July 15, 2010
- ASPS
Dear Mrs. Figgins:
My 14 year old is really into basketball, she’s a freshman
in highschool and she wants to join the team. The only problem is
that she’s been having problems with her chest when she tries to play
and we were told by her doctor that there is no way she can play this
year without a reduction surgery. She has a F cup bust size and she
is eligable for the surgery but I still feel like she is too young
and might regret it later in life. Dispite the pain, she still
practices every day and I would feel so bad telling her no. Any
advice you could give to me would be appreciated.
Thanks
SK
Dear SK:
Breast augmentation – breast reduction – is a major step for most women, and not uncommon in young women. It often plays a very positive role helping boost self-esteem and body image.
Your daughter may benefit greatly from breast reduction.
However, the need for careful screening by a board certified doctor is critical. It is not just the physical examination; it’s also an assessment of patients’ emotional and mental health and stability. Remember the consultation is a 2-way street. You should assess the surgeon to determine whether he or she is competent, caring, and appropriate. And the surgeon assesses the patient for appropriateness for the surgery.
Do your homework!
You should never do surgery — at any age or in any patient — unless the benefits outweigh the risks and the improvement that’s possible is greater than the costs and risks of surgery.
“The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the largest plastic surgery specialty organization in the world. Founded in 1931, the society is composed of board-certified plastic surgeons who perform cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.”
Whether you’re considering cosmetic or reconstructive plastic surgery, you want the skill of an ASPS Member Surgeon—a doctor with more than six years of surgical training and experience, with at least three years specifically in plastic surgery. Their training and experience make them uniquely qualified to perform your cosmetic or reconstructive procedure.”
Mrs. Figgins
Advice & opinion on everyday issues by Mrs Figgins with common sense & good old-fashioned-values!
Children Issues, How To, Love, Relationships, advice
July 5, 2010
- The “Date”
Dear Mrs Figgins:
I’m 35, widowed and no children. I’m going on my first date in five years. He is a friend of friends and by all reports he’s quite a lovely man. I’m excited and a nervous wreck and I would appreciate any advice.
Nervous Nelly in Nevada:
Dear Nervous Nelly:
No need to be nervous. The worst that can happen is that there’s no chemistry.
My advice is keep it light and just be you. You’ll know soon enough if you two “click”.
You just may well end up having a wonderful time, and want an encore.
Good Luck!
Mrs Figgins
Advice & opinion on everyday issues by Mrs Figgins with common sense & good old-fashioned-values!
How To, Love, Relationships, advice
June 30, 2010
-
Character Counts
Dear Mrs Figgins:
I need to break up with my boyfriend so how do I do it? I love him but I don’t want to be with h him anymore.
Melinda, San Antonio
Dear Melinda:
Love is like war – sweet to begin, bitter to end.
And how one ends, is a measure of a person’s character.
Mrs. Figgins
Advice & opinion on everyday issues by Mrs Figgins with common sense & good old-fashioned-values!
How To, Love, Relationships, advice
June 28, 2010
- Different!
Dear Mrs. Figgins:
Why can’t a girl think more like a man? They know nothing about what make a car run. They can’t even change the oil for goodness sake!
Jeremy, Brussels
Dear Jeremy:
It’s true, most girls think in terms of “oil sticks…oil doesn’t stick”. And, that’s the extent of their mechanical interests.
However, wouldn’t it be grand if boys could think like girls “it either gets you there…or it doesn’t”. And, that’s the short answer to most of life’s questions.
Mrs. Figgins
Advice & opinion on everyday issues by Mrs Figgins with common sense & good old-fashioned-values!
How To, Love, Relationships, advice
June 8, 2010
- Give these a try!
Dear Mrs. Figgins:
My wife’s sister Lily has been living with us for going on three years.
I’m fond of the old gal but her constant chatter is enough to send me over the edge. How do I shut her up during the playoff’s?
Jim, Little Rock
Dear Jim.
If you’re real smart – you won’t even try.
By now you’ve learned one undeniable truth: Women love to talk.
As far as women are concerned “silence” is a space to fill, even if they’ve nothing to say. Consider it “decorating”.
