I wanted to stop in and apologize for not being around much this last week. I do appreciate all of my readers! This last week I pulled a muscle in my back which basically set me back in every part of my life. During the adjustments for my back, some other issues arose and now I am recovering from several things, including a pinched nerve!

But I am thankful….

• For the progress I have made
• For my handsome hubs who took care of me
• For ice packs and menthol wipes
• For my friends and family who have cared for me and prayed for me
• For finally being able to sleep through the night

Praying that this week will go smoothly and that my back continues to heal! Have a wonderful week! I will have a new CUPCAKE RECIPE up this week! So just for fun, here is a little showcase of some of my favorite, most requested cupcakes to make you smile :)

All recipes can be found here in my Recipes!

SAMOA DREAM CAKES

OREO STUFFED CUPCAKES

TIE DYE CUPCAKES

CHOCOLATE-CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE CUPCAKES

CHAMPAGNE CUPCAKES WITH RASPBERRY BUTTERCREAM

Blessings to you all!

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There is so much knowledge out there about health that is so, so warped! No wonder Americans struggle with obesity! First of all, we are surrounded (literally) by fast, convenient food. We are so uneducated about health that we just trust what these places are telling us (or don’t think about it to begin with!). They tell us to check out their “healthy side” of their menu which includes salads and wraps that end up having more calories than a burger and fries sometimes – and guess what, we fall for it!

I read this article from Team Beach Body that shares some of the worst for you diet foods; things we believe are going to keep us healthy and losing weight, but really help us pack the lbs back on. It is mind blowing. A few I already recognized but now I wonder what America would be like if we had been educated about this stuff long ago?

Growing up I remember learning the food pyramid but not much more than why vegetables and fruits are healthy for me. They didn’t talk about calories or protein, fiber, good & bad fats, etc. Maybe they should? Another thing my family never had growing up was “portion control.” We all ate until we were full… but as a child, I never understood what being full meant (beside my tummy hurting, which was really being over-full). So for me, I ate because I enjoyed the flavor… and I ate it fast, which is why I never knew I was full until it was too late. I now know that you should eat a 1 serving meal and wait 20 minutes to allow my stomach to recognize that it is satisfied! YAY… something I can definitely teach my children.

Anyhow, I encourage you all to check out the article linked above; whether you are trying to lose weight or just want to be healthy, it is important information to know. Stop leaning on the so-called help from your frequented restaurants and fast food places, because all they really care about it getting your money – not your health!

I hope you all find the article as helpful as I did! And maybe motivating to eat healthier and pay attention to how and what you are eating.

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This week, I wish you a very delicious Christmas! No doubt we all are all breaking out our favorite holiday recipes or even trying new ones!

With the internet the recipe vault is endless! I love it! Each year, I do my best to try something new — this year it was butter toffee using a recipe from Pioneer Women (see post here). Now for some more fun recipes! I decided to make an array of goodies for the ladies in my office to say thanks for all they do and Merry Christmas. Since Martha Stewart provided such adorable treat boxes that I was unable to pas sup over at Joann’s, I needed 4 recipes. Ok, ok so one was store-bought! Sorry, ran out of time over here. The recipes used were Toffee Bars, Peanut Butter & Chocolate Fudge and Easy Turtles (recipe below)! Check it all out…

Want to see inside?! Of course, I wouldn’t leave you hanging!

Nope, couldn’t resist taking more photos! Food (especially sweets) are just way too fun to take photos of! Oh the memories of the delicious flavors!

The “Easy Turtles” were just that! EASY! I laid some wax paper over a cookie sheet, spread out some mini pretzels and topped them with some caramel Hershey’s kisses. These were then placed in the preheated oven at 200 degrees for about 2 minutes; I immediately topped them with some whole pecans and pressed down gently. The best part about these, beside the fact that they really only take 10 minutes TOPS to make, they also settle (in the fridge) in about 5 minutes! Guess what that means…. you can eat them right away! This is a great one to have in your back pocket for any time of year or event!

And now for the cards that will go along with these little gifts…. using the pretty color palette from the The Color Throwdown Challenge!

Thank you for stopping by and I hope that you are enjoying all of your Christmas treats and baking fun this year! Have a blessed Christmas all!

P.S. if you have a favorite Christmas-time recipe that you would like to share, please do so in the comments! I LOVE RECIPES!

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Is it Friday yet???

This week has gone on long enough! I am so ready for it to be Christmas already! Before I hit the sack (wow, that makes me feel old, saying that), I wanted to share my latest card creation. Better get it in the mail soon! Hmmm…. who will the lucky recipient be! ;)

On another note, I also wanted to share a quick Whirley Pop recipe that we had tonight (given to me by my dear friend Jackie!).

Cinnamon Crunch Popcorn

• 2 Tsp. Ground Cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp. Sugar
• 1/4 Tsp. Salt

• 1/2 cup Popcorn Kernels
• 3 Tbsp. Sugar
• 3 Tbsp. Oil

Mix the first three ingredients in a small prep bowl; set aside. Pour remaining three ingredients into the Whirley Pop and stir over a light heat until popping stops. Immediately add the cinnamon mixture to the Whirley Pop (with popcorn still inside) and stir to distribute. Pour the popcorn onto a baking sheet and allow to cool for a couple of minutes before pouring in a bowl or bowls. ENJOY!

This is a sweet treat and it even creates a nice scent throughout the house! …I am thankful for my Whirley Pop…

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