Our Good Life: November 2018

Posted by Terri Steffes / 16 November 2018 / gift guide

Gift Ideas for Someone Who Needs to Let Their Hair Down

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<a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-gray-cardigan-giving-white-gift-box-1261373/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Image Source</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The festive season is fast approaching and if you haven’t started planning gifts for your loved ones, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">then now is the time to get started! Sure, it may seem a little early on. But trust us, getting started sooner rather than later can save you a whole lot of stress, time, and money. Creating a list of all of the people you intend to buy for, alongside ideas of what to purchase for them, means that you can start shopping early. This allows you to keep an eye out for sales, special offers, and deals. It also means that you can purchase goods before they sell out in the Christmas rush! Now, many of us can struggle when it comes to choosing the perfect gift for people. But a good concept to follow is buying people something that they will thoroughly enjoy, but that they might not purchase for themselves. This means that they gain a real treat or can indulge in a novelty rather than a necessity for once! If you have someone on your list who is a real </span><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/mind-over-money/201307/are-you-workaholic" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">workaholic</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and who never stops to take a moment for themselves, here are a few perfect gift ideas that could bring a genuine smile to their face!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A Spa Gift Basket</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Busy people with hectic schedules could definitely benefit from a spa day. But it will probably prove awkward booking a day at the spa for them. Their calendar might not have any free spots for the foreseeable future and you’d probably have to ruin the surprise in order to find out when they will and will not be free. Instead, why not allow them to pamper themselves at home with a deluxe </span><a href="http://www.withouraloha.com/shop/deluxe-spa-gift-basket/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">spa gift basket</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. This will give them everything that they need to have a comforting self-care night in in the comfort of their own home. From products to use on their hair and skin to a relaxing candle that can be lit to create a calm and soothing atmosphere!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An App Subscription</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Never underestimate the benefits of meditation and mindfulness. When practiced properly, they can provide even the most stressed and busy individual with a few moment of calm and relaxation on a daily basis. The problem? Busy people don’t tend to want to commit an evening of their week to attending a meditation or mindfulness class. Your gift could provide them with the perfect solution to this! There are plenty of apps out there that can be used to learn meditation and mindfulness wherever the user may be - whether they are at home before or after work, taking their lunch break in a quiet room, or elsewhere. Perhaps the most popular app subscription service in this area is offered by “</span><a href="https://www.headspace.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Headspace</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”. It will guide the person you are gifting through every step of the process, releasing stress and comforting them as they go along.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These are just a couple of different gift ideas for the stressed and overwhelmed person on your Christmas gift list. They could prove an absolute hit!</span></span></div>

Gift Ideas for Someone Who Needs to Let Their Hair Down

Image Source The festive season is fast approaching and if you haven’t started planning gifts for your loved ones, then now is the tim...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 15 November 2018 / home decor

Things to Consider When Buying an Older Home

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<a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/architecture-building-driveway-entrance-259685/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Image Credit</span></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Older properties are often full of character and charm, and if you’re really lucky, you’ll find one that holds some historical significance. However, as great and beautiful as older properties can be, they can come with not so desirable quirks that you may want to take into consideration before making the leap, because, depending on what issues a house has, it could impact things like when you’re able to live there, and how much money you’ll have to spend on things like renovations.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Below we’ve included a list of things you should consider before buying an older home so that you can focus on </span><a href="https://www.terristeffes.com/2018/09/a-guide-for-enjoying-palm-springs.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">enjoying</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> it as much as possible.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Issues with Asbestos or toxic paint:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whilst asbestos certainly served a purpose when it was first introduced to the building trade, it’s extremely dangerous to health and has been directly for countless deaths, so it’s not something to be taken lightly at all and needs to be handled by a professional company that specializes in the safe removal of asbestos.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many older homes have asbestos, and although it may not be problematic if it’s left undisturbed, if you’re planning to carry out any renovations at all, then you should get the property checked over for asbestos first and have that removed before touching anything.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another issue that older houses may deal with is toxic lead paints that were quite commonly used in the 1970s, and especially if you have young and growing children living at the property, then this is something you’ll need to get checked and deal with promptly - not just because of the associated health risks, but because it’s also the </span><a href="https://www.epa.gov/lead/real-estate-disclosure" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">law</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> if you have children below a certain age in the house.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Foundational or structural problems:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although older properties are not necessarily poorly built - in fact many of them were built to a far higher standard and were more robust than a lot of today’s modern properties. However, as with everything, buildings deteriorate over time due to general ageing and climate, so depending on when the property was built and how well it’s been maintained and cared for over the years, then you may have to get some advice to make sure the property is structurally sound and safe to live in or if there’s further restoration work that needs to be carried out on the foundation and structure of the property.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Outdated electricals or wiring:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In older properties, a lot of the internal wiring and electrical systems could potentially be quite outdated and in need of some safety checks as well as upgrading. Old or faulty electrics aren’t just a health and safety risk that could cause fires, electrocute you or cause breakage of appliances, but they can also rack up the costs of your monthly electric bill since they’re not going to offer much in the way of energy efficiency like you would find today.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Roofing or plumbing issues:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As with the structural issues that many older properties face, plumbing and roofs can often pose a bit of a problem - especially if they haven’t been updated in a long time or well maintained over the years. Problems with the roof can obviously mean that the house will feel more cold during the winter, and perhaps not able to be cool enough in summer. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Plumbing issues may be with things like old pipes that need replaced or poor water pressure. These issues, depending on how severe they are, can also cost quite a lot of money to fix.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Infestation or pest issues:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of course issues with insect or pest infestations certainly isn’t exclusive to older properties, and can really happen within any property, but older houses are more vulnerable to certain infestations, so if you’re considering buying an older property it’s always recommended to get the place checked over by a professional </span><a href="https://www.abchomeandcommercial.com/orlando" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pest Control</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> company before moving in so that there’s less disruption to your life as opposed to doing it after you’ve been living there for a while. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Professionals focused in this area will also be able to give you tips and strategies to help prevent further infestations.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Higher costs:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Older properties, although possibly cheaper to buy, may actually be more expensive to run - especially when it comes to things like energy, water and other utility costs. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They’ll also be far less energy-efficient than their modern counterparts, which can not only boost your monthly costs, but doesn’t exactly do the environment any favors, either. So, having the place checked out and seeing what changes can be made before moving in is always a good idea as this will save you a good bit of money, time, and hassle later down the road.</span></span><br />
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I grew up in an older home (built in 1899) and experienced first hand all of these issues with older homes. For me, it is the charm of the older home that is so appealing!</div>

