Fly Divas!!!!

[yonksgirl]

Ok ladies I like you hate all the e-mails that lady sends! The ones I do like are the missions and the zones. So I am going to take the liberty of posting the missions and zones. That way who ever whants to follow along can do so with out filling up their mail box!

Let me know if you are with me! I need motavation from other peoples acheivements!:D

[yonksgirl]

Here is one I thought may help a few of us!;) ;)




Dear Friends,

Today we are embarking on our journey to conquer Mt. Washmore! The
journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step and as for
SHEs; that step has to be a BabyStep! We can do this!

Your first BabyStep before you do anything else is to get dressed to
lace up shoes. I know this may be hard for you, because your regular
everyday clothes are all dirty. If you have to, put on something good
like a skirt, jumper or dress from your closet. I promise you are not
going to ruin it.

Then I want you to gather up a load of dirty towels and go put them
in the washing machine.

After the washer has started I want you to set your timer for about
35 minutes so you will remember that the washer is ruining so when
the washer finishes you can put them in the dryer and start another
load.

Do you want to know why your laundry never gets finished? It is
because we all have way too many clothes and when we run out we go
buy more. This has got to stop.

For the next 5 minutes I want you to go clean out one drawer for you.
Get rid of anything that you do not wear, that doesn't fit or that is
stained beyond repair. Do this fast. I am headed in to do this right
along with you!

Every time you put a new load in the washing machine I want you to
clean out one drawer for another member of your family. Do you
understand this?

Not having a place to put clean laundry keeps us living out of our
laundry baskets. So it doesn't matter how nice you fold things; the
clean clothes will end up a rumpled mess and probably in the floor.
Then the children trample on them or put them back in the dirty
clothes basket.

We have our destination; Ready, Set and we are OFF to scale Mt.
WashMore!

We can do this!

[yonksgirl]

Here is our mission for Tuesday 8/3


Dear Friends:

We are going to have a multi room mission today, it might take you
longer than 15 minutes to do it, so set your timer for each room and
FLY through it!

For the Front Porch, Entrance and Dining Room, put out the fires that
are burning in your hot spots. Get rid of the pile of shoes by the
front door, get rid of the pile of junk mail and put away the
magazines and school papers that are piled on the dining room table.


They are smoldering so get to it!

[jana]

That's a great idea, Kim, thanks! :elephant:

[RedBedHead]

I love it Kim.....keep it up please!!!!! I vow to look at this every morning and follow the rules specifically!!!!!!!!!

[yonksgirl]

Oh I am so happy you girls like it!:D I am going to check my mail and see what we have that was from yesterday!

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends,

Do you still have a mountain of laundry that is overwhelming you?

We have a solution! (Do this if you cannot take it another minute)

Let's take it all to the laundry mat. Yes you can do this. It is not
cheating. After you have done your sort then put the like clothing
into pillow cases or different colored garbage bags. We don't want
you donating all your family's clothing by mistake.

Then you will need some rolls of quarters. So you may have to stop by
the bank or rob the change jar. This will take you about two hours. I
like to stagger my loads by bringing a couple of bags in at a time
and starting the machines. This way they are not all finishing up at
the same time.

Before you leave the house, gather up coat hangers and all the
baskets you can find. Don't forget the laundry detergent and fabric
softner if you use it.

Now here is the kicker. As you are folding the laundry up, any items
that are too little, need to go into a donate bag. Right then and
there. Do you hear me? We barely have enough room for the clothes we
can wear, much less the ones that are just taking up space. Then
before you go home go donate it.

When you get home you have to put it all away! NOT LATER! NOW!!!!
This way you have finished.

Now this is also a great idea if you have been camping or on
vacation. Go to the laundry before you head home; this way everything
is clean and you are not left with all that laundry to do.

There are also those of you that live in apartments that do this all
the time. You understand about doing laundry once a week. This is
your routine and I do not fault you for that. You do what you have to
do.

We are going to tackle Mt. WashMore!

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends,

Today I want you to grab another load of clothes and put them in the
washer. Any loads that were left undone yesterday, need to be
finished right now.

Today we are going to sort our laundry. Not just into like colors but
we are going to take a garbage bag and sort out the clothes that no
longer fit, they you hate, that are stained beyond repair.

Do not wash them first before they go into the give away bag. I have
it on good authority that charities wash the clothing before they
give it away.

This could reduce your laundry by half if you will not hoard this
clothes. Just how many little pairs of pants dose the baby need from
his older syblings. Keep what you need and donate the rest. You will
be blessed in return.

Let the sort begin. Don't forget to set the timer and keep up with
the load that is in the washer.

[Csara]

Originally posted by yonksgirl
We are going to tackle Mt. WashMore! LMAO!! That is so funny.....and soooo true. Every week, a new Mt. WashMore appears in our house!!! :lol:

[HeavenLeigh]

:biglaugh: C. Same here!

Thanks Kim for posting these!!! I love reading the flylady stuff but hate the hundreds of E's she sends! :notworthy:

[yonksgirl]

Here is todays mission!

Dear Friends:

Today take a look at the walls and the windows in your dining room.
Grab some cleaner and a cloth and go after the finger prints and
smudges that those mysterious little elves seem to leave behind as
they run through your house when no one is looking! LOL


Be careful with the walls as not to rub too hard to remove paint if
you have a flat finish.

[yonksgirl]

More Mt washmore:p

Dear Friends,

Go put away anything that was left undone yesterday before you start
this next leg of our journey. You may want to put this in your before
bed routine. Put away all laundry that I started today! It only takes
5 minutes.

Today is the day that we do something toward getting rid of that pile
of clothes that needs to be ironed. Yes you have to get out the iron
and the ironing board and do 15 minutes worth. It may not seem like
much, but you will be suprised at what you can get done in that short
amount of time. Anti-procrastination day is a good day to tackle this
job.

So go put in another load of laundry and set up your ironing board. I
promise the guilt that has been weighing heavy on your head will be
lifted if you do just a little each day. Get ready to FLY!

Now here is a tip for not having to iron quite as much. Take clothes
out of the dryer and hang them up before the dryer has finished. I
also only buy clothes that don't need ironed. If it is something that
I really hate to iron then I take it to the cleaners.

OK it is time to scale another leg of Mt. WashMore! Are you with me?

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends,

Today I want you to spend 15 minutes getting rid of anything that
does not belong on your porch or front entrance way. Things that have
gotten thrown in a corner, along the wall, or even on the floor. The
things that you almost don't even see because they have just become
part of the space, get it out! If it does not belong there, then out
it goes!

This does not mean that you have to spend three hours in your porch,
do what you can do for 15 minutes.

[yonksgirl]

Originally posted by HeavenLeigh
:biglaugh: C. Same here!

Thanks Kim for posting these!!! I love reading the flylady stuff but hate the hundreds of E's she sends! :notworthy:

:star: Your welcome :star:

How is everyone doing, or you just reading?:p

[jana]

:shy: Um, just reading? :lol:

I did get out of work early today, but instead of spending my time cleaning, I've been sitting in front of the computer. :rolleyes:

I WILL get the kitchen cleaned today, though, before my hubby has a heart attack. He HATES a dirty kitchen!

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends:

Let's go into the dining room and get down and dirty with the cobwebs
and the dusties. Look up and look down, get the dust off the
baseboards and the cobwebs out of the corners in the ceiling. While
you are looking up, check out your light fixture, does it need to be
dusted?

