Easy Lemon Cake Batter Bars
These lemon cake batter bars bring a refreshing twist to an old favorite. Using lemon cake mix plus basic baking ingredients may be the easiest lemon bars you’ve ever made! I’m sure
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Roasted Cauliflower
Food July 7, 2017 Roasting vegetables takes them to another level, and once you try roasted cauliflower you likely won’t ever make cauliflower any other way! Cauliflower has never been on the
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10 Easy and Healthy Snacks
If you’re looking to add healthy snacks into your diet, these ten easy snacks help you incorporate more protein to keep you satisfied longer and not over-indulge. I’ve admitted several times in
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Rosemary Garlic Buttermilk Biscuits
Buttermilk biscuits get a delicious update with fresh rosemary and a hint of garlic. They are a perfect side for your holiday meal plus they’re versatile and easy enough for a weeknight dinner!
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10 KitchenAid Mixer Tips
I’ve professed my love for my KitchenAid Mixer time and time again, and today is another one of those days. I just invested in my mixer a few years ago as a
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Pumpkin Cake Batter Blondies
If cake batter blondies and pumpkin bars had a baby, it would be these pumpkin cake batter blondies! The best of both worlds with the dense consistency of blondies and white chocolate
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All Time Favorite Pumpkin Spice Recipes
‘Tis the season for pumpkin spice everything. Here’s a list of my all time favorite pumpkin spice bars, muffins, cakes, donuts, and other goodies to help curb your pumpkin cravings. I don’t know
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Red, White and Blue Cake Batter Blondies
Cake batter blondies made patriotic with red, white and blue sprinkles. This is one of the easiest bar recipes and a big hit no matter what color sprinkles you use! Mid-August may
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Sparkling Iced Tea and Lemonade
Combine the flavors of your favorite iced tea with a hint of sweet from lemonade and kick it up with light carbonation for your new favorite refreshing summer drink. One of
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How to Make a Caipirinha
Move over margarita and mojito, Brazil’s national drink, the caipirinha is about to be moved into my favorite south of the border summer drink. It’s a lot easier to make than it
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Spicy Ranch Chicken Tacos
Is taco night a weekly occurrence in your house? If so, you may have to kick it up a notch with these spicy ranch chicken tacos. Make the chicken in your slow
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Salted Caramel Brownie Bites
These Salted Caramel Brownie Bites are sure to be the biggest hit at your next gathering. They’re the perfect one-bite treat, look impressive, and they’re so easy to make! I can’t believe it’s taken me
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Dutch Letter Bars
Jump to recipe What’s a Dutch Letter you say? It’s the best almond pasty that ever lived. Dutch Letter Bars are the next best thing. They bring all the decadent almond flavor into
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Spicy Garlic Edamame
Great for a healthy snack or an appetizer, you’ll have a hard time sharing this spicy garlic edamame with anyone else! Plus, it’s so quick and easy to make. After a recent
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Spicy Smokehouse Almonds
Just the right combination of smoky and spicy, these smokehouse flavored almonds are a great healthy snack option which is anything but boring. Now that I’m working from home, it’s all too
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Tips for Picking a Paint Color
There are a lot of potential mistakes you can make when choosing a paint color for a room redo or other project. Use these helpful tips for choosing the perfect paint color for your
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Sugar Cookie Bars
These sugar cookie bars are perfect if you love sugar cookies but don’t love all the work of traditional cut out cookies. One pan, no cookie cutters, plus they have sprinkles! I love
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Cookie Decorating Made Easy
Cookie decorating has never been easier with Color Me cookies and edible ink markers. These are perfect for kids birthday parties or holidays or other special events. Plus, no messy colored sugar sprinkles involved. (Sprinkles
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BBQ Chicken and Bacon Totchos
If you’ve never tried Totchos (nachos made with tater tots), you’re going to want to try them smothered with bbq chicken, bacon and cheese. Makes a great appetizer or fun dinner. Comfort
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Slow Cooker Bacon BBQ Chicken
This Slow Cooker Bacon BBQ Chicken is anything but basic, yet it’s easy to set and forget in your slow cooker for perfect bbq chicken you can use in a variety of
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Shortbread Toffee Bars
Shortbread Toffee Bars are made using a simple shortbread recipe with decadent caramel, chocolate and toffee topping. They are rich, but you won’t be able to eat just one! Fall baking season
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Treasure Hunting at The Picker Knows Antique Store
The Picker Knows antiques and collectibles store opened in my West Des Moines ‘hood recently. I spent an hour or so last weekend meandering through the aisles and booths checking out any potential
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Salted Caramel Popcorn Mix
This salted caramel popcorn mix includes salted caramel, popcorn, chocolate, your favorite nuts and is perfect for tailgating, snack time or your wine down time. (yes, I meant wine down and not
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My Friday Five – Summer Endings
It was a whirlwind of a summer! Good times capped off by our recent vacation to Disney, an Ironman for my husband, and all sorts of other things thrown in between. School
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At Home Store – Home Decor Warehouse
I mentioned last week that a new home store had opened in our area – At Home. Honestly, I’d never heard of it before, but I was excited to check it out.
