First things first, what is Friendsgiving? Many celebrate this popular mashup of “Friends” and “Thanksgiving” before heading home to spend the holiday with their family or on Thanksgiving in lieu of the traditional family-based event. Basically, it’s a chance to sit down with friends over a potluck-style dinner to enjoy each other’s company all while overeating (see: foodcoma).

Whether you’re staying on campus or heading home to be with family, the days leading up to Thanksgiving are a great time to unwind with friends and indulge in some pumpkin pie. Need inspiration? Continue reading for some foolproof Friendsgiving ideas tailored to campus life!

How to Host a Party in an Apartment

You’re in college, your friends know that. Your apartment doesn’t come with the dining set your parents have, you don’t have place settings for more than two people, and you definitely do not have a roasting pan for a 20-pound turkey. When planning Friendsgiving in college think small and go back to basics; disposable plates, napkins, cups and cutlery will work fine and are way easier to clean up than the traditional stuff nobody notices anyway. Not much seating? Take it to the floor! Pillows and blankets for a Friendsgiving Picnic is cozy and laidback, just what you need after those endless hours in the library studying for that last exam.

girls at friendsgiving dinner smiling with plates of food

Friendsgiving Recipes

Recruit your friends and neighbors to bring their favorite dish, albeit your standard Thanksgiving fare, a killer buffalo chicken dip may be just what your past Thanksgiving dinners have been missing! You don’t have to go overboard with a turkey that takes over  4 hours to cook, we here at J. Michael Real Estate love Thanksgiving meatballs. You can prep meatballs the day before, or better yet, get some close friends together to make them with you! Make sure you have plenty of power strips available for any food that needs to stay warm in a Crock-Pot.

Friendsgiving Invitations

Don’t rely on a group text to get your party invitations out there! Use an online invitation tool to customize your Friendsgiving party invitations so your friends get all of the details but you spare them those pesky notifications.

autumn table with give thanks handwritten on brown paper table covering

Apartment Décor

As we’ve shared in our previous blog, we love seasonal apartment décor. Cinnamon-scented candles, a fall wreath or maybe just a few gourds as centerpieces will make your table-scape look put together. Or channel your inner Martha Stewart by making some colorful paper place cards each of your guests can take home. Not into DIY? No worries, just a few small pumpkins around your apartment can make your rental feel festive!

Know that J. Michael Real Estate is here to help!

Make sure your apartment is ready to go by calling in any maintenance requests before your party! Clogged drain? Trouble with any appliances? Let us know! Maintenance requests occasionally get pushed back due to school commitments, busy weekends or just ‘forgetting’. Use your party as an excuse to get things repaired so everything is in tip-top shape. Give us a call or contact us via email for all maintenance requests. Whether you’re staying on campus, or traveling home for the holiday, J. Michael Real Estate wishes you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!