Take 5-15 minutes to take care of this! You will pleased that you
did!

[yonksgirl]

Don't make me come over there Jana! :p

[jana]

Hehe you big meanie! :D I did get the kitchen semi-clean, and I also hung up some clean clothes and posted a bunch of Freecycle ads to get rid of some stuff. :elephant: I had a pretty productive evening, even if I haven't done the Fly missions. I'm hoping to get a ton of things done this weekend so I can get into Flymode. :)

[yonksgirl]

I'm hoping to get a ton of things done this weekend so I can get into Flymode.

That is too funny it is like having to get in shape before going to the gym!:p

[jana]

No kidding! Or like cleaning before the maid comes... I had some friends growing up who had a cleaning lady come over every week or two, and I never understood why my friends had to clean up before the CLEANING lady came! I get it now, but it's still funny to me. :D

[Turtleheadfred]

So anyone want to guess what I'm doing?:p

[jana]

Um, NOT cleaning? :D

[Turtleheadfred]

Originally posted by jana
Um, NOT cleaning? :D

No - I'm cleaning as always.:D But only :lurk: reading what (if any of) you guys are doing here... because you KNOW what I think of the FLYHAG!:D

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends:

Your mission for today should you choose to accept it: Scrub down
your counter tops, I don't mean to just wipe a rag across them! I
mean you get some hot soapy water and you wipe down the counters from
front to back and side to side.

Yes, you have to move the stuff on the counters to do this. DON'T
take everything off at one time and then plan to put it all back
again, I promise you will get sidetracked and then you will all email
me crying that it is all my fault!! LOL! You just move your toaster
(or coffee pot or whatever this is an example here! :>) ) over to
one side and wipe down the counter, then move over a foot or so, move
aside what is there and wipe down some more and so on.

We are not marathon cleaning the kitchen here, just getting all the
crumbs and junk that seems to build up behind and under things. Have
fun!

Don't obsess! Enjoy!

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends:

Today we are going to venture in to the pantry! If you do not have a
pantry, then choose one cabinet in your kitchen to straighten.

You know how they start off so nice and orderly and somehow the boxes
overtake each other and then (my personal favorite) the EMPTY boxes
of cereal, cookies etc, that no one knows who the last one to have
them are just in there piling up! Allow yourself one good
UUUUGGGHHH, take a breath and start dumping. Look for anything that
is out of date and toss that as well. Little compares to the shining
sink like a freshly straightened cabinet or pantry!

Have fun and this can count as a 27 fling boogie!

[yonksgirl]

I am putting this in because I do this all the time! So I thought there may be some one here that does the same thing!;) :p




Dear Friends,

Our attitudes put much of our stress on us. If we would recognize
whining when we do it then we may be able to change our whiny
attitudes.

FlyLady

************************************************** ****

I got this reply to my message of saving things for Good:

The reason I keep everything is I don't want to have to end up buying
it again. It has always worked for me. Just because you don't need it
now, doesn't mean you won't need it in the future. I figure I am
saving money that way!

My Reply to her:

You are also hoarding stuff because you don't have faith in yourself
to be able to provide for your needs in the event of ............

There comes a point when enough is enough. Too much takes over your
home and strangles you. Let go and bless others with your abundance
and live a life that is giving not hoarding.

*****************************
Dear Friends,

This got me to thinking more about this word ENOUGH and the whining
that comes when we say it!

This word is almost as bad as the word perfect. How many times a day
do you hear the word enough come out of our mouth or into your brain.
Let's just look at damage that this word does to all of us.

1. I don't have ENOUGH time! How many times do you say this one? We
all have the same hours in every single day. Enough time to clean it
the way your momma made you when you were a child. Enough time to get
it right! So when we believe this lie; we stop dead in our tracks and
DO NOTHING!

2. I don't have ENOUGH help around the house! Oh Boy!!! Don't get me
started on this whiny attitude. If you live alone; it is just you:
Single parents don't have any one to whine too or nag either: You
don't hear them complain about this. So get off of your pity pot and
do something. There are no excuses for this attitude. If you will set
the example in love you will have the help. We have thousands of
testimonials to back this up.

3. I don't get ENOUGH appreciation from my family for what I do!
Appreciation starts with you! When you start feeling bad because
someone didn't take notice that you cleaned something then you are
cleaning for the wrong reason. Do it for you and it won't feel like
you are unappreciated, because you will appreciate the effort and as
a result you will be blessing your family.

4. I don't have ENOUGH money! We have all said this one; over and
over again. Do you want to know the truth of the matter? Rita
Davenport taught me. If money will fix it; it is not a problem. If we
will quit wasting our money on quick fixes we will have all we need.
Say no to buying more clutter! This will happen once the clutter is
out of your home. You will find a new freedom from letting go of your
clutter. Not only will you have more open clear spots in your home,
but you will also have the money that you didn't waste on the
clutter. This goes for fast food, yard sale bargains and department
store sales. When you start filling that hole that is in your soul
with love, you will no longer need to just dump anything in there to
make you feel better.

5. I don't have ENOUGH storage: Yes you do, but you have clutter
taking over its space. Let go of the clutter and you won't have to
spend money on those storage units. By only having things around you
that you love and use; your clutter will have to find a new home.
That will release the space for the things you love.

6 I don't have enough supplies: This one gets our new members all the
time. They think that they need to go out and buy storage containers.
We have even had FlyBabies recognize each other in the check out
line. Are you a FlyBaby too??? We have all that we will ever need
except maybe garbage bags. :) We go through a lot of those when we
are doing our Super FLING Boogie. As for cleaning supplies; I use
very few. A window cleaner and some soap. That is about it. We don't
need magic cleaning supplies to get us started and this goes for the
things that we have for sale on our website. I don't want to hear
that you can't get started because you have not had the money to
order your timer, duster, book or calendar. The thing that gets you
started is getting off your franny and moving. So quit making excuses
and go shine your sink with what you have. Do what you can with what
you have, where you are! President Teddy Roosevelt said that to our
country once.

7. I don't have a house that is big ENOUGH: Whine Whine Whine! If
everyone has a place to sleep then your home is plenty big; but if
clutter has taken over; no wonder you don't think you have enough
room. Clutter is evicting your family. Toss him out on his ear and
make room to live. We have had members that could not believe how
big their home had become once the clutter was gone. It is the best
remodel you can do to your home.

8. I don't get ENOUGH respect. Do you want to know why; Because you
don't respect yourself first. You don't need outside admiration when
you value yourself. You have to show a little to get a little. This
goes even farther than this. The more you give the more you will get.
Give it to yourself and reap what you sow!

9. I can't dress well because I don't have ENOUGH nice clothes. This
goes back to the respect issue. You don't have to have fancy clothes
to feel good and pretty in what you have. A clean pair of jeans and a
bright colored shirt and make you feel like a million bucks if you
will take the time to dress each morning. Once you quit wasting money
and feel that you are worth it, you will get yourself one new outfit
and a decent pair of lace-up shoes. You can save for them. Learn to
mix and match what you have. This is not hard. As a rule we only wear
a few items in our closet anyway because we can't see what we really
do have for all the fat clothes and skinny clothes that are taking up
room in our closets. Rita Davenport taught me many years ago to not
hold on the your fat clothes because you will get back into them. I
feel that you have get rid of your skinny ones because they make you
feel bad. When we feel bad we usually eat! So cut this out by tossing
this attitude out the door with the clothes that don't fit you!

