From time to time, Rosies features a guest blogger. Below is a post by Nicky Warner. Nicky frequently contributes to blogs, specifically ones about womens workwear.If you would like to contribute to Rosies blog, please let us know.

During the 1940’s, the Second World War revolutionised the role of women in the workplace as former housewives took up positions in munitions factories, exchanging seamed stockings for industrial workwear clothing and replacing their high heels with a sturdy pair of protective boots. The working woman grew to be represented by the iconic image of Rosie the Riveter, the famous lady in protective workwear and a bandanna who proclaims “We Can Do It!”

While some women returned to their old way of life at the end of the war, the era paved the way for those who weren’t afraid to roll up the sleeves of their workwear uniforms and get their hands dirty. Since then, countless women have stepped into mens work boots to continue Rosie’s legacy.

While working in a wartime factory must have been a trying and tiring experience, many women today find fulfilment in  jobs that were first considered to be traditionally male occupations. Real-life Rosies are everywhere; they strut proudly in their workwear trousers and heavy boots, embodying the spirit of that cultural icon who effortlessly combined mascara and red lipstick with denim workwear overalls and toned biceps. Women in workwear scale construction scaffolding, brandish welding tools and emerge from under the bonnets of newly-repaired cars with grease-smeared, smiling faces. Even ladies who prefer a less physical occupation will don workwear overalls to tend to their gardens, paint their homes or tackle DIY renovation projects. All are labors of love.

The reward of hard work and fully throwing yourself into a physically demanding project is undeniable. And of course, every hard-working lady wants to look her best while going about her day. Womens workwear design has come a long way since the 40’s, and ladies in stylish, feminine workwear are a common sight.

What is your labour of love? Are you a welder or mechanic, or do you slip into your workwear clothes to enjoy a day of gardening? Share your story with Rosies and tell us what tasks bring joy to your day!

Rosies are known for their can do attitude. We won’t let a little heat get us down. Attached is a YouTube video of how to make your own air conditioner. Should be fun for us mechanically inclined Rosies. Let us know how it worked for you?

Rosie O’Donnell, famous actress and radio show host, talked about her love for her Rosies overalls on her radio show on April 5^th. In case you missed it, see Rosie O’Donnell’s blog post about her overalls below.

Sharon Moore, the founder of Rosies Workwear for Women, was on Daily Grommet this week. Rosies overalls were selected as the featured product! The video below from Daily Grommet shows Sharon explaining how she came up with the idea for Rosies and what makes Rosies overalls so special.

In celebration of the official start of spring last week, we thought we would share some of our favorite recipes for the warming weather. What are your favorite spring recipes? Please click ‘comments’ below to share!

Lavender Honey Lemonade

From Mother Earth News

Ingredients:
1 cup honey
5 cups water
1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender (or 1/4 cup fresh lavender blossoms)
1 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice, strained
Ice cubes
Lavender sprigs for garnish

Directions:
Combine honey with 2 1/2 cups water in a medium pan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the honey.

Add the lavender to the honey water, cover, and remove from heat. Let stand at least 20 minutes (and up to several hours).

Strain mixture and discard lavender. Pour infusion into a glass pitcher. Add lemon juice and another 2 1/2 cups of cold water. Stir well.

Refrigerate until ready to use, or pour into tall glasses half-filled with ice, then garnish with lavender sprigs.

Tangerine-Glazed Easter Ham with Baby Carrots

From Food Network

Ingredients:

1 (8 to 10-pound) smoked ham, bone-in, skin on

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 bunch fresh sage leaves

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut in chunks

2 tangerines, sliced thin, seeds removed

2 cups tangerine juice

2 cups light brown sugar, packed

1 cup water

1/4 teaspoon whole cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

11/2 pounds carrots, peeled

 

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

Put the ham in a large roasting pan, fat-side up. Using a sharp knife, score the ham with cuts across the skin, about 2-inches apart and 1/2-inch deep. Cut diagonally down the slashes to form a diamond pattern; season the meat generously with salt and pepper. Chop about 8 of the sage leaves and put it in a bowl; mix with the oil to make a paste. Rub the sage-oil all over the ham, being sure to get the flavor into all the slits. Bake the ham for 2 hours. Now there is plenty of time to bang-out the tangerine glaze.

For the glaze: Place a saucepan over medium heat. Add the chunks of butter, tangerines, tangerine juice, brown sugar, water, and spices. Slowly cook the liquid down to a syrupy glaze; this should take about 30 to 40 minutes.

After the ham has being going for a couple of hours, pour the tangerine glaze all over it, with the pieces of fruit and all. Scatter the remaining sage leaves on top and stick the ham back in the oven and continue to cook for 11/2 hours, basting with the juices every 30 minutes.

Scatter the carrots around the ham and coat in the tangerine glaze. Stick the ham once again back in the oven and cook for a final 30 minutes, until the carrots are tender, the ham is dark and crispy, and the whole thing is glistening with a sugary glaze.

Set the ham on a cutting board to rest before carving. Serve the carrots and tangerine glaze on the side.

Granita ( Italian Strawberry Ice)

From Mother Earth News

Ingredients:
1 cup hot water
3/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
3 cups sliced strawberries, plus additional berries for garnish

Instructions:
Mix hot water, sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl until sugar dissolves. Blend 3 cups strawberries in processor or blender until smooth. Add sugar syrup and blend until combined. Pour mixture into 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Freeze for about 25 minutes or until icy around edges. Using fork, pull icy portions into middle of pan. Repeat this step every 20 minutes until all the liquid is frozen into flaky, loose crystals. Cover and freeze. When ready to serve, use fork again to scrape crystals into bowls and garnish with berries. Serves about 6.

Dare to Repair, Replace & Renovate is the sequel to Dare to Repair, the national bestselling home repair book for women. In the first book they taught you how to fix a leaky faucet. In this book they teach you how to replace it. In the first book they showed you how to change the direction of ceiling fan blades. In this book they show you how to install a new fan. They’ve gone from basic repairs to easy projects that can make your home more comfortable, more beautiful, and more valuable. Click here for more details.

Dare to Repair Your Car is a basic car care and safety book written by women for women … and men, and new teen drivers, and senior drivers and anyone who dares to drive a car. Dare to Repair Your Car will help you shift gears and get you moving in the direction of maintaining your car — yourself. Everything from changing a flat tire, to jumpstarting a battery and maintaining fluids is covered with easy-to-follow instructions and detailed illustrations. Click here for more details.

Get prepared for your spring projects with our Rosies Spring Grab Bag! They also make the perfect gift for the ‘Rosies’ in your life. Bag includes:

* Rosies tan overall (in size you choose)
* Rosies white tank top (in size you choose)
* “Made From Scratch” book
* Floral pattern work gloves

And it all comes in a stylish, durable Rosies canvas bag for only $110.00 (plus tax and shipping). Click here for more information.

Hi Rosies,

Grace won not only the 4 dog pro but the 6 dog pro as well with her sled skills, and Lily who is only 13, battled her out in the 4 dog pro and snuck into 2nd. Lily also won the junior Yukon, which consists of a mass start of dog-less drivers, who race back to their truck, harness up dogs, and whoever makes it to the start chute first gets to go out first!

Now the kennel is in spring mode, resting through mud season, then doing a few canicross races later on.

Many thanks again for your support!!

Best wishes,

Diane