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Monogram Succulent Garden
Create this easy monogram succulent garden for a personalized planter perfect for your home or office. While I have some very talented gardeners in my family, I tend to be a bit of a
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My Friday Five – Spring Break Fun at Home
Oh, hello Friday… I couldn’t be happier to see you! It was hard to get back into our routine after Carter’s spring break last week. We didn’t jet off anywhere exotic, but made
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Homemade Bubble Solution
Make a homemade bubble solution with common household ingredients you already have on hand. We had a great end to Carter’s spring break from school last week. I took Friday off from
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My Friday Five – March Madness
Here we are at the end of another week. Most of the schools here were on spring break this last week. While we didn’t jet off to somewhere warm, and I’m incredibly
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Smashed Potatoes
Smashed potatoes are my new favorite way to make potatoes. They have great flavor and the skins get a perfect crisp to them. This recipe was adapted from the Pioneer Woman’s Crash
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My Friday Five – Yep, It’s Winter
It seems ironic that it snowed almost a foot here the day before Groundhog’s Day. Only 6 more weeks of winter would be welcome! Alas, it’s usually longer than that. Snowstorms here
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Chocolate Chip Toffee Skillet Cookie
You’ll love this skillet cookie twist on your classic chocolate chip cookie recipe, throw in some toffee bits and bake in a cast iron skillet for a treat you’ll eat straight out
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How I Changed My Style and Became a “Dress Person”
Do you ever wish you could adapt to a new style but aren’t quite sure if you should or could? Here’s how I changed my style and started to regularly wear more
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My Friday Five
Celebrate good times… come on! It’s nice to have a few things to celebrate in the middle of winter. This week was filled with Todd’s birthday, Carter’s 100th day of school and
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My Experience with WEN Hair Care
I’ve been using WEN cleansing conditioner for quite a long time now. It’s not for everyone, but I’ll share both the good and the bad for you to decide and some tips
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My Friday Five – Just One of Those Weeks
Am I the only one not quite in the swing of things after the holidays? This week has been a long one, and I’m so happy it’s Friday! 1. One Hot Mess
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My Friday Five – Hello Winter
I’m writing to you from the frozen tundra of the Midwest. We’ve had a somewhat mild winter so far, but that all changed this week. 1. Oh, Hello Winter – the 7 inches of
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How to Shred Chicken with Your KitchenAid Mixer
Shredding chicken in your KitchenAid mixer is so easy, less messy and a quick time saver… genius really! In my short life of ownership so far of my KitchenAid mixer, I’ve proclaimed
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My Friday Five – Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! We had a pretty relaxing week finishing up some holiday get togethers, ringing in the New Year, sleeping in, watching movies and even getting a few workouts in. I generally
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A Year of Being Grateful
I have a friend who chooses a “focus word” at each start of the new year. Two years ago, I joined her and chose the word CREATE. That was the year I
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My Friday Five
It’s that time again – thank goodness. Friday.. Friday… Friday! I had a nasty virus that knocked me off my feet for a few days, so I’m happy to report I’m back
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My Friday Five
Happy Friday! We had a fairly typical week with work, school and a few ounces of fun thrown in. 1. Twinkle Twinkle – While it’s always a bit of work to get
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My Friday Five
Happy Friday after Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoyed a great feast and festivities with your families like we did! I was too busy stuffing my face and chatting to take any pictures,
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Soft Gingersnaps
These soft gingersnap cookies are a family favorite recipe from my Grandma Edna. If you don’t think you like gingersnaps, this recipe will prove you wrong. Soft Gingersnaps Ingredients: 2/3 cup margarine
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My Friday Five – First Snow
Another blur of a week… I’m really looking forward to some time off next week over the Thanksgiving holiday to recharge! 1. Let it snow! Well, I’m never quite ready for the snow
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Best Gifts for The Baker
This round up of Best Gifts for The Baker covers must-haves, upgrades on basics, and personalized gifts any baking addict would love! I’m certainly no professional, but I do like to bake.