10. I don't have ENOUGH energy; Enough energy for what! To run a
marathon? That is not what I am asking you to do. All I want is for
you to start with simple morning babystep routines and evening
routines and to declutter 15 minutes a day. It does not have to all
be done at one time. Last year we got a testimonial from a member
that was overweight. It was hard for her to stand for even a minute.
Now I am in purple puddles(tears) as I retell this story. So in order
to get her sink shining; she set her timer for 1 minute and then she
would rest for 15 minutes. It took her all day, but she shined her
sink. In her testimonial she told us how getting up for 1 minute
turned into 2 minutes and then into 3 and eventually after several
months of FLYing she was even able to leave her house to go shopping
for her children's home schooling material. So what is your excuse?
Even people with chronic illnesses can do just a little from where
they are. People with MS, FM, CFS and cancer have all figured out
ways to do just a little at a time and pace themselves. That is what
we all need to do: Take babysteps so we don't burn out!

11. I don't have ENOUGH Love; Well for once you may be right about
this one. You joined our little cyber family to get your home
organized. You never dreamed that our messages were more about your
attitude toward yourself. You don't have ENOUGH self love! Now don't
email me complaining that this is not what the Bible teaches. I think
it is. Don't forget the Golden Rule! To love thy neighbor as thyself!
I feel that you can't love anyone else till you do! If I can teach
you to FLY; Finally Love Yourself, then your home and life come
together. Have you ever been on an airplane and heard the flight
attendant tell you that if the oxygen masks come down to secure yours
first before you help your child or others. When you give, give, give
and don't save any for you then you are left wanting. As Kelly says:
If momma ain't happy then nobody's happy! Take care of yourself; If
you don't then who is????

Are you ready to FLY with just ENOUGH and quit WHINING!!

FlyLady



You are not behind! I don't want you to try to catch up; I just want you to jump in where we are. O.K.?

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends:

Today is Anti-Procrastination Day and we are still in the kitchen,

Your mission for today is to grab a trash bag and clean out your
refrigerator. You are to toss ANYTHING that will not get eaten any
time soon. This means that new salad dressing you decided to try but
really don't like. It is time to let it go. Just as the rule
applies to the rest of the house. If you don't love or use it, lose
it! Get rid of the fruit that is a few days beyond when it was
really edible, get rid of the veggies that are turning into a science
project. Check the dates on the cheeses that are potential science
project. When you are finished weigh your bag and post your
pounds!! You will be able to really make a better grocery list when
your fridge is cleaned out of all the items you don't like and or
don't use!!

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends:

Your Mission for today should you choose to accept it is to declutter
your plastic wraps and foil drawers, cabinets or shelves. We all
have a spot that we keep these items and there is always one empty
box in there and some lone baggies that are trying to escape. Toss
the empty boxes, the rolls of plastic wraps that are too stuck
together to work, and those strays that you are not sure if you
should use them or not. Purge them!!

This is quick and easy! Have Fun!

[oh2bBetEBoop]

WooHoo! Love what you are doing here.
Keep us motivated. I have a load in washer and dryer.
Thanx,
BB

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends:

We are in the last day of the kitchen zone!

Let's take a look at the cabinets! Take a few minutes to check them
out, I bet you will see that they need a little sprucing up! Just
wipe down the outside surfaces. You will be so surprised at what a
difference shining those cabinets will make!

There is no "right" way to do this. Depending on what your cabinets
are made out of is what you will use to wipe the cabinets down. A
wood soap, a general purpose cleaner, or just soap and water. A
slightly damp cloth will work as well.

Don't obsess and have fun with this! Look around and see how your
kitchen shines!!!

[RedBedHead]

I swear I've tried. OK, on Monday, I will become a true FlyLady!

[yonksgirl]

I think we all have the same problem! :D
We do not like baby steps, I know I do not!:p
I want everything now so I crisis clean burn myself out then I do not want to clean for like a week! :rolleyes: I am so bad!

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends,

I am so proud of all of you! You have been practicing your routines
and decluttering. Over the next two weeks we are going to tackle some
of those toughest areas we have been putting off.

The best part is that we are going to do it in record time and show
the world that we too are champions in our own homes!!!

Dust off your timers and get plenty of rest tonight!

Tomorrow we begin!

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends:

We are back in the bathroom!!! Here is a really simple mission for
you. Clear off the counter tops and flat surfaces, put away the
medicines, the toothbrushes, the cosmetics, etc. You know what I am
talking about. Bathroom counters are hotspots for all of us but we
don't think of them as hotspots because we think we NEED the stuff,
so we just let it sit. PUT THESE THINGS AWAY! Do not get
sidetracked with emptying out your closets and drawers. Just get rid
of the stuff that is on the countertops and other flat surfaces.

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends,

The opening ceremonies for the 2004 Olympics were on this past
Friday. We watched as those athletes entered the stadium with their
flags flying high and their smiles guiding them around the track. I
have never seen so many happy faces in one place.

I was wondering about all of those smiles and it hit me! They are
seeing the fruition of their life's work. At a very early age they
decided that they wanted to be in the Olympics and compete with the
world's best athletes for the gold medal. Do you want to know what
got them to the Olympics; it was not just saying their goal, it was
putting together a plan and implementing it every day of their life?
Can I say routines here!!!

Do you want to smile too? Many of you came to FlyLady.net with one
goal in mind; to get your home in order. That is an honorable goal
but that is not the be all and end all. It is just the stepping stone
to opening up your world to many wonderful things. Getting my home in
order has allowed me to be who I was put on Earth to be! I am
fulfilling my life's mission and I would not have ever been able to
find my reason for being if I had stayed in my clutter and CHAOS.

CHAOS separates us from our goals. We may not even know what they are
when we first start, but if we will practice our routines every day
then we will begin to see what is waiting for us once we get out of
our clutter and CHAOS. These skillful athletes practice every single
day: Some times for several hours. God gave them a talent and they
have taken that talent to its highest levels. They did not hide it
under a bushel or go bury it under the clutter. They set up a plan
(control journal) and each day, each week and each month they took
the babysteps to help them accomplish their goal of being the best in
the world.

Well sisters and brothers, there is not a world championship for
homemaking! It seems like a thankless chore, but it really is not to
you and your family. Even world class athletes need clean toilets. We
all deserve to live in a home that blesses us and nurtures us to
become who we were born to be. We may not have been born organized
but we can learn some of those traits to help keep us focused on the
blessing at hand.

Have you noticed that each athlete has the proper attire for their
sport; beautiful functional uniforms that do not hinder their
performance but enhance it? Even down to the shoes (except for the
swimmers and gymnasts). They adhere to strict nutritionally sound
diets, they drink their water and yes, they go to bed at a decent
hour! Does this sound familiar to you?

You cannot expect to function at world class status if you do not
follow these guidelines. Did you know that all of these athletes have
a coach? Imagine that! They didn't have to sit down and figure this
all out for themselves. They had someone who had done it before them
to help guide them and tell them what to do! Yippee! We are not
failures after all. We all need a coach and guess what you have a
whole coaching staff! Let me introduce you to them!

