Ladies’ Home Thanksgiving

I’ve always had a secret crush on Ladies’ Home Journal. Also I suspect that because my Organic Freedom grandmother loved it, it was probably geared towards our shared type. Plus, I’m a sucker for the conflict resolution of “Can This Marriage Be Saved?” It’s catnip for all Organics and harmony types (Fun Freedoms & Classic Freedoms.) Plus if you love the Barefoot Contessa then you’ve got your Thanksgiving recipes right here. The Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten, definitely has an Organic Freedom vibe to her — easy is key.

“The most successful holiday events are the ones where the hostess is having a good time, ” says Garten. “I you’re red in the face and ready to cry and can’t figure out how to get everything on the table in time, then you’re ruining your own party.”

So, the message would be take it easy. Or at least don’t sweat the small stuff. That’s actually hard for Organics and Smarts. Because we’re so fixated on getting all the details just right that we forget the big picture. Yes that’s right! I know it seems like it would be the other way around because Funs and Classics are so detail oriented, but when it’s not your strength, we tend to go a bit overboard. Especially around big major holidays and big dinner parties, which is, essentially what Thanksgiving is!

Oh and I love that she doesn’t serve hors d’oeuvres. Smartest thing I’ve read in any of these magazines. Mixed nuts and olives should be fine for such a big dinner. As she says, “No one really wants to fill up on pigs in blankets when you’ve worked so hard on the dinner.” Amen!

So LHJ is definitely best for Organics and Smarts. Not adventurous enough for Funs, nor traditional enough for Classics.