Disconnect and a Fifties Housewife Project

Like most people, I spend way too much time connected to a device. And I hate that! So as one of my changes that I would like to make during this new year I am disconnecting. 

Not entirely-technology is not the enemy. I just think that it can be a huge waste of time and I want to spend more time with my family, making memories, doing work with my hands besides typing and browsing, and just living more. 

Life is so precious and time is flying by. I can tell you I won't remember what pin I saw on Pinterest or what a blog post said in ten years. I will just know I had wasted a ridiculous amount of time. Time that I could be spending with my child. I do not want to live this way.

So I'm changing that because only I can. I'm disconnecting for two weeks and doing a little project that I have been wanting to do for a couple years. Then after two weeks I will slowly add back in technology. 

I will be limiting my internet time to 1 hour a day. Does that seem like a lot? Maybe, but compared to how much time we spend collectively throughout the day I think it will not be a big cut back. That 1 hour will include blogs, Facebook, pinterest, google, and anything else online. If this one hour seems like too much I will cut it down to less. But never more than one hour.

This project I speak of is something I am so very excited about! I had read about it on a blog called jenbutneverjenn.com
Jen goes all out and sticks to the schedule of a housewife, dresses, cooks, and cleans, and even doesn't use her dishwasher(gasp!) like a real fifties housewife.  She does this for two weeks then reflects back on her experience and decides to implement some of the changes into her life and toss some others. 

I'm doing the fifties housewife project for two weeks also but I'm doing it my way.  Keeping some things and giving up others for the two weeks.  I think there are a lot of lessons that we can learn from the lifestyle our Grandparents or parents lived.  
I will be off Facebook and the internet for two weeks. With the exception of using pandora to listen to music of the era.  

So here it is:
50's housewife project.

Goals
1. Create a clean, comfortable home.
2. Provide healthy, home cooked, from scratch meals.
3. Be economical and be frugal
4. Put extra effort into my appearance.  
5. Make our home and home life as comfortable and pleasant as can be for my breadwinner, so that he can succeed.  

Things I'm giving up:
-facebook and texting, pinterest, email and any other internet or technology luxuries.  If someone needs to get ahold of me or visa versa they can call or write me a good old fashioned letter :)
-my microwave
-movies.  
-casual spending
-convenience food
-credit/debit card-I'm paying cash but will keep it on me for emergencies.  
- most tv.  There were tv's but they just didn't watch as much as we do so my tv time will be very limited.  

Things I will not give up( that they probably didn't have)
-dishwasher- sorry, been there done that.
-cell phone.  Conversations will be kept short, but since I don't have a home phone I do need to have a way for others to contact me.  
- pants.  Sorry I'm not wearing a dress every day.  But I will wear a dress to church and maybe one other time throughout the week.    
-pandora.  I would use the radio but there just aren't any stations on our radio that play fifties era music.

I will try to stick to a common housewife schedule from the 1950's. I've revised it a bit to fit my sweet Zacharys schedule also. This will include:
1. waking up earlier than my husband- about 6:45ish
2 . Take a minute to make myself presentable and freshen up. 
3. Make a nutritious breakfast for my dear husband and send him on his way.
4. Make breakfast for Zachary and myself
5.  Clean up breakfast 
6.  Exercise- go for a brisk walk, or jog, and do crunches, and arm reps
7.  Get Zach and I a snack
8. Begin daily chores
   -make beds, tidy bathrooms, laundry, dishes, tidy bedrooms and living rooms
9. Do a large chore: vacuum and mop, dust, deep clean bathrooms, ironing, clean fridge and stove, 
10.  Play with Zach 
11. Lunch with Zach and clean up lunch
12. Put Zach down for nap 
13.  Relax for a half hour: nap, watch tv, read,visit with friend, write letter
12. Look over dinner menu and begin any dinner preparations: thaw meat, chop veggies, make bread, make dessert.
14. Work on daily chores: fold laundry, unload dishwasher
15.  Do make up and hair.  
16.  Wake up Zach, feed him and play with him. Run errands if I need to.  
17.  Greet dear husband when he arrives at home. And ask about his day.  
18.  Go on a walk with my family, spend time outside.
19. Prepare dinner.  Clean up dinner, do dishes.

