It often feels like the holidays just sneak up on you—one minute you’re hanging spiderwebs and making cute Halloween costumes, then before you know it you’re surrounded by Christmas carols and holiday ads!

This year, we’d like to help you get a head start on your holiday season with a few of these tips for saving time, money and your sanity as you plan your Thanksgiving celebration:

• Let Us Send Your Invitations for You for FREE! The Tiny Prints Mailing Service is a fabulous new feature that is sure to save you time and money. All you have to do is upload your guests’ mailing addresses and we’ll add them to your envelopes along with your return address and real stamps. Then we’ll drop them in the mail for you! All you have to do is pay for the cost of stamps and envelope printing—saving you time and the cost of shipping your order to you.

• Host a Potluck Buffet. Sit-down dinners will always be elegant, but a buffet-style meal will be the easiest way for you to feed a hungry crowd without feeling overwhelmed. To simplify things even more, host a potluck buffet—you make this super simple turkey from the Food Network and stuffing, but ask your guests to bring the side dishes and dessert!

• Use Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes.  Just because you are hosting a Thanksgiving celebration doesn’t mean you have to be cooped up in the kitchen all day! Give yourself some extra time with these delicious make-ahead recipes from Good Housekeeping.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning your fall family photos! With so many gorgeous new Thanksgiving photo card designs available this year, you’re sure to find the perfect design to highlight your favorite family snapshot.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Fun with Fall Leaves

Thanksgiving Wheat Photo Card with photo from Forever Young Photography

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Back to School in Style

Brilliant Branches Thanksgiving Photo Card with photo from Stefanie Burt Photography

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Elegant Autumn Nature Scenes

Bountiful Border Thanksgiving Photo Card with photo from Melissa Shelby Photography

One of the best parts about Thanksgiving is how mellow the holiday can be. I love having time off to relax with family and friends without worrying about wrapping presents, dangling from a ladder while hanging lights or dashing out to the store for last-minute stocking stuffers.

I do, however, love to take this time as an opportunity to create cute little crafts with the kids. What better way to adorn your Thanksgiving table than with some of these adorable Thanksgiving craft ideas?

Turkey Table Topper from Family Fun

Thanksgiving Wreath from Martha Stewart

Yarn Turkey Centerpiece from Parents.com

Turkey Place Markers from Family Fun