The New Working Mom Wednesday!

I am so excited to be co-hosting Working Mom Wednesday with Julia from Work Wife Mom Life!  We have changed things up a little...you now have the option of doing an open blog on any working mom topic you would like to talk about, or you can answer one of the weekly questions.  The questions for this week are:

1. If you could change one thing about your job, what would it be? (the pay, the hours, the work you do...)

2. A time when you felt you deserved more (recognition, pay, whatever)

For me, question #1 is an easy one!  I love my job, and I can truly say that when I start my new career after college, I will miss my job and the many friends I have made there.  If I could make more money where I am now, I wouldn't leave.  I definately don't get paid enough, because it can be a stressful, busy job and the hours are not great, either.  I work four nights a week, plus two mornings, and I never get home before 7:30 p.m. on the evenings I work.  (In case you're wondering, I work as a manager and trainer at a women's gym.) 

But the trade-off is that I love what I do.  I love helping women meet their goals.  I see so many who come in feeling defeated and thinking they'll never be able to lose weight or get in shape.  I love seeing their confidence grow as they realize they can do this.  I love seeing them blossom as they lose weight, gain strength, and feel better about themselves.  It's not a perfect job, but I do love it.

Challah

I love this traditional Jewish bread!  It's pretty simple to make, and it's delicious...a little sweetness, a nice crust, and a yummy soft center...wonderful!

• 1 tsp salt

• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 3/4 cup flour
• 1 envelope active dry yeast
• 2 eggs, beaten, plus 1 egg for glaze
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil, plus more for greasing bowl
• Sesame or poppy seeds
• Butter for glazing

1. In a food processor, pulse the salt, sugar, and flour to combine.

2. Soak the yeast for 10 minutes in 1 cup water that is warm to the wrist; add the yeast to the food processor, then add the eggs and oil; process until the mixture forms a ball on the processor blade. (If the weather is humid, you may have to add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.)

3. Place the dough in an oiled bowl and turn to coat on all sides; cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place for about 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled in size.

4. Divide the dough into 3 pieces and roll each into a long, skinny log; braid the dough, tucking in the ends; place the braided dough on a cookie sheet and let rise, covered, for one hour.

5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

6. Brush the risen loaf with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds; bake 30 minutes, or until golden; while bread is hot, rub with a stick of butter to glaze it.

Things Will Be Different This Time

My summer has flown by…I can tell school is getting close because I'm starting to get into panic mode. I know, summer is just getting started for most people, but I'm taking a class in Summer II, so mine is coming to a close. It's been a nice break, and a part of me hates to see it end, but part of me is glad to get back to class. Each semester brings me one step closer to my goal of becoming a dental hygienist.


I'm not as freaked out as I was before I started the spring semester, which was my first semester back in college in 10 years. I know more of what to expect this time. But nonetheless, I'm freaking out a little. I'm getting my note pages printed off the class website, getting my books and student ID and Scan-Tron forms together, and trying to make sure the house isn't too chaotic (even though I know it will be total chaos by finals week).

One thing that's different about this is semester is that I already know what I'll miss the most…I'll miss the time with my kids. Once school starts, I'll be working, in class, or studying pretty much 24/7. If I'm not at work or in class, my nose will be buried in my notes or my books. Even though, in the long run, I'm doing this so I can make more money while working fewer hours and having more time for my kids, in the short term, it's hard for all of us. It's hard for Robby, who shoulders a lot of extra responsibility while school consumes my time. It's hard for the kids, who don't get to see me as much they're used to. It's hard for me to juggle it all, including the guilt I know will be inevitable.

But another thing that's different about this semester is that I know I'll make it. Will it be hard? Yes. Will I feel like I'm drowning sometimes? Absolutely. Will I question my sanity? Often. But I'll make it. We'll make it. The kids will study while I study. They'll see that education and hard work are important to me and to our family. They'll see that reaching your goals takes sacrifice. We'll all learn a lot of lessons, and I think the most important ones have nothing to do with the classes I'm getting credits for…we'll learn the most important ones as we juggle this crazy life together, as a family. I'm so grateful to have them with me on this crazy journey through life.

Manic Mommy Monday - Lessons Learned From Family Trips

We just back a few days ago from a family trip to Alabama for a wedding. We had a blast, and it made me think about past trips we've taken. We always have fun, and we always have funny experience s that we look back on and laugh about…even if they weren't too funny at the time.

• If you child gets carsick easily and you hear the words, "Mom, my tummy hurts," it's already too late.

• Carry a change of clothes somewhere other than the suitcase…which is under the stroller…which is behind the cooler...

• Carry a first aid kit at all times and be prepared for anything short of major surgery - if you don't take one, you'll end up really needing it!

• Kids inevitably need to potty at the exits with no clean bathrooms.

