Getting ready for Thanksgiving can be a daunting task for any hostess. Thankfully we live in the age of the Internet where it’s easy to find an abundance of help to prepare for Thanksgiving (and any big holiday).

Marla Cilley, of Brevard, North Carolina, (a.k.a. Fly Lady) is one of the country’s leading experts on organizing and managing the home. Her website, www.flylady.net has lots of amazing tricks on how to maintain order and avoid chaos in the home. She recently shared some of her holiday cooking and organization tips in an exclusive phone interview with BlissfullyDomestic on November 16, 2011.

For Thanksgiving, Cilley says, “Start on Monday. Put your turkey in the roasting pan with a garbage bag around it and begin letting it thaw in the fridge. Then get out all your serving dishes and clean them.” Monday is also a good day for cleaning out your refrigerator – to make room for all the fantastic dishes you’ll be preparing through the week. Then, Cilley suggests, “Cook or prepare something each day for 3 days.” She makes her mashed potatoes early and freezes them. Pies, cranberry relish, bread dough and coleslaw are other things you can easily make ahead.

On Tuesday, do a detail cleaning in your kitchen and dining area. Clear off all the countertops and de-clutter. Use Cilley’s “27-Fling Boogie.” Carry a bag through your kitchen, dining room and adjacent areas and fill it with items to throw away. Don’t stop until you have 27 things in the bag. Then close up the bag without looking inside, and throw it out.

Continue the detail cleaning by clearing off the top of the fridge, organizing silverware and cutlery drawers, spice racks and cabinets. Clean the floors well and mop. Scrub down the outside of your appliances – but don’t worry about the inside of the oven. Cilley says “Your oven will just get messier as you cook. You can clean it later.”

Wednesday, continue with your pre-cooking and make a Thanksgiving Day schedule for your oven (what time will the turkey go in, the rolls, the casseroles, etc.) Cilley advises to set your table a day ahead and put note cards in the serving dishes labeling what food goes in which dish. She adds, “If you have cats, put a sheet over the dishes.”

On Thanksgiving Day, Cilley says, “Get up early and get dressed all the way to your shoes. Then put on an apron.” You should have most things done, but you’ll need to cook the turkey, reheat some dishes and prepare items that couldn’t be made ahead. “When you start to cook, make sure the dishwasher is empty and you have a sink full of hot soapy water so you can clean up as you go.”

Most importantly, enjoy the day. Cilley admonishes, “Don’t get caught up in perfectionism. Focus on one thing at a time and don’t be in a rush. The hostess does not need to be exhausted and at her wits end.” Relax with your family as you savor a lovely holiday meal.

FLYLady is wonderful, but don’t forget there are plenty of other options to help get ready for Thanksgiving.

Tara Ziegmont of Feels Like Home has an ebook Your Best Thanksgiving Ever which is a great ($14.95) guide for anyone looking to host Thanksgiving Dinner with confidence. While the guide works best when started well before the holiday, it’s not too late to get ready for Thanksgiving or begin your preparations for the upcoming Christmas Holiday.

While Thanksgiving may only be a few days away, there is still plenty of time to get your kitchen (and the rest of your home) ready for the big holiday. Right here on BlissfullyDomestic we have lots of ideas to ensure your Thanksgiving holiday runs without a hitch.

Looking for Thanksgiving Decoration Inspiration? Christine has a fantastic article on How to Make Amazing Thanksgiving Table Settings.

Check out Tanya Staab’s Thanksgiving Cooking Checklist and Brannan’s How to Make a Small Kitchen Work for Thanksgiving.

For the rest of your home, check out Thanksgiving Cleaning Checklist to ensure your home is company ready.

Peapodsquad has Ways to Avoid a Thanksgiving Meltdown. If money is tight we’ve got plenty of ways to Decorate for Thanksgiving on a Budget.

How are you preparing for Thanksgiving?