Things to Consider When Buying an Older Home

Image Credit Older properties are often full of character and charm, and if you’re really lucky, you’ll find one that holds some hist...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 14 November 2018 / sides

Savory Bread Pudding with Onion and Rosemary #HolidaySideDishes

My holiday side dish for today's event is our favorite.  My daughter had savory bread pudding at a restaurant we went to recently and has been asking me to make it.  Her dish was delicious and I was a bit nervous to tackle something that was so good.<br />
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Looking at my favorite bread pudding recipe, I knew I had to take out the "sweet" and replace it with savory items. My daughter loves rosemary and onion so I knew that would be a good flavor profile to try. I did a bit of research on savory bread pudding and came up with this one to try.<br />
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<span class="yield" itemprop="recipeYield"><strong>Yield: </strong>9</span><span class="author" itemprop="author"><strong>Author: </strong>Terri Steffes</span><button class="printbutton" id="printbutton" onclick="this.parentElement.querySelector(".print-options").className="print-options show-print-options"" type="button">Print Recipe</button><br />
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Savory Bread Pudding</h3>
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<span class="prepTime" content="PT20M" itemprop="prepTime">prep time: 20 mins</span><span class="cookTime" content="PT1H" itemprop="cookTime">cook time: 1 hour</span><span class="totalTime" content="PT1H20M" itemprop="totalTime">total time: 1 hours and 20 mins</span></div>
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A beautiful dish to serve with poultry and roast beef.</div>
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ingredients:</h3>
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4 c torn bread (I used a French baguette)<br />
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2 c cream</div>
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1 c water</div>
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3 T chopped fresh rosemary</div>
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1 medium onion chopped</div>
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6 eggs</div>
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2 T olive oil</div>
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1 c shredded white cheese of choice</div>
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instructions:</h3>
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Preheat oven to 350.   In a large skillet, heat the olive oil.  Add onion and rosemary. Cook until onions are translucent and rosemary is fragrant.  Add bread and toss until coated lightly.  Pour the bread mixture into a greased 9 by 9 inch pan.  Sprinkle half the cheese on the bread mixture and toss.  In a large bowl, pour in cream, water and the six eggs. Whisk until all in incorporated. Pour egg mixture over all.  Dunk all bread into the egg mixture. Sprinkle on the rest of the cheese.  Bake for 1 hour, testing with a knife inserted in the middle. It should come out clean.  Remove from oven when done and let cool slightly before cutting.</div>
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</div>
<div class="nutrition-info" itemprop="nutrition" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/NutritionInformation">
<div itemprop="calories">
calories<br />
392</div>
<div itemprop="fatContent">
fat (grams)<br />
10</div>
<div itemprop="saturatedFatContent">
sat. fat (grams)<br />
3</div>
<div itemprop="carbohydrateContent">
carbs (grams)<br />
60</div>
<div>
net carbs<br />
57</div>
<div itemprop="proteinContent">
protein (grams)<br />
17</div>
<div itemprop="sugarContent">
sugar (grams)<br />
4</div>
</div>
<div class="recipe-credit">
Created using <a href="https://www.recipesgenerator.com/" target="_blank">The Recipes Generator</a><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JMFDIkag6uk/W-nySgwkGgI/AAAAAAAAtxI/0M0zW0s2NA0dKqtkFV9eIGNhj6t5WltOACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2245.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="853" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JMFDIkag6uk/W-nySgwkGgI/AAAAAAAAtxI/0M0zW0s2NA0dKqtkFV9eIGNhj6t5WltOACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2245.PNG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Check out all the Holiday Side Dish Recipes:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://sweetbeginningsblog.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Autumn Orzo Salad </a>from Sweet Beginnings</li>
<li><a href="https://www.theanthonykitchen.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Broccoli and Rice Casserole</a> from The Anthony Kitchen</li>
<li><a href="https://familyaroundthetable.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes </a>from Family Around the Table</li>
<li><a href="https://www.everydayeileen.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes</a> from Everyday Eileen</li>
<li><a href="https://houseofnasheats.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Collard Greens</a> from House of Nash Eats</li>
<li><a href="https://jolenesrecipejournal.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Company Rice</a> from Jolene's Recipe Journal</li>
<li><a href="http://www.cindysrecipesandwritings.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Dilly Carrots </a>from Cindy's Recipes and Writings</li>
<li><a href="http://www.wendyweekendgourmet.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">French Onion Pull-Apart Rolls</a> from The Weekend Gourmet</li>
<li><a href="https://culinary-adventures-with-cam.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Grilled Mushroom Skewers</a> from Culinary Adventures with Camilla</li>
<li><a href="https://carolinescooking.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Hasselback Sweet Potatoes </a>from Caroline's Cooking</li>
<li><a href="https://www.karenskitchenstories.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Make Ahead Turkey Gravy </a>from Karen's Kitchen Stories</li>
<li><a href="http://faithhopeloveandlucksurvivedespiteawhiskeredaccomplice.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Maple Chipotle Hasselback Butternut Squash</a> from <span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":[null,0],"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice"}">Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice</span></li>
<li><a href="https://cookaholicwife.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Mashed Potatoes for a Crowd</a> from Cookaholic Wife</li>
<li><a href="https://adayinthelifeonthefarm.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Roasted Beet and Citrus Salad</a> from A Day in the Life on the Farm</li>
<li><a href="https://www.terristeffes.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Savory Onion and Bacon Bread Pudding</a> from Our Good Life</li>
<li><a href="https://www.thetipgarden.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Slow Cooker Glazed Green Beans with Bacon</a> from Tip Garden</li>
<li><a href="https://palatablepastime.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sweet Corn Cake </a>from Palatable Pastime</li>
<li><a href="https://www.dailydishrecipes.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sweet Skillet Cornbread </a>from Daily Dish Recipes</li>
<li><a href="https://www.thebakingfairy.net/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Vegan Creamed Greens</a> from The Baking Fairy</li>
</ul>

Savory Bread Pudding with Onion and Rosemary #HolidaySideDishes

My holiday side dish for today's event is our favorite. My daughter had savory bread pudding at a restaurant we went to recently and ha...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 13 November 2018 / #ourgoodlifebooklist

