Thanksgiving is a celebration of the best things in life; family, friends, and good food. This year, get back to basics and focus on these simple pleasures. Try easy Southern style recipes and casual dining for practical entertaining.

A backyard setting offers plenty of space to relax and mingle plus it gives kids room to play. Complete the Thanksgiving feast with fried turkey. An oil-less fryer yields great taste with less mess than traditional fryers. A chiminea or outdoor firepit and arranged seating such as wooden benches, a safe distance from the fire, creates a cozy atmosphere.

It’s a good idea to have some games ready to play. Outdoors you can setup a Turkey hunt or a pumpkin race. Indoors why not play charades or work on a puzzle together. A couple of games and everyone will end the Thanksgiving day happy.

Traditionally, wardrobe closets were created for noble families, and as such, they remained in those noble hands for generations on down. You can still see this to day to some extent, with people owning an armoire that was made 200 years for an ancestor. (This is also why people say that way back in the day, families kept weaponry in the armoire. It makes sense if it was upper class noble people, as these were the only ones who could afford weapons.)

While the family heirloom is doing a fast disappearing act (because nothing is built to last these day), it’s neat to see some families creating their own family heirloom by buying a high quality wardrobe closet with the expressed idea of passing it on to their kids.

How much longer are you willing to miss the chance to spend time with your kids? How much longer are you going to put up with a job you don’t absolutely love? How much longer are you going to spend your life doing things out of necessity? How much longer are you willing to let money control your life?

You may say money doesn’t control your life because you’re not a spender. That’s not what I’m talking about. If you are having to do anything that isn’t exactly what you want to be doing because you need money, then you are being control by money.

Life is so short.  Just a blink of an eye and little Johnny is already riding a bike. Another blink of an eye and he’s already graduating college. As you sit there proudly clapping for your son and thinking about how time flies by so fast and remembering when he was still just a baby lying in your hands, you realize that you missed so many opportunities to be there and fully experience his childhood because you were forced to work to pay the bills. You wonder if he will go through the same thing with his kids. I guess that’s what grandparents are for… to fill the void left by the lack of presence from the parents.

If this isn’t your reality, consider yourself lucky. If you haven’t reached that point yet, it’s time to make sure it doesn’t happen. Free yourself from the usual 9-5 grind and go build some residual income so you can be there for them anytime you want. How much longer will you leave the decision to take off early to see your kid’s soccer game to your boss? Choose to be free.