🤔 Brainteaser of the day: The person who makes it has no need of it. The person who buys it doesn’t use it. The person who uses it doesn’t know it. What is it?
Click here to see the answer.
✅ Today’s Checklist:
Pssst…Help us make The Assist even more you. Survey’s open ‘til Monday (11/10).
✈️ How a government shutdown could derail Thanksgiving travel.
📱 Cameron’s favorite app for staying focused and intentional all day.
💸 Microdosing your finances could be the secret to hitting your money goals faster.
❄️ Give your team winter swag they’ll actually want to wear.
Thanksgiving should feel warm and joyful, but sometimes it can feel like a one-woman episode of The Bear. Between cooking the bird, zhuzhing the table, and praying you have enough chairs, hosting can feel like a full-time job. With the right prep (and a few clever buys), it doesn’t have to be.
Here’s your go-to guide packed with tips, tools, and pretty things to make hosting smoother, calmer, and dare we say…fun?
🍽 COOKING TIPS & TOOLS
Strategize like a chef:
Stock your kitchen with:
✨ TABLE: WHAT TO BUY + HOW TO STYLE IT
The secret to a standout table? Layers and centerpieces.
Styling tip: Keep florals low and scent-free so no one’s eating stuffing next to eucalyptus.
🍷 BAR + BEVERAGES: LITTLE TOUCHES THAT GO A LONG WAY
🕯 DECOR: DIY VIBES THAT DON’T LOOK CHEAP
Think cozy, not cluttered.
Final tip: Take a photo of your setup the night before. You’ll thank yourself during the inevitable “Where does this go again?” scramble.
Hosting doesn’t have to mean losing your mind. Plan smart, style with intention, and remember: People came for you and the memories. Don’t stress too much about the food or decor; enjoy the people and the time together!
Still Cleaning Data by Hand? Fix That in an Hour.
If you’re spending too much time wrestling spreadsheets, you’re not bad at Excel, just missing a few tricks.
Miss Excel’s free 60-minute class teaches you how to:
You’ll walk away with practical skills and time-saving shortcuts you can use immediately, plus a taste of what 1M+ Miss Excel fans already love.
📚 Read: Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
A book that lures you in with a familiar setup, then flips the script. Fresh, eerie, and full of “wait, what just happened?” moments, this thriller will keep you turning pages way past bedtime.
📺 Watch: Rise of Empires: Ottoman on Netflix
History has never looked so good. This docuseries dives into the rise and fall of the Ottoman Empire with bold storytelling that makes centuries-old drama feel personal.
🎧 Listen: Back to Friends by Sombr
This track hits like a late-night text you shouldn’t have sent. It’s moody, reflective, and quietly addictive, the perfect soundtrack for when you’re deep in your feels.
🎧 Listen: Sometimes by Renee Rapp
Playful and dreamy with a voice that floats. This standout from her BITE ME album is equal parts chill and emotional release.
If managing your books feels like a game of “I hope this is right,” it might be time for a system that doesn’t rely on late nights, manual entry, and mystery charges.
Here’s what we’ve learned:
Tools we’ve actually found helpful:
🧩 Puzzle is great for early-stage startups—it automatically syncs your financial data and gives you real-time visibility without the usual accounting lag.
📘 Zoho is perfect for solo operators or service businesses: invoicing, tracking, and reporting—all in one clean dashboard.
💳 PEX simplifies team spending. Set card limits, collect receipts, and stop chasing down mystery purchases.
The point isn’t perfection. It’s having enough visibility to make smarter calls, catch red flags early, and sleep better at night.
Reggie was rescued at six months old and has since perfected the art of being adored. He loves pup cups, attention, and destroying stuffies. His favorite thing to do is sunbathe like a cat.
Despite weighing only 35lbs, his daycare BFF is a 120lb Mastiff named Marty. When he’s not at daycare, he likes to tumble around with his fur sister, Mary, who’s a big ol’ Pittie.
If Reginald were human, he’d definitely have main character energy, and maybe a little attitude to match.
🐾 Got a cute fur baby? Submit them to be our pet of the week in an upcoming issue.
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