The Girls at 17 Swann Street #ourgoodlifebooklist

<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I was given this book to read in exchange for my honest review.</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nQwZznejVTk/W-cnzGkzQDI/AAAAAAAAtu0/bsn8eIoVsfIXSs9uuRrGG2zblPIU_UvtwCLcBGAs/s1600/TheGirlsat17.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="252" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nQwZznejVTk/W-cnzGkzQDI/AAAAAAAAtu0/bsn8eIoVsfIXSs9uuRrGG2zblPIU_UvtwCLcBGAs/s320/TheGirlsat17.PNG" width="209" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Publishing Date:  February, 2019</i></span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>From the Publisher:</i></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Yara Zgheib’s poetic and poignant debut novel is a haunting portrait of a young woman’s struggle with anorexia on an intimate journey to reclaim her life. </i><br />
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<b></b><i>The chocolate went first, then the cheese, the fries, the ice cream. The bread was more difficult, but if she could just lose a little more weight, perhaps she would make the soloists’ list. Perhaps if she were lighter, danced better, tried harder, she would be good enough. Perhaps if she just ran for one more mile, lost just one more pound.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anna Roux was a professional dancer who followed the man of her dreams from Paris to Missouri. There, alone with her biggest fears – imperfection, failure, loneliness – she spirals down anorexia and depression till she weighs a mere eighty-eight pounds. Forced to seek treatment, she is admitted as a patient at 17 Swann Street, a peach pink house where pale, fragile women with life-threatening eating disorders live. Women like Emm, the veteran; quiet Valerie; Julia, always hungry. Together, they must fight their diseases and face six meals a day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Every bite causes anxiety. Every flavor induces guilt. And every step Anna takes toward recovery will require strength, endurance, and the support of the girls at 17 Swann Street.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am one of those people who doesn't have any friends that have suffered from anorexia, and therefore had no basis for understanding what it is.  In this book, Anna becomes my friend, and I learn firsthand what it is like with this terrible disease.  Anna and the residents at 17 Swann Street allow me to see their pain through the eyes of a sufferer. I was there, I know what happened. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Set in Missouri, I was intrigued by the thought that perhaps there is such a home here in my state. I would love to know but I believe there are rules against things like that. When I was going through treatment for breast cancer, I was showered with all kinds of support and love.  Some groups made throws, painted rocks, sent cards, and knit socks for our cold feet. Do the women in these centers have that kind of support? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This book inspired me to look beyond the body, beyond the mental issues surrounding this disease, into the hearts, souls, and minds of the women with anorexia.  </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As to the craft of the author, I am reminded of a dream-like, foggy background like in She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. In this case, we see the world through the mind of Anna, who because of her disease, has a cloudy memory. We have to dig to find out what is happening that is real.  I also was brought in by the author allowing the caregivers to show their pain as well. It was real and painful. </span></div>
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Even though this is heavy stuff, I highly recommend this book.  I believe a book club could find lots of ways to discuss this book and get down to some real understanding of the life of a woman with anorexia.</div>
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If you like this review and wish to read this book, I would appreciate it if you would order it from here. I make a small commission which helps this blog stay open! Thanks!</div>
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The Girls at 17 Swann Street #ourgoodlifebooklist

I was given this book to read in exchange for my honest review. Publishing Date: February, 2019 From the Publisher: Yara Zgh...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 12 November 2018 / breads