By the way, I have a pair of those TV Ears and they work great. So what the heck, give them a try Jim!
Mrs. Figgins
Advice & opinion on everyday issues by Mrs Figgins with common sense & good old-fashioned-values!
How To, Love, Relationships, advice
June 7, 2010
-
In The Dog House!
Dear Mrs. Figgins:
My wife is pregnant with our first child. I love her but she is driving me nuts feeling guilty about every little thing “we” eat or drink – even how she sleeps!
If I don’t chime to make her feel better about her choices, she gets upset because I’m not being sensitive enough.
I’m beginning to decorate the dog house!
How do men get thru this?
George, White Plains
Dear George:
Show me a woman who doesn’t feel guilty and I’ll show you a man.
A mother wants the best for her baby and she is always second guessing her choices. The changes she faces seem endless and overwhelming.
You get “thru this” by by doing everything possible to be sympathetic and empathetic. When you think you’ve done enough - keep going.
Think of it this way: Would you like to change places with your wife?
So shape up George, or back on time-out!
Mrs. Figgins
Advice & opinion on everyday issues by Mrs Figgins with common sense & good old-fashioned-values!
Children Issues, How To, Love, Relationships, advice
May 17, 2010
- Favorite Recipe!
Dear Mrs. Figgins:
My husband’s favorite is the Curried Butternut Squash soup my sister makes.
He’d love it if I made it every week! But with a flock of kids, I barely have time to make a cup of coffee for myself!
It’s terrific and I hope you add it to your recipe box.
Cheryl, Worcester, MA
Dear Cheryl:
Sounds absolutely delicious!
Here it is for everyone to enjoy.
The only thing missing is your cup of coffee!
Mrs. Figgins
- Curried Butternut Squash Soup
Curried Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients:
4 ½ tablespoons butter
2 cups yellow onions, finely chopped
4 teaspoons curry powder
3 pounds butternut squash
2 apples; peeled, cored, and chopped
3 ½ cups chicken stock
1 cup apple juice
Salt and pepper
Optional:
-
crème fraîche for topping
-
You can also substitute the butternut squash with another sweet, orange fleshed squash or pumpkin.
Preparation:
Melt the butter in saucepan. Add chopped onions and curry powder. Cook covered over low heat until onions are tender (about 25 minutes).
Meanwhile, peel the squash ( a regular vegetable peeler works best). Scrape out the seeds and chop. (Note: my sister has 4 kids and is always pressed for time, so she roasts the squash first, scoops out the flesh and adds it to the pot with the rest of the ingredients).
When onions are tender pour in the stock, add squash and apples, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until squash and apples are very tender (about 30 minutes).
Puree soup in the pot with a hand blender or you may blend in a food processor.
Add apple juice.
Add additional stock if needed to reach desired consistency.
Season to taste with salt and pepper, and add a dollop or two of crème fraîche.
About 5-6 portions
Advice & opinion on everyday issues by Mrs Figgins with common sense & good old-fashioned-values!
Favorite Finds, How To, advice
May 8, 2010
- Favorite Recipe!
Dear Mrs. Figgins:
I’d like to share my Aunt Nancy’s famous “Chicken Marbella” recipe.
Our family always look forward to this special lunch several times a year at Aunt Nancy & Uncle Louie’s house.
Please feel free to share it!
Jessica, Norfolk
Dear Jessica:
It sounds absolutely delicious!
No doubt many of us will be trying Aunt Nancy’s recipe soon!
Many Thanks for sharing!
Mrs. Figgins
- Chicken Marbella
Chicken Marbella
Ingredients:
4 chickens, 2 1/2 pounds each, quartered
1 head of garlic, peeled and finely pureed
1/4 cup dried oregano
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 cup pitted prunes
1/2 cup pitted Spanish green olives
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup capers with a bit of juice
6 bay leaves
1 cup brown sugar
1 ¼ cup white wine
½ cup Italian parsley finely chopped (you may substitute with fresh coriander)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl combine:
chicken quarters, garlic, oregano, pepper and coarse salt to taste, vinegar, olive oil, prunes, olives, capers and juice, and bay leaves. Cover and let marinate, refrigerated, overnight.