20.  Enjoy evening.

Zacharys Birth

I want to share Zachary's Birth story for a few reasons:
1.  I want to record it so that it is available to look back on.  The details are already getting less sharp.
2.  I want to share it for myself.  I think it is healthy for me to want to share an event that changed my life.
3.  I want to share my birth for others.  Birth should be celebrated.  It is a wonderful, hard and painful thing.  But it welcomes in a new life.  If we keep it private and secret, then that is what it will be.  I want to share my story so that others can read it.  I loved reading birth stories while I was pregnant and I still do. The more we talk about birth the more normal it will be, and the less scary it will be.

November 5 2012
My phone rang at 4am, it was a 231 area code number that I didn't recognize.  I always wonder if someone died when I get calls really early in the morning.  It was someone with the wrong number.  I went to lay back down, and I felt a warm gush and was pretty sure my water broke.  I told James "Oh no, I think my water broke!" and walked to the bathroom (I didn't want my water to break because I didn't want to be induced incase labor didn't start on its own).  Yes indeed my water broke. 

I threw in a load of laundry real quick because all my stretch pants were dirty.  I wore a dress to the hospital to go get checked-at the midwives request.  At the hospital (5:30am) the midwives said I was 3 cm, and that I could labor at home like I wanted to, but I had to come back within 18 hours if labor didn't start on its own.  I was getting little contractions so I wasn't too worried about that anymore. 

James and I went home, I showered and noticed that the contractions-still far apart-were starting to get a bit stronger.  I switched the laundry out, because I really didn't want to go back to the hospital in a dress. 
Around 10am I was getting contractions that were starting to really hurt.  James and I were watching the news and I remember the hilarious Saturday night live skits on Hurricane sandy being rerun.  I think that's the only time I laughed during labor.  From 10:30 until 1:00 I spent the rest of the time on my exercise ball working through contractions.  I had a lot of back pain.  We really wanted to wait until contractions were 3-4 minutes apart until we went to the hospital.  We had prepared for labor and birth as best as we could.  We took the Bradley classes, and every other class our hospital offered, and I had researched a lot to prepare for the big event. Our goal was a natural, unmedicated birth. 

I listened to enya and got in the zone, I tried my best to let go of the pain, and let it work with my body rather than against it.  Some contractions were definitely worse than others.  I was starting to understand why women choose the epidural to manage the pain.  Its pretty unavoidable.  James and I wanted to wait until my contractions were 3-4 minutes apart.  My back was killing me, so James pressed a bag of frozen peas against my back to help with the pain during contractions.  During the contractions I would just sway on the ball while leaning over the bed.  I would get up to go to the bathroom and noticed that contraction was always worse, and they got closer together while standing.  I was getting nervous.  I really felt like we should go to the hospital.  I told James that. I was getting mad at James because he kept trying to tell me we needed to stay home a little longer and work through a few contractions.  In his defense I told him I would tell him during labor that I would want to go to the hospital but his job was to keep me home until my contractions were 3-4 minutes apart.  We waited a couple more hours. 

The contractions just all of the sudden started speeding up and were like 1-2 minutes apart.  We decided it was time to go the hospital.  The contractions jumped from like 5-7 to 1-2 mins apart.  I was nervous that baby would be born in the car.  I threw on whatever I could, and I wore a dress to the hospital.  Ughh!  I hated having contractions in the car, but it was only a 20 minute drive.  By the time we got to the hospital I was ready to kill someone.

I got up to labor and delivery 3 contractions later.  Much to my dismay the nurses wanted to hook up the heart rate monitor to see how baby was, and they did a cervical check and a heplock.  I was at six centimeters, and really not too happy about it.  You'd think they had never heard a laboring woman, I moaned through contractions as I was instructed and it helped just to vocalize.  I didn't like how they sneered when I moaned, I thought it was rude.  I worked through contractions in the delivery room, and at some point decided I had had enough and wanted to get the epidural.  I could tell James was a little upset, and I felt bad.  I was just so exhausted.  I was transitioning.  About a half hour later-for some reason the nurse kept asking me questions while I was working through contractions-which I still don't understand, and I asked where the heck that epidural was!? She said he was busy.  I was getting angry, and started to feel like I needed to push.  My midwife-who I loved came in to check me, and hallelujah told me I was 10cm and ready to push.  They asked if I still wanted that epidural-I obviously did not.  James was so excited!