Skillet Cornbread with Bacon, Onion, and Cheddar #holidaysidedish

<span id="docs-internal-guid-2d6fb3f7-7fff-6880-d6d4-60305e10dd11"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Welcome to Holiday Side Dish Week!    We will be posting on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday this week so make sure you come back all four days to enjoy the delicious holiday side dish recipes shared by nineteen amazing bloggers!  There’s quite a variety of recipes and you can be sure to find something yummy to add to your holiday table.</span></span><br />
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Of all the things, Thanksgiving side dishes are my favorite. I generally get one serving of turkey, but then I load up on Thanksgiving side dishes.  My favorites are noodles, mashed potatoes and gravy, dressing, any kind of Brussels Sprouts, and anything that is at our table for the first time. Then I did in.<br />
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My sister makes homemade rolls every year. She uses my grandmother's recipe, so nothing will ever top that bread on our table. This Skillet Corn Bread with Bacon, Onion, and Cheddar might raise some eyebrows, though. I use a sweet cornbread mix as the base and then, lord help me, I add bacon and cheese. Then onion, sauteed in butter.  It's Thanksgiving after all.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vS-vvc025qM/W-cifnDEVMI/AAAAAAAAtuo/fCWv8dl-cJM92ORzyzqkAQODl7xhNcQfwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Skillet Cornbread with Bacon, Onion, and Cheddar" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vS-vvc025qM/W-cifnDEVMI/AAAAAAAAtuo/fCWv8dl-cJM92ORzyzqkAQODl7xhNcQfwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2019.jpg" title="" width="480" /></a></div>
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This is a tender cornbread.  My husband will put a piece in a bowl, chop it up a bit, and add milk to eat. He says it is delicious. I have seen him add maple syrup to it, too.  Anyone else do this?<br />
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<div class="recipe-inner" id="recipe" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Recipe" style="background-color: rgb(242 , 242 , 240); border-color: rgb(255 , 5 , 1);">
<div class="info">
<span class="yield" itemprop="recipeYield"><strong>Yield: </strong>8</span><span class="author" itemprop="author"><strong>Author: </strong>Terri Steffes</span><button class="printbutton" id="printbutton" onclick="this.parentElement.querySelector(".print-options").className="print-options show-print-options"" type="button">Print Recipe</button><br />
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<div class="image">
<img itemprop="image" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I5okvwpt2F0/W-cPi53ZP9I/AAAAAAAAtug/5tIc9eTgSSgIuqi1sXUg1LcJUmXluXcHwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2017.jpg" /></div>
<h3 class="recipe-name" itemprop="name">
Skillet Cornbread with Bacon, Onion, and Cheddar</h3>
<div class="time">
<span class="prepTime" content="PT20M" itemprop="prepTime">prep time: 20 mins</span><span class="cookTime" content="PT25M" itemprop="cookTime">cook time: 25 mins</span><span class="totalTime" content="PT45M" itemprop="totalTime">total time: 45 mins</span></div>
<div class="summary" itemprop="description">
A delicious cornbread that is a meal in itself.</div>
<div class="ingredients">
<h3>
ingredients:</h3>
<div class="ing-section" itemprop="recipeIngredient">
2 boxes Jiffy cornbread mix<br />
<div>
1 onion chopped </div>
<div>
6 strips of bacon </div>
<div>
1 c shredded cheddar</div>
<div>
2 eggs</div>
<div>
2/3 cup of milk</div>
<div>
2 T shortening</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="instructions">
<h3>
instructions:</h3>
<div class="ing-section" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
Heat oven to 375.  Spread shortening onto the inside of a cast iron skillet.   Open both boxes of cornbread and pour into a medium-sized mixing bowl.  Add both eggs and the milk. Stir until all ingredients are incorporated.  Fry bacon in a separate skillet, remove and drain on paper towels. Add onion to skillet and cook until translucent.  Remove onion from grease and add to cornbread mixture. Chop bacon and add to mixture. Add 1/2 of the cheese to the mixture. Pour all into the prepared cast iron skillet.  Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Place in oven for 25 minutes, checking for doneness after 20. An inserted knife should come out clean.  Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes  Serve warm or room temperature.</div>
</div>
<div class="nutrition-info" itemprop="nutrition" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/NutritionInformation">
<div itemprop="calories">
calories<br />
204</div>
<div itemprop="fatContent">
fat (grams)<br />
13</div>
<div itemprop="saturatedFatContent">
sat. fat (grams)<br />
5</div>
<div itemprop="carbohydrateContent">
carbs (grams)<br />
10</div>
<div>
net carbs<br />
9.5</div>
<div itemprop="proteinContent">
protein (grams)<br />
11</div>
<div itemprop="sugarContent">
sugar (grams)<br />
4</div>
</div>
<div class="recipe-credit">
Created using <a href="https://www.recipesgenerator.com/" target="_blank">The Recipes Generator</a></div>
</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://faithhopeloveandlucksurvivedespiteawhiskeredaccomplice.com/bacon-pickled-jalapeno-cornbread-stuffing/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Bacon and Pickled Jalapeno Cornbread Stuffing </a>from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice</li>
<li><a href="https://dailydishrecipes.com/easy-cheesy-creamed-spinach/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Cheesy Bacon Creamed Spinach</a> from Daily Dish Recipes</li>
<li><a href="https://www.everydayeileen.com/quick-easy-cranberry-orange-relish/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Orange Relish</a> from Everyday Eileen</li>
<li><a href="https://simpleandsavory.com/homemade-cranberry-sausage-cornbread-stuffing/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Sausage Sage Stuffing </a>from Simple and Savory</li>
<li><a href="http://sweetbeginningsblog.com/dijon-maple-green-beans-with-caramelized-pecans/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Dijon Maple Green Beans with Caramelized Pecans</a> from Sweet Beginnings</li>
<li><a href="https://palatablepastime.com/2018/11/12/low-carb-thanksgiving-stuffing-or-dressing/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Low Carb Stuffing</a> from Palatable Pastime</li>
<li><a href="http://www.cookaholicwife.com/2018/11/old-fashioned-celery-and-onion-stuffing.html" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Old Fashioned Celery and Onion Stuffing</a> from Cookaholic Wife</li>
<li><a href="https://www.hezzi-dsbooksandcooks.com/2018/11/parmesan-balsamic-roasted-brussels-sprouts.html" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Parmesan Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts</a> from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks</li>
<li><a href="https://jolenesrecipejournal.blogspot.com/2018/11/quinoa-stuffed-squash-boats.html" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Quinoa Stuffed Squash Boats</a> from Jolene's Recipe Journal</li>
<li><a href="https://www.thetipgarden.com/2018/11/roasted-brussels-sprouts-butternut.html" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Butternut Squash, Pecans, and Cranberry</a> from The Tip Garden</li>
<li><a href="http://www.cindysrecipesandwritings.com/scalloped-potatoes/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Scalloped Potatoes</a> from Cindy's Recipes and Writings</li>
<li><a href="https://www.terristeffes.com/2018/11/skillet-cornbread-with-bacon-onion-and_12.html" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Skillet Cornbread with Bacon, Onion, Cheddar</a> from Our Good Life</li>
<li><a href="https://adayinthelifeonthefarm.blogspot.com/2018/11/skillet-rolls-holidaysidedishes.html" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Skillet Rolls</a> from A Day in the Life on a Farm</li>
<li><a href="https://www.thebakingfairy.net/2018/11/mashed-sweet-potatoes/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Vegan Maple Thyme Mashed Sweet Potatoes</a> from The Baking Fairy</li>
</ul>
<br />
Joining these Baking Bloggers today, too! We are cooking in cast iron, check out these incredible dishes using cast iron!<br />
<ul>
<li>Baked Cheese and Sausage Ziti by <a href="https://www.foodlustpeoplelove.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Food Lust People Love</a></li>
<li>Blackberry Coffeecake Bites by <a href="https://www.sidsseapalmcooking.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Sid's Sea Palm Cooking</a></li>
<li>Cast Iron Jalapeno & Honey Corn Bread by <a href="https://hardlyagoddess.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Hardly A Goddess</a></li>
<li>Dutch Oven Bread by <a href="https://simplyinspiredmeals.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Simply Inspired Meals</a></li>
<li>Dutch Oven Swiss Chocolate Cake by <a href="https://dailydishrecipes.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Daily Dish Recipes</a></li>
<li>Pull-Apart Garlic Rolls by <a href="https://www.karenskitchenstories.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Karen's Kitchen Stories</a></li>
<li>Skillet Apple Pie by <a href="https://palatablepastime.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Palatable Pastime</a></li>
<li>Skillet Cornbread with Bacon, Onion and Cheddar Cheese by <a href="https://www.terristeffes.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Our Good Life</a></li>
<li>Skillet Rolls by <a href="https://adayinthelifeonthefarm.blogspot.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">A Day in the Life on the Farm</a></li>
<li>Skillet Rosemary & White Wine Chicken Legs by <a href="https://snehasrecipe.blogspot.com/" target="_blank rel=">Sneha's Recipe</a></li>
</ul>

Skillet Cornbread with Bacon, Onion, and Cheddar #holidaysidedish

Welcome to Holiday Side Dish Week! We will be posting on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday this week so make sure you come back all f...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 09 November 2018 / friday faves

