The following is an account of a disorganized Thanksgiving Day (from experience) and an organized one. I hope it makes you smile and plan ahead.

Organized vs Disorganized

ORGANIZED SCHEDULE

6:00 a.m.   Exercise, shower, fix hair, put on make-up and dress in festive clothing.

7:30 a.m.   Say prayers, read inspirational material.

8:00 a.m.   Make bed, dress, eat a hearty, bacon and egg breakfast (no toast or  

                   potatoes) take a walk, and check appearance of the front door and

                   entryway.

9:00 a.m.  Stuff turkey with stuffing prepared yesterday, have children set holiday

                   table. (Silver was previously polished.)Boil potatoes (they were peeled

                   yesterday and have been soaking in cold water overnight). Make pies

                   (pumpkin filling, apple filling and dough were made yesterday and

                   refrigerated).

10:00 a.m. Listen to holiday music; check table, centerpiece and candles. Bake

                   pies. Whip potatoes and set aside to be micro-waved just before

                   serving.

11:00 a.m. Put turkey in the oven.

Noon         Prepare a light meal, soup and salad for family.

 

 

Don't let Thanksgiving stress you out. Take couple minutes and watch this video clip where I give you ideas to reduce stress.

As most of you know, my husband is a BOP (Born Organized Person). Opposites attract. We’ve recently been working on the launch of our new website www.cluborganized.com which is slated to be live on January 1, 2015. I originally gave myself a deadline of November 15^th to have it all finished. (Oh my, we SHEs are optimistic!) I’m sure that when my BOP husband heard the word deadline, he got all excited! (BOPs love a deadline so they can meet it and cross it off their list.)

So many of us rely and depend on the lessons Marla provides us with. Marla and I sat and talked at one point and this was one of the most important things to come out of that chat.

 

                                 

 

Mrs. Claus Shares Stocking Stuffer Ideas for the 5 Senses

The House Fairy and I recently took a trip up to the North Pole to visit Santa Claus and see what’s new in the stocking stuffer department. Mrs. Claus is in charge of that and she was very happy to show us her latest ideas for stuffers.

She starts each season with an empty shoebox for each child and by Christmas Eve the shoeboxes are filled with all the goodies she has collected for each one and the contents fit perfectly into the stockings Santa puts them in on Christmas Eve. She explained this year all good boys and girls will receive gifts in their stockings which please each of the five senses. She told us her husband fills stockings for all ages, so her ideas range from those for small children to those for teenagers and even moms and dads who have been good.

The Stockings Were Hung by the Chimney with Care

Gifts for the ears:

CDs

Earrings

Muffs

Whistles

Mp3 players

Concert tickets

Radios

Ipods

Earplugs

Gifts for the nose:

Perfume

Room deodorizer

Candles

Incense

Nose plugs

Breath Spray

Certs

Tic Tacs

Take time daily to be alone with yourself, away from phones, the Internet and noise. Making time for solitude is a gift you give yourself. Insist on it, and don’t allow anyone, including yourself, to talk you out of it.

Here are what I consider six benefits of quiet time.

1. Lighten Up

In a stressed state, it’s so easy to lose touch with inner peace, compassion and kindness; in a relaxed state, your mind is clear and you can connect with a deeper sense of purpose and good. Meditation and medication are derived from the Latin word medicus, to care or to cure. A time of quiet calmness is, therefore, the most effective remedy for a busy and overworked mind. Anytime you feel stress rising, heart closing, mind going into overwhelm, just bring your focus to your breathing and quietly repeat with each in-and-out breath: Breathing in, I calm my body and mind; breathing out, All is well.

2. Let Go

Stillness is always there between the thoughts, behind the drama, underneath the noise. What keeps us from experiencing our natural state of peace is the habitual and ego-dominated monkey mind. Meditation enables us to see clearly, to witness our thoughts and behavior and reduce self-involvement. Without such a practice of self-reflection there’s no way of putting a brake on the ego’s demands. From being self-centered, we can become other-centered, concerned about the welfare of all.

3. Gratitude

Take a moment to appreciate the chair you’re sitting on. Consider how the chair was made: the wood, cotton, wool, or other fibers, the trees and plants that were used, the earth that grew the trees, the sun and rain, the animals that maybe gave their lives, the people who prepared the materials, the factory where the chair was made, the designer and carpenter and seamstress, the shop that sold it—all this just so you could be sitting here, now. Then extend that deep appreciation to everything and everyone in your life.

How did I end up with the yellowest custard you'll ever see? You’ll see when you watch this video from my kitchen where I have such fun playing with food! When this yummy, custard dessert comes out of the oven you’ll impress and delight your hungry family or guests. AND of course this dessert is almost carb-free.

In my book, The Mouth Trap: the butt stops here! I talk about the journey I took toward better health and vitality by dumping excess carbs from my pantry and life. Join me now as I whip up a new take on this classic custard adventure!

Extra Rich Custard

8 egg yolks

One fourth cup sugar

One fourth tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups scalded whole milk

Scaled milk on medium heat allow to cool until lukewarm.

Slightly beat egg yolks and slowly add sugar, vanilla, salt and cooled milk.

Cover bottom of a roasting pan with an inch of water. Pour custard mixture into buttered custard cups and place in roasting pan. Place pan in 325 degree oven for 40 – 45 minutes or until knife when placed in custard comes out clean.

In this video clip, my sister Peggy and I share some great Halloween tips and important advice.