Meet FlyLady! She is the bossiest coach you will ever meet, but she
has your best interest at heart and she loves you as if you were her
own. She is tough but this will help you too. She guides you with the
combination of her personalities; The worlds loudest cheerleader, a
fairygodmother, a strict drill sergeant and a loving but firm parent
shaking her Mommie finger when you need that attitude adjustment.

Then there is Kelly! She gives us what we need to help us get through
our days and feel good about something. She is our sprinting coach
and at the end of the day she sends us to the showers to take care of
ourselves by pampering our bodies.

Next we have Leanne! She is our very own nutritionist. She helps us
to put good food into our bodies and teaches us that making dinner is
not a marathon or a fast food junket; it is a time to fill our souls
as well as feed our bodies. She helps us to plan for our nutrition
and not just eat whatever we can find. She teaches us that eating
more often is better for our bodies than starving ourselves all day
long and binging at the end of the day.

You have a whole FLY Crew to help you from your head to your toes.
The good part about our FLYing Olympics is that our personal Olympics
doesn't end in just two short weeks. We are not establishing our
routines to have it all end with the final ceremonies. We have a
lifetime of being able to stand up on the platform and accept our
gold metal for a sport that was not the most glamorous but for a
blessing that we have preformed out of love for ourselves and for our
families. Take your bows friends and put that smile in your face! You
have worked hard and your gold metal is going to be your home that
cradles you in comfort each day of your life!

Get out your timers! We are going to have fun with our FLYing
Olympics.

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends:

Today we are going to shine our tubs or showers! We have talked
about shinning our sinks since you started and we want you take 5 or
10 minutes to shine that tub or shower. Do not get obsessed with the
tub being perfect. Just scrub the tub with whatever works. there is
no perfect tub/shower cleaner or perfect way to do this. Shampoo on
a wash cloth will work! Whatever or however you choose, anything is
better then nothing, then spritz it with a little windex and dry it
with a towel like you shine your sink.

Have Fun!

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends,

This event is not a marathon. Let me repeat myself! This is not a
marathon; it is just a sprint. But it is going to be one of the
toughest events you will have, so we are going to be tackling this in
several different legs. I guess you could say that this is a relay
race.

I want you to grab a box or bag to put items to donate to the local
women's shelter. Displaced women need clothes to find a job. The
clothes that you have been holding on to could be blessing someone
who has nothing.

Now set your timer for 2 minutes and go to your closet. Grab all the
slacks that do not fit you any longer or that you do not like. Do not
allow these clothes to mock you are say ugly things. You are the Gold
Medal athlete and you are the best! So run in there and silence those
clothes by giving them to someone in need. Then take the bag to the
car. Do not allow those pants to jump out of your bag back into your
closet. Don't look in there. Take the bag directly to your car.

Get on your Mark, Ready, Set, GO!!!!

[yonksgirl]

Dear FLY Olympians,

The race is not always won by the swiftest. It is the slow and steady
work that makes winners of all of us.

We are going in again on our next leg of our Closet Relay!

Set your timer for 2 minutes and with another donation bag, go into
your closet and pull out as many shirts or blouses that you don't
love or that do not fit any longer. It doesn't matter if they are too
big or too little; if they don't fit you should not wear them and if
the clothing is not blessing you then it needs to bless someone else.

Do not allow those hecklers to slow your pace! Silence them by
putting them into the give-away bag! You will never have to hear
their ugly words again!

Get on your Mark, Ready, Set, GO!!!!!

[yonksgirl]

Dear FLY Olympians,

You are doing well so far. Only two more legs of this race to go!

Let's get rid of those dresses that we have not worn in years! You
know the ones, that for sentimental reasons you were hanging on to
them. That bride's maid dress that was a weird color. I am not
telling you to toss out your wedding gown; unless you really want to.
It can even be dresses that you wore to church last year and so and
so has one like it. Let's remove those dresses that do not flatter us
and make room for more blessing and compliments to come into your
life.

You can't organize clutter; and these clothes are holding you back!

Get on your Mark, Ready, Set, GO!!!!!

[yonksgirl]

Dear FLY Olympians,

I know that this has been a hard race. It was not tiring on you but
the emotional ties to this clutter are hard to cut. Do not allow
these clothes to hurt you any longer. Let's toss out those hecklers
so that when we enter our closet we are blessed by only clothes that
make us feel good.

Your last and final leg of this race is not going to be easy either.
Grab your give-away bag and toss out those blazers, coats and skirts.
We paid good money for them and if they don't fit then all they are
doing is taking up prime closet space for the clothes you love. No
wonder you are living out of a laundry basket.

When you are finished with this race! I want to hear about your
victory lap to the car to put these bags away, so they won't
mysteriously jump back in your closet. If you can, take them to the
shelter right now. If not, don't them the next time you are out.

Get on your Mark, Get Ready, Set, Go

[yonksgirl]

I just got the calender offered on Fly lady (www.flylady.net) . It is great! Even if you do not follow her you can do it on your own! No e-mails! there are alot of stickers that help you remember everything! I think it is $21 and some odd change with shipping. It is worth every penny!

[yonksgirl]

Dear FLY Olympicians,

Today we are going to run a few sprints to see how fast we can do
some of those daily races.

Your first sprint is to make your bed. Set your timer for 5 minutes.
I know it will not take that long. But is is fun to know just how
long it really does take you!

If your bed is already made then do this one tomorrow morning. I am
so proud of you for making your bed before getting on your computer.

Get on your Mark, Get Set, Ready, GO!!!!

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends:

Back in the bathroom again! Your mission for today is to check the
supplies that are needed in your bathroom.

Do you need toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo, mouthwash, soap etc.
Add these to your shopping list this week. Take a visual inventory
to make sure you have what you need so one of your family members are
not stuck in the bathroom yelling for toilet paper, nothing says "I
Love You" like plenty of toilet paper! LOL!

These things are so easy to forget until you are standing in the
shower with no soap! Get a list ready for your next errand day.

Have fun and don't obsess, just one babystep at a time!

[Jester]

I'm going to close this thread, because the owner of Fly Lady contacted us that the material being posted from their site on this thread is copyrighted.

I know you are all big fans of theirs, but I gotta do what I gotta do.

Even though its good publicity for them, they don't want it. So I'm going to ask that you please refrain from posting FlyLady text at home talkers. Gracias! :smoking:

[Csara]

LOL, we are back open for business here, Yonksgirl! :) It actually wasn't the owner of FlyLady who contacted us but someone who wanted to give us a "heads up" incase the owner of Fly Lady ran across our site. :huh: Anyway....keep on keeping on. ;)

[yonksgirl]

Are you sure I do not want to get anyone in trouble! I do not even know if anyone is even reading this any more.:huh:

[RedBedHead]

I am so missing this. I was with you....until I stopped housecleaning totally. Now I'm ready again. Please post if ya can!

[yonksgirl]

FlyLady Here: I would like to personally thank Leanne Ely for her
gift to all of you for this Thanksgiving Menu Mailer. She has it in 4
parts because it is 12 pages long. She has given us the tools for
preparing a dinner; for many people this will be their first holiday
meal. Have fun and don't forget to laugh.


Dear Friends,

If holiday meals were royalty, the big Thanksgiving Day meal no
doubt, would be king. There is nothing more wonderful to walk into a
home with the smell of Thanksgiving permeating the air. The big
turkey is as regal as a monarch and the attending side dishes have
become as dearly beloved as our centerpiece bird.