Friday Favorites #20

Hello, my friends!  I'm sharing lots of goodies to share with you today, and I have had a wonderful time gathering these as I think of you.  My husband is in Las Vegas, my daughter is in Indiana, so I am at home alone with the three dogs.  You know what means, don't you?<br />
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CRAFTING ALL OVER THE HOUSE!  I have several projects going all at once and I don't have to clean them up in a hurry. Those are going to sit around the house and I will get so much accomplished since I won't have to stop and clean up each time. This might have to become an annual event.<br />
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When I am not crafting, I am reading!  I have a mug of hot chocolate and a good book in my hand. I just started reading The Library Book by Susan Orlean. A teaching colleague of mine got in touch with me and said I had to read it. I made it a recommendation of my book club and they chose it!  I can't even give you a synopsis, as I have about 1/2 page done!<br />
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I feel like November is swiftly passing by! Do you feel that way, too?  I have so much to do, and then my family and I are heading to Cabo San Lucas to celebrate my 60th birthday. I cannot imagine having the time to do everything I need to do before November 16.  When we get back, on Thanksgiving night, we will wake up to start decorating for Christmas.  I'm thinking to have my annual Cookie Exchange that Saturday and then on Sunday we are driving up to my hometown to have Thanksgiving with my mom and sister. I'm already tired.<br />
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Are you playing holiday music yet? I am listening to Sirius Radio holiday channels when I am on the road.  My favorite is the Holly channel.  It's a pop music station so it plays more current selections. The link below will take you to their holiday music page.<br />
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<a href="https://www.siriusxm.com/holiday-music?hpid=HP_NEW_item1HolidayChannels">Sirius Christmas and Holiday Music</a><br />
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I still in love with my Miracle Morning routine. I had to miss a day due to an emergency with my blog, and I was mad. I managed to get my Tai Chi in so I did feel good about that. I purchased this darling <a href="https://www.apolisglobal.com/">Apolis</a> tote to hold my journals, some pens, the books I am reading, my November Gratitude sheet and some other things that I am doing as a part of this routine.  It is completely customizable.<br />
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Let me know your weekend plans!  I am going to finish up Christmas crafts, and make some decisions on what decorations I want to put up this year. That will put me in the frame of mind that I am staying ahead of the rush!<br />
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Friday Favorites #20

Hello, my friends! I'm sharing lots of goodies to share with you today, and I have had a wonderful time gathering these as I think of y...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 07 November 2018 / breakfast

Cranberry Breakfast Smoothie #cranberryweek

Breakfast smoothies are such a great way to get in nutrients first thing in the morning.  My Cranberry Breakfast Smoothie is not fussy but provides excellent nutrients for the start of your day, such as potassium and iron.<br />
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I love the color of this breakfast smoothie. In a world of bright green or even brown smoothies, this bright pink color is cheerful. I love watching the smoothie come to life in the blender. They say you eat with your eyes first and with this smoothie, I agree wholeheartedly!<br />
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<div class="recipe-inner" id="recipe" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Recipe" style="background-color: rgb(242 , 242 , 240); border-color: rgb(255 , 5 , 1);">
<div class="info">
<span class="yield" itemprop="recipeYield"><strong>Yield: </strong>2</span><span class="author" itemprop="author"><strong>Author: </strong>Terri Steffes</span><button class="printbutton" id="printbutton" onclick="this.parentElement.querySelector(".print-options").className="print-options show-print-options"" type="button">Print Recipe</button><br />
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<div class="image">
<img itemprop="image" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AlzExUs_pcg/W-DicaaRQ1I/AAAAAAAAtsM/PyEcCMKwlloCuUBcynWvDrN2fPp-fBB5QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1953.jpg" /></div>
<h3 class="recipe-name" itemprop="name">
Cranberry Smoothie</h3>
<div class="summary" itemprop="description">
This no-fuss breakfast smoothie provides potassium and iron for your busy day.</div>
<div class="time">
<span class="prepTime" content="PT10M" itemprop="prepTime">prep time: 10 mins</span><span class="cookTime">cook time: </span><span class="totalTime" content="PT10M" itemprop="totalTime">total time: 10 mins</span></div>
<div class="ingredients">
<h3>
ingredients:</h3>
<div class="ing-section" itemprop="recipeIngredient">
<div>
1 cup almond milk<br />
<div>
1 cup frozen cranberries</div>
<div>
1 medium frozen banana</div>
<div>
1 T sweetner (non-sugar)</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="instructions">
<h3>
instructions</h3>
<div class="ing-section" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
<div>
Pour milk into a strong blender. Peel and slice frozen banana and place in blender.  Add cranberries to blender.  Process until the mixture is smooth and creamy.  Add more milk if needed to thin out the mixture.  You will see flecks of cranberries in the smoothie.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="notes">
<h3>
NOTES:</h3>
<pre style="white-space: pre-line;">Freeze peeled bananas for easier usage.</pre>
</div>
<div class="nutrition-info" itemprop="nutrition" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/NutritionInformation">
<div itemprop="calories">
calories<br />
344</div>
<div itemprop="fatContent">
fat (grams)<br />
28</div>
<div itemprop="saturatedFatContent">
sat. fat (grams)<br />
25</div>
<div itemprop="carbohydrateContent">
carbs (grams)<br />
22</div>
<div>
net carbs<br />
17</div>
<div itemprop="proteinContent">
protein (grams)<br />
4</div>
<div itemprop="sugarContent">
sugar (grams)<br />
12</div>
</div>
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I'm excited to be sharing this recipe as part of Cranberry Week - now in it's third year! See all the tasty cranberry recipes being shared today below and follow #cranberryweek on social media for more ideas all week long.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.lemonblossoms.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Chicken and Stuffing Casserole</a> from Lemon Blossoms</li>
<li><a href="http://www.cindysrecipesandwritings.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Apple Crisp</a> from Cindy's Recipes and Writings</li>
<li><a href="https://www.theredheadbaker.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Apple Sangria</a> from The Redhead Baker</li>
<li><a href="https://palatablepastime.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Chicken Noodle Soup</a> from Palatable Pastime</li>
<li><a href="https://katerecipebox.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Orange Muffins</a> from Kate's Recipe Box</li>
<li><a href="https://www.terristeffes.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Smoothie</a> from <span style="color: red;">Our Good Life</span></li>
<li><a href="http://adayinthelifeonthefarm.blogspot.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Creamy Cranberry Chicken Wild Rice Soup</a> from A Day in the Life on the Farm</li>
<li><a href="http://www.books-n-cooks.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Fall Magic Bars</a> from Books n' Cooks</li>
<li><a href="http://culinary-adventures-with-cam.blogspot.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Herbed Cranberry Chèvre Truffles</a> from Culinary Adventures with Camilla</li>
<li><a href="https://thegingeredwhisk.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Maple Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Cranberries</a> from The Gingered Whisk</li>
<li><a href="https://jolenesrecipejournal.blogspot.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Turkey Cranberry Bagels</a> from Jolene's Recipe Journal</li>
<li><a href="https://familyaroundthetable.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">White Chocolate Cranberry Popcorn</a> from Family Around the Table</li>
</ul>

