Southern Child Magazine

Y'all know I love magazines, and Southern Child Magazine is one that I hope you will check out!  It is full of great articles and  photography, while also staying true to it's original it's mission, "to inform and educate parents and care givers, to provide attractive affordable advertising to family based businesses and to help the hundreds of thousands of children in foster care find forever, loving families."  It is really inspiring to see a magazine trying so hard to help children that truly need a forever home.  When the publisher, Amy,  found out there are over 581,000 children in the foster care system and that only 20 percent of those who age out of the system actually make it (the remaining 80 percent end up on the street, in jail, or dead), she felt she had to do something and thus Southern Child Magazine was born! 

I was honored when Southern Child published 2 of my articles in this month's issue  (Here's to shameless self-promotion!)  On page 23 you will find an article I wrote about a "Super Southern Child" who also is doing his best to give back to others through his foundation, The Nickelby Project.  I also have an article to help you get motivated to get your Spring Cleaning on!  So, head over and check out this great magazine and sign up for a free online subscription!

Asian Inspired Cooking...

Last night I got out of my cooking box and tried a new Asian inspired dish from this month's Eating Well Magazine called Beef Chow Fun.  We enjoyed it, though I did have a bit of trouble tracking down a couple of the ingredients and had to substitute thin Rice Noodles for the wide Rice Noodles called for in the recipe.  Next time, I will be sure to have the wide ones because I definitely would have preferred the dish with the called for noodles. It was quick and easy and I served it with a side of asparagus sauteed with butter and garlic powder. 

Beef Chow Fun

8 ounces wide rice noodles (preferably brown-rice noodles)
1/2 cup Shao Hsing or Dry Sherry (I couldn't find Shao Hsing so I went with the Sherry)
4 teaspoons black bean-garlic sauce (found in the Asian section of the grocery)
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons light brown sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
4 teaspoons peanut oil, divided
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 - 12 ounce bag fresh Asian stir-fry vegetables (about 5-1/2 cups)...I had to kind of mix up a couple of bags to get a good mixture as my market didn't have quite what I was looking for.
1/2 water, divided
8 ounce sirloin steak, thinly sliced.

1. Fill a large nonstick skillet with water and bring to boil.  Add noodles and cook, stirring frequently, until just tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water and transfer to a large bowl.  Wipe pan dry.

2. Combine Shao Hsing (or sherry), black bean-garlic sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar and cornstarch in small bowl and set aside.

3. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in the skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium. Add ginger and cook, stirring for 30 seconds.  Add onion and cook, stirring, until soften (1 to 3 minutes).  Add vegetables and 1/4 cup of water; cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the veggies are tender-crisp, (2 to 4 minutes).  Transfer the veggies to the large bowl with the noodles. Wipe pan dry.

4. Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons oil in the skillet over medium-high heat. Add steak and cook, stirring until browned (1 to 3 minutes). Stir  the reserved Shoa Hsing/black bean garlic sauce and add to the pan; cook stirring, until the sauce has thickened slightly (1 to 2 minutes).

5. Return noodles and veggies to the pan along with the remaining 1/4 cup of water; cook, tossing to coat and blend the sauce until heated through. 

Guest Post: Girls Without Friends by Suburban Princess

Do you ever read a blog post or article somewhere an it just speaks to your heart? This morning The Life of Suburban Princess wrote about friendship, in particular women friends, and it is something I think we {women} all should read and think about.  It is one of those great posts that cross every age and demographic and I just had to email her and ask to share it here on my blog as well.  So, please read, think it over and share your thoughts and make sure to pop over to The Life of a Suburban Princess and share with her as well!

Suburban Princess

Recently I have met a lot of new people. We moved to this town 5 years ago, didn't know anyone and have built a life here out of nothing. I am one of those people who talks to anyone and everyone so it should come as no surprise I know many, many people here. We can easily fill our home when we host our annual Christmas party and I can find someone to go to dinner, drinks, movies with almost any time I want - if I make it happen.

At the Little Prince's birthday party I was standing with a group of women discussing popularity. I fessed up and admitted I was decidely unpopular in school. I never really had any friends. Five women stared at me in silence.

