The Turkey Virgin Diary: It's all about gratitude

For those who have been at a party at our house, you know that my husband and I tend to put alot of time and energy into the perfect party playlist!! If you have an occassion, we have a playlist for you!

I was inspired by trying to come up with a Gratitude playlist for Thanksgiving - one that reminds us to count our blessings, say thank you, appreciate what we have.

We all could use a Gratitude playlist, not just for Thanksgiving, but when life throws us a curve, when you start to feel like a black cloud has been following you, when we just need to step back and gain some perspective.

I thought I would share some of what I have and would love to hear any other suggestions!!

Just Breathe - Pearl Jam
I'm Alive - Kenney Chesney with Dave Matthews
God Gave Me You - Blake Shelton
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Hello World - Lady Antebellum
Mercy - Dave Matthews
My Girl - The Temptations
Thank You - Led Zepplin
Kind and Generous - Natalie Merchant
Stand Up - Sugarland
Imagine - Jack Johnson
These Are The Days - Van Morrison
Everything - Michael Buble
The Riddle - Five for Fighting
Make You Feel My Love - Adele
Smile - Uncle Kracker
Better Together - Jack Johnson
Sweetest Thing - U2
This - Darius Rucker
Rainbow Connection - Kenny Loggins

The Turkey Virgin Diary: Planning is my friend

I love researching ideas, crafts, decorations, recipes, etc for my parties (thank you Pinterest!) and I always have a plan to implement these  ideas, but I literally plan it down to the first guest knocking on my door!!! This results in "Crazy Steph" about three hours before a party  - running around with a list, talking to myself, finding last minute things that still need to be cleaned, wearing my pajamas and my hair tied up in some crazy do...it is NOT pretty! My husband knows me well enough to stay away from this alter-ego and to keep the children in a safe location while Mommy plays another game of Beat the Clock.

But this time...I am going to be the calm, cool, prepared hostess...or least give myself 10 minutes before the first guests arrive!

Here is a list of things I can do in advance or make more efficient:

Grocery Shopping

I have many times taken unnecessary trips to the store. Let's face it - right before a holiday, there is no such thing as a "quick trip". Here is my plan -

• Confirm with guests what they are bringing so I can write up a complete menu and figure out what is still needed.
• Get out my recipes and check ingredients on hand (who hasn't run out to the store for a spice we swore we had in our pantry?!)
• Write out my complete list (or use an App - I use ShopListFree), I star any item I have a coupon for and the quantity I have to get.
• Stick to the list! This saves time AND money- although I have many times been suckered at Wegman's bakery....dang that woman sampling brie with cranberry orange bread....

Cleaning

I am a mother of 3, so cleaning my house is often like shoveling in a blizzard. Einstein said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Amen Einstein! So, for my own sanity, I have come up with a three part plan.

• This weekend:
• Thoroughly clean any room I can ban my children from for 3 days.
• Put away all clutter
• Tidy up the rest of the house
• Day before:
• The most ingenious thing I did was take the day before off from work - I have the house to myself to get the rest of the house clean without my little angels around to "help".
• Vaccum, dust, mop the rest of the house - always more enjoyable when you can crank up the iPod. I fully admit to a few 30 second dance parties - I really don't get the house to myself that often!
• Two words - Magic Eraser! Smudges be gone from my walls!!!
• That morning:
• Bathrooms (I have twin 4yr old boys, I don't need to explain why I wait to do this, right?)
• Run the dishwasher so I all my dishes are ready for use and I have an empty dishwasher to load all those dishes after dinner.
• Set the table
• Light some fall scented candles

Cooking

Since I anticipate being fairly busy with cooking on Thanksgiving, I wanted to make a list of things I could prep in advance the day before.

• Mashed Potatoes (I put them in a crock pot on warm Thanksgiving morning)
• Stuffing
• Applesauce
• Cranberry Orange Relish

Help me eliminate "Crazy Steph" - what other things do you in advance of hosting family and friends??

When life throws you a curveball....

I had all intentions of making my next post a full run down of my plan to be the organized hostess that I try with all my might to be. Then I came home from work.

Tonight I had a work dinner, so I walked in the door at 8:45pm and I was ready to get to work on my Master Plan for Thanksgiving preparation. I put my bag down, sorted through the mail and then heard this faint sound.

Drip.....drip....drip.

I looked up and saw that water was leaking from our kitchen ceiling. A week and a half before Thanksgiving....this was NOT in my plan!!! I would also like to mention that our hot water heater broke two weeks ago, flooding our basement, office and bathroom. Let's hope that the whole "things happen in 3" theory doesn't apply!

So this led me instead to thoughts on expecting the unexpected. I think we all like things to go as planned, but let's face it...that is not always realistic. I have experienced many an unexpected event:

• Ultrasound for our second pregnancy revealing Baby A and Baby B (that was a big one!)
• Children projectile puking on a day that both my husband and I have set work events.
• Getting ready to go on a romantic trip with my husband and finding that my daughter has lice

It seems that despite our best efforts to plan and control life, the unexpected is lurking behind a corner waiting to throw you a curve ball. But it is still up to us as to how we handle it - right?

Water leaking from my ceiling is not my ideal scenario, but I am not going to let it put a damper on my plans. I don't think that my husband's family will refuse to come because there is a water spot on our ceiling (ok, there might actually be a section of the ceiling cut away...perhaps Pinterest might have some ideas on how to decorate this...I digress...).

