday. Make some spiced candied nuts like these: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/smoked-almond-turtles-recipe/index.html or these: http://www.sevenspoons.net/blog/2010/10/26/like-a-herald.html , and put them in little jars or cellophane bags and wrap or tie them with fall colored ribbon or twine.  

SEE ALSO:

-Recipes Ideas for Leftover Turkey

-Turn Stuffing in to a Cake!

-10 Turkey Tips!