I pushed when I got the urge.  No one counted.  I pushed as hard as I could.  I felt that ring of fire.  At some point they told me I needed to get baby out and push as hard as I could.  I did, and his head was out!  What an amazing thing to hear, I could not believe it! They asked if I wanted to feel-I said no-I will maybe with the next baby.  I was just concentrating on getting him out.  Next push I felt him come out. 

He was So small!  That was my first though.  I cried tears of relief-not joy.  I was so glad it was over.  I held him and just admired him.  No one took him to be cleaned.  No one cut his cord.  I just got to cuddle his little naked natural self.  I don't think he really even cried.  He was just beautiful.  I loved him then but I love my Zachary so much more now.  It was not instant omg I am in love for me.  It took time.  I loved him, and he was mine, I was just in shock. 

I only pushed for about 25 minutes total.  I had no tearing.  What a blessing.  Zachary was born at 3:33pm 7lbs .07oz 19.25 inches.  My labor and delivery was  11 and a half hours long.

I got lots of skin to skin time before he was weighed and his cord was clamped.  I even got to breastfeed him for the first time before they weighed him.  It was a beautiful birth.  It took time for me to see that, but it really was a huge day/moment for me.  I will never forget it.  Birth is empowering.  I am so glad I was able to have a natural birth, I was able to experience birth as it was meant to be.  I beat myself up for wanting an epidural at the end-but you know what?  Everyone does that!  Its part of transitioning.  And at the end-I really did do it all natural and drug free, and I am proud of myself. 

Zachary is a healthy and beautiful baby boy!  We have been breastfeeding since the beginning and really don't plan on stopping until he decides to stop.  Our goal was 1 year, and I think we are going to make it.  It isn't always easy, and it sure wasn't at the beginning, but I do it because I can and its the best thing for him. 

I plan on having a natural birth with my next baby as well because the recovery is so super easy.  I was up and walking in the delivery room. 

 I understand that women make choices for their births different from mine, and I completely understand and respect that.  Not everyones birth goes as planned.  But however birth goes-it is a life changer!

Lime Chicken Fajitas

So we have a cute little lime tree in our yard that has been producing too many limes for us to handle lately, so I have been trying some new recipes that call for limes.  I came up with lime fajitas (if you could say it's a recipe even) because I figured it would be easy and healthy too.  They are simple, and easy but good.  I am not blogging to tell my recipes, because I think they are so fabulous, and I am such an amazing cook.  Not at all.  I am just sharing my recipes that James and I have enjoyed, that are pretty easy, and healthy too.  I always enjoy reading food blogs, especially when the food is yummy, and I won't feel guilty after I eat it.  Sometimes making dinner-or deciding what to make for dinner can be a drag, so I appreciate new dinner ideas, and that is why I am sharing. 
And so...Lime Chicken Fajitas

This is what you will need:

That's about 1/2 of an onion, 1 green bell pepper, 2 small chicken breasts (I used 4 chicken tenderloins), juice of 1-2 limes, 1/2 a fajita seaoning mix, and some butter and olive oil.

Next: Dice up the Chicken Breasts, and put in a bag to marinate with the fajita seasoning and lime juice.  We use the lime juice from just 1 lime, but that's because our limes are the size of lemons, so you may need to use the juice from both limes if yours are small.

Then just set the marinating mixture aside to do its thing, and cut up the onion and peppers and start sauteing them.  (I use about a Table spoon of butter to begin with, and add olive oil later in the cooking if I need to.  I start with butter first because olive oil can't take the heat as well as butter does.)

Next: depending on how you like your veggies cooked-I like mine pretty soft- I add the chicken when the veggies look about half done, like when they are just starting to get a little transparent.  If you like your veggies with a little more crunch you can add the chicken sooner in the cooking or even at the same time as you start the veggies

They look like the pic below when they are all done! 

We like to roll the mixture up in a tortilla with a little cheese, salsa, sourcream, or maybe even some refried blackbeans. 

If you want to see the recipe in a more recipe like format-I posted it under the recipes tab too. 

Oops-Dont Forget the Sugar!

We cant forget the sugar!  Just add 3/4 of a Cup of Brown sugar to your Dry ingredients in the Cherry Walnut Banana Bread, and follow the recipe as usual :)

Cherry Walnut Banana Bread

Oh yummy!  I love this bread because it is pretty guilt free and sooo good!  I got some dried Traverse City cherries for christmas, and thought I would put them to good use. 