Hermes Scarf Friend: Seriously?
Suburban Princess: Yeah...it was awful!
Hermes Scarf Friend: I so don't believe that!
Suburban Princess: Why do you think I am so popular now!?

What I am finding out about so many of the women I know is that they dont really have any other friends. They know lots of people and get invited to things...but they dont have any friends. Nor have they ever had any friends.

We all know you must be a good friend to have a good friends but why do so many woman never reach out and be a good friend? Or ever just try to have a social life? Why don't they make the first move and text/email/call someone to go out for drinks or a movie or just to hang out? I know a number of women who would spend entire weekends sitting home alone before they would think/want to make plans with anyone. Is being lonely and alone more attractive than simply sending a 'Hey, let's get together' email?

The Suburban Prince suggests it is because women are not able to distinguish between their dating life and their friendships.

Interesting. Is it because women are so trained to not make the first move? Should we hold other women to the same standard we hold men to? I think women often make the mistake of thinking men are like our girlfriends and function the same way so it might be correct to think women make the mistake of thinking women are like our boyfriends and husbands and should be handled the same way.

One woman told me she is so afraid of rejection that she never reaches out to anyone. WOW! This woman gets invited to every event...girls nights, parties, movies, dinners...yet is so afraid of being rejected by another woman that she would never suggest getting together. Why is there such a disconnect? When did we start worrying so much about being rejected? Have women started being cruel to each other - if I dont want to spend time with someone I simply make up an excuse that wont hurt anyone's feelings. Are women actually telling each other 'No, I dont want to hang out with you' ?

Another woman I have been friendly with sent me a text asking me if she has done something to offend me. She said I havn't been communicating and she wants to know what she has done. I simply hadn't contacted her for over a week because I have been busy with my own life. First of all, this is not a conversation to be had over text messaging and second...it isn't like she has been contacting me and I have been ignoring her. I think she is getting a taste of what it is like when I am not doing all of the work. She is taking it personally when she could've easily called or email or texted. This is confusing to me. She is bothered enough that I am not making this friendship happen but isn't bothered enough to make it happen herself! She wants to be persued. Instead of suggesting we go for drinks or dinner she attacked me. During a recent daytrip I found out this woman feels too guilty to just sit in the car waiting while I load everything and get the Little Prince strapped in, get the tailgate open, pack up the stroller....but doesn't feel guilty enough to help in any way! Does she feel as a woman it isn't her job to be a part of the team?

Many women ignore female friendships for so long that when something happens in their life they find they have no one to turn to. No support system. No comforting hugs. No one arriving at their doorstep with casseroles and baby gifts. No one holding their hand at funerals. No one to relate to. Prairie voles, a monogamous rodent, have an interesting response to stress. When a male vole is put in a stressful situation, he runs to his female partner. Female voles, when stressed, immediately run to the females they were raised with.

A number of years ago I attended the funeral of a friend's mother. She told me afterwards that you really find out who your true friends are when someone dies. Aparantly I was the only person who wasn't family who went to the funeral. But then it's always me. I am always the one who goes to the games, funerals, pageants, interventions and anything else friends are supposed to attend. The ironic thing is this friend is the same person who later ended our relationship by screaming at me, 'I am busy you know! I dont have time for your silly little dinner parties!'. Looking back at that I don't take it personally. She was so unhappy with her own life and I was easy to lash out at. This may explain why no one was there for her when her mother died.

Why are women so cavalier when it comes to their friendships? Do we think female friends are as disposable and replaceable as some of the men in our lives?

One woman told me she would LOVE to have a best friend...someone to tell everything and do everything with but then this same women rarely puts any effort into her friendships. Making friends when we are kids is easy. Making friends when we are adults is not so easy. In fact it is almost impossible from what I have heard from so many women. I think there is a social stigma attached to being friendless. Is there really something wrong with someone who doesn't have any friends? Maybe there is! Is it laziness? I have to say yes when I think of a few women I know. Is it lack of time? Perhaps - but I know lots of women who have lots of time to facebook, twitter, watch tv and other time wasting activities but then they say they dont have time to cultivate their relationships outside of their nuclear family - I have never had any problem finding the time to have lunch or drinks or dinner with a friend and I have a husband, child and house to take care of too. Is it lack of interest? Maybe, but lots of these women tell me they are craving friendships!

