Calling All Women Pay it Forward

     Why should we care about other women?  How, we see each other is important. Sometimes it can be even wrong or unfair. Women have a tendency to put other women into categories, not unlike the ones we often accuse men of putting us in. It’s a habit we need to break.
      One of the things that has always puzzled me is that we know historically women have been repressed, discriminated against, used and held up to unrealistic ideals both by men and society. There are stories, about strong women throughout history, women of courage, strength, and honor who gave of themselves. Going back to even biblical times women made a tremendous difference in history yet received little or no credit.
     As women, I think we fail each other miserably at times.  We judge each other on appearance, whom we are with, and even how much our income is.  Frankly when we do this we let each other down. Who can honestly say that they have never heard another woman snipe and make biting comments regarding someone else who is unaware? For myself, I find when someone is like that I have to wonder just what they have to say about me when I am not around. Are they as equally biting and hurtful?

     Men, on the other hand, can be just as bitchy yet they cling to an invisible brotherhood code of don’t ask don’t tell. Can I get a copy of the brotherhood code book? I’m sure it would make an interesting and enlightening read.
That “guy code” doesn’t exist among women. It should! Here is a simple truth, if women banded together talked to each other honestly about things we would see we are all basically the same. In your twenties you’re tied up in how you look, your career, and who you’re going to marry. By your thirties if you’re married it’s about family, appearance, and getting ahead.
When you hit your forties things start to change. Unless you’re one of those women trapped into trying to hold on to twenty of course.
     For the rest of us, we begin to relax, at forty. If you're married or not you’re too tired by life to worry about the small stuff. We begin to look inside ourselves to find the answers. The good news is most of us do; we find ourselves. There is a confidence that a woman have as she gets older.  I believe in part it comes from learning to truly love yourself as a person. That doesn’t mean we can rest on our laurels and just worry about our own interests. Sharing that positive outlook, that secret self we have found with our younger female friends and children is important. As women, we need to stand together teach each other what it means to be a woman in today’s world.
     The clock is going to continue to tick, despite our best intentions. As older women, we set an example. It’s our responsibility to teach younger women that we should, in fact, be a sisterhood of many. All the time not just when it comes to things like cancer or abuse.

     The choices we make today on how we treat each other will affect our daughters and their daughters.  Women are police officers, soldiers, doctors, and entrepreneurs. We are not afraid to work for what we want. By standing together, truly supporting each other and getting involved we can each make a difference.
     If you’re the kind of person who would stop to rescue a puppy you saw left on the side of the road then this message is for you. This Christmas rescue another woman. If it’s a bag of groceries, babysitting to give someone a break, or even a cup of coffee so you can listen while they talk, just do it. Give one day a month to helping other women who are in need of help.
Calling all women it’s time to pay it forward. Surprise a woman you know or even don’t know with a helping hand. Do something out of your comfort zone for another woman, and you may just be surprised how it makes you feel.

Women for Women International
Women Helping Battered Women
Oprah's Womans Orginization

Korean Venison Tacos

With the fall just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about hunting. My husband is already to go for the season. He’s picked up the new toys, he waited all season to add. Some duck decoys and a new cover for his deer stand. People who are into hunting are, usually, into it for a multitude of reasons. Our main one is that it puts additional food on the table and helps keep the constant growing cost of food down.
To start out our season on an interesting note, I found a yummy new venison recipe that can be substituted with beef or pork for the non-sporting people reading this. I came across this recipe in a Cooking Light Global Kitchen cookbook and gave it a try with some minor variations. When cooking venison one of the main complaints many people have is the gamey taste they always associate with it. The flavor is far from gamey and in fact, I dare you to say it is. I’ve used the marinade for the back straps which I then grill. You can use it for making Korean Taco’s which, is a light healthy meal in itself. The meat is cut into 1 to 1 ½ inch strips and is then placed in the following marinade for at least 1 hour.

Korean Venison Taco’s

Mix these first six ingredients together for your marinade.
1/3 cup sugar (I use brown sugar).
5 Tb’s Low-sodium soy sauce.
1 ½ Tb’s gochujang or (Korean chili paste).
1 Tb’s Fresh Lime juice (I, usually, use a fresh lime adding some of the zest to it as well).
4 cloves garlic minced.
1/8 tsp. salt
Combine these ingredients in a bowl and mix together.
1 to 2 lb.’s of Venison steaks or back straps.

Slice venison into 1 to ½ inch strips, place in a zip-lock bag and pour in marinade. Let this sit in your fridge for at least 1 hour. You can prepare this the night before and let it sit overnight as well. The marinade only gets better the longer you wait. When your ready grill the meat on skewers for around ten to fifteen minutes.
Now what to go with it? That is the question. You need to make a pickled cabbage to accompany the meat. This is for on top of your venison if you’re making the taco version. This recipe is too easy and can be made the night before as the cabbage is slower to absorb the ingredients.

Pickled Cabbage:
3 cups chopped cabbage.
2 garlic cloves minced
½ cup of rice vinegar
2 Tbs. Low-Sodium soy sauce
1 Tbs. Sugar
2 tsps. Korean chili paste.
Combine your ingredients in a bowl and mix. Put it in the fridge and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. I, usually, will make it either that morning or the night before you use it. Now I know what you’re probably thinking with all that chili paste this is a spicy hot dish. The truth is no it isn’t spicy at all; it has an incredible flavor that is sweet and tangy. Even my picky ten-year-old was impressed with this dish and couldn’t get enough. Serve it on soft tacos using the pickled cabbage on top of the meat. Enjoy a delicious, easy light dinner that will have them coming back for more and save you time in the kitchen.

If you choose to use this as a marinade only it goes well with rice pilaf and a good green veggie.

