SAHM

How to host a successful party!

Posted on by thewexfordhousewife

I love any excuse to get out my serving trays & wine glasses.  Whether it’s a dinner party, Labor Day BBQ, game night or ladies night in, getting friends & family together is always a blast!  For me, the key to hosting a successful party is being prepared and organized.  I start my planning process by answering the following questions…

  • Where will I be entertaining i.e. kitchen, dining room, living room, outside deck/patio?
  • What food can I serve that’s appropriate for where we’ll be gathering i.e. full meal, hors devours, chips & dip?
  • What kind of beverages will go with the food I’m serving i.e. wine & cheese, beer & burgers?

Last night I had the opportunity to host a Ladies Night In!  My girlfriend sells Thirty-One Gifts so it was a great reason to get everyone together.  Before I got myself ready for the evening I set the stage by arranging the serving trays, making sure there was enough seating and lighting a yummy pumpkin spice candle.  I have learned that it’s less stressful if I can prepare as much as possible before guests arrive.  I hate when people are arriving & I’m still getting organized.

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Once I was dressed & ready for the evening I poured myself a glass of red wine and put the white wine on ice.  It’s important to have variety of beverages on hand.  I suggest having a dry & a sweet wine as well as non-alcoholic options for those that don’t drink.  Last night I offered my guests Cabernet (dry red), Chardonnay (dry white), Riesling & Prosecco (both sweeter whites) as well as soda and bottled water.

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I invited my guests to arrive at 7 PM.  By inviting them post-dinner I was able to prepare lighter fare and avoid preparing a big meal.  I offered cheese & meat trays, fresh fruit, bread with dipping oils and blondie brownie bites.  My go-to for hosting any get together is a big cheese tray!  It’s so easy to prepare and I get the chance to use my favorite cheese board.

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The most important thing to remember when you’re hosting a party is to have fun!  As the hostess you set the tone for the party, so relax & enjoy yourself.

For some great cheese tray ideas & wine pairing options visit the below links.

http://positivemed.com/2013/03/05/pairing-wine-and-food/

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/holidays/guide-to-wine-and-cheese/building-cheese-plate

Tis the season for apple picking and making sauce

Posted on by thewexfordhousewife

I love this time of year…the leaves are starting to change, the house smells like pumpkin spice & I can finally break out my scarves and boots!  It also means that we can venture to the local farm for hayrides and apple picking.  Over the weekend we took our son to the apple orchard; he loved picking his own apples!

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By the time we were finished we had a 10 lb. bag and one happy little boy!  Since we had plenty of apples to go around, I decided to make applesauce!  Follow my simple recipe for an applesauce the whole family will love.

Laura’s Apple Cider Applesauce – Prep time 15 min, Cook time 20 min, Yields 1-1 ½ quarts

Ingredients:

7 – 10 Apples (we picked Jonathan, but Granny Smith or Golden Delicious would work too)

3 tbsp. Lemon Juice

1 Cup Water

½ Cup Apple Cider

1 tbsp. Cinnamon

Put the water and 2 tbsp. lemon juice in a large pot.  Peel, core and cut apples into quarters.  Add apples to the pot of lemon water as you cut them to prevent browning.  Halfway through cutting the apples add the remaining lemon juice and stir to make sure all of the apples are covered.

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Once all of the apples are in the pot add the apple cider, bring to a boil, and then lower the temperature.  Cover and maintain a low simmer for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through.

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Once the apples are fully cooked, remove the pot from the heat.  Add the cinnamon and use a potato masher (or a fork) to mash the apples in the pot.  My family likes a thicker applesauce, but if your family prefers a smoother style you can mix the apples in a blender.  Taste the applesauce, if you believe it’s too sweet add more lemon juice or if it’s not sweet enough add 1/4 cup brown sugar.

You can serve the applesauce hot or cold, with pork chops or mixed with yogurt!  It also freezes for up to a year in a cold freezer.  Enjoy!

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(Took inspiration from http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/applesauce/)

Joining a Mom’s Group saved my sanity

Posted on by thewexfordhousewife

Being a Stay at Home Mom can get lonely fast.  Although, I was constantly with my son I missed having adult conversations and found myself slowly losing my mind.  My friends nearby didn’t have kids and my husband had a hard time relating to my SAHM struggles.  I finally did some research and came across an app called MeetUp.  Through MeetUp I was able to find several mom’s groups in my area & ended up joining MOMS Club, an international group with chapters in all 50 states.  At first, I was a little embarrassed to admit I joined a group I had found online, but now I embrace it!  Not only am I able to surround myself with women who are going through the same things as I am, but my son & I get the chance to embark on some pretty amazing adventures such as visiting a local dairy farm, hiking through a nature reserve, riding a tractor through a pumpkin patch and going to the Aviary!  Not to mention, we have monthly Mom’s Night Out events that give me a chance to unwind with a glass of wine.

I encourage every SAHM to connect with other mom’s in their community!  You’ll have the opportunity to build lasting relationships and it will save you from bombarding your husband with poop stories when he walks through the door.

Click on the link below to find your local MOMS Club chapter

http://momsclub.org/

MomsClub