A girl I know told me she doesn't call or 'bother' anyone because she feels she would be interfering with their happiness. Another told me she doesnt reach out because she doesn't feel she would be very good company. I find it amazing this has happened to women. This lack of self confidence has not been seen in previous generations of wives and moms and has left so many of us lonely.

My neighbour has a little girl 4 months younger than the Little Prince so one would think we would be together quite often so the kids can play together...but this mom actually told me she doesn't care one bit about a social life. She actually built an entire playground in their backyard so she would never have to take her kids to the playground where she might have to interact with other people. I can see what they watch on tv from my house but she isn't willing to suck it up for a couple of hours a week so her own child learns to socialize.

There have been times when I am lonely. It is hard being the one who makes all of the plans and arranges all of the get togethers. My friends almost always show up but they never reciprocate and sometimes I just get tired of being the glue. If I dont do all of the work I can find myself going weeks on end without any social interaction. It would be nice if someone invited me to something for a change instead of waiting for me to make all the plans. Katiesperk commented that she is a reciprocator - I wish more people would be like that! I have no problem making the first move but then we never get invited in return. So we never invite people again.

So tell me...are you in the same boat? Do you have to do all the inviting or wind up sitting home alone all the time? Or are you the person who doesnt reach out until you are invited to something?


Have a fabulous day!

Thank YOU, Suburban Princess for sharing your heart and giving us all something to think about!

Forcing Spring...

We had a  little cherry tree that was dying in our front yard, so we had to cut it down last week.  I grabbed a branch and brought it inside to see if it would bloom (there were a few little buds). It rewarded me with some beautiful blooms which made me even sadder that the little tree had to go.

so pretty in pink....

Lilly Pulitzer and Amy Butler are coming to Rue La La!!!!

You may have heard me mention Rue La La at some point, in reference to their great designer boutique sales, but I thought I would mention it again in case any of you are looking freshen up your wardrobe (or fill some Easter Baskets) with Lilly Pulitzer or freshen up your home with Amy Butler linens (I don't know if any of her fabulous purses will be featured, but rest assured I will be checking it out!)

Rue La La is a private online shopping experience that features top name designer "boutiques" for very short periods of time at private sale prices.  Members discover new offerings daily - each available often for just a few hours or until the sell out.  Trust me when I sale the Lilly sale can be one that sells out VERY quickly.  IF you would like to experience the Rue way of shopping, click here for your invitation:  You personal Rue La La Invitation.  Once you are member you can sign up for email reminders or text messages to help you remember when to shop your desired boutiques!

Hurry, because the Amy Butler Boutique starts April 4th at 11:00 AM and Lilly Pulitzer Boutique will begin promptly at 11:00 AM on April 6th!!!  Happy Shopping, my frugal friends!!!!!!

Book Giveaway! Win Gone With A Handsomer Man before you can buy it!

Hopefully, you read my review of Michael Lee West's upcoming book Gone With a Handsomer Man here, and it left you with a lust in your heart to read it yourself. Well girls, I am here to help you out because the publisher has graciously supplied me with a copy for a giveaway!  How is that for book love?

All you have to do is be a follower of Southern Somedays, and leave a comment here on THIS post. That is all. 

If you would like to blog or share on Facebook and or Twitter about the giveaway you may gain one extra entry per share (you must leave separate comments for addition entries with links to each).

I will use the mysterious random number generator on Thursday, April 7, 2011 to pick someone to win their very own copy of this great, great book. I will post the winner on Friday the 8th!  Good Luck!

Oh, and the publisher just added a downloadable copy of Teeny Templeton's Kitchen Diary!!!

  Click here to Download your own copy!

Also, Southern Mommas is giving away a copy HERE for another chance to win! 

Open only to readers in the U.S. and Canada (per supplier's shipping request)

Wordless Wednesday