A definate MUST HAVE in my home

Good Housekeeping~
No, not a rating on my chores:) A wonderful Magazine that brings me comfort in ways that are hard to explain. My Mom used to read Good Housekeeping. She would get this magazine and read it cover to cover. I remember I used to "steal" it away from her and take a peak. She would then save the magazines and have a stack of them that she would go back to again and again. Well, I got married and moved away. I became a Mom and we would talk weekly. She was so full of advise and encouragement. Something all "new" moms and newlyweds seek. And then she passed away when my oldest son was a year old. I felt all this wisdom was gone. I felt very alone.

10 years later:
Now it is me who gets this magazine in the mail monthly. A wonderful treat from none other than my mother~in~law. She makes sure that every year for Christmas that it gets renewed and she makes sure I am receiving it. Now you may wonder where this is going but I will tell you.

Every month when I get an issue of this magazine, I feel as if my Mom is sharing it with me. Just that alone makes this magazine wonderful! But there is so much more. Even without all these wonderful memories, this magazine stands alone. There are so many wonderful articles in it. So many things I look forward to reading. Some of the more simple things~ Beauty tips, diet tips, and how to "firm" your body up, along with losing weight. I enjoy reading these. It makes me feel as if I am not alone~that I am not the only one who suffers from a few extra pounds after having three kids:) This magazine has advice on etiquette and also intimate advice. There is even a household Helpline which gives you helpful tips on such things as household maintenance, and storing your household goods. Then of course you have your recipes. I like to turn to these when I get really bored with hamburger, chicken, and spaghetti. Sometimes I want a switch and I can usually find it here. And the recipes range from simple to complex. I like that. There are some days I want simple. (I have had a hard day~kids screaming, fighting, Calgon take me away day and the last thing I want to do is make dinner.) And, there are days when I would like to go all out. (Valentine's Day, our Anniversary) and the recipes are so well categorized. There is a special spot where it says what the recipes are in that specific issue. And then Of course you have your health articles. I find these great to read. I can usually learn something I didn't know before. Certain diseases, or outbreaks, allergies to certain foods and so on. And most of the time, these articles are full of details, full of knowledge. Oh, of course we have articles on our celebrities. How their love life stays fresh. How they keep their make up looking so wonderful. How they stay youthful. This part of the magazine is fun to read. Entertaining.

But then of course, there are the deep topics also. I really enjoy reading these the most. To read how people go on after horrible things happen. Or Miracle births of children families have so longed for. These stories touch me and I really like that. I have faith that all things happen for a reason. One of the regular articles is called profiles. It shows real people with real problems and how they have helped society from their experience, how they went on after they suffered from some unhappy circumstance. There really is no ONE thing. They are all different and all wonderful. And some very sad!

The one thing that hasn't changed in this magazine. It Has been there since my mother read it and now while I am reading it. "The Better Way." A few yellow pages that you can pull out with valuable information. The financial issues are usually dealt with here. Mortgage information, stocks, checking accounts, how to deal with debt, etc. And yes, this is where you find the reviews on items. (which washer should I buy and why)? My favorite article out of these special pages? That would have to be the recalls. I like reading this to find out exactly what is being recalled. This has been valuable to me. I once had one of the torche lights and the specific one I had was recalled. By reading this magazine it was brought to my attention and quickly remedied.

You know~Actually there is no way I can tell you all the plus's of this magazine. There are just too many to mention and they differ every month. But what I can say is, in my life, Good Housekeeping is a staple. One that brings me the comfort, the wisdom, the knowledge, and all the security that I used to feel when I would watch my mother read it. I hope that one day, my possible "future" daughter ~in ~law can say the same things.

Just pick up an issue, open up a few pages and you will read : " Good Housekeeping, the magazine America trusts" Doesn't that say it all?