Jan. 19, 2010

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

Now that the holidays are over, it is time to settle into our winter routines. These are cozier times for some of us, preferring to be warm inside than cold outside. Others enjoy being out in the snow. Things are finally getting back to normal.

If you haven’t done so already, how about setting some goals. Maybe just the top 10 things that you want to accomplish in 2010. I have my goals list completed. I do one every New Year’s day. Feel free to share your goals list with us.

As part of my goals, I have created a new blog, The Fitness Journal. Follow along with me if you share weightloss/fitness goals with me. Add to my writings, discuss your progress, ask me questions…maybe even start your own blog so we can link to and support each other.

I have updated the following. You may find the posts useful.

Living the Low-Income Life

Frugal Recipes

Mainely Thoughts

Mini Homestead in a Trailer Park

How to Live the Freelance Life

Happy Days!

Shannon

Twitter @BangorSingleMom

Single Moms and Homekeeping

Posted by singlemom

January 19, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Originally Posted: 1/16/2010

Hello all! Hope you are doing well this week. For those families who would rather be inside on the colder days, working on homemaking tasks can be done now.  Take on one room a week or a month as a family, like at Keeping the Single Mom Home.

Working toward a common goal, while keeping attitudes light, can build stronger family relationships. Older children may prefer to do their rooms on their own, as may you, but the other rooms can be worked on together.

Children can also help to come up with ideas for organizing each room. This will help them to feel valued.

Have a nice day!

Shannon

Winter Activities for the Single Mom Family

Posted by singlemom

January 19, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Originally Posted: 1/9/2010

There are many things that single  mom families can do to build bonds this winter season. I, for one, love to start snowball fights with kids. There is also skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and other wintery activities.

Some of us prefer to be inside on the colder days. We like to take our children to a movie, or watch one at home. We may take them out to eat, or to the mall. We will also cook with our children, play board games with them and do crafts.

What are your favorite family activities for winter. Please share.

I have updated the following. You may find the posts useful.

Living the Low-Income Life

Frugal Recipes

Mainely Thoughts

Mini Homestead in a Trailer Park

How to Live the Freelance Life

Happy Days!

Shannon

Twitter @BangorSingleMom

Happy Holidays!

Posted by singlemom

December 21, 2009 | 3 Comments

I wanted to wish you all Happy Holidays! I am taking a bit of a vacation from blogging to spend time with family. I may pick up again next week, but certainly by the 2nd.

Shannon

Single Moms: Cooking, Saving Money and More

Posted by singlemom

December 1, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Children love to help mom out in the kitchen when they are young. Fostering this love for kitchen work is a great way to teach children to cook. There are even great vegetarian recipes that the single mom can teach her children to create. Sometimes mom just like to cook by themselves.

There are great spinach and honey recipes that can be created. Apple and chicken recipes are great as well. These ingredients can be used to create frugal meals.

While we are on the topic of food, I would like to share these articles with you:

Fixing School Lunch Programs

National School Lunch Week

Schools/Childcare Homes and Centers: A Great Way to Teach Nutrition

Roadside Selling

Importance of Organic Gardening in Maine

Here is some information about the SNAP program (FoodStamps):

SNAP Has Resources You Will Find Helpful

10 Steps to Help Fill Your Grocery Bag Through SNAP

Food Stamp Use Rises

USDA Thrifty Food Plan

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

I was researching other food help options over the past month:

America’s Second Harvest/Feeding America

Do your parents or grandparents need help with food this winter?

Helpful New Jersey Programs for Seniors

More Seniors Needing Food

Do you think your teens need designer clothing, or do they think they do? Think again. Or get the clothing second hand.

Are you a single mom from Maine? Even if you’re not, you may be interested in:

Housing Extended Family

Smaller Housing, More Land

Working Together: The Multi-Family Garden

Working Together: The Multi-Family Homestead

Taking Care of Our Own

Working Together: Preserving Food

Hope you all have a great week! Feel free to comment on the articles linked to in this post.

Shannon

Twitter @BangorSingleMom

Twittier @ShannonLBuck

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Some articles you may be interested in:

Are You A Single Mother Living In Maine?

Money Problems in Maine

Maine Transportation and Safety, also Environmental Concerns

A Single Mom and an Affordable Thanksgiving

Posted by singlemom

November 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Happy November all! Hope you are all doing well. This month we are all excited about Thanksgiving. It is an exciting time around here.

In order to cut corners, we have decided to purchase a Thanksgiving box from IGA. By doing this, we will save a few dollars on the whole package, though there are a few elements missing like a second pie, a quick bread and eggnog.

This is okay. If my sister and the boys eat with us, they will bring these items. If they don’t, then my daughter and I have decided that they are not truly necessary.

Why are we cutting these corners? Well, we both want to see New Moon at the theater. We are planning to see this just before Thanksgiving. It will be great fun for us.

Shannon

Twitter @BangorSingleMom

Have you read these yet?

Being A Green Role Model

Green School Lunches

Keeping the Single Mom: The Kitchen

Examiner Q & A: Beth K. Vogt, National Parenting Toddlers to Teens Examiner

Fixing School Lunch Programs

National School Lunch Week

Single mom families cooking: Great vegetarian meals for your family

Single mom families cooking: An autumn feast, or just recipes for autumn

It has been such a busy last few weeks, what with work, fun and the college tour. I have been working double time during the week in order to be able to take time off during the weekends.