Having your menu prepared for Thanksgiving is as critical as actually
inviting your guests. It's one thing to ask Aunt Betty to bring her
famous apple pie and another relative to bring something else, but if
you're nervously throwing together a menu the night before the big
Turkey Day, you'll find yourself hurried, worried and definitely, not
enjoying the day.

Wonderful meals and celebrations like Thanksgiving are planned in
advance because they're more than just a big meal: they're traditions
and a means of tying heartstrings together. Believe it or not, a meal
together is one of the ways we can put down anchors for our families
and help them understand their place and role within our own family
circles. The family dinner table is the day-in, day-out version of
this. Celebratory meals like Thanksgiving, take this concept a step
further with their own traditions and familiar recipes and add a
distinctiveness that is all our own.

At my sister's house, they always have sweet potato casserole with
gobs of miniature marshmallows on the top, all browned and gooey. One
traditional recipe at my house has always included my mom's stuffing
recipe (it's the best and I've included the recipe), and my own
homemade cranberry sauce (SO easy, recipe also included).

I decorate the table with colors of the season: miniature pumpkins
and seasonal gourds piled up in a basket and a larger sugar pumpkin
on either side of that basket with two taper candles in pewter
candlestick holders, just waiting to be lit. The sideboard has three
burnt orange candles of various sizes and heights and a big bunch of
dried wheat standing on its own, tied with a raffia bow. ALL of this
stuff was purchased incrementally at the grocery store since early
October. The effect is beautiful and without a big price tag. Most of
this, of course, will be moved for the big buffet on Thanksgiving. I
am able to enjoy my pretty table now and it definitely puts me in the
mood.

I have a gorgeous Thanksgiving Feast right here for you to enjoy.
This one is all together and ready to go. Almost as easy a take out!
(LOL) As with every Menu-Mailer I share with you, this special
Thanksgiving Menu-Mailer has the menu, recipes and the itemized
shopping list. Everyone of you have been such a gift to me--this my
gift to you for the holidays. Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, Leanne


MENU:

Simple Roast Turkey & Pan Gravy
Muzzie's Fabulous Stuffing
Orange Cranberry Sauce
Mashed Potatoes
Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Onions
Sauteed Green Beans with Nutmeg
Rolls and Butter
Pumpkin Cheesecake

Here's the Grocery List!

MEAT:
1 14 to 16 pound turkey, fresh or frozen (your choice)
1 pound bulk breakfast sausage (I use Farmer John links with no
casings)

CONDIMENTS:
Olive oil

PRODUCE:
3# onions
4 medium red onions
1 bunch carrots
1 bunch celery
1 green apple (smallish)
1 bunch parsley
5# russet potatoes (you will need 12 nice sized potatoes)
fresh green beans (12 good handfuls, LOL)
8 medium sweet potatoes (they are reddish and in the West they call
them yams, but they are wrong! LOL)
1 pound bag fresh cranberries

SPICES:
Thyme
Poultry seasoning
White pepper
Sage
Nutmeg
Lemon pepper
Ground cinnamon
Ground ginger
Pure vanilla extract

CANNED GOODS:
1 or 2 (14.75 oz.) cans chicken broth (or more for back up)
1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin puree

DRIED GOODS:
Wondra flour (it's in a blue canister)
Sugar (have at least 2 pounds on hand for baking, cranberries and
coffee, etc.)
Coffee for dessert (perhaps decaf?)
1 box Mrs. Cubbison's BREAD stuff Mix (or use Pepperidge Farm on the
East Coast)
(NOT the cornbread kind)
1 envelope of turkey gravy mix (Don't freak out!)
1 box gingersnaps

DAIRY:
2 pounds unsalted butter (freeze any remaining)
whipping cream (you need 3/4 cup)
half and half for coffee
milk (you will need for making potatoes--about a cup or so)
orange juice (you need one cup)
3 (8 oz.) packages of Philadelphia cream cheese (best brand)
eggs (you need 4)

BAKERY:
Rolls for 12 (at my house, that would be 3 dozen!)

FROZEN:
Rolls for 12 (good alternative if you don't do bakery rolls)

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends,

Believe it or not, this next part is only on making the turkey and
starting the gravy. If you've never done a turkey before, don't be
scared--think of that big ol' thing as just a big chicken. This
simple recipe will show you how.

Love, Leanne


Simple Roast Turkey & Pan Gravy
Serves 12 (with leftovers!)

1 15 pound turkey (at least, I will probably go bigger for more
leftovers)
one stick of unsalted butter, softened
salt and pepper to taste
1 recipe Muzzie's Fabulous Stuffing (see recipe)
(un-stuffing option: one carrot, one stalk of celery, an onion, a
green apple, some thyme)
thyme
sage

You will usually find a package of giblets (innards) in the neck
cavity of the turkey. Remove those, place in the fridge and I will
tell you what to do with them later. Right now, it's bath time for
old tom. Rinse the cavities (the neck and bottom) and outside of the
bird with cool water then pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the
cavity of the turkey lightly with salt if desired. If you are not
stuffing the bird, throw a washed carrot cut in half, a large onion
cut in half and a celery stick cut in half into the cavity, sprinkle
a little thyme and some salt and pepper. You can also add a half a
green seeded apple, quartered if you like. I would also throw a
little sage and thyme in there and mix everything up with my hand
(about 1/2 a teaspoon each). This will just help to flavor the
drippings, which in turn will help you make scrumptious gravy. Do not
salt the cavity if you will be stuffing the turkey.

If you will be stuffing the bird, don't do it now. Wait to do that
till just before she hits the oven. Remove a rack from the oven, and
position the last rack to be the second to the bottom ledge (in other
words, not the very bottom). Turn on the oven to preheat, 500
degrees. (that's not a typo)

Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan
(the rack will help the whole turkey brown). Rub your bird down
(using your hands) with a cube of softened unsalted butter (this
isn't one of those calorie conscientious meals). You will want to get
under the skin and over the skin too (unless putting your hand under
the turkey's skin creeps you out). Put half a cup of water on the
bottom of the pan. If you are using a meat thermometer (which is
advised) place the thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh
muscle, but do not allow it to touch the bone or you will get a false
reading.

NOW, stuff the bird if you are going to stuff. I have recently become
a dressing convert after years of stuffing my bird. I used to stuff
and I love the stuffing, but I have found that stuffing the turkey is
one of the reasons the turkey dries out so my stuffing has become
dressing now. A part of me mourns the loss of that delectable
stuffing that came out of my turkey, but the other part of me is
thrilled with the moist results of my turkey.

Place the turkey in a preheated 500-degree oven for a half hour. Set
your timer! The reason for the intense beginning heat is that this
will allow the fat under the skin on the bottom of turkey (remember-
you've got her sitting on a rack in the roasting pan) to melt and
help brown the skin on the bottom. No more mush bottomed turkeys!
Also, the turkey will begin to turn bronzy brown, which you want.
After the initial 500-degree zapping, turn your oven down to a
respectable 325 degrees. Do you feel better now?

Follow the timetable (below) for approximate roasting time. Place a
tent of foil loosely over the turkey when it begins to turn golden
brown, exposing only the drumsticks to the oven. Roast the turkey
until the meat thermometer reads 180 degrees (for a whole turkey) and
the juice is no longer pink when you cut into the center of the thigh
(it should be clear). The drumstick should move easily in the socket
when lifted or twisted. When the turkey is finished roasting, remove
it from the oven and let it stand at least 1/2 hour for easiest
carving. However, it's even better to let it rest an hour. That way
you can count down the rest of the meal (Timeline to follow). Keep
the turkey tented with foil so it will stay warm.