Place chicken in a single layer in 1- 2 large shallow baking pans. Spoon marinade over chicken evenly. Sprinkle chicken pieces with brown sugar then pour white wine around them.
Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, basting frequently with pan juices.
Chicken is done when thigh pieces, pricked with a fork at their thickest, yield clear yellow (not pink) juice.
With a slotted spoon transfer chicken, prunes, olives and capers to a serving platter.
Moisten with a few spoonfuls of pan juices and sprinkle generously with the fresh parsley or coriander.
Use a sauceboat for the remaining juices in case anyone would like a little extra!
Advice & opinion on everyday issues by Mrs Figgins with common sense & good old-fashioned-values!
Favorite Finds, How To, advice
May 2, 2010
- Favorite Recipe!
Dear Mrs. Figgins:
My grandmother recently passed away. My Mom and I were going thru her papers last week and came across her old recipe box.
A family favorite was Grandma’s Carrot Cake.
I’d like to share my grandmother’s recipe with your readers.
By the way, we think you should start a recipe section and ask your readers to share their favorites!
Olga & Julia, Tampa Florida
Dear Olga & Julia:
The récipe sounds absolutely delicious.
I know several people that will want to try it out right away, beginning with me!
As for your suggestion of a recipe section: I am inviting everyone to share their favorite recipes from family & friends! And, yours will be the first entry.
Mrs. Figgins
Simply Wonderful!
Julia & Olga’s Carrot Cake
Ingredients:
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 ¼ tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups corn oil
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups shelled walnuts, chopped
1 1/2 cups shredded coconut
1 1/2 cups pureed cooked carrots
3/4 cup drained crushed pineapple
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting top
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350F. Grease two 9-inch springform pans.
Sift flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and cinnamon into a bowl. Add oil, eggs and vanilla. Beat well. Fold in walnuts, coconut, carrots and pineapple.
Divide batter between prepared pans and smooth tops with a rubber spatula.
Set on the middle rack of the oven and bake until edges have pulled away from sides and a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean, about 50 minutes.
Cool 15 minutes, then remove sides of pans and place layers still on pan bottoms on cake racks to cool completely, which usually takes about 2-3 hours.
Gently remove layers from pan bottoms and use Cream Cheese Frosting to fill cake and frost the sides. Dust top of cake with confectioners’ sugar.
Serves 10 good eaters!
Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
3 cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted
2 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
In a mixer, cream together cream cheese and butter
Slowly add confectioner’s sugar and continue to beat until fully incorporated.
Make sure that mixture is free of lumps!
Advice & opinion on everyday issues by Mrs Figgins with common sense & good old-fashioned-values!
Favorite Finds, How To, Relationships, advice
May 1, 2010
- Keeping The Peace
Dear Mrs. Figgins:
I am very angry with my neighbor. I thought we are “friendly” but boy not anymore. It’s war.
My kids have friends over on most weekends. They play their music like all kids do. OK, it’s not my kind of music but I figure it’s best to have them at home than out somewhere.
Last Friday night the police showed up and asked the kids to turn off the music or go inside the house to listen to it. This is our house. It’s Friday night for goodness sake. What’s wrong with people now days?
Why didn’t they talk to us first?
What should I say to him?
Terry,
Dear Terry:
My advice is that your “kids” say “I’m sorry we disturbed you and your family last Friday. Please let us know next time so we can correct the problem before the police is called”.
It’s obvious your neighbors don’t want a confrontation. And yes, everyone would have been better served had the neighbors knocked on your door and asked for the music to be turned down. Fortunately, the police coming to your house on a noise complaint won’t damage anyone’s record. I don’t know the history with your neighbor. Do you know if your neighbor has sleeping issues, or health problems? Isn’t their time as important as your kid’s time?
More important, this is a “teachable moment” Terry. It is a great opportunity for your kids to learn responsibility, and that life has “boundaries”. Their good time should not be at other’s expense. “War” is not the answer.
It sounds like a good lesson for everyone.
Mrs. Figgins
Advice & opinion on everyday issues by Mrs Figgins with common sense & good old-fashioned-values!
How To, Relationships, advice