I think I will be making a lot of it in 2012.  As you can see James and I LOVE it!

So here's the Recipe:
Cherry Walnut Banana Bread

-1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
-1 Cup All Purpose Flour
-1/2 tsp Salt
-1/2 tsp Baking Soda
-1/2 tsp Baking Powder
-1 tsp Cinnamon
-2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil (or whatever kind of oil you want)
-2 large Eggs
-1/2 Cup of Milk
-1/2 Cup Unsweetened Apple Sauce
-2 Large Ripe Bananas-Mashed
-1/3 Cup Chopped Wallnuts
-1/2 Cup of Dried Cherries

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Grease and flour loaf pan.  I like to trace the bottom of the pan I am using on wax paper, cut it out, and place it on the botton and just pam the sides-it makes the bread come out super easy!
3.  Stir together dry ingredients in large bowl. Except walnuts and cherries.
4.  In seperate bowl whisk together the mashed bananas, oil, eggs, milk and apple sauce. 
5.  Add wet ingretients to the dry and mix well.  Then add the cherries and walnuts, and mix. 
6. Pour batter into pan and bake for about 45 minutes to and hour.  Check to see if bread is done by inserting toothpick, and bread will be done when tooth pick comes out clean. 

Check out this adorable gift I got from my dear friend Kayla

Seriously-how cute are these!  I LOVE them.  Kayla is the best at picking out gifts. 

Thankyou Kayla-They are so perfect!

A Backyard BBQ Dessert

With Inspiration from my good friend Rebecca Moat, i was lucky enough to make a few treats for a Backyard themed Baby Shower.  How Fun!

The Burger: Surprisingly easier than I thought it would be.  Just two 5 inch (i think) yellow cakes with a big brownie in the middle, then a little decorating with help from piping tips.

Part of the corn on the cob cup cake-I think using Jelly Bellies would be better next time.

Grass

The Mom-to-be's favorite cake is Black forest.  So I made her a few of these-just chocolate cake with a cone shape hollowed out of the center(not too much), then cherry pie filling, piped whipped cream on top and garnished with a cherry and chocolate shavings.

It's good in vanilla flavor too.

Ready to go!

I really had a ton of fun on this little project, which just helps to reassure me that Baking is something that I would like to learn more about, and do as a profession someday.

So living in Hawaii is soooo much fun, you should all be sooo jealous!


When ever I go home for a visit, and my family and such are like "oh you live in Hawaii, lucky you bla bla bla"-this is what I think of....

I cant open my windows or doors to let air in because I get lizards and geckos and cockroaches-and lets not forget the occasional centipede in my house.

Which leads to my house being a steady 93 degrees from 11am to 7pm.  Feels like the infernos of hell.

Which leads to me having this constant struggle with my hair.  If i leave it down it causes my neck to sweat, and I want to shave my head.  If I put it up it looks aweful and it gives me a headache which makes me so frustrated that I want to shaving my head. 

So that leads to me running our one ac unit in our house which is located in our bedroom and barely cools just that room, which will lead to a 300 or 400 dollare electric bill.(we havent got it yet but am expecting the worst)

Which leads me to getting my hair cut at an affordable place.  This is where it gets bad. 

I do not know why it is so hard to have hairstylists cut your hair the way you want it cut.  And I am not asking for anything complicated by the way.  I could tell from the first snip it was gonna be a miserable next couple hair months!  It is bad.  It is a hack job.  It looks like she cut it with a butcher knife.  And It is too short to put it up in a respectable pony tail.  Which means my neck can expect a hot few months coming up. 

Also because it is so hot that as soon as I get home my clothes are OFF!  Not all of them of course!  But i cannot wear a bra at home anymore, I will go crazy.  Like I said 93 degrees!

So Im thinking about getting a masectomy and shaving my head.  It is only practical.

Aren't you jealous!!??? 

Yeah I know I complain, but you would too.  The beaches are FANTASTIC.  But this isn't a vacation people, it is real life.  I have to cook, and clean, and study.  I can't just spend all of my time at the beach.  Life goes on! 

I am pretty sure no one reads this soooo, I don't feel bad complaining.  I will write more often though and maybe next time I wont be in such a rage.  I can be pleasant.  I promise!