Much like the Grinch taking all the presents didn't stop Christmas dinner in Whoville, this water leak will not stop the spirit of Thanksgiving at the Maynes. That said, I am ending this post in the spirit of gratitude:

• I have a home that is 99% intact (more than what some down state people have this holiday).
• I am able to put a dinner on the table for family (more than what many people can do).
• I have a loving husband, healthy children and extended family close enough to visit

Tomorrow I will plan...tonight we will deal (and maybe pour a glass of wine).

The Turkey Virgin Diary: Chapter One

I love hosting – parties, holidays, last minute happy hours….you name it, I’ll host it! I love my house filled with the sound of people – laughing, chatting, catching up, singing...  So you would think I would be down right giddy to host Thanksgiving. I am totally freaking out. Wait a minute, rewind! Didn’t I just gloat over how much I love to host??  Yes…BUT….I have never cooked a turkey. Think about the pressure – the turkey is the piece de resistance for this holiday. Stories of turkey dinners gone wrong are retold for generations to come and it is all I can envision (think Clark Griswold!).

I started researching the basics of cooking a turkey and thought - why not write it up for other first timers to save you time?? At the very least, I will have it here to refer back to next time and not have to search all this stuff all over again!!. So....here it goes!!! 

Size DOES matter!

It is recommended that you get 1lb per person or 1.5lb per person if you want left overs (ummm, “if you want leftovers”?! Aren’t the leftovers the second best part of Thanksgiving?!). We are having 7 adults and 6 kids – based on my research, I need a turkey that is 13lb min to 19.5lb max.  Either I am a cynic or a glutton for punishment - I got a 23.3 lb bird – I’m not chancing it!!!

 

How much for that turkey in the window?

A good price on a turkey ranges from $.49-$.69 per pound (not bad!!).  I found a deal at Wegman’s that when you spend $25 (I'm pretty sure you automatically spend $25 at Wegman’s just by walking through the door!)  you got $.49/lb turkey - my 23 lb turkey cost less than $12 (I'll take the savings and put it towards the much needed wine that will get me through this)! Score one for the Turkey Virgin!

 

The Big Chill

Currently, my larger than recommended turkey is safely in my freezer waiting patiently for it’s big day…but I started panicking  about another turkey day nightmare – you get up before the sun to prep the turkey and get it in the oven only to find that the turkey is still frozen!!!  So, how long and what are the proper ways to de-thaw a turkey???  Answer: 24 hours for every 4lbs in a fridge at 40 degrees – so I will need to relocate Tom Turkey about 6 days before Thanksgiving (Siri – remind me to move Tom on November 15^th at 8pm - check).  You can also do a cold water bath 30 minutes per pound (always good to have the emergency plan B...Plan C is take out Chinese!).

 

What the heck is Brining?! Seriously?!

Reason # 8732 that I should NOT read anything from Martha Stewart - I found out about brining a turkey - essentially bathing the turkey 24 hours in advance in a bath of kosher salt, herbs, etc. Let me tell you what I will be doing 24 hours in advance - I will be cleaning my house like a mad woman so that his family thinks we live in a home that is free of dust, smudge marks on walls, clutter and always smells of freshly baked ginger snaps. For my own sanity, I am going to SKIP this!

 

You had me at "Clean up is a snap"

Definitely NOT brining, but I read that it was not recommended to baste the turkey - UGH!! Then, I found Turkey Bags - I love you Reynold's! They keep all the moisture in so you don't need to baste AND it leaves a clean roasting pan - ummm, yes please!

The rest of the plan

• Invest in a meat thermometer and don't rely on the pop up one that comes with the turkey.
• Oven set at 400 and 20-24 lb bird cooks for 5.5 to 6 hours 
• Cook turkey to 170 internal temp. 
• Let turkey rest 20 minutes before carving.
• Cook stuffing seperately or risk a salmonella outbreak - let's face it - I really don't need anything else to stress over!

Next chapter in my Turkey Virgin Diary will include a plan for my side dishes, table decorations, wine recommendations and put together a "Gratitude" playlist for my iPod. Those are items that I am actually excited about!!

What is a "Cup of Judy"??

When my husband and I were newly married and visiting his parents, I noticed that my mother-in-law would pour a cup of coffee, take a few sips, set it down, lose track of it, come back to it later when it was cold and then re-heat it in the microwave. This strange ritual would repeat about half a dozen times throughout the course of the day. We were amused and perplexed by this pattern and coined the term "Cup of Judy".

Then I became a Mom.

It was only then that I realized it is inevitable that within moments of pouring your much anticipated and very much needed cup of coffee, you are summoned to mediate a disagreement, find a toy, change a channel, clean up a mess, kiss a boo-boo, put someone in time out. And when you return...cold coffee...re-heat. 

The "Cup of Judy" has become a symbol of this phase of my life - not only do I reheat my coffee with regularity, conversations about current events have transformed into conversations about size, frequency and appearance of poop. "Sleeping in" is now bartering for 8am on Saturday. "Spontaneous road trips" are now driving country roads at 5am trying to get little ones back to sleep.

I decided to start this blog to journal activities, recipes and crafts that fit with this Cup of Judy phase I am in because I know there are many of you out there in the same boat!!!! I love Pinterest, but I don't have a ton of time nor the craftiness to create a kitchen island out of driftwood and old windows! On this blog you will find Cup of Judy approved items that ANYONE can do.

So pour yourself a hot cup of coffee (or go re-heat your Cup of Judy that you've been trying to finish for 3 hours) and then go hide in the bathroom for 5 minutes before your kids find you and browse through this blog for easy, fun and quick ideas you can do in between coffee reheats!