You Gotta Have #Friends

You definitely gotta have friends!

Liz & Me are great friends who can relate to writing and boys!!

I've been a little down recently with my boys going away -- off on their own again. And I've also been feeling sympathy break-up pains... love stinks! yeah, yeah. So when a friend I haven't talked to in years texted me the other day and requested to buy 2 of my books, it really perked me up. God knew I needed to hear some encouraging words. Instantly, my cloud of self-pity and sadness was lifted.

my awesome friend I haven't see in 9 years!

This is the Barbie I customized for her -- a "mini me" Barbie!

and this is how she posed it when she moved -- haha!
I love and miss my friend!!

There's nothing like a text or call from a friend. Whether far or near, out of the blue or tried and true--kind words from a friend are an instant pick-me-up!

So spread a bit of good news, send a far away friend a funny picture, or invite a closer friend out to lunch or coffee. We could all use a little friendly conversation, any time!

Bowling anyone?

This third blog post is supposed to be about something fun or crafty. I’m afraid my only craft is cooking. Ask me anything you like about that and I mostly will have an answer.

I have never been an exercise freak or a sports buff although these days we go 5 pin bowling twice a week and love it. Canada is the only country where 5 pin bowling is played, it was invented by a Canadian just over 100 years ago although I understand his original version was a lot harder to play. Glad it has been simplified. My scores are bad enough as it is.

Being a senior, I also go to the exercise classes which are held in our building 3 times a week. I only go twice because one class clashes with bowling – can’t miss that. Not that I am any chicken, but it is incredible to see 90-year-olds doing exercises or bowling. The oldest bowler I ever met was 97. However, that was her last year. When she died she was bowling twice a week, drove her own car, played ping pong and did line dancing. I should be so lucky. One morning she didn’t wake up. Best way to go.

One thing we do like to do is have friends over for dinner when we (mostly I) cook up a storm. I used to do a lot more like printing fancy menus for my guests.  Haven’t done that for a while now. I used to belong to an online cookery group too, where we swapped recipes. I was very lucky to be able to meet many of them at a lunch in England when we went back for a visit.


I thoroughly enjoyed reading every word of Jo's posts and getting to know her better! Just hearing how pleasant life is for her gives me hope. And I agree, cooking and baking isn't what it used to be. But I know many who love the craft. Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Jo and keep bowling!

Jo Wake has been happily married for almost 44 years, originally from the UK, living in Canada now. She's interested in cooking, reading and wildlife conservation.

Her blog is "Jo on Food, Life and a Scent of Chocolate" When she first signed up with blogger, they would not accept her last name for some reason, so she used a family name.

If you need any more info about Jo, a friend wrote a blog post about her some time ago. Although it claims she's interested in gardening, she's not really. She likes to look at gardens, that’s all.

This is Strength

A few months back, a neighbor of mine was talking about her job as a personal trainer. She said something I’ll never forget: Beauty is not a flat stomach. It’s not smooth skin or great hair or a perfect figure. Beauty is strength.

I’ve never considered myself a courageous person. I sit on the edge of fear most of the time. No scary movies, no haunted houses… even doing everyday things like driving down a busy road or walking to the park scares me. But courage, and strength, can manifest itself in many different ways.

I have no qualms about telling people exactly how much I weigh. (292.6, for curious minds.) I don’t worry about sharing my pant size. (22) I make jokes often about how I dye my hair blonde to hide the many (MANY) gray hairs that have popped up, starting at age 26. The reason? It took me a long time to understand it, but sharing those things help. Not just me, but so many others.

When I decided on healthier and happier habits, I noticed that I often got discouraged by weight loss stories. All I saw were numbers. “Go from a size 16 to a size 8!” “She lost over 50 pounds in 6 months!” Numbers were my enemy. Numbers do not a beauty make.

So my number (292.6) means nothing to me. My size (22)? Nothing. You know what means something?

My smile.

(Oh, there it is ;) )

My relationships.

My strength.

For those of you who’ve read my entire week, first, thank you. And second, find those things that bring you happiness, that bring you joy, and that keep you strong.


Hugs and Love,
Cassie Mae

Cassie Mae is the author of a few hundred… okay, maybe not that many… books. Some of which became popular for their quirky titles, characters, and stories. She likes writing about nerds, geeks, the awkward, the fluffy, the short, the shy, the loud, the fun.

Along with writing, Cassie likes to binge watch Once Upon A Time and The Flash. She can quote Harry Potter lines quick as a whip. And she likes kissing her hubby, but only if his facial hair is trimmed. She also likes cheesecake to a very obsessive degree.

You can stalk, talk, or send pictures of Luke Bryan to her on her Facebook page

Thanks again, Cassie for sharing your journey to happiness, joy, and strength! You're a beautiful example!!

The Really Real Housewives of America

Hello mult-tasking, multi-talented, multi-faceted friends!

We are the Really Real Housewives of America, Liz, Tara, and Beth. We are ready to share tips, listen to you vent, answer questions, and have fun doing it!

New definition:
Housewives are working women, they are married to their home because they love and take care of it and everyone who lives there!

So why should you pay any attention to what we have to say? Shrewd question. I like you already! Well, here's a brief intro to each of us girls. We're not only gorgeous, entertaining, and full of on-the-job advice, we're also knowledgeable and experienced! I know you'll find ways you can relate to one or all three of us.

Liz Seckman - The Creative Housewife

Liz (AKA Elizabeth Seckman- Author of women’s fiction and daydreamer of all things not related to housekeeping) is a busy mom of four boys- who are too quickly becoming men! They range in age from 21 years to 15, so she considers herself a seasoned pro since two of her offspring have reached adulthood with only a few scars and no criminal records.

Liz is a former social worker with a degree from Marshall University in Counseling and Rehabilitation. She was born in Ohio, but moved to West Virginia before she was a month old, so she’s been a Mountaineer most of her life. She’s The Creative Housewife- not because she’s overly crafty, but because she devotes a lot of creative energy to figuring out how to work less and play more.

You can check out Liz's books on her blog.


Tara Tyler Robinson - The Lazy Housewife

Tara is constantly picking up after her three active, stinky boys ages 12, 15, and 16. She's not afraid of the boos and hisses she hears when she tells people she's a math teacher. And in her spare time she does what she loves the most, (besides spending time with family) she writes as a published author (see Tara's blog for info on her books)

This adventurous woman has lived all over the US. From Plymouth, Mass to West Palm Beach, Florida. From Arkansas to Atlanta and South Carolina to Detroit, finally taking root in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her other title is The Lazy Housewife, posting tons of tips and articles on how to economize time and money to enjoy the more important parts of life. Down with chores!


Beth Fred - The Sassy Housewife

Meet Beth Fred! That's me! I'm keeper of the ELF, a writer, and a writing instructor/teacher.  I like my tea hot, my romance sweet, and my guys chivalrous. Real men hold open doors, refer to you as ma'am, make promises they keep, and aren't afraid to profess their undying love. It's not breakfast if there aren't carbs (at least, not in the South). Fajitas, carnitas, and churros are just few of my favorite things. Bet you can't guess where I'm from ;) To learn more about Beth Fred and her books, check out her website.