Groceries needed:
Soft tacos
Low sodium soy sauce
Rice vinegar
Korean or Chinese Chili paste
1 to 2 lbs. of steak, skirt or flank if not using venison.
1 head of cabbage or one small bag.
Lime juice or one small lime.
Sugar
Garlic or minced garlic.

It's Just Not My Day

     Yesterday was not my day. Who hasn't had those days that start out OK but seem to go downhill fast and have a quick fiery death? You know those moments when it feels like every step you take is wrong which in turn puts you in a bad mood that you then spread to your family and those unfortunate enough to be around you. Those Bitch on Wheels days when you seem to hate the world and every person in it (no not really, but you feel like it.)
          I consider myself a pretty positive person. I work hard and try to be considerate of others who cross my path. It is about the energy good or bad. Like a poison, one small negative act can snowball into something that holds us down making us doubt and question ourselves. It’s like rolling a little snowball down a hill of snow, it’s going to keep picking up more and more snow as it goes rolling faster and faster eventually becoming something big which isn’t what we wanted or intended.
     Yes,  yesterday was one of those super negative days for me. They don’t happen often, and as a rule I generally will stay away from people who are super negative. Occasionally life will bite us all right in the ass when we aren’t looking.
     I mention this because we have all felt this way and sure we all get over it or work it out in some form or other. It isn’t in my nature to start a fight, but if you bring it I will finish it. Especially if it pertains to my privacy or something that just isn’t anyone else’s business. What I try to hold onto though when these moments happen are the positives. Negativity, hurtful words, or just plain old meanness can only harm you if you let it. When you give in to anger or hurt you give it power over you. You let the poison of the moment stay with you.

           Why would anyone want that? I know I sure don’t. So next time you’re having one of those days from hell that make you either want to cry or hit someone really hard remember it will pass and then you will be left feeling stupid for the things you may have said or done. Secondly your better than that!Don’t give your power away you control you. So if it means walking away and beating the snot out of your pillow give it a go! 

Buying Smarter Not Harder

Vintage is In

Who hasn't’ gone through the rush from our kids who have to have these sneakers or that jacket because everyone else does. It can be hard as a parent to say no sometimes. Trying to save money is never easy especially when we don’t want to scar our kids for life by making them wear clothing that makes them feel uncomfortable around their friends.

So what do you do? Well one thing I’ve found is checking on eBay. A lot of mom’s have started putting on the clothing their kids grow out of. Jeans sweatpants tops. Sometimes you can get a really great buy when you take the time to look. Its always better  if someone is selling several pieces together then going after the solo item. Lets face it our kids grow like weeds, and the only way to  keep up and not spend a fortune is to be a smarter shopper. Another way is to pick up items after the holidays. You can often find winter clothing marked down drastically after Christmas.

Another option for those picky teens is to introduce them to vintage. Not the vintage that sells off the rack and has been marked up 400% but real vintage. Make it a game and let them take their time. Girls in particular love to find great looking clothes, most of them want to wear it only a couple of times before there trying to stuff it in the goodwill bag.

You can also save by cleaning and putting the clothes your kids grow out of on eBay or craigslist. Its a great way to pay it forward and to make some money to replace the clothes they no longer want. A lot of times your local hospital, will have a thrift store, and they tend to get higher end items through donations. It isn’t always easy as a parent to save money, giving the clothing your kids don't fit into to a family member who may have a son or daughter who will fit into the clothes they grow out of is a good way to keep it in the family and help them save, as well.

I know there are some who might be horrified by this idea but being smart and thrifty at the same time can wind up saving you hundreds to thousands of dollars on clothing. Some of the nicer items I've added to my own wardrobe have come from sales, eBay, or thrift stores. Most second hand stores will inspect the clothing and re clean it prior to putting it out for sale so don't be afraid of koodies..

With a little thought and ingenuity you can save money and keep your family happy. Just remember its always better to be a fashion setter then a slave to fashion. Use your head and reuse clothing, you're not just saving money, but you're also helping the environment.

Simple Economics for The Middle Class

Rarely if ever will I blog about a movie, and it may seem strange that I am going to on a site that is for saving money in a tight economy. Here is the thing, I just finished watching “Inequality for All” from Robert Reich President Clinton's former Secretary of Labor. In order to fix and cope with financial ups and downs it is important to understand the whys, as in why, we are all here struggling to make ends meet?

Who is Robert Reich? He was an intern under Robert Kennedy, worked for President Carter, and then later worked for Bill Clinton as his Secretary of Labor. He has given lectures at Berkley University and came from a middle class background like you and I. This small well educated man has a big voice and a lot to teach us all.

Robert Reich carefully explains with humor and insight how we got into the financial mess we are in today. He explains it in such a way that even my 9 year old could understand it. There are no smoke and mirrors, no fancy displays but a journey of us and how we are where we are. He goes in depth to explain how the gap between the middle class and 1% has grown so disproportionately out of cinque

Why would I suggest watching this? Well, if you have a brain and are smart enough to realize that things are not actually getting better then perhaps you may want to understand the whys? If you're a single mom, dad, struggling family, or prepper you want to watch this. There are some very simple truths that point out and show that if we keep going the way we are going its not going to get better but will in time get worse. If we sit by and do nothing thinking “Hey, not my problem.” sooner or later it will be.

Where can you get “Inequality for All” check your library and take it out? Go on Amazon or google it. It is well worth it to watch, and if you don’t you're missing something that answers some important questions. As I said, I was pleasantly surprised and informed after watching this. I found myself with a better understanding of how this mess we are all in was created and can better understand what needs to happen to create a healthy economy again in this country. As voters in this country,  we all have the responsibility to educate ourselves, so we understand what is happening and what we agree to when we elect an official into office. Part of fixing a problem is using our intelligence to listen and learn so we can address it in a constructive manner.