Single Parenting

Todays Q&A is asked from a single 26 year old mother of 2 girls, she asks "I have 2 amazing daughters who I raise alone, no child support or help, I work and pay all the bills. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever meet anyone. I get lonely, when I take the girls to school some of the mothers look down on me. I just want some advice. I feel like I will never fall in love or meet someone. Its hard sometimes. I have an incredible life but would love some advice for a single mom, Thanks". Chime in if you like. I replied privately so if any of you would like to offer up anything that would be great.

Q&A

Most of you know that I started a Q&A where I invited readers from my blog to email questions that they may have about anything they may be facing or curious about, well I have gotten an overwhelming response so I am trying to post the questions and have you all chime in if you like. I truly think that with all of us out there its a great thing to be able to offer up any advice to someone who may be in need. Please feel free to comment.

Anonymous asks,
Sometimes I feel like I am so wrapped up in kids and housework that I feel very unfulfilled, don't get me wrong I love my family but there are some days where I truly feel like when they are grown I will not no what to do with myself! I am looking into some local Church programs for the kids so maybe I can have some time by myself and meet other ladies. Is this normal? I don't mean to sound ungrateful but I do feel like I have "lost" myself. I am happy and wouldn't trade it but I can't talk to anyone because I am afraid they will think I am ungrateful. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Who am I?

Jewish Apple Cake

My Grandmother had an apple tree in her back yard that all of us would climb on. I remember picking up apples all over the yard. This was one thing she made often. It reminds me of her. I miss those days playing on that tree.

How to be a "Retro" Housewife

I often get a lot of feedback from people saying that I am too "young" to be Retro. I often reply with telling them that being Retro doesn't mean that I am wearing a dress, high heels and pearls while I vacuum but its a way of thinking for me. To me being the ultimate "Retro Wifey" is doing the things that I seen done in the past with my Mother, my Grandmother, Aunts, and other ladies I seen growing up. I love the idea of being a stay at home Mom. I often feel like I need to defend myself against working Mothers who may take my name and page in an offensive way, yes, I have had MANY ladies email me about it. I mean NO harm by my name, and I have the utmost respect for working mommies, I couldn't do it! I realize not everyone has the ability to stay at home and has to work, others choose to work, or whatever the situation is the bottom line is I respect all mommies and being "Retro" doesn't mean staying at home.

So for me being the ultimate "Retro Wifey" means to put my Husband and kids first. I love to take care of them. I am a caregiver by nature, I always worked in Nursing before having kids so that was my career of choice. Naturally I gravitate towards taking care of others. I guess its my thing! I do it well! Some people have other things that they are good at but for me I realized that I am good at taking care of people, running a house, raising my kids, and being a wife. It took awhile for me to come to that realization because I had other aspirations. I can remember when we had our 1st child and looked into daycare, I thought this would be easy, boy was I wrong! I didn't think that instinct would kick in and I wouldn't be able to part with my baby! The sacrifices we make along the way are not always easy but in the end I think as long as we do our best with the best intentions it will all work out.


So however you run your family is your business, if its staying at home or working out of the house as long as you are at peace with it then I think thats wonderful. We can all be "Retro Wifeys" putting our family first is the most important thing we can do. One day when they are all grown they will look back at us and thank us for our sacrifices. Thats what my prayer is. I hope that I do a great job with my kids and they pass on what I teach them when they have families of their own. Life isn't always easy and being a Wife and Mother surely has its trying times. WIth a strong family and faith in God I believe it will all work out for the best.

Today is sandwich day for dinner. I think I will make some egg salad sandwiches. My kids LOVE PB&J......It will be an easy Dinner. Its going to get cold this weekend so I will be baking up a storm here soon, love it!!

Autumn

I love this time of year and everything about it. The crisp coolness in the air, hot cocoa, sweaters, Ugg boots, leaving the windows open, football and many other things! I remember as a kid I lived for Summer and that was because School was out! Fall was a time of year that I dreaded because School started! Now as an adult most love Fall because kids GO BACK to School and dread Summer cause kids are HOME from School, ha! How things change. I have very good memories of the Fall. Halloween is always a good one, hanging with all the kids in the neighborhood and having parties. Football parties at our home and big Sunday dinners rooting for our team. Thanksgiving is one holiday that lots of memories were made, I love that holiday. Just being with family is one of the best things that I remember. Now with our family I try to recreate and make new memories like I had as a kid. Family is so important, all year round and not just during the holidays. This weekend my mother is coming down to see the kids so I am going to take advantage of that and do some "Fall Cleaning". I am putting all the Summer clothes away & getting the Fall clothing out. I also like to go through the kids toys and clothes they have outgrown this time of year and bag up for the Purple Hearts or another charity that could use it. I feel like that is the least I can do since we are so blessed. What are your favorite things to do in the Fall and what are your memories?

Girl Scout Somoas

Everyone loves girl scout cookies, right?! We do and these are a favorite of ours. These were so easy to make and so good even the kids could help. Here is the basic recipe and we made the bars because the cookies were just a little more time consuming and with kids, every minute counts!Homemade Samoas Bars Cookie dough: 1/2 cup sugar 3/4 cup butter, softened 1 large egg 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 2 cups all purpose flour 1/4 tsp salt Make the dough first. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. In a large bowl, cream together sugar and butter. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. Working at a low speed, gradually beat in flour and salt until mixture is crumbly, it will look like wet sand. Pour crumbly dough into prepapred pan and press into an even layer. I mushed it down into a perfect square. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until base is set and edges are lightly browned. Cool completely. Topping 3 cups shredded coconut any kind Hershey caramel syrup 3 tbsp milk 10 oz. dark or semisweet chocolate or chocolate chips Toast the coconut for about 15 min. I just threw them in while the cookie dough baked. Once coconut is done I put in a bowl added the milk and caramel syrup, I eyeballed how much and mixed it up. Once the dough was done I dropped the topping on the top and flattened it. Then melt your chocolate, I tried the microwave and that was a disaster!! I mean the whole house smelled of a fire. I tried again on the stove and it turned out perfect. So once the topping is layered I then used a pizza cutter and cut them into perfect squares and then dipped the bottoms into the chocolate and put them on parchment paper. I used the rest of the chocolate and put in ziploc bag and drizzled on the tops of the cookies. Then placed them in the fridge to cool off. These are so good!! Enjoy