Thursday, November 27, 2014

Thanksgiving in 10 Easy Moves - Tip 10



We made it!  All that's left to do is pop your turkey in the oven as early as you like, it will keep warm for a while once removed from the oven and its a great way to wake your household with the delicious smell coming from the kitchen.  Depending on how much prep you did yesterday, plan a timeline for popping other items into the oven or cooking on the stove top.  Time to open the eggnog, or  Sherry, you are ready to receive your guests!

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Thanksgiving in 10 Easy Moves - Tip 9

The night/day before Thanksgiving add the finishing touches to your preparation.

  • Set your dining table.
  • Run the dishwasher and empty it. 
  • Freshen up the bathrooms.
  • Chill beverages
  • Prepare side dishes, sauces, stuffing, gravy and desserts.


Dishes that can be made the day before:










Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Organize Your Handbag

As a professional organizer, the most common complaint I hear from women with pocket books sitting on their closet shelves, is that they seldom use them all because they don't have the time to transfer the contents from one bag to another.  In addition to the fact that they hate doing so because their purse is usually a disaster area to begin with.  I have found a product that solves this problem.

It's called a Pouchee TM - it's a super smart purse organizer.  Once you have placed all your frequently used and important items in it, you simply switch it out from purse to purse.  It also comes in two sizes. 

In additional to the Pouchee, I also recommend using a separate cosmetic bag and wallet.

Useful items to keep in the Pouchee are:
Check book
Credit cards
ID & Health insurance cards
Business cards
A pen & note pad 
Travel size pain killers
Lip balm
4 quarters
A hair tie
Tissues
Purse hanger
$5 ( it will get you a coffee or a gallon of gas)
Eye glass case
Keys


It's no surprise this item is on my Pinterest board Gifts for Mum
http://www.pinterest.com/virginiaezlivin




Sunday, November 23, 2014

Thanksgiving in 10 Easy Moves - Tip 8

We're gearing up to the big day now, if you followed Tips 1 - 7 your home is ready, your pantry has been stocked and your refrigerator is clean and organized!  Today or tomorrow shop for the fresh foods items on the grocery list and pick up your ordered items.  If you are going to brine your turkey, don't leave it to much longer. Frozen turkeys can be put it in the refrigerator to start thawing.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Thanksgiving in 10 Easy Moves - Tip 7

Using the shopping list you made earlier this month, (Tip #2 posted 11/6/14) shop for the non perishable items this week, leaving a smaller shop for fresh foods the day before Thanksgiving.


Clean and organize the fridge to make room for that bird!


Empty the fridge completely, checking expiration dates and for spoilage. Clean the interior with hot soapy water.  Organize the fridge with food safety in mind.  The golden rule is to place items from top to bottom in accordance with the temperature the foods need to be cooked at.




  • Upper Shelves: Prepared food, leftovers, drinks, and ready-to-eat foods (like yogurt, cheese, and deli meats).
  • Lower Shelves: Raw ingredients slated for cooked dishes.
  • Bottom Shelf or Bottom Drawer: Raw meats
  • Door: The refrigerator door is the warmest part of the fridge, place condiments here.
  • Drawers:  Fruits and veggies
When organized this way, any cross contamination that occurs won't be a problem because the food that's contaminated has to be cooked to a higher temperature than the food sitting above it that dripped down.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Thanksgiving in 10 Easy Moves - Tip 6

Expecting Guests for Thanksgiving?  After the Festive Feast is a great time for families to put down their electronic gadgets and gather around the kitchen table to play a board game, hand of cards or work on a jigsaw puzzle together. 

Check your board games have all their parts and your card decks are complete. Buy a fun jigsaw puzzle!



Choose games according to how much time you want to spend on the activity.
Quick games - up to an hour
Card games like Rummy 500, Hearts or UNO
Scattergories by Hasbro/Parker Brothers
Yatzy by Bradley
Not so quick - up to two hours
Game of Life by MB
Sorry! by Hasbro/Parker Brothers
Clue by  Hasbro/Parker Brothers
Much longer - need food breaks
Monopoly by Hasbro
Scrabble by  Hasbro/Parker Brothers
Risk by  Hasbro/Parker Brothers
Family Interaction
Charades
Jigsaw puzzle - to be completed over the holiday, at anytime, by anyone.  A great opportunity to just chill one on one or take 5 minutes for yourself.  


Sunday, November 16, 2014

Thanksgiving in 10 Easy Moves - Tip 5

Organize your hall closet.  Make space for guest coats and have plenty of sturdy hangers.  Around this time of year you might hear about coat drives in your area, now is a great time to thin out your closet and consider donating coats and other unwanted items to those in need.

Here in the Low country, Furniture Warehouse Design Gallery in Beaufort are holding their 24th Annual Coat Drive now until December 31st 2014. All coats collected will be dry cleaned and distributed to area charities.  If you would like to help by donating a gently used coat, jacket or sweater, you can drop them off at FWDG at 745 Robert Smalls Parkway in Beaufort or at the following locations;
Carolina Stamper, 203 Carteret Street, Beaufort
Coldwell Banker, 1211 Boundary Street, Beaufort
Coldwell Banker, 29 Plantation Park Drive, Suite 106, Bluffton

Thanksgiving in 10 Easy Moves - Tip 4


Thanksgiving in 10 Easy Moves - Tip 4
Prepare bedrooms and bathrooms for guests.


Sunday, November 9, 2014

Thanksgiving in 10 Easy Moves - Tip #3

Order festive foods and items such as your turkey, desserts, firewood and flowers in advance. If you plan on eating out around the holiday, book the restaurant.  Make any hair or nail salon appointments now.


If your kids are coming home from college you might want to make plans for their haircut, dental check up and flu shot while they are home!

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Thanksgiving in 10 Easy Moves - Tip #2



Plan a menu for Thanksgiving Week with its own grocery shopping list.  Include snacks and nibbles. Figure on easy meals and lunches for the days before and after the holiday, if you are having guests to stay.  

Wednesday, November 5, 2014


   



 Remember, remember!  
    The fifth of November, 
    The Gunpowder treason and plot; 
    I know of no reason 
    Why the Gunpowder treason 
    Should ever be forgot! 
    Guy Fawkes and his companions 
    Did the scheme contrive, 
    To blow the King and Parliament 
    All up alive. 
    Threescore barrels, laid below, 
    To prove old England's overthrow. 
    But, by God's providence, him they catch, 
    With a dark lantern, lighting a match! 


I am a descendant of Sir Thomas Knevitt - the 17th century noble who caught out Guy Fawkes and stopped him from blowing up the houses of parliament. When authorities learned of the plot, on November 1, they appointed Knevitt to investigate - who allowed the plot to continue, so he and his men could catch the conspirators in the act.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Thanksgiving in Ten Easy Steps!


My top 10 tips to tackle America's Favorite Holiday, with minimal stress!  I will add to the post twice a week, so you can take your sweet time or catch up ... Which is easy to do too!

The first few tips you can do with a glass on wine in your hand ... Do you like how I roll?

Thanksgiving in 10 Easy Moves - Tip One
As early as possible confirm this years plans, who's coming? where you are going? who's bringing what? Will you have and special dietary needs with any guest? Determine whether you will need extra; tables, chairs, a highchair or other items such as beds?  Wash and press your linens. Decide on your table theme .. It doesn't have to be expensive or complicated, check Pinterest or simply Google!