Throwback post: Originally posted May 12, 2010. Pictures updated March 8, 2021. The post and buttermilk biscuits recipe remain the same. 

Well, it’s official. That future therapy fund for my kids that I have been contributing to since their birth is definitely going to be used. Ella, my three-year-old, just informed me that I am messing up her life. Yep… at 3, she is already talking like a fifteen-year-old who can’t stand her mom.

Funny thing is, when she told me that I was messing up her life, my imagination immediately pictured her as a teenager (she looked a lot like a gum-chewing Cyndi Lauper). I have a feeling I have interesting several years ahead for me with this one. I think I’ll up the contribution for her therapy fund, pronto….

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These big, fluffy, homemade cinnamon rolls have been a part of our Christmas morning for years and years.

The dough is made in your bread machine, which makes it super easy!

There are just a couple more days until Christmas! This morning, as I sit by the light of the Christmas tree, with presents wrapped (ahead of time, which NEVER happens) I can’t help but feel so grateful for all of the blessings in my life. Our family is healthy, our friends are plenty, and life is just really, really good right now.

I love Christmas, for a multitude of reasons, but mostly because it is a season full of traditions. I love all of the traditions we have developed around Christmas within my own family, like these homemade cinnamon rolls. The traditions have become so important to my kids as well. Like Nick and I, they look forward to the traditions we’ve created as much as we do. It really warms my heart so much….

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If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably witnessed my sheer excitement over my new pie crust recipe and pie making this past week! You see, I have struggled to make a good pie crust for as long as I’ve can remember. Nothing…I mean NOTHING…would get me cursing up a storm like pie crust making. (Ok maybe my supposedly “wireless printer” and the fact that it NEVER works when I need it to gets me cussing more, but pie crust has been a close second!)

That’s why I thought it was rather comical when the folks at Crisco called me to be a part of their Crisco Pie and Baking hotline and blogger team. I literally laughed on the phone and remember saying something like “I can make the insides of pies that are amazing. I can make meringue with perfect peaks. I, for the life of me, cannot make a pie crust!” But then I said… “You know what would be cool? My friend, DeLynn, is a county fair champion pie making expert. She’s been prodding me for years now to let her teach me how to make a great pie! Wouldn’t it be fun to have DeLynn teach us how and then if she’s successful, I could hopefully give hope to the pie crust making hopeless – like me?”

So pie challenged friends, thanks to my friend DeLynn, I am here to give you hope. That pretty pie crust up there? I made it myself. And since learning from DeLynn last week, I’ve made 4 more! I am officially in the it’s “easy as pie” camp, and I think you can be too! …

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 This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to the winner, Renee Simmons!

I’ve been complaining a lot about the weather lately. I mean, do you blame me? Snow in May? That’s a bunch of craziness! I’m so ready for spring like weather… flip flops, warm sunshine, outdoor patio playing, chalk drawing, driving with the windows down and music blaring… all of that. Having my heater on in May is not my idea of spring!…

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This time of year is always overwhelming. I haven’t figured out a way for it not to be, yet. Don’t get me wrong though…I LOVE the holiday season! It’s the time of year where my mind starts racing and I think of tons of things I really want to do with the kids before it slips by.

I decided, much like my 2012 Summer Bucket List, I’d make a similar list for the Christmas / New Years season and then I thought I’d share it with you!

So, without further adieu, here are some of the things I’d like to do with my family this holiday season.

…

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I am happy.

It feels so good to say that. I am happy and that makes me happy.

After a year of ups and downs, worrying, frets and stress it feels so good to be able to say that I really am happy.

Our summer, so far,  has been one of intentional happiness. I purposely didn’t sign my kids up for camps, activities, VBS, etc. this year because I wanted everything we were doing to be exactly what we wanted to do. I didn’t want to be running around, car pooling, feeling regrets because we didn’t have time to do what we wanted to do. We wake up each morning and everything on our agenda is things we want to do, not have to do. I feel kind of selfish, having a carefree summer, but it has been so nice.

I need to start doing my Happiness Reports again, because there are so many things making me happy right now. So many little things I’m taking notice of that bring me joy.

A hot cup of coffee, made for me by my husband…a thoughtful gesture not unnoticed.

A string of white lights, hung in the trees.

Taking pictures, even if it’s of nothing “special”… just getting out my camera and capturing what my life is full of.

Summer breeze, time to read, lazy mornings….

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The post Happiness is a Bowl Full of Cherries {Recipe: Cherry Cream Coffee Cake} appeared first on Dine and Dish.

This week, our first full week of school being out and all four kids home with me, I’ve been relying a lot on those things that save me time and effort. I want to spend as much time with my family as possible while they are home, so I want other things in my life to be simple and stress free.

I thought it might be fun to share some of the things that make my little life tick in better order. Some of these things have to do with blogging, some of them don’t, but either way I hope in someway I am able to help you find a few tools or gadgets to help simplify your life some! In return, I’d love to hear what resources, gadgets, etc. you use to simplify your life!…

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First off, you are welcome for the 1980’s Billy Ocean song reference. So sorry if it is stuck in your head for the rest of the day. It’s quite the catchy little tune, right?

So… pita bread. I love it, don’t you? Do you want to know what I love even more? Homemade pita bread! I just made it for the first time and holy moly, never again will I go back to buying pita bread in the store….

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