• When you get out of the car to let you child potty beside the road (see above), be careful where you stand…make sure its not on top of a fire ant mound.

• Portable DVD players rival the light bulb as the greatest invention of all time…at least for traveling families.

• No matter how many belts, shoes, socks, etc., your children own, you will not be able to find the items you need the most while you're packing.

Ah, the joys of traveling with children!

Menu Plan Monday - June 27

This is going to be one of those totally insane weeks…the kids have swimming lessons, I've getting ready for the summer semester, Robby has a funeral to preach… Due to our crazy schedule (and several recent failed new recipe experiments), I'm keeping it pretty simple this week and sticking with some tried-and-true family favorite meals this week…and a couple of meals that can be thrown together in a hurry!


Monday Lunch: pirogues and kielbasa
Monday Dinner: slow cooker baked potato soup

Tuesday Lunch: chicken packets
Tuesday Dinner: omelets

Wednesday Lunch: pork chops
Wednesday Dinner: leftovers - slow cooker baked potato soup

Thursday Lunch: sandwiches
Thursday Dinner: chicken packets

Friday Lunch: chicken in a pot
Friday Dinner: omelets

Saturday Lunch: sandwiches
Saturday Dinner: Freedom Celebration Car and Motorcycle Show

Sunday Lunch: crouton dressing
Sunday Dinner: chicken in a pot

VBS and Summer Class and Car Shows...Oh My

Summer is in full swing!  Our summer is going so well, in spite of a crazy schedule...of course, I don't know of any time in our lives when we don't have a crazy schedule!

Next weekend we're having our church's annual Freedom Celebration, which includes our car and motorcycle show.  I'm so excited about it!  Last year we just had cars - this will be our first year to have motorcycles as well.  It's so fun seeing the cars (and bikes) that people have poured so much time into - they look great!  One thing that makes it so fun is that the people who attend vote on the winners, so everyone gets invovled whether they have a car in the show or not!  Plus we'll have a huge cookout, so we'll all go home stuffed and happy.

We're also just over a month out from Vacation Bible School, which I always head up.  This year I'll be heading it up in the middle of summer class, so this should be interesting!  Last year, we went out on a limb, wanting to try something different, and did a sports camp VBS.  I have never had such a great reaction to any VBS before!  It was a smash hit, so this year we're doing another sports camp.  We're offering basketball, soccer, and cheerleading, with stories of famous atheletes and nightly Bible lessons on people who made a comeback.  The highlight of the whole week is parents night, when the kids show off what they've learned, and our little cheerleaders show off during the closing ceremony.

And in the middle of all this, summer school begins...more on that Tuesday...life is crazy, but life is good.  It's going to be a great summer.

Friday's Fabulous Finds - Miche Bags

I posted this a while back, but Miche has come out with some awesome new products and I thought this was worth an update...


I discovered Miche bags from a friend and work and got mine almost a year ago. I am so in love with this purse! I love to switch purses around for a new look to match every outfit, but I hate the hassle of changing purses…which is why Miche is such a brilliant idea.

The concept is so simple but so amazing! The purse is a basic black or brown bag, but there are magnets on the outside lining - they use a special kind of magnet that will not effect your credit cards, debit cards, or cell phone. You can buy dozens of adorable magnetic shells for the purse, then whenever you want to change your purse, just pull off one shell and put on another. You can customize it further by changing out the handles. New shells and other products are being introduced all the time.

I have the original Miche, which works perfectly for me. My sister in law (and mother of five!) just bought the newest Miche, which is a larger, hobo-style bag. She loves it and says it's perfect for holding everything she needs for herself and her large family.

For a purse junkie like myself, this is a dream come true! I have 5 shells for mine now, and I already have several more picked out to buy. It is worth every penny you will spend on it, and it is very affordable. I don't see myself carrying anything but a Miche bag ever again. Check it out at http://www.4miche.com/

Thankful Thursday - rain

Today is one of those wonderful rainy days...just enough to cool things off, but not enough to cause a nasty day.  I love rain, and I really love the smell of rain.  I grew up in south Arkansas, and I can still remember opening my windows on rainy days and letting that wonderful smell drift into my room.  Maybe its the Irish in me, but I love rain!

Grandma Gowen's Hobo Bread

This is an original family recipe that my husband's grandmother came up with.  She didn't have enough ingredients to make biscuits one morning for breakfast, so she mixed together what she had and created hobo bread.  It's a delicious "accident!"  Robby's Grandma is in her 80's and still lays out an amazing breakfast spread…by the time we're done with it, we're too full for lunch!


• 1 cup buttermilk

• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1-2 teaspoons oil
• Salt to taste
• Flour

Mix well, adding flour to desired thickness; heat oil in skillet and fry bread until golden brown.

Things You Don't Say....