Weekend #1

I worked ahead all week in preparation for the weekend. My sister, brother-in-law and I took my daughter and her friend to Portland where we took a tour of the University of New England on the Biddeford campus. We then went to the Portland mall. On Sunday, we were able to visit Jo-Jo.

Weekend #2

Another work-ahead week to prepare myself for a weekend with friends. Missy, Dwight and Wyatt and I went to Salem, Mass. for Halloween. We had a great time shopping, participating in a ritual, seeing the sites and stuff. The next day we went to see the homestead of Rebecca nurse. It was a lot of fun.

Weekend #3

Worked extra again, for a third weekend away. While Zowie visited a college friend, I went up north to visit my daughter Skye. She showed me the town, and I was able to meet some of her friends. I stayed at her place. She lives with her boyfriend and his family. I took the bu there, then she and Kevin brought me home. Upon arriving back here, we visited some family and friends that Skye has not seen for a while, then she showed Kevin the family photo albums.

Shannon

Happy Halloween Single Moms

Posted by singlemom

October 31, 2009 | 1 Comment

Happy Halloween to all single moms! I hope you are having fun with your little ones. Did you think to spend some time with your friends celebrating?

I am in Salem, Massachusetts with friends today and tonight, and I will let you know of our adventures after returning home.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Samhain!

Shannon

Single Moms on Vacation!

Posted by singlemom

October 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Hello single moms! I am having a busy time at this point.

Last weekend, My sister, brother-in-law and I took my daughter (Zowie) and her friend (Hanna) to Portland. Our main focus was on the University of New England college tour, which both of the girls loved. I loved it as well. Zowie, going to school for psychology, would get a lot out of that school. And Hanna, going into pharmaceuticals, could get her Chemistry classes in there, as well as do an interesting minor in marine studies which she would love.

I am going away this weekend as well, with friends, for Halloween. My best friend, Missy, and I are taking our friends (Dwight and his partner Wyatt), to Salem Massachusetts for Halloween. We will stay one night and enjoy the festivities. I love Salem, so I know that we will have an enjoyable time. I will let you all know how it goes when I get back.

The next weekend I am going to Fort Kent for two nights to visit my daughter Skye. She turns 20 next week. I will miss her birthday, but will be there the next weekend. We will bake her cake together and have a small celebration with a few people.

I encourage all single moms to take some time to be away from home, for one reason or another. To visit a child. To have fun with friends. To do whatever they want.

Have some fun, and stop worrying and stressing. It is good for your body, soul and mind.

This time will be a true blessing!

Shannon

Halloween Fun for the Single Mom Family

Posted by singlemom

October 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Children love Halloween, and moms love to watch their children having fun. Parents can enjoy the fun with their children by cooking with them and making Halloween related crafts. These types of things build stronger bonds between moms and their children.

My daughters are 17 and 20. Only one lives at home. I will be in Salem, Massachusetts with friends on Halloween, and my 17 year old (Zowie) will be staying home. Her cousin, Zachary (14) will be here with her. They will be keeping the door locked and having a horror movie marathon.

What are your Halloween activities going to consist of? Parties? Haunted Houses? Trick-or-Treating? Let us know in the comments.

Shannon

Twitter: @ShannonLBuck and @BangorSingleMom

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Recent Articles On:

The Green Mom

Winter Herb Garden

Healthier Cat Care

A Greener Cleaning Guide

Bangor Single Moms Examiner

Fixing School Lunch Programs

National School Lunch Week

Single mom families cooking: Great vegetarian meals for your family

Single mom families cooking: An autumn feast, or just recipes for autumn

Single mom families helping others

What a single mom can do when her children bring home too much Halloween candy

Halloween party tips for the single mom family

Single mom families cooking: Great ways to eat spinach

Living the Low-Income Life

Dear Frugal Diary,

Frugal Lifestyles

Three Ways to Save and Sharing

 Pumpkin Puree Instead of Pumpkin in a Can

Buying in Bulk

Create Your Own Price Book

Help Keeping Your Home Simplyfied, Clean and Organized!,

Low-Income – In the News

Frugal Recipes

Crisp Rice Treats Recipe for Halloween and Autumn

Meringues

Halloween Tic-Tac-Toe Brownies

Popcorn Treats

Candy Corn Trail Mix

Spider Web Cake

Popcorn Balls

Chicken and Cheese Roll-Ups

Oregano

White Tea

Baked Apple Chocolate Chip Bars

How to Use Up Apples

How to Use Up Pumpkin

Autumn Popcorn Recipes

Using all of those Pumpkin Seeds

Roasted Pumpkin Seed Flavor Variations

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies

Create Pumpkin Bowls for Soups

Why Use Herbs and Spices in Cooking

How I Afford all of these Herbs and Spices

How I Afford all of these Teas

Turkey and Cheese Roll-Ups

Chamomile

Chamomile Tea

Mainely Thoughts

Roadside Selling

Keeping the Single Mom Home

Tips: Homey Living Room

Master Shopping List

Finishing Up

Shopping!

Energy Efficiency

Needs List

Photo Frames

Letting Go

Tasks by Room

 

Mini Homestead…In A Trailer Park

Brr…Cold

Snow…Brrr

Mini Homestead Happenings for 10/12/2009

Mini Homestead Happenings for 10/11/2009


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