Cranberry Breakfast Smoothie #cranberryweek

Breakfast smoothies are such a great way to get in nutrients first thing in the morning. My Cranberry Breakfast Smoothie is not fussy but p...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 06 November 2018 / cocktail , sides

Brandied Cranberries + Three Cocktails #cranberryweek

Day 2 of Cranberry Week! I am sharing my grandmother's Brandied Cranberries recipe and three cocktail using brandied cranberries. This makes a great neighbors gift or an excellent hostess gift. It's easy and delicious, too!<br />
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Brandied cranberries were served on top of pound cake, ice cream and eaten as a side dish, but just for the grownups. We were allowed little tastes of it, and I remember loving the sweet/tart combination.<br />
<h4>
Here is how I make the Brandied Cherries:</h4>
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<div>
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I use one bag of cranberries to make one dish. So if I need to make gifts for 4 neighbors, I would use 4 bags of cranberries.  To that one bag of cranberries, I use 1 c sugar, 1/2 c brandy, and 1/4 Grand Marnier. Toss them all together. I line a jellyroll pan with nonstick foil and bake for 45 minutes, stirring once in the cooking process. Remove them from the oven (I like to have liquid left) and cool completely. Store in a covered jar.<br />
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I use these cranberries to make festive cocktails, too!  The syrup created is a fine additive to classic cocktails like mimosas and sweet and sours.  The deep ruby red berries are pretty in the glass.<br />
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<h4>
Orange Bourbon with Cranberries </h4>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fwAwF4Mp6Go/W95BH_qhr-I/AAAAAAAAtqw/CAT4T_GdnTcOXshoz8mpoSEG3lDGxRMEwCLcBGAs/s1600/bran2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Orange Bourbon Cocktail with Brandied Cranberries" border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fwAwF4Mp6Go/W95BH_qhr-I/AAAAAAAAtqw/CAT4T_GdnTcOXshoz8mpoSEG3lDGxRMEwCLcBGAs/s640/bran2.png" title="" width="426" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1 kitchen spoon of brandied cranberries syrup</div>
<div>
2 oz bourbon</div>
<div>
2 oz orange juice</div>
<div>
1 t simple syrup</div>
<div>
garnish</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Stir all ingredients. Add ice and cocktail mixture. Stir.  Garnish with orange slices or cranberries</div>
<h4>
Ginger Bourbon with Cranberries</h4>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1 spoon brandied cherries plus syrup</div>
<div>
1 1/2 oz bourbon</div>
<div>
6 oz ginger ale</div>
<div>
garnish</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Pour bourbon into the glass. Add ginger ale and stir slightly. Spoon the cranberries on top.  Garnish with cranberries or a sprig of rosemary.</div>
<h4>
A Christmas Fizz</h4>
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<div>
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<div>
1 T brandied cranberries and syrup</div>
<div>
1/2 oz brandy</div>
<div>
Prosecco</div>
<div>
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<div>
Add the cranberries to the bottom of the glass. Add brandy slowly.  Add prosecco. The bubbles will make the cranberries rise to the top of the glass and then back down. No need for garnish!</div>
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I'm excited to be sharing this recipe as part of Cranberry Week - now in it's third year! See all the tasty cranberry recipes being shared today below and follow <strong>#cranberryweek</strong> on social media for more ideas all week long.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.terristeffes.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Brandied Cranberries + Three Cocktails</a> from Our Good Life</li>
<li><a href="http://www.cindysrecipesandwritings.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Bread Pudding</a> from Cindy's Recipes and Writings</li>
<li><a href="https://palatablepastime.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Jalapeno Turkey Roll-Ups</a> from Palatable Pastime</li>
<li><a href="https://www.theredheadbaker.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Cookies</a> from The Redhead Baker</li>
<li><a href="http://www.cookaholicwife.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Orange Muffins</a> from Cookaholic Wife</li>
<li><a href="https://www.joyfullymad.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Scones</a> from A Joyfully Mad Kitchen</li>
<li><a href="https://www.carolinescooking.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Truffles</a> from Caroline's Cooking</li>
<li><a href="https://www.thesaucyfig.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce</a> from The Saucy Fig</li>
<li><a href="https://cookingformysoul.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad with Cranberries and Feta</a> from Cooking For My Soul</li>
<li><a href="http://culinary-adventures-with-cam.blogspot.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Shredded Beef Tacos with Cranberry Salsa</a> from Culinary Adventures with Camilla</li>
<li><a href="http://adayinthelifeonthefarm.blogspot.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Squash Soup with Cranberry Puree</a> from A Day in the Life on the Farm</li>
</ul>

Brandied Cranberries + Three Cocktails #cranberryweek

Day 2 of Cranberry Week! I am sharing my grandmother's Brandied Cranberries recipe and three cocktail using brandied cranberries. This m...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 05 November 2018 / sides

Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread #tastecreations #cranberryweek

