Take a minute to think about it, and you may see that your time is now! Then check out this article about another mother’s indulgence in herself and the tips she followed for her own Reinvention:

A 10-step plan for personal fulfillment
KRISTINA SAUERWEIN
BALANCING ACTS
posted: 01/12/2012, 10:28 am

As moms we sacrifice a lot. We expect to because we know good parenting, on many levels, requires it. But sometimes, no matter how much we love our family, we want more. Maybe it means you want to pursue a hobby, a passion, return to work full-time or quit work to stay home with the kids.
Personally, I’ve been feeling a bit restless intellectually and professionally. I’ve put a lot on hold career-wise to be a mostly stay-at-home mom and although I am glad I’m doing it, I miss writing, researching and editing full-time. I have two solid book-writing ideas, a blog idea, freelance article ideas, entrepreneurial ideas, but little time to pursue anything because I’m in mommy mode most of the time.

So how to find the time? I came across the book, The Mothers of Reinvention, by Jennifer Pate and Barbara Machen, owners of the online site, “Jen and Barb, Mom Life,” as well as hosts of award-winning webisodes of the same name. The duo offered this 10-step plan, which I quoted almost verbatim:

1. See the signs. You know you love your family but something isn’t working. You feel a void, a sense of unrest, of there needing to be more for you somehow. But what? Write down everything that is working in your life and everything that isn’t. Unless you know what you’re dealing with, you can’t fix it. Isolating challenges and frustrations is the first step to moving past them.

2. Find your passion. You’ve taken the time to consider what’s working in your life and what isn’t. Now is the time to write down what you love to do. What are you passionate about? What would you do for free?

3. Make the time. This is how you start to figure out how you’re going to fit in what you love to do. Record all the tasks you do this week and how much time it takes you to complete those tasks. This is will be tedious but it will help you to determine how you spend your time and what tasks need to be done by you, what you can get help with and what you can say no to.

4. Strategize. Before you approach your family about what you need them to do, plot your strategy. You are the general and these are your troops. Delegate and free up some of your time.

5. Get your spouse or partner on board. Communicate your enthusiasm about bringing more joy to the family. Try to avoid tiffs about the little things (for instance, leaving dirty clothes on the floor). You need your partner as your ally. Things will go much smoother with your partner on board.

6. Get your kids on board. Depending on the age of your kids, this is the time to talk with them about mommy being happy and fulfilled. Your children need to know that even if you have less time for them, you love them and if you’re happy, it will make them happier. They may not understand, but seeing you as someone who finds enjoyment out of adult life will go a long way in what they get out of their own life.

7. State your claim. From now on, this is what you are, not “what I am going to be.” Switch “I want to be” with “I am.” Perception is reality. If you believe it, others will, too.

8. Reach out now. This is when you discover connections within your community, which consists of everything from mom friends to Facebook friends. Do not be afraid to reach out to people who can help you achieve a goal or pursue a passion.

9. Try, try again. You may start by thinking, for instance, you want a cupcake company, but find out that you do not have the time and only want to bake cupcakes for local birthday parties. You may think you want to go back to work but find out that you really want to work from home. That is OK. Your are taking proactive steps to living life on your terms–and you will get there.

10. You’re on your way. Just by doing these steps, you are going to start feeling better about yourself.

Sometimes I feel like what goes on in our kitchen is a “big secret.” Some of us menu plan, some of us fly by the seat of our pants each week and others call for take-out! For those who love to cook, cooking is something pleasurable that we take pride in. For those who don’t like to cook, or feel they “can’t cook,” cooking is just a daunting, necessary task. Many of us feel so alone and so lost in our own kitchens.

What if you could turn kitchen time into time with your girlfriends? Doesn’t that sound a whole lot more pleasurable? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in the kitchen after my kids go to bed, chopping away, measuring, cleaning up and putting things away and thought, “Gosh, this is boring!” Why not get your girlfriends involved in the kitchen with you. I’m here to give you some suggestions on making kitchen time into time with your girlfriends.

Have you ever heard of freezer meals? They are wonderful! Basically, you prepare an entire main dish in a freezer bag, put it in your freezer and then take it out when you’re ready for it. So simple and so handy! So, why not have Freezer Meal party with your girlfriends? It doesn’t have to be a huge party! It could be just you and your bestie, or it could be you and several other girlfriends.