Pride

I complain about Hawaii a lot.  I complain about everywhere I live a lot.  Actually-I just complain a lot.
I could go on and on about the things I hate about Hawaii-but there are also a lot of things I LOVE about Hawaii.  I just don't voice my opinion about those things so much.
I wonder all the time why on earth I am here.  I know everything happens for a reason and as I have reflected I have started to see the blessings that have come from living here. 
One blessing that really sticks out to me is that living here has made me so proud to be an American.  I know that sounds silly-arent we all proud to be Americans?  Well, sometimes I cry about it-that is how proud I am. I have become an emotional person at my ripe old age of 21. 
But I REALLY am so Proud!  In a healthy way.
I see people here who talk about where they came from and they really do realize how great The United States is.  Some don't, but a lot do.
This is where people want to live.  Our freedoms here are known throughout the world. 
I know our country is not perfect-I get that.  But Our country has done more good for the world than any other.  Our Military is amazing, and protects the freedoms of so many people-even those who aren't Americans. 
When I went to Pearl Harbor with my family 2 weeks ago we were able to see a Naval ship that was leaving to go underway for a while.  All of the soldiers were lined up on the deck of the massive ship and were dressed up in their white suits and stood saluting as they the Harbor.  I really felt the strength and beauty of our country at that moment.  It was such a beautiful thing to see.  It was probably what touched me most while I was there.  And I looked and saw a woman waiting on a pier till the ship was out of view.  She was probably saying goodbye to her husband for months. 
People sacrifice a lot for our freedom still. 
I am proud to an American.  I feel incredibly blessed to be born when I was and into the most powerful and influential country in the world.  One that was built upon the shoulders of great men.  And God was the center of their reasoning.
I am also proud to be from Michigan.  There is a new Chrysler commercial that talks about detroit-the motor city, and I love it.  It makes me so proud to be from that state. 
I am trying to complain less.  It is a work in progress.  My husband can testify that it is a slow one.  But being greatful for what I do have is the first step.

Christmas in Hawaii

This will be James and I's first Christmas together in Hawaii!  We are excited to have a realxing break from work and school, and the stress of traveling during the Holidays.  We will however miss our family, and the snow.  But we have been making plenty of efforts to try to feel the Holiday spirit as hard as it is here in sunny paradise.  Also, Here are some Pictures of our new home!  We love it, but we don't love the lizards, gecko's, serious abundance of milipedes and occasional centipedes that came along with it.  Oh and lets not forget the roaches!  Who could forget them and there visits at 1am!  We do prefer living on the 1st floor though.  And James is loving the extra space of the newly discovered attic.

The lights James put up!

Our Tree

Our dining area, we have nice big windows now too, that let in trade winds.

Kitchen looks almost identicle to the old one.  Except....

Now we have a dishwasher!  My most favorite item in the house.

And the Living room. 

We are happy to be here and are adjusting to the culture and differences of living in the Jungle.  Despite how much I complain about it.  We really are grateful to be here.