Our Thanksgiving table tends to look the same year after year, and mainly because I insist that we have roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, homemade noodles, homemade rolls, and cranberry sauce. Once I learned to make homemade, there was no turning back. Homemade cranberry sauce is delicious.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7F2wZvEf7Pg/W9zBc3pT6iI/AAAAAAAAtqk/fRtisCQsgKM-2wrnWmO2jOwW22Fj3cl1gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1270-min.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Delicious, spreadable cranberry cream cheese spread great for toasted bagels or as an app!" border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7F2wZvEf7Pg/W9zBc3pT6iI/AAAAAAAAtqk/fRtisCQsgKM-2wrnWmO2jOwW22Fj3cl1gCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1270-min.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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After a little Google digging, I learned that Ocean Spray sells 20% of their cranberry harvest in one week: the week before Thanksgiving!  That's nearly 80 million pounds of them!  Ocean Spray is the largest cranberry company since 1930, owning 75% of the cranberry farms in the US. That's a lot of farms!<br />
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The recipe I am sharing with you today came from the fact that so many cranberries are sold in November. Why shouldn't I enjoy cranberries all year around?  Thus the inspiration for this Cranberry Cream Cheese spread.<br />
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<div class="recipe-inner" id="recipe" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Recipe" style="background-color: rgb(242 , 242 , 240); border-color: rgb(255 , 5 , 1);">
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<span class="yield" itemprop="recipeYield"><strong>Yield: </strong>32</span><span class="author" itemprop="author"><strong>Author: </strong>Terri Steffes</span><button class="printbutton" id="printbutton" onclick="this.parentElement.querySelector(".print-options").className="print-options show-print-options"" type="button">Print Recipe</button><br />
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<img itemprop="image" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ldG5eLtqz2Y/W9y-xpA_38I/AAAAAAAAtqE/he0fWQ15mKIK0ZOH09Dd7l4yBssuRAsfgCLcBGAs/s1600/resizecran.jpg" /></div>
<h3 class="recipe-name" itemprop="name">
Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread</h3>
<div class="time">
<span class="prepTime" content="PT10M" itemprop="prepTime">prep time: 10 mins</span><span class="cookTime">cook time: </span><span class="totalTime" content="PT10M" itemprop="totalTime">total time: 10 mins</span></div>
<div class="summary" itemprop="description">
This delicious cranberry spread is for those of us who want to enjoy our cranberries all year around!</div>
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<h3>
ingredients:</h3>
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2 oz tubs whipped cream cheese<br />
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1 8 oz package of Craisins</div>
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2 T heavy cream</div>
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2T sugar substitute</div>
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<div class="instructions">
<h3>
instructions:</h3>
<div class="ing-section" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
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Empty cream cheese into a mixer.  Add sugar and cream and beat well.  Stir in craisins.  </div>
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<div class="notes">
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NOTES:</h3>
<pre style="white-space: pre-line;">Delicious served on toasted bagels for breakfast, or as a fabulous appetizer on Ritz crackers or pastry shells.</pre>
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<div class="nutrition-info" itemprop="nutrition" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/NutritionInformation">
<div itemprop="calories">
calories<br />
63</div>
<div itemprop="fatContent">
fat (grams)<br />
5.3</div>
<div itemprop="saturatedFatContent">
sat. fat (grams)<br />
3.2</div>
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carbs (grams)<br />
2</div>
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net carbs<br />
1</div>
<div itemprop="proteinContent">
protein (grams)<br />
1</div>
<div itemprop="sugarContent">
sugar (grams)<br />
1</div>
</div>
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I'm excited to be sharing this recipe as part of Cranberry Week - now in it's third year! See all the tasty cranberry recipes being shared today below and follow <strong>#cranberryweek</strong> on social media for more ideas all week long.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.cookaholicwife.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bourbon Cranberry Sauce</a> from Cookaholic Wife</li>
<li><a href="https://www.theredheadbaker.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Apple Pie</a> from The Redhead Baker</li>
<li><a href="https://www.karenskitchenstories.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Almond Shortbread Tart</a> from Karen's Kitchen Stories</li>
<li><a href="https://palatablepastime.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Chipotle Glazed Baked Salmon</a> from Palatable Pastime</li>
<li><a href="https://katerecipebox.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Ice Cream</a> from Kate's Recipe Box</li>
<li><a href="https://www.thesaucyfig.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Orange Bread</a> from The Saucy Fig</li>
<li><a href="https://cookingformysoul.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry-Orange Glazed Ham</a> from Kimom Cooking For My Soul</li>
<li><a href="https://www.joyfullymad.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Pecan Whipped Cream Fruit Salad</a> from A Joyfully Mad Kitchen</li>
<li><a href="http://www.akitchenhoorsadventures.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Pistachio Blue Cheese Bites</a> from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures</li>
<li><a href="https://familyaroundthetable.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cranberry Squares</a> from Family Around the Kitchen</li>
<li><a href="https://www.carolinescooking.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Fall Pizza with Sausage and Squash</a> from Caroline's Cooking</li>
<li><a href="http://culinary-adventures-with-cam.blogspot.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Lamb Lollipops with Cranberry-Apple Mostarda</a> from Culinary Adventures with Camilla</li>
<li><a href="https://jolenesrecipejournal.blogspot.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Maple Honey Cranberry Sauce</a> from Jolene's Recipe Journal</li>
<li><a href="https://www.lemonblossoms.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Pork Loin with Cranberries</a> from Lemon Blossoms</li>
<li><a href="http://www.books-n-cooks.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Quinoa with Turkey, Brussels Sprouts & Cranberries</a> from Books n' Cooks</li>
<li><a href="https://dailydishrecipes.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Real Cranberry Gummy Bears</a> from Daily Dish Recipes</li>
<li><a href="https://thegingeredwhisk.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Warm Spiced Cranberry Cocktail</a> from The Gingered Whisk</li>
<li><a href="https://www.terristeffes.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Whipped Cranberry Cream Cheese</a> from Our Good Life</li>
</ul>
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I have also joined this recipe with our Taste Creation Bloggers! The cranberry recipes below are divine and you should check these out as well.<br />
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Kim at <a href="http://momhomeguide.com/cranberry-shortbread-cookies-taste-creations-blog-hop">Mom Home Guide </a>is making Cranberry Shortbread Cookies<br />
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Rosemary at <a href="https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/cranberry-scones/">An Italian in My Kitchen </a>is making Cranberry Scones<br />
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Nikki at<a href="https://tikkido.com/blog/cranberry-muffin-recipe"> Tikkido</a> is making Cranberry Muffins.<br />
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Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread #tastecreations #cranberryweek

Our Thanksgiving table tends to look the same year after year, and mainly because I insist that we have roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, dre...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 03 November 2018 / book review

