How to Host the Ultimate Friendsgiving Feast

Materials + Tools:

• 1 roll of tin foil
• 2 packages of crescent rolls
• 1 egg (for egg wash before cornucopia goes into the oven), optional

Instructions:

Start by sculpting tin foil into the shape of a cornucopia (it looks like a cone with an upturned tail). Pro tip: Lightly pack tin foil so it's easier to remove later from your baked cornucopia. Crescent rolls should be buttery enough that this shouldn't be difficult.

1. Choose your battles ahead of time.

You're not going to change everyone's opinion about all of the things over the course of a meal and a football game. You might want to show up ready for a duel of words with your Facebook-meme-king cousin, but that's just going to put your opinionated family member on the offensive from the moment you walk in. Decide ahead of time if there's one issue that you really cannot keep your mouth shut about if it comes up, and have two or three talking points ready that clarify your position on that topic. If your hot button does get pushed, your talking points will help you keep from making things personal.

2. Confer with the host.

If you feel comfortable with the person that's organizing or hosting Thanksgiving, speak to him or her in advance about how you can be on Team Keep the Peace. Most people aren't keen on a political brouhaha breaking out around their dinner table, so they'll probably be relieved to hear that you're on board and willing to help make the day go smoothly for everyone. Brainstorm some ideas about seating arrangements or wholesome activities to fill the idle family time that can lead to trading barbs.

3. Make it a game.

Caitlin Bergstein, a Boston-based matchmaker and relationship expert for Three Day Rule, suggests a fun twist on the swear jar concept. “If your family is up for the challenge, you can even make it a game. Each time someone mentions something political, they have to put a dollar in a jar (or take a drink, depending on how your family celebrates the holiday). At the end of the night, that cash can be put aside for the next family get together!"

4. Have a moment of silence.

Sometimes the idea of a quiet table can be intimidating (all those chewing noises!), but encouraging a moment of reflection among your holiday guests can actually be transformative. Whether you observe several seconds of silence in honor of relatives you've lost, as a way to silently acknowledge your individual blessings, or as an act of prayer or meditation, you've hopefully brought the room back to focus on each other's company and the gift that it is to be together.

5. Be an active listener.

If your one doggedlypersistent aunt can't let go of her obsession with the latest political scandal, reconsider what she's actually trying to tell you. Chances are, it's not just about what she saw on the news. “Assume that your polarizing relative actually probably just wants to connect, feel respected, and reduce their own anxiety about holiday gatherings, and interpret even difficult behavior as such," advises Mary Fisher, a Salt Lake City psychotherapist who specializes in family relationships. “Express the desire to connect while redirecting the conversation," Fisher recommends. Emphasize the fact that you're interested in protecting the time your family spends together. That can help soften the blow when you ask to instead hear them share a family memory or talk about a hobby you both share.

6. Disengage.

Remember that if angry words or offensive language start flying at you across the sweet potato pie, you don't have to respond. Have a script in mind to use, something like, “While I hear where you're coming from, I don't share your opinion, and I'm done talking about it today." Convey the message that you're quite clear on the matter being discussed, and you're not going to take the bait. You may have to repeat yourself several times, or you may choose to remain silent until things cool down around you. Either one is okay.

7. Duck out early.

If you feel like you have to retreat from the situation entirely, do it. One of the best things about being an adult is leaving when you want to leave. You don't have to subject yourself, your spouse, or your family to any kind of dialogue that is insulting, bigoted, or aggressive. Fisher shares these words of advice: “While we might think that the holidays are the time to resolve differences, they are actually the time to affirm and nurture connection, which can be an uphill battle with politically polarizing relatives." If you don't feel like a connection is being nurtured and the environment is not good for you to be in, say goodbye and make a break for it.

OK — so we know Rory’s a decent person to date. But what about her boyfriends? As all Gilmore Girls fans know, there are the big three; the rather possessive Dean Forester, the moody and literary Jess Mariano, and (our favorite) the wealthy and cheeky Logan Huntzberger. If you’ve watched the show, there’s a good chance you’re adamantly on one of their sides. Let us show you why Logan is the guy you need to get behind.

In speaking with Elite Daily, Sammons agrees that Logan is Rory’s best boyfriend — and apparently it’s not just because he calls her Ace. “Logan and Rory both show signs of high self-esteem, which helps them feel secure in themselves and their relationship,” she says. “Rory feels safe and excited by Logan and his unpredictability, while also knowing she’s safe with him.”

As all Gilmore Girls fans can recall, they started off as an FWBs before developing an IRL long-term commitment. Sammons says this as a good sign because it shows their ability to grow together. “Rory is able to self-reflect and communicate her need for more from a partner,” she says. “Then, they both take a chance on one another not knowing if it [will] work, and that risk is what relationships are all about.”

Before Rory, Logan was an avid bachelor with a lengthy roster of women. Rory knew this, and never tried to change him when they started seeing each other loosely. Eventually, though, Rory tells tell Logan that she can't see him anymore, because ultimately casual relationships aren't for her. She never once asks him to choose her, which is just what Logan needed to realize how much he wanted (and needed) Rory.

This moment clearly separates Logan from the insecure Dean and withdrawn Jess, because it shows that he’s ready to step up for Rory. Although it seems like a minuscule moment between Rory and Logan, it showcases their genuine commitment to one another. The slow build of her relationship with Logan, coupled with their compatible personalities, ultimately makes him the best fit for her.

That's not to say that their relationship wasn't without issues, though (like that time they steal a yacht, which is totally NBD). Even in these trying moments, they consistently trust and support each other. They evolve together, cementing their relationship as Rory’s healthiest, even if Rory ultimately rejects Logan’s marriage proposal at her graduation from Yale in quite possibly one of the worst plotline decisions in the history of television (clearly we’re still not over this). Even despite their dalliances in the Gilmore Girls reboot, their compatibility still earns Logan the title of Best Boyfriend.