Fall

It is almost fall, and i love fall. Fall is Hawaii is different than Michigan or Idaho. Obviously the leaves don't change and there really isn't anything to harvest, but it does get a degree or two colder. I miss the Fall seasons that i had in Michigan, there really is nothing like it. Let me paint you a picture:
I will start with my Mom...my Mom loves the season changes and she loves Fall a lot, and she would get excited for the changes, she would bake apple pies, and Cream of Broccoli soup, and we would drink cocoa and rake leaves, and go pick out pumpkins. One year we even canned peaches-a memory I love. The thing is with my Mom is she is a wonderful person she is cozy and smells good, and she is an excellent cook and she always is there for her children first no matter what and she listens and she loves her children more than anything ever! My Mom has sacrificed so much for her kids, that is a whole seperate blog in itself. But I guess what I am trying to say is that all my fond memories of Fall include my Mom, who is amazing.
So the leaves would change and Michigan would be gorgeous because of all the colors from all the maple and other hardwood trees. I would often take walks to Log lake Park and just look at the trees, It looked like it was on Fire because is was so orange and red and yellow. It was the most beautiful spot in all the world, and I have been to a lot of places that are pretty. But simple little Log lake Park tops the list. Michigan cools down nicely for fall, just enough so that in the mornings you can hear the grass cruch from the frost outside. Fuzzy sweaters and Light Jackets were brought out and the shorts and flip flops put away till next spring.
My siblings and I always looked forward to the Fall for Football season because as my brothers got into High School they would play. It was always fun to go and cheer them on, not that my friends and i did a lot of cheering-I mainly would go find friends and try to find some boy i was stupid enough to like. Kayla was in Marching band and she was always occupied with that, but I would always stop to watch her perform. It was especially cool when she became drum major and would lead the Band. Band was something she loved and she was passionate about. I am glad she stuck with it and loved it. I think as kids grow up it is no longer cool to be in band so they drop out of it, regardless of wether they actually like it or not. I am proud of her for sticking with something she loved even when it wasn't the "Cool" thing to do.
My senior year I started driving my car in the Fall. I don't think any one actually understands how much I love that car-except maybe my dad-maybe. Driving the "Beast" was so amazing, it was exciting and liberating and...i just can't explain it, there really aren't words. It was red, fast, made people looks because it was brilliant, it was my first car, i spent all 5000 dollars on it. Not too many people buy their first car. I really took advantage of the Fall when I had the beast. Every morning almost I would go in late to school-I didn't have a 1st hour, so I could go in late anyways-but I always went speeding down Loglake road and had the heat balsting! Up until i moved to Hawaii I was ALWAYS cold! So i loved to blast the heat in my car-even if it did get a bit too warm. Then I would stop at northland and get a chocolate milk and a doughnut. Not just any doughnut but a cream filled one with the yellow orange and red Autumn sprinkles. I stayed pretty thin senior year-I am still amazed at how. I cant eat like that now!
There was of course Halloween where i went trick or treating well into my middle school years-but then again so did my brother brandon who was a senior in high School. He made us run from house to house so as to get the most candy possible. The last year i went trick or treating as a pumpkin-a PUMPKIN! i was in 7th grade! My dad made me. I was so embarassed. Not to mention I had just started my first period, and hadn't told anyone yet-I was embarassed about that stuff, and my brother was making run from house to house-all I could think about was man I hope I dont get a big stain on this stupid pumpkin costume! Good times! I love Michigan and I miss the memories that go along with it. Sometimes I wish i could go back and things would be the way they were before i left, but because of how fast my families lives have changed-they just can't!
They say you can't go home again, and I know that, but i am still trying to find home. Fall just makes me miss what used to be home even more than usuall.
Last night i got out my Fall decorations and put them up around the house, it makes my house feel a tad cozier. I need to bake something-that is what my family did. James doesn't really understant that biological connection i have to baking and holidays. I tell him well it is because it isn't a family tradition you have always had. In Michigan we bake! It is what we do to celebrate.
During this season I am greatful for my family I have the best family in the world-each person holds a special spot in my Heart. Someday I hope we can all be together again and enjoy the fall season like we used to.

Inspired!

I have been inspired! I am starting this blog not because it is the new thing, or even because almost every other LDS person I know has one(althought they are slight contributing factors). Nope. I am starting it becauseI just watched the movie "Julie and Julia" it was somehow incredibly inspiring to me-in ways I am still discovering. As I was watching the movie I could not help but notice how incredibly alike my life was with Julias. I am certainly not an excellent chef or even a good one at that, but I can relate on totally different levels. Like being in a new area(even though I have lived in hawaii I still feel like a stranger) and being bored and her passion for food and even how her and her husband interact and such a loving bond. I am not sure why it has inspired me to write a blog, but I think I was just more impressed with the way she used her time, and how she adapted and ughhh I just LOVED the movie-it is in my top three favorites.
I love the era it took place in and how women were accepted as curvier (or at least American Women) and I loved how her husband loved her and even just how they played-he reminded me sooo much of James. I want to be able to cook well, I have always enjoyed cooking, and trying new recipes, I like that women can stay at home and care for their families.
One thing I think I need to take more pride in is the fact that I want to be a stay at home mom and that it is something I look forward to. I am completely aware that I am young-even more so here in Hawaii where it is looked at as unacceptable-but I do take pride in my career choice, even though it isn't a very common one outside of Idaho and Utah. It is hard to get lost in the culture here-it even exists at church-people get married later and often I am afraid to tell people that at the end of the day I really just have an incredible desire to be a housewife and a mother. However there is beauty in that career, it certainly isn't easy, and the shifts will be long, but the rewards will be greater than we can imagine.
So somehow this is supposed to explain my inspiration from the movie "Julie and Julia." I am not sure if it does-but the movie has changed my view of the importance of cooking and being happy and making the best of the situations we are blessed with.