You can decide how many meals you would like to make at your party. Eight to ten meals is usually a good number. Depending on how many people you have coming to your party, give each person the task of finding/contributing “X” amount of recipes. Or, if you are the “great cook” of the pack, then you provide the recipes. When choosing recipes, keep in mind others’ like and dislikes. Try to find “neutral” recipes, not crazy ones…..at least not your first go. Make a grocery list and have everyone be responsible for bringing certain ingredients. You can always split the cost difference later.
At your freezer meal party, keep things low key. Chop leisurely, talk, listen to music, laugh, have some cocktails! Enjoy yourselves! If things don’t come out quite as planned, you have someone else to laugh with. It really takes the stress out of meal making/planning and it takes the pressure of you! If you’re not the best chopper, give that task to another girlfriend. If you’re wicked good at measuring, start measuring all the spices, etc. Have fun with it!

Around the holidays, I’m always looking for new desserts to make. However, my family always requests I bring the cake balls. I can’t say that I blame them. They are most excellent! What I usually do is bring the cake balls, but make something new to bring with them. Have you ever looked at a recipe and thought, “Wow! That looks awesome, but SO intimidating?!” Been there, done that! This is where your girlfriends come in handy again! Why not plan a fun afternoon where each girlfriend brings the ingredients to make their signature dessert! Each girlfriend can take their turn showing you and your guests how to make their delicious creation, and best of all, you get to sample them all in the end. Be sure each person brings a recipe card of their creation for each guest at your party. A great idea would be to provide notepads to each of your guests so they can take notes as each girl demonstrates their recipe. You won’t have to be intimidated anymore!
See? Your time in the kitchen no longer has to be time alone. With a little bit of thought and creativity, you can turn your time in the kitchen into time with your girlfriends. Don’t keep your kitchen time a secret! Get your girlfriends involved and make your time in the kitchen fun again!

Do you over indulge your children? When asked that question I had to really sit back and think do I over indulge them, am I a pushover who gives in to what they want just to keep the peace or do I parent them with careful calculations on everything we do and ensure they are learning the proper meaning of the word no?

In short no I do not believe I overindulge the kids. My oldest son, who is 13, got a cell phone for his 12th birthday and that is his phone, mp3 player and lifeline to mom and dad. My second son, who is 11, just got an MP3 player for his birthday in December. Is it top of the line? Nope it is not, I am a firm believer that a child under the age of 16 does not need an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad or any other of those expensive brands of electronics and no matter how much my children ask the answer will remain no you are not getting that until you are older and more responsible.

Now I am not saying we are barren of electronics in the house because that is far from the truth we have a Wii, PS3, two Xboxes and four Nintendo DS’s three being Nintendo 3DS the older three kids got for Christmas this past year. I would really not have gone out and bought these at random just because they were new items on the market, as a matter of fact the 3DS came out in March and they had to wait until Christmas to get them. Even after that we bought a few games but I give the kids a weekly allowance and they must use it to budget, save up and combine or bargain with mom and dad to buy new games etc. that they may want we don’t just go buy them new stuff at random because that is teaching them that they can get whatever they want whenever and with four kids that is so not the case.

Now I know I talked about my three kids but I do have four. The fourth is only 2 and a half years old so buying him the newest electronics etc. is not an issue yet. But he does have wants and needs when we are in the store he wants new toys, books etc. and I am very careful to not get him stuff each and every time we are out and to teach him when I say no it means no. I have left a cart in the middle of the store to walk out and deal with a tantrum rather than allow it to cause a scene or worse yet give in teaching him that he can just have a fit and mommy will say yes no matter what.

So do I over indulge my children, no I do not believe I do. My kids are level headed, learning about money, knowing that when we say no it means no, not throw a fit you will get what you want. We are adding number 5 to the family in June and I intend to continue on the same way because I believe whether you are my first or my last you will be treated the same and live by the same rules as all your siblings that came before you.

For Christians, January 6 is l’épiphanie (the Epiphany) and the French celebrate it with la galette des rois (also known as the “twelfth night cake” or simply “king cake”). Today, the tradition of la Galette des Rois extends beyond the religious context and is enjoyed by everyone.

This recipe is a fun one you can do with your children. It is akin to making a sandwich (except you get to paint it with egg wash and carve designs in the puff pastry top). Your kids will have fun making the crown too!

The cake consists of two layers of puff pastry with a frangipane (almond cream) filling. The cake is garnished with a paper gold crown and hidden inside is a trinket called la fève (a fava bean). Tradition dictates that the person who’s slice contains la fève is crowned king or queen for the day and gets to wear the crown. To ensure that the distribution of la fève is completely random, the youngest person present goes under the table and calls out the order of recipients. An extra piece of the cake is sliced, “la part du pauvre” (the poor man’s share), for unexpected guests.

