Blog Posts by The_Stir

thanksgiving leftoversWhen it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, I'll obsess over the menu and fantasize over eating those leftovers. But actually planning how to store those leftovers -- that's something I'll usually leave for the last minute. I mean, who daydreams about food containers? But it's worth planning ahead for that. After all, food safety experts say you should refrigerate your leftovers within two hours -- so it helps to have a plan.

More from The Stir: 5 Tips for the Most Juicy , Flavorful Turkey You've Ever Had

Storing those leftovers can seem daunting right after that big meal. But you know what? We're here with a game plan that'll make putting away Thanksgiving a snap! Now get ready to divide and conquer.

Long Before Dinner:

1. Make sure you have plenty of bags and containers. It's hard to estimate how many leftovers you'll have in advance, but look over your containers before you do your Thanksgiving shopping. Does everything have a lid? Do you think you may be short? Do

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Pumpkin pancakesI don't know about you, but when it comes to a favorite time of year to eat breakfast, mine is fall. Call me lame, but the options are just SO much better. Just thinking of the warm, nutty flavor of maple cinnamon oatmeal gives me goosebumps. Oh! And even better -- the delicious taste of pumpkin coffee makes me want to instantaneously go outside and jump in a pile of leaves and carve a pumpkin all at once.

Just trust me on this one. Check out 6 great ways to bring fall to your breakfast table:

More from The Stir: 5 Fabulous Fall-Inspired Muffin Recipes

1. Pumpkin coffee: OK, this one's a no-brainer. I know there are loads of pumpkin coffee enthusiasts in the world just like me. You know, the kind that rejoice the second the seasonal flavor arrives at the local coffee shop in September? It's Autumn in a cup, and it's delicious.

2. Apple cider donuts: Biting into one of these at the start of your morning makes the whole day sweeter. This apple cider donut recipe from

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CrocsFirst, let it be known that I have nothing against Crocs.

How can I? My husband and children LIVE in Crocs in the summertime.

But I've always been pretty clear that it would be a cold day in hell before I'd be caught dead in them.

Well, that day has come -- but let's get one thing straight. CROCS TRICKED ME.

More from The Stir: World's Most Uncomfortable Shoes Will Make You Cringe (VIDEO)

I mean, do these boots look like Crocs to you?

I didn't think so!

(Also, does it look like I need to clean my mirror to you? Wait. Don't answer that.)

Click through to see more ways Crocs is tricking men and women across the country -- then tell me in the comments if YOU'D wear these sneaky Crocs!

Crocs

Here are the Croc boots I'm wearing. There is NO WAY you'd know they were Crocs, except that when you put them on, the soles are obviously Croc soles.

More from The Stir: 10 Flats That Will Save Your Feet Without Killing Your Style

This kind of riding

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Do you ever lie to make yourself seem like a better parent? If so, you're hardly alone, because according to a recent UK survey, over half of all moms do it. Out of 1,000 moms who confessed the shameful truth to parenting website BabyCentre, 53 percent said that they resort to lies instead of admitting to fellow moms that they don't always do what is considered to be the right thing.

More from The Stir: 20 Things I Don't Miss About Having a Toddler

Personally, I think that's pretty ridiculous. I never whitewash my parenting pratfalls to other mothers, because what on earth is the point? If someone's going to judge me for sometimes allowing my kids to eat processed foods (and by "sometimes" I mean "on days of the week that end in Y"), I probably don't want much to do with them anyway.

That said, the fact that one in three moms supposedly fibs to their kids' health provider? Um, yeah. Been there.

Apparently the biggest whopper on the Mom Lie List is television, and

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blanket tentHayrides, apple picking, pumpkin picking, trick or treating! Fall is all about the outdoor activities -- as it should be; autumn's weather is delightful. But, sometimes, when you have a new baby (hi!), you really don't feel like bundling yourself and your little one up and going outside. Sometimes, you just want to stay inside where it's warm and toasty.

More from The Stir: 20 Things I Don't Miss About Having a Toddler

But staying in doesn't mean boring. No, friend, not at all. Staying indoors can be the perfect fall activity when you have kids. Here are five ways to have quality family time without leaving home.

Tents! Oh, come on, who doesn't love a tent? Arrange some blankets to form a cozy, little fort for your family, and, well, just hang out. Light some candles (away from the blankets, please), read some stories, drink some cocoa. Everything's better under a tent.

Movies. No, you don't want to plop your baby in front of a television and watch them zone out to the

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bagLike a lot of New Yorkers, I completely underestimated the havoc Hurricane Sandy would wreak on the city. I thought it would be windy and rainy and perhaps the lights would flicker, but I didn't really think we would need to evacuate. Boy was I wrong. I was totally unprepared to abandon our apartment.

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I hadn't packed a "go" bag before the storm hit, and when we were finally scurrying to leave, there was no light to see what the heck we needed. We were already weighed down with essentials for my toddler, so I could only bring essential items. But as I sifted through my clothing by candlelight, I realized I didn't even own everything I needed, which were things that were comfy yet could be worn to work if necessary. Live and learn. Next time, I will know exactly what to have on hand if my family has to flee flood waters again. Here are the 5 clothing items every mom needs in an emergency:

Comfy Jeans

Image via Levi.com

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It's probably the worst fear of most of us who are single - being stood up on a date. It leads us to question everything from what's wrong with us to who we are, not to MENTION the havoc it wreaks on our self-esteem. If our date doesn't show up, what does that say about us? And how do we handle it? Do we sit back on the couch with a box of donuts and our cat, weeping into our pillow?

The answer is NO. We don't. If we're stood up, we're going to handle it with grace, we're going to act calm and dignified, and we're going to prove that we're the ones with class - not the person who was too chicken-shit to bother letting us know he wasn't going to make it out to the date.

More from The Stir: 9 Reasons Nice Guys Most Definitely Do NOT Finish Last

Here's how to handle being stood up without turning into a raging lunatic.

1) First and foremost, you need to figure out if you're actually being stood up. We're all so busy these days, it's easy to forget plans with someone,

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brined turkeyWho wants a juicy, flavorful turkey, raise your hands! You, and you, and you, and you? All righty then, let's talk turkey brine. Brining is one of a Thanksgiving chef's best secrets. Done correctly, it can give you one mouth-wateringly juicy roast turkey.

More from The Stir: 5 Tips for the Most Juicy, Flavorful Turkey You've Ever Had

First of all, make sure you choose a turkey that will respond well to brining. Some turkeys come injected with a saltwater solution (they're already brined, sort of). So check the label carefully to make sure nothing has been added -- no "enhanced" or kosher turkeys. If you brine a pre-brined bird it'll come out salty and mushy. And now -- the fun begins! Here's our brining tips for a perfectly juicy bird.

Plan ahead. Way ahead. This is not a last-minute project. Not only do you need ample time for brining, you also have materials to gather and prepare. Some brines take 24-48 hours, and you'll need to make your solution the day before that.

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