SENIOR LADY COPING WITH CHANGE!

 

https://www.nytimes.com/

I am going to be honest and say it, 

This COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS CHANGED MY LIFE! 

I was adjusting to the "STAY AT HOME" advice from the CDC. I do venture out once a week to run errands and get groceries. I realized that was spending days on end wearing

my drab & faded everyday clothes.

I reserved my worn faded out jeans and tops to wear when I am staying at home. My business casual clothes and dressy clothes were to be worn when I eat 

out at nice restaurants or go to

church. I had stopped wearing 

earrings. My pierced ears were 

about  to CLOSE UP! My lips 

were dry because I wasn't wearing 

my lipstick with moisturizers 

in it. I took a good look at myself 

in the mirror and  I was shocked

 at my appearance. This I don't 

care attitude had crept into

my life, unexpectedly. I realized

I had to do something to boost 

my morale! I started wearing 

lipstick and putting on earrings 

even if I was staying at home! 

I began to wear my business 

casual clothes when I left home 

weekly to run errands or shop 

for groceries. I started wearing

my fancy sundresses on Sunday. 

I got a bright idea and decided that 

I would take a SELFIE on my cell 

phone! I sent the SELFIE to my Senior Lady Facebook Friends. This is was an action swore I would never do.  Now 

most  of my  Senior Lady  friends and 

I exchange Selfies on Sunday

afternoon.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

I even bought some pretty face masks 

to wear when I leave home. My wonderful college roommate even sent me some purple print face masks in the mail. I was so 

delighted that she thought so much of me!

I called her up and thanked her many times!

This really made me feel better. I save the 

generic blue masks for emergencies.

Here are some colorful face masks 

I might buy next time:

https://www.amazon.com/

https://www.hamricks.com/

https://www.amazon.com/

PANDEMIC-KID FRIENDLY MEALS, #1

 

Whimsical cartons

https://www.westrock.com/

Families are spending more

time together than they ever 

have. Multiple closing of

stores and restaurants due to 

Pandemic contributed to this

situation.  Some of the restrictions on stores and restaurants have been lifted now.However, budgets are tight and most children are still at home all day. 

I am sharing the kid-friendly meals

that my boys loved when they were young. These meals can be enjoyed 

by anyone on a budget and want a 

quick meal. A family of four people 

can eat these enjoyable meals.

Sweet & Sour Franks on Rice

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked rice

12 oz jar Sweet & Sour Sauce

16 oz package hot dogs ( any flavor)

One small green bell pepper, diced

One small onion diced

Oil for frying

Directions

Cut hot dogs into thirds.  Fry 

hot dogs, onions, & bell peppers. 

When hot dogs are brown &

veggies tender add the sauce. 

Simmer on medium heat until

sauce is hot & bubbly. 

Serve Sweet & Sour Hot Dogs

over rice.

_____________________________________

Meatball Subs

Ingredients:

14 oz bag frozen cooked Italian meatball

24 oz can Pasta Sauce ( any flavor)

8 oz bag shredded mozzarella cheese

8 count package hot dog buns

Directions:

In a large pot, add meatballs

& pasta sauce. Cook on medium

heat until meatballs are thoroughly heated and sauce is bubbly.

Toast buns. Add three meatballs 

to each bun and cover with sauce. Sprinkle with cheese. 

Serve with chips or side salad.

_______________________________________

Beef-A-Roni

**See note at bottom of recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked macaroni

1 lb ground beef or turkey

1 small bell pepper, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

24-28 oz Pasta Sauce

8 oz bag shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup cooked macaroni

Oil for frying

Directions:

In large skillet, cook ground 

meat, onions, and peppers in 

oil on medium heat. Drain grease

after meat is no longer pink and 

veggies are tender. Stir in sauce 

and macaroni. Mix well. Simmer 

on medium heat until sauce is 

bubbly. Top with cheese. 

Serve with garlic bread 

& side salad.

TiP;

Italian Beef-A-Roni

Add 1 tsp of dried Italian seasoning

or dried basil or dried oregano

Add 8 oz shredded  mozzarella cheese

Mexican Beef-A-Roni

Add 1 tsp taco or chili seasoning mix

Add 8 oz shredded pepper jack or

Monterey jack cheese or Mexican blend cheese

CHILDREN AT HOME; NEW RULES!

https://tenor.com/

I am a widowed Senior Lady with

grown children. However, I do have compassion for parents at home all 

day with children. This Pandemic

has been a true wake up call for many parents. My husband and I  worked a full-time job when my children were young.  We had to adjust to  being 

at home with them all day on the weekends and during family vacations. We had to count to five many times 

to avoid losing our temper.  I can not imagine being at home with children 24 hours a day, 7 days 

a week for 4 months! I hope the parenting methods my

husband and I used will help 

some parents during this Pandemic!

Rules were set for my sons when 

they were home for school vacation.

They had to make up their beds,

and empty the trash before they

could play outside. Our sons had to

take turns washing lunchtime dishes.

My sons were like piranas when 

they were home for school vacation.

These guys would eat every time they

got bored or came in from playing,

Our grocery bill was enormous. My

husband said this was ridiculous

We felt like I needed a cow outback

because a gallon of milk only lasted 

2 days! A 5-pound bag of sugar lasted 

a week. Luncheon/deli meats on lasted

2 days. There were no snacks or beverages left for my husband 

and I to eat.

We had to learn to set limits on their food consumption when they were out of school for the summer. I had to limit their snacks in between meals. They stopped gorging on food when I refused to go  bask to the grocery store a second time. I grocery shopped for the family once a week. They finally learned to make their snacks last all week. They didn't like drinking water when the beverages ran out. They got bored

eating peanut butter sandwiches when their favorite deli meat ran out. 

I made them eat their snacks sitting

at the dinner table. They consumed

too much food if they ate while 

watching TV or playing video games. They only got water to drink 

when they came in from playing 

outside. I recycled the milk jugs 

and kept them filled with cold water. The water quenched their thirst 

better than juice or soda. 

We set their bedtime curfew an hour later. My sons got hungry again if they stayed up past midnight. They could only visit their friends on the weekend since I and my husband worked during the week. We had family night out,

anywhere they chose once a month. 

I'll admit that cell phones and social media were not issues when my

children were  growing up. However, frequent T.V. watching,  frequent 

video game playing, and  movie 

rentals were. Parents from 

every generation had things they

had to monitor for their children.