Stuck in Manistique #ourgoodlifebooklist

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<i>I was given this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.</i></div>
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<i>Stuck in Manistique</i> by Dennis Cuesta was a fun, first-time novel set in the Upper Peninsula (called the UP by locals) town of Manistique. I learned that the author and his wife were actually stuck in Manistique and this story was loosely based on that experience. I love to know what inspires an author!</div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">From the Publisher:  </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Near the midpoint of the Upper Peninsula, along a Lake Michigan bend of shore, is the town of Manistique, Michigan. Mark had never heard of Manistique before the death of his estranged aunt, but as the sole beneficiary of Vivian's estate, he travels there to settle her affairs. As Mark tours his aunt's house for the first time, the doorbell rings.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Days after graduating from medical school, Dr. Emily Davis drives north, struggling with her illicit rendezvous on Mackinac Island. She never makes it—on the highway near Manistique, her car collides with a deer, shattering the car's windshield. Stranded for the night, Emily is directed to a nearby bed and breakfast.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Maybe it's a heady reaction, the revelation that his aunt, an international aid doctor, ran a bed and breakfast in retirement. Or perhaps he plainly feels pity for the young, helpless doctor. Regardless, Mark decides to play host for one night, telling Emily that he's merely stepping in temporarily while his aunt is away.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">As a one-night stay turns into another and more guests arrive, the ersatz innkeeper steadily loses control of his story. And though Emily opens up to Mark, she has trouble explaining the middle-aged man who unexpectedly arrives at the doorstep looking for her. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Will these two strangers, holding on to unraveling secrets, remain in town long enough to discover the connection between them?</span></span><br />
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I thought the author did a credible job creating the lives and personalities of the characters. The town locals are a lot like the folks where I grew up and I felt that the author knew some small town people himself.  There was some local history, plot twists and heavy description (which I love.)  </div>
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The novel seemed slow at times, but so does living in a small town, which I felt the book reflected. I felt the characters had depth, especially Bear Foot and George.  Mark, the main character along with Emily, had some growing up to do.  Both were a bit shallow minded (Mark and his determination to remain single and Emily, having an affair with a married doctor) but I felt they "grew" during the span of the novel.</div>
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The editor may have let this book release a bit too early.  I felt like I was reading a strong third draft and that the book was "getting there" but still needed to tweak some word choices and bring the characters into focus. I loved the humor. I actually could have read even more of it.</div>
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I would recommend this as a good read, and, as a Hallmark movie!</div>
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If you are interested in purchasing this book, use the link below. I will make a small commission which helps keep this blog going!  Thank you!</div>
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Stuck in Manistique #ourgoodlifebooklist

I was given this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion. Stuck in Manistique by Dennis Cuesta was a fun, first-time novel se...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 02 November 2018 / friday faves

Friday Favorites #19

Wow, this has been a crazy week! I'm writing this post on a Thursday night (highly unlike me!) and it is a day where I have been in front of a computer screen for 12 hours straight. No kidding, I took 20 minutes off for lunch!  With Halloween, teaching classes, writing for the holidays... I feel so behind!<br />
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Even so, I do have a lot of things to share with you so let's get started!<br />
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First, let's talk again about Miracle Mornings by Hal Elrod. The book was written to help you start your day in the best way possible. The book uses a premise called stacking to build many routines by stacking them into one routine. For example, my Miracle Morning looks like this: 5 minutes of meditation, 5 minutes of affirmations, 5 minutes of visualization, 15 minutes of reading, 10 minutes of writing and 10 minutes of tai chi.  I have been doing this for two weeks and let me tell you, I get out of bed an hour earlier than I used to, and I am happy to do so. I love my morning routine and cannot wait to get up and do it again!  I do not exercise but I have found a friend in tai chi. I am using the videotapes of <a href="https://www.taiflow.com/">TaiFlow</a> to help me learn the movements. I added the first in her Tai Chi in 5 Minutes a Day series, which is where I started.</div>
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During my Miracle Morning I read Happily by Kevin Thompson. I received the book for free in exchange for my opinion about the book. I was so glad that this was the book I chose for my first reading.  I chose it because I wanted to read a book that was about preserving marriage. The author chooses to show how the Beattitudes are a way to look at marriage and its bonds. I truly loved the book and the writing style of the author.  He says that great marriages are hard work done on a daily basis. He also shares these insights: </div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>· see your marriage as bigger than yourselves</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">· avoid both apathy and aggression</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">· release the desire for power</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">· make and maintain peace</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">· endure difficult times</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">· and more</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I took a lot of notes, underscored tons of ah-ha moments and wrote pages and pages in my journal about the discoveries I learned here. If you have a great marriage, I highly recommend this book. If you have a weak marriage that you want to make strong, I highly recommend this book. If you are divorced and want to understand how your marriage failed, I strongly recommend this book!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I purchased a little gift for myself: a tripod, selfie stick, lavalier microphone and a ring light kit for my iPhone. Most of my photos are taken with my iPhone Xs Max and I wanted to do some more serious photography using my iphone. I cannot wait to try to make some videos!  I have a link below for the amazing little mini LED ring light. It clips onto your phone and provides lighting for either side of the camera!</span></div>
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Take some time to enjoy the last of the fall color that is around you. With the rain all day on Thursday, many of the leaves are stripped off the trees. I plan to do my annual fall driving trip to the hills of Missouri. Always so beautiful!  Have a great weekend!<br />
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Friday Favorites #19

Wow, this has been a crazy week! I'm writing this post on a Thursday night (highly unlike me!) and it is a day where I have been in fron...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 16 November 2018 / gift guide

Gift Ideas for Someone Who Needs to Let Their Hair Down

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Things to Consider When Buying an Older Home

Posted by Terri Steffes / 14 November 2018 / sides

Savory Bread Pudding with Onion and Rosemary #HolidaySideDishes

Posted by Terri Steffes / 13 November 2018 / #ourgoodlifebooklist

The Girls at 17 Swann Street #ourgoodlifebooklist

Posted by Terri Steffes / 12 November 2018 / breads

Skillet Cornbread with Bacon, Onion, and Cheddar #holidaysidedish

Posted by Terri Steffes / 09 November 2018 / friday faves

Friday Favorites #20

Posted by Terri Steffes / 07 November 2018 / breakfast

Cranberry Breakfast Smoothie #cranberryweek

Posted by Terri Steffes / 06 November 2018 / cocktail , sides

Brandied Cranberries + Three Cocktails #cranberryweek

Posted by Terri Steffes / 05 November 2018 / sides

Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread #tastecreations #cranberryweek

Posted by Terri Steffes / 03 November 2018 / book review

Stuck in Manistique #ourgoodlifebooklist

Posted by Terri Steffes / 02 November 2018 / friday faves

Friday Favorites #19

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Posted by Terri Steffes / 16 November 2018 / gift guide

Posted by Terri Steffes / 15 November 2018 / home decor

Posted by Terri Steffes / 14 November 2018 / sides

Posted by Terri Steffes / 13 November 2018 / #ourgoodlifebooklist

Posted by Terri Steffes / 12 November 2018 / breads

Posted by Terri Steffes / 09 November 2018 / friday faves

Posted by Terri Steffes / 07 November 2018 / breakfast

Posted by Terri Steffes / 06 November 2018 / cocktail , sides

Posted by Terri Steffes / 05 November 2018 / sides

Posted by Terri Steffes / 03 November 2018 / book review

Posted by Terri Steffes / 02 November 2018 / friday faves

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