CHART FOR COOKING YOUR BIRD
The national Turkey Federation recommends you should cook your turkey
until the temperature reaches 170 degrees in the breast and 180
degrees in the thigh (watch out for the bone) when a meat thermometer
is inserted. A meat thermometer is distinctly different than a candy
thermometer! (I tried to use one, once a upon a time LOL)

STUFFED TURKEY
8 to 12 pounds 3 to 3 1/2 hours
12 to 14 pounds 3 1/2 to 4 hours
14 to 18 pounds 4 to 4 1/4 hours
18 to 20 pounds 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours
20 to 24 pounds 4 3/4 to 5 1/4 hours

UNSTUFFED TURKEY
8 to 12 pounds 2 3/4 hours to 3 hours
12 to 14 pounds 3 to 3 3/4 hours
14 to 18 pounds 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours
18 to 20 pounds 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours
20 to 24 hours 4 1/2 to 5 hours
24 to 30 pounds 5 to 5 1/4 hours

Right about now, you're probably wondering where the basting
instructions are. Personally, I don't baste. Why? Because basting
actually dries out the bird! Every time you open the oven door, you
lose 25 degrees of heat. What does this do? Because you to lose heat,
you to have to cook the turkey longer. Longer cooking time means a
drier turkey, period. (Yeah, yeah…I knoww you have been basting birds
for a hundred years in your family and everyone swears by basting). I
too was in the basting camp till one year I was overwhelmed with all
I had to do (in typical SHE fashion, I was doing everything last
minute) and we had the best, juiciest turkey ever. So my advice is
don't baste.

Once the turkey is finished with its roasting, remove it from the
oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes in the pan. Then remove
your bird from the pan to a cutting board and again, allow it to
rest, at least 20 minutes; but an hour is better (and like I said
earilier, it gives you a sense of a timetable to finish up the rest
of dinner. Just put a little foil "jacket" on old tom to keep him
warm). This is important because it will retain its juiciness if
given the proper "nap".

Roast Turkey Pan Gravy

Let's face it: lumpy gravy just screams amateur. It doesn't take
gourmet chef cooking skills to make a lump-less gravy, nor is it
rocket science. But for all the mixing, whisking and fussing, good
gravy is a mystery. To do it yourself, you just need a few well-kept
secrets given to you. So here you have it, once and for all: gravy
demystified.

Here are the ingredients you will need to make gorgeous gravy:

Turkey broth (recipe of sorts, included. Keep reading)
Wondra flour (yes, buy this)
White pepper
Salt and pepper to taste

Remember I promised you I would tell you what to do with the giblet
pouch? Now is the time. In that drippy bag, you are going to find a
big old turkey neck, the heart, gizzard and liver. The heart, gizzard
and liver are great treats for the dog, but unless giblet gravy is
your heart's desire (sorry, couldn't help myself), in my opinion,
they have no place in a gravy boat.

First off, get your turkey neck, a half a carrot, celery stalk and a
half an onion, quartered. Throw them all together into a medium sized
saucepan and fill about three quarters of the way up with cold water.
Put the pan on a medium high heat, bring to a boil, then lower the
temp and allow to simmer for about an hour or so. Throw a lid on the
top and turn it down even lower and allow it to cook for another
hour. Strain broth from solids (toss the solids) and set aside for
later gravy making. If it is hours away from that event, refrigerate
the broth.

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends,

Okay, on to more Thanksgiving dinner...now we're getting down to the
meat and potatoes, so to speak. You can easily copy and paste all of
these Food for Thoughts into one document for easier viewing and then
copy them off.

Love, Leanne


Hitting the Gravy Train

Okay, the turkey has been removed from the pan and is resting
comfortably. Skim the big greasy globs of fat from the roasting pan
and place in a medium sized saucepan (there should be about three
tablespoons or so of fat, depending on the size of your bird). Next,
take an equal amount of Wondra flour and add to that turkey grease (I
know this sounds yucky, but you have to trust me). The heat should be
about medium high and you need to whisk away to your heart's content
until the roux (pronounced ROO) is golden and thick, and naturally
lump-less. This roux procedure will take you all of five minutes-very
easy, you can't mess this up. Set your beauteous roux aside.

Now back to the roasting pan. Add a cup of your reserved turkey neck
stock to the roasting pan and turn up the heat (you will probably
need two burners for the job) and bring it to a boil. Using your wire
whisk, scrape up all the browned bits off the bottom of the pan.
Those browned bits contain concentrated turkey flavor that will make
your turkey gravy absolutely to die for. Don't skip this step. Now
add all the golden roux in the saucepan you just made and whisk like
your life depended on it. In just moments, a beautiful, velvety
bronzed gravy should be emerging and filling you with the joy of
accomplishment.

I am an admitted snob when it comes to gravy making, but even
cookbook authors have their limitations when it comes to making
enough turkey gravy. Truth be told, a turkey doesn't make as much
gravy as necessary for the gravy hounds undoubtedly sitting at your
very holiday table. You know the types-they use three ladles of gravy
on their potatoes alone before even tackling the turkey on their
plates. It is because of them that I came up with this trick.
Actually, I take that back. My sister did this and I was shocked at
how good it was. I didn't know she had done this at the time or I
probably would have thrown myself prostrate on the stove begging her
not to ruin the gravy. Here's what she did: she added a package of
dry turkey gravy mix (and the accompanying water) to her already made
gravy. No one was the wiser-including me! I was amazed at how much
gravy she had and too, was thrilled that I (an admitted gravy snob,
plus a hound myself) was able to amply ladle gravy without being
scolded about "saving some for the next guy". She told me about the
sneaky gravy extension trick after I had polished off Round One of
The Meal and noticed there was still gravy left. I nearly needed
smelling salts when she told me what she had done. I tried this trick
at home and it is simply fabulous. This kind of mix stuff I will do
on special occasions.



Muzzie's Fabulous Stuffing
Serves 12 (with leftovers)

Muzzie is my mom, affectionately nicknamed this silly name (it
means "confused" in the dictionary-I promise, I only found that out
because I like crossword puzzles) by yours truly when I was a smart-
mouthed kid. It stuck and now the whole world calls her Muzzie
(although a few just go by plain, Muz). Muzzie is a great cook and
for many years I tried different gourmet recipes for stuffing, all
homemade, none with a mix, but none ever came out better than my
Mom's. Could be for sentimental reasons, but she definitely has a fan
club at my house when it comes to stuffing!

1 box (2 envelopes) of Mrs. Cubbison's Stuffing mix (on the East
Coast, use Pepperidge Farm--NOT the cornbread kind, the regular bread
kind)
2 stalks of celery, chopped
1 large onion chopped
1 good handful of parsley, finely chopped
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 (14.75 oz.) can chicken broth (you won't need the whole thing--as
needed)
1 pound bulk breakfast sausage

First off, cook the sausage in a skillet with about an inch of water,
over a medium high heat. You won't be frying it-you'll be poaching
it. Use a potato masher to mash the sausage into smallish pieces. You
want it thoroughly cooked and not browned and greasy, and not into
tiny bits either. Poor any remaining water off. In a large mixing
bowl, add sausage and remaining ingredients except the chicken broth.
Toss everything together and add a little chicken broth a bit at a
time to get a soft texture. You will use about a quarter of a cup of
chicken broth or maybe a little more, depending on how dry your
dressing is. You want it moist, not drenched. Definitely don't soak
the stuffing/dressing with chicken broth. Save any remaining broth
for the gravy.

