Thanksgiving break for a college student is a bright light, one that disappears briefly during your plight but returns in vigor as the semester winds to an end. As chilly autumn sets in, you look towards escaping the endless trail of assignments, essays and exams. Thanksgiving break offers nearly a week of freedom from immediate academic responsibilities coupled with much needed time to catch up on some Z's.
After snoozing until the early afternoon every day, the second best thing about being home for holiday break is getting to see the slightly different faces of your hometown friends. For the first time since August, you and your closest friends get the privilege to catch up, hang out or even take trips.
To properly celebrate friendship in all its charitable beauty, Friendsgiving is a must-have event for anyone who's been missing their backbone. Here is how to throw a Friendsgiving filled with chocolate, sugar, booze and a whole lot of pumpkin spice.
1. Have enough food and wine to go around, and then some.
There is no such thing as too many appetizers. In fact, loading up on finger foods before dinnertime is the best way to celebrate being almost grown-ups. For those of you whose wallets have been worn down by the fall semester, this list of cheap, fancy-looking wines will perk up any gathering.
2. Make healthy versions of your favorite Thanksgiving classics. 
This idea gives the chefs in your friend group a perfect medium to show off their cooking skills. Healthy recipes such as the low-calorie stuffing pictured above will take away some of the guilt of all that munching and boozing.
3. Make one of these easy cocktails to make you and your guests feel super fancy.
The payoff is pretty amazing for such little effort and one big ladle. You can try this Easy Holiday Punch featured above, Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria, or this sweet looking Cranberry Pineapple Punch recipe.
4. Have everyone try to bring something.
It's fun to attend a party where each guest is expected to bring something. Although the host is typically expected to do the providing, it's always interesting to see who brings what. Each person's addition brings their own life and personality directly to the table.
5. Play board or card games.
On that note, shut your devices off. OK, OK, OK, or put them all in the middle of the table and try your very best not to use them. Being around a table with your long lost best friends should be a time for connecting with one another, something that board games or card games are good for.
6. Acknowledge your blessings.
Thanksgiving is, at its most non-controversial form, a way for us to give thanks to all that life has blessed us with. Even if religion seldom plays into your world, if you're eating ample food this holiday season, it's responsible to acknowledge the bounty in your life.
