Women: you can't live without 'em.

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out.  It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being.  We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.  

~Albert Schweitzer

Can you tell the domestic goddesses love quotes? This one really touched me.  I was looking for some related to summertime, but as I was googling, this one hit me.  More than anything, because it rings true in my life.  I would say, without a doubt, it's my friends who have helped me through the toughest of times.  When emotions run wild, I turn to my girlfriends.  They are a pillar of strength and a fountain of wise words.  

Fostering friendships and bonding with other women is one of the keystones in the foundation of Domestic Goddess. We all lead busy lives, and the economy has put a strain on us all.  It's during these times that we need the company of other women to lean on, to confide in, to laugh and cry with.  We need reassurance, and reminders that everything is going to be ok.  Women tend to be emotionally stronger than men, and we identify with each others' needs, thoughts, doubts, and longings.

I know that from time to time, my fire goes out.  Work, work, work.  It takes us, pulls us into it's vortex and spits us out a weakling.  Days go by and I just want to sleep.  Eat comfort food in bed.  The last thing I want to do is "what's good for me" - Working, keeping my house up, cooking healthy meals - it takes a toll, and sometimes the things we SHOULD be doing seems like climbing a mountain.  But I end up calling or texting a friend, sometimes just to say hello, sometimes to vent, or let it all unload.  There's never been a time that I've felt worse after talking to a good friend.  The best ones will verbally smack you, and tell you to snap out of it!  

This is why we are here.  Even in our low times, or happiest times, the bond created between women cannot be broken easily.  Domestic Goddess strives to help make your life easier by doing fun things, but more importantly, we strive to build long lasting relationships, healthy friendships between women.

Summertime Printable Recipes

Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit.  A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world.  

~Ada Louise Huxtable

Cooking and Entertaining Wrap-up

We didn't get to have our last meeting in may, but here are some things we would have covered:

 

When planning a get-together, whether it’s a backyard BBQ or New Years Soiree, you have to decide up front what is the most important to you…saving time or money. Because to some extent you can do both, but one will always dominate depending on your entertaining style.

When money is the issue, you don’t have to sacrifice quality or personal touch. In fact, the less you have to work with, the more creative and original you get to be. That is precisely what will make your party memorable.

At the same time, working a full-time job with or without a family can pose some time issues. In those cases saving time is much more important. Learn to make things ahead and follow the ideas of Sandra Lee and Semi-homemade. You can achieve a homemade feel with 70% store-bought and 30% fresh ingredients.