Place dressing in a casserole dish to be baked later. Use the rest
for stuffing if you plan on stuffing your bird.

Orange Cranberry Sauce
Serves 12 (with leftovers)

4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (1 pound bag)
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup orange juice

Rinse the cranberries (even if they are frozen) in a strainer with
cool water, and remove any stems and bad or blemished berries.

In a large saucepan, over medium heat, heat the water, juice and
sugar to boiling stirring occasionally. Continue boiling 5 minutes
longer to assure sugar is completely melted, stirring occasionally.

Add the cranberries. Heat back to boiling over medium heat, stirring
occasionally. Put a lid on the saucepan and continue boiling about 5
minutes longer, still stirring occasionally, until you hear the
cranberries begin to pop. Remove the saucepan from the heat, give it
a good stir and allow to cool for about 20 minutes. Pour the
cranberry sauce into a bowl or container and allow to completely cool
before refrigerating.

Good Old Fashioned Mashed Potatoes
Serves 12

12 good sized Russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
unsalted butter
milk
salt and pepper to taste

Fill a large pot with water and as you prepare the potatoes, throw
them in after quartering them. After you are finished, drain the
water if it looks dirty or murky and fill it up with fresh water. You
need to adequately cover the potatoes, but there should be at least a
couple of inches of cooking room.

Place the pot of potatoes on a burner, turn up to high and get the
potatoes boiling. You can put on a lid on it (it will boil faster)
but stay in the room so it doesn't boil over. When it starts to boil,
bring the heat down to a simmer and cook until fork tender (about 20
minutes or so, depending on how big your potato quarters are).

Now carefully drain that heavy pot. See if you can draft a big burly
guy to do it for you. If not, please be careful!

To your steaming pot of potatoes, add butter. How much, well I don't
want to be quoted on how much I use on Thanksgiving (hey, it's a
special occasion!), let your conscience be your guide.

Next, salt and pepper to taste and add about 1/2 cup of milk. That's
a starting place. Now pull out your potato masher and put some elbow
grease in it or get the big burly guy to do it. DON'T use the
electric mixer on these gems! Potatoes have gluten in them and when
you over handle them (as in whip the daylights out of them with an
electric mixer), the gluten develops making your lovely mashed
potatoes look more like wallpaper paste that needs thinning. Don't go
there! Use an old-fashioned potato masher or potato ricer (same kind
of deal, only there are little holes in the bottom instead of the
usual zigzag pattern of the normal potato masher).

FlyLady does her potatoes earlier in the day(about an hour before the
meal) and puts them in a crockpot on low with a little butter on top
to keep them from drying out (and the lid on too, of course). I think
that is ingenious. However, one word of caution is that with so many
variables with crockpots, you need to make sure yours will work for
this task and the "low" setting isn't too high. My old one works for
this job, my new one is too hot. See what I mean? Test run a small
batch first if you are able.

[yonksgirl]

Dear Friends,

Is your mouth watering yet? Here's the rest of the recipes.

Next week, I will give you a Turkey 101 essay so you can "talk
turkey" with your bird, Turkey Triage help (troubleshooting cooking
problems) and some "tools of the trade" (stuff you may need to either
borrow or purchase so you can make the meal!

Love, Leanne

If dinner is a hassle at your house, you need Menu-Mailer. Go to
http://www.SavingDinner and get your menu and check out the new low
carb menu while you're there. Watch for my new book, Saving Dinner:
The Low Carb Way coming out in December.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345478061/


Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Onions
Serves 12

8 medium peeled sweet potatoes -- cut into 2-inch
pieces
4 medium red onions, cut into 1-inch pieces
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons lemon pepper
1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Combine all ingredients in 2, 13 x 9 inch baking dishes, evenly
dividing up the ingredients. Toss to coat and bake for 35 minutes or
so, until the taters are fork tender and nicely browned.

Sauteed Green Beans with Nutmeg
Serves 12

12 handfuls of green beans
2 tablespoons of butter (I use unsalted)
1 splash of olive oil
generous dash of nutmeg (or you can grate it fresh-I have a grater
and it's awesome!)
salt and pepper to taste

When you go to the grocery store, count out by the handful, how many
beans you will need. Give each adult one handful, and count one
handful per two small children. Yes, use your hands, grab a handful
of beans, plop it into a plastic bag and consider it a serving.

I know…that doesn't give you pounds. Well, it's the best way I know
to give you a good idea of what to buy. Who cares if there isn't a
weight? (it's probably close to 2 and a half pounds anyway, if you're
cooking for 12).

Here's what you do with those beans:

Wash beans and string them (pull the string starting at the stem and
pull to the bottom). Then snap them in half (or cut them or leave
them whole if they're thin and small). Steam them in a veggie steamer
or boil them in a skillet half full of water. When they turn bright
green, they're finished. (they will still be a little undercooked).
Strain them and set aside.

In a skillet, heat the butter and oil over a medium high heat and add
the well-drained beans. Add the salt and pepper to taste and saute`
them for about 2 to three minutes. Add a touch of nutmeg and saute`
another minute or so. Beans should be tender, but not mushy.

Rolls and Butter

BUY the rolls! Buy the rolls from a good bakery or the frozen dough
kind are good. Make sure they're of a good quality. And BUTTER, not
margarine.


Pumpkin Cheesecake
Serves 12

1 1/4 cups gingersnap cookie crumbs (crush about 20
cookies in a plastic bag with a rolling pin)
1/4 cup unsalted butter -- melted
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese -- softened
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 (16 ounce) can pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
4 eggs
3/4 cup chilled whipping cream (need to whip it with
2 teaspoons sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, mix the cookie crumbs and butter. Press
evenly on the bottom of a 9" spring form pan inches. Bake 10 minutes,
then let cool.

Reduce oven temp. to 300 degrees.

In another large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, the cinnamon and
ginger on medium speed until smooth. Add pumpkin puree. Now add in
the eggs, one at a time on low speed. Pour into the cookie crumb pie
shell.

Bake your cheesecake until center is firm, about 1 1/4 hours. Cool to
room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours. (but in
your case, you did it two days prior at least)

To loosen cheesecake from the sides of the pan, unbuckle the side and
carefully remove. Serve a dollop of whip cream on the cheesecake.

This recipe is to die for!

[yonksgirl]

FlyLady here; This timeline goes along with preparing the whole meal.
Mine on the website is just for the few things I was putting together
since I am having a pot luck meal. It was so funny and this is how in
tune Leanne and I are to your needs and to each other. She was
already working on this when I sent you past the website for my
timeline. Hers is really good.

************************************************** *********

Dear Friends,

I have also put together a timeline of sorts to get you ready for
Thanksgiving. Whether this is your first Thanksgiving as host or
you're done it for 25 years in your home, take a look at this list to
see if you can garner a hint or two to help you make this holiday the
smoothest one ever. It's important to read it through to get a grasp
of how things are going to go. Don't save the reading part for
Thanksgiving Day!

Love, Leanne


THANKSGIVING TIMELINE

Remember: this is a holiday for EVERYONE, including the cook.