Active recipe time is about 20 minutes: You can find frozen puff pastry in grocery stores and Trader Joes, and the filling can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator. The crowns can be purchased at specialty stores or on the internet; but, you can also make one of your own.

la Galette des Rois: makes one 9” inch cake

Ingredients:
shell
2 sheets puff pastry
1 dried bean (or nut)
1 egg, mixed (for egg wash)

Frangipane
7 ½ ounces blanched slivered raw almonds
3 ounces granulated sugar
½ teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons powdered sugar, sifted
2 ounces (4 tablespoons)
unsalted butter, cold and cut into chunks
1 egg, room temperature
1 egg white, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
½ teaspoon orange zest

Garnish
a paper crown

Make Frangipane. Place almonds, salt, and sugars in a food processor. Pulse until finely ground. Add butter and continue to pulse to incorporate. Add egg, egg white, extracts, and zest to food processor. Pulse until well-combined. Set aside. Frangipane can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator.

Shape Puff Pastry. Roll out puff pastry on a floured surface. Use a 9” tart or pie pan bottom as a guide. Cut two 9” circles in the pastry sheets using kitchen shears or a knife. Lay circles on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to chill.

Fill. Remove pastry from the refrigerator. Gently spread the frangipane on one circle, about 1” in height and 1” from the edge of the circle. Place bean or nut in the frangipane.

Seal and Cover. Using a pastry brush, brush egg wash on the exposed 1” band of pastry surrounding the frangipane. Lay the second puff pastry circle on top. Pinch the edges of the two puff pastry sheets together to close.

Score. Use a knife to score the top puff pastry layer with a design of your choice. Do not cut through the dough.

Chill. Return the cake to refrigerator for at least ten minutes to chill the butter.

Bake High. Remove from the refrigerator. Lightly brush egg wash over the top and sides of the cake. Place cake on a fresh sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Bake in an oven preheated oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 10 minutes.

Bake Low. Reduce heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue to bake for about 15 minutes until the cake is golden brown and all layers have puffed. Remove cake from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack.

Garnish. Garnish with a paper crown

This recipe is one of fifty-two recipes which can be found in Chef Lisa Baker Morgan’s first book, simple pleasures: fifty-two weeks of turning ordinary ingredients into extraordinary moments which can be purchased at Amazon.com as well as many local bookstores and gift shops in Los Angeles. Lisa Baker Morgan is a graduate from the Le Cordon Bleu program and a private chef in Los Angeles. She gives cooking classes both in Los Angeles and France and is a mother of two. Her weekly blog, “simple pleasures,” is written from a chef’s perspective and devoted to sharing simple and delicious recipes and cooking tips for home cooks (www.chefmorgan.com).

When Jen and Barb asked, “Do You Have a Recipe That All Your Friends Rave About?”, I had to stop and think for a minute. Not because I wasn’t sure IF I have a recipe that my friends rave about… but because I couldn’t figure out which one to share!

Finally I settled on Herbed Chicken Rosé. This is a recipe that I received as a young bride-to-be in a recipe box that was a gift at one of my bridal showers. My mother-in-law threw me a bridal shower and had all of her friends fill a box with their favorite recipes, and many of those have become tried and true recipes in our family’s dinner repertoire. This was almost 17 years ago, and I’m still making it at least once a month, so you know it has to be good!

Herbed Chicken Rosé is great because it is easy to make and uses ingredients you are likely to have on hand, but it looks impressive and tastes like a gourmet meal. I like it best with a side of mashed potatoes and a salad.

Herbed Chicken Rosé

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

4 Tbsp shortening (half butter)

1/4 tsp rosemary

basil, 
parsley, chives, and thyme to taste

1/2 cup white wine (Chardonnay is my preference for this dish)

1/2 tsp corn starch

1 Tbsp water

1/2 cup sour cream

Dredging Mixture:

2 Tbsp flour

1/2 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp garlic salt

Dredge chicken in flour/garlic salt/paprika mixture.  Brown chicken on both sides in shortening/butter.  Sprinkle with herbs.  Add wine around the chicken, without washing the herbs off the chicken.  Cover.  Reduce heat and cook slowly until tender, about 25 minutes.

Remove chicken to plate.  Keep warm.  Thicken juices with cornstarch/water mixture.  Stir in sour cream.  Spoon over chicken.  Garnish with a sprig of fresh chopped parsley if desired.

Serve with a salad and mashed potatoes and a glass of that Chardonnay you have left over from the recipe! (You do have some left, right?)

ENJOY!