ASHLEY’S CORNER The Great Pre-Christmas Purge
We are so excited for Christmas this year. We love getting the tree, and the kids each have special ornaments.
Now everything is cleared out. Of course, Toph can’t find anything. I told him, I probably need to give you a tour and show you where everything goes. He’s asking, “Where are you cleaning next?”
The giving-presents part of Christmas is always a struggle, though. With six kids and six birthdays each year plus Christmas, we just accumulate too much stuff! The kids’ toys were exploding out of everywhere. My New Year’s resolution from last year was to go through all our stuff, room by room, and clean it out. To be clear, that hasn’t happened. But now, I’m doing a giant purge to get ready for Christmas. I have gotten rid of so much old stuff. I’ve gone through the basement and the kids’ closets. I’ve done my pantry and the kitchen cabinets. I have a home organizer helping me, and she has great ideas. But she also holds me accountable. I know when she’s coming, and I have to be ready to work with her. A pro tip from the organizer: Go into each room and take out anything that is not supposed to be in that room. You end up making a mess at this stage. It gets worse before it gets better. And then you organize what you have left into categories and find homes for all of it. Our Tupperware cupboard was just a complete mess. Why do we have so much Tupperware? If we used all the Tupperware in the cupboard, it wouldn’t fit in the fridge! So, I pared it down. We also had a junk cupboard.
The basement was a huge project. I took all the kids’ toys to the basement, sorted them, and put them all in their spot. The kids want to play down there now because all the toys are organized and all the pieces are there. I’m not trying to sell stuff. I’m giving it away to people in need, through Goodwill and Matthew 25: Ministries. We have so much, and it’s the giving season!
So, as Christmas approaches at your house, get your clean on! Consider doing your own great purge. You might be surprised by the rewards!
Take a Break
CREAMY THAI CARROT AND SWEET POTATO SOUP
Ingredients
Inspired by CookieAndKate.com
• 1 tbsp coconut oil • 2 cups chopped yellow onion • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger • 2 tbsp red curry paste • 4 cups vegetable broth, divided
• 1/4 cup almond butter • 3 cups diced carrots • 3 cups peeled, diced sweet potatoes
• Salt and pepper to taste • Cayenne pepper (optional)
Directions
1. Melt coconut oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and ginger and sauté for 5–6 minutes. Stir in curry paste. 2. In a small bowl, whisk 1/3 cup broth with the almond butter until smooth. Add the mixture to the pot, along with the carrots, sweet potatoes, salt and pepper, and remaining vegetable broth. Stir to combine. 3. Bring soup to a low boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15–20 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are fork-tender. 4. Blend with an immersion blender until the soup is smooth. 5. Season with salt and pepper. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for more spice if desired.
Solution on Page 4
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