Two Weeks to Ten Days Ahead:

Order your turkey if you're doing a fresh one. How much turkey will
you need? About 1 pound per adult and a half pound per child so if
you are having 10 adults and 10 children, you will need at least a 15
pound turkey. That will give you what you need, but no leftovers. My
philosophy is buy a big one and enjoy the leftovers!

Firm up your guest list. Call and confirm as necessary.

If you are using my Thanksgiving Menu-Mailer, the shopping list is
done for you. Go through it, double check what you already have and
head for the market. Yes, buy EVERYTHING now, except the green beans,
celery and parsley (and obviously, the fresh turkey if you ordered
one). The only other exception would be the dinner rolls if you're
getting them from a bakery fresh. When you buy the cranberries, put
them right into the freezer, in the bag they came in or wait and buy
them when you get the green beans, etc. Your choice, but I buy them
now because I've had a problem getting them (they've been out) when
it's closer to T-day. Same goes with heavy cream for whipping cream.

When you go shopping, make it easy on yourself. If at all possible,
go shopping during off hours, without children and not hungry, or
having to go the potty! I am serious…you have work to do there, girl!

Plan the table-are you using linens? Do they need pressing? Press
them now and hang them or fold them for later. Nothing is worse than
starching a tablecloth an hour before your guests are due to arrive
(ask me how I know this!). What about the centerpiece and other
décor? See the Thanksgiving Menu-Mailer to see some hints on easy,
inexpensive yet beautiful, décor.

Double check your serving pieces and serving utensils against your
menu. Do you have all the serving pieces you need, etc.? Make
arrangements now to get or borrow what you need. DON'T do it the day
of! If your great aunt forgets to bring her gravy boat and ladle,
you're up a creek without a paddle (or a ladle in this case).

One Week Ahead:

If you have shopped already (and you should have if you're using my
Thanksgiving Menu-Mailer), make a quick double check of your list and
menu to make sure everything is ready for you to use. Take a hint
from Santa and make your list and check it twice. This is not the
time to forget anything! If you're using my recipes and grocery list,
the whole thing is already done for you so you can skip this step and
go have a cup of tea instead (isn't this fun?).

Clean out your refrigerator. Be ruthless. You're going to need the
room! You may also want to haul out the big cooler from the garage
and clean it out to use on T-Day, if you're desperate for space. Ask
one of your guests to bring ice-you won't have room in your poor
beleaguered fridge.

Three Days Ahead:

Pull all the pieces you are going to use for serving. It is helpful
to write what is going to go in what and write it on a 3 x 5 card and
toss the card in the serving piece. A friend and mentor, Carolyn
Dunn, from my early-married days taught me this nifty trick and it's
save my biscuits more than once. Then, you can stack your bowls,
platters and other serving pieces together in one area with the cards
already in them. Inevitably, on the big day, you will have all kinds
of volunteers in the kitchen just before the time you're ready to
serve. Having those cards in place at that time will truly save your
sanity while you're trying to finish up the gravy and get the bird
carved and you can keep the discussion about what goes in where to a
minimum because the guesswork is gone.

To keep your serving pieces dust free, cover with a clean sheet
folded in half. FlyLady even sets her table all the way a few days
ahead and puts a sheet right over the top. When I had a dining room,
I did the same thing, but now I only have the one table and I need to
use it everyday. So use whichever method works for you-still get your
serving pieces ready.

Purchase any last minute/fresh items like the ones mentioned above.

Don't forget-- thaw your frozen bird starting today! See Turkey 101
included in the Thanksgiving Menu-Mailer for more info on thawing a
turkey.

Two Days Before:

From the Thanksgiving Menu-Mailer, make the Pumpkin Cheesecake. When
it has completely cooled, cover in plastic wrap and place in the
fridge.

Make Orange Cranberry Sauce. Completely cool before refrigerating.

The Day Before:

If you ordered a fresh turkey, today's the day to pick it up.

Chop everything and individually bag it up in zipper-topped, plastic
bags: onions and celery for the dressing, veggies for side dishes,
etc. Refrigerate after prepping. Don't do the potatoes or sweet
potatoes though: they'll discolor.

Set the table and cover it with a sheet to keep the dust out.

Go over your plan for T Day and make sure your ducks (turkeys?) are
in a row. Double check everything-your serving pieces, your menu,
your guest list-the whole enchilada. Determine the time your turkey
should go in the oven based on when you want dinner served (don't
forget to include your turkey's "rest time"!). Cut and paste
tomorrow's T Day list and put the time these things need to be
accomplished. Having that list handy will clear your brain so you can
be pleasant with your guests!

Go to bed early! Tomorrow's a big day.

T Day Countdown:

In the morning: First get up and get dressed to lace up shoes(good
support shoes)FlyLady says just do it! Fix your hair and face too.
You may not have another chance. Put on a festive apron.

Prepare Muzzie's Fabulous Stuffing (in the Thanksgiving Menu-Mailer).

Put your bird in the oven at the appropriate time based on the Chart
for Cooking Your Bird that was included in the Thanksgiving Menu-
Mailer and what time you want to serve dinner. Remember, you need to
add an hour to that time because the bird needs to rest an hour out
of the oven before serving. Should you get out of control at any
point, call the Butterball turkey hotline, 1-800-BUTTERBALL.

Make the stock for the gravy (included in the Pan Gravy recipe).

Wash, peel and chunk potatoes for mashed potatoes for Old Fashioned
Mashed Potatoes. Place in a pot with cold water. Set aside, not on
the stove or the pot will become warm and the potatoes will begin to
cook-they need to stay cool.

Prepare Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Onions (in the Thanksgiving
Menu-Mailer) to go in the oven; set aside.

Put the butter, salt and pepper (if not already there) on the table.
Consider two butters and two sets of salt and peppers on either end.

Remember, clean as you go-it's so much EASIER! Keep a sink full of
hot soapy water and dump stuff in there as you go. Run the dishwasher
and empty it after this little blitz.

Take a timeout and put your feet up for a bit. Double check the
bathrooms for clean guest towels, hand soap and extra toilet paper
before you sit down.

One Hour Before:

At this point, your turkey should be finished roasting and resting
comfortably. Don't forget to give him his foil jacket so he doesn't
get cold. You still have a lot to do, if someone volunteers to help,
let them help!

Cook the Old Fashioned Mashed potatoes (see recipe) and place in a
crockpot on low (I strongly urge you to test drive this first to make
sure your crockpot will not run too hot for this task).

Cook Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Onions (see recipe). Keep warm
after cooking.

Cook Sauteed Green Beans with Nutmeg (see recipe). Keep warm after
cooking.

Carve the turkey. See http://www.cooks.com/rec/story/69/ for an
illustration on how to carve. Copy this page for a reference. I
recommend the FIRST carving technique and not the second one.

Make the Pan Gravy (see recipe).

Heat the rolls.

Put cranberries in the serving dish with utensil and on the table or
buffet.

Whip the cream (or do it later…that's what I do)

Set the coffeemaker up so all you have to do is flick the switch.

Time to Eat!

Start getting everything in its serving dish: turkey on the platter
with serving utensil, rolls in the basket (or baskets) with the
napkin to keep them warm, green beans, sweet potatoes, gravy in its
boat, stuffing or dressing, and of course, the mashed potatoes.

You've earned your kudos! Take the compliments, enjoy your family and
friends, and most importantly, give thanks.