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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Another great combination, these pumpkin chocolate chip muffins got rave reviews from my co-workers. I tend to be a bit of a stress eater and consequently that also translates into being a
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Best Parks in Des Moines
Now that the weather is starting to change, we’re trying to squeeze in as much outside time as we can by visiting some of our favorite parks at least one last time
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Peanut Butter Bars
I forgot how good these peanut butter bars really are! I’ve been craving them for a few weeks, in a way that Reese’s Peanut Butter cups just couldn’t curb. Made with ingredients
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Nail Art Designs using a Silhouette
Create your own nail art designs using a Silhouette Cameo or other craft cutting machine. Plus get tips and tricks on applying them and painting your nails. It’s college football season and time
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Birds Nest Cookie Treats
Birds nest cookies are an easy to make treat perfect for Easter. Kids will love helping to decorate with jelly bean eggs. Make with peanut butter and chocolate or marshmallow. Our Easter
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Pioneer Woman’s Best Coffee Cake Ever – Review
Is the Pioneer Woman’s Best Coffee Cake Ever Recipe really the best coffee cake ever? Check out how my experience went with this popular recipe. The other day, I had a craving for
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Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon
This baked mac and cheese with bacon solidifies my reign as the queen of side dishes – but only sides. For some reason I can rock the sides, but seem to fall
Read MoreCrispy Baked Wings with Spicy Sriracha Honey Glaze
Jump to recipe If you like your wings spicy with a hint of sweet, try these Crispy Baked Wings with Spicy Sriracha Honey Glaze. Plus, use this method for getting crispy baked
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Best Ever Ranch Snack Mix
This ranch snack mix is an upgraded version of a snack I remember eating as a kid, which we only made with oyster crackers. I went to a baby shower 10 years ago
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Almond Creme Cookies
Almond creme cookies (also called Swedish Cream Cookies) are delicate pastry cookies with a great almond flavor. Make them in your favorite shapes and filling colors for any occasion. There’s not
Read MorePumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Jump to recipe I had a bit of a panic moment last week when I thought I lost my husband’s grandmother’s pumpkin bar recipe. Every fall I make a batch of pumpkin
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Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
I have finally learned the simple art of making roasted pumpkin seeds. As a kid I remember munching on roasted pumpkin seeds while finishing up our pumpkin carving. As an adult I
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Best Chex Mix Ever – done in 15 minutes!
My grandma used to make Chex mix for every family get together and make one batch for everyone else and one batch for my cousin and I to share – because we
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites
Chocolate peanut butter bites are a perfect bite-size dessert combining peanut butter cookie dough with a fudge filled center. Chocolate and peanut butter is one of my favorite combos (tied with
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New (To Me) Furniture – Change It or Leave It?
I finally have a place I can give my sewing machine a permanent home! I’m still pretty much an amateur when it comes to sewing, but my projects are few and far
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Grilled Chicken Nachos
You haven’t had nachos until you’ve made Grilled Chicken Nachos. Grilling provides a crispiness to the chips and a smoky flavor to your fixins. Pile on your favorite nacho toppers and pop
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Hometown Dining Room Wall Gallery
We made this hometown dining room gallery wall to showcase the love for our home city. This would be perfect for a favorite or special travel city too! We’re getting closer and closer to
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Mint Chocolate Oreo Layer Cake
I hope everyone who was celebrating Father’s Day had an enjoyable weekend! We had our families over on Saturday for a BBQ. While it sprinkled on and off, at least the rain
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Staining Honey Oak Trim Darker
Staining your outdated honey oak trim is easier than you think. No sanding or stripping required. This easy method provides great result for a quick DIY update. If you follow me regularly,
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Monogram Gallery Wall
Monogram gallery wall with a mix of diy monogram letters, family photos and more. Get step-by-step directions for all of the diy monogram projects. If you follow my blog regularly, you’ve
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Baked Chicken Taquitos
You’ll love these baked chicken taquitos. We go back to this recipe over and over again. Makes a great freeze ahead meal or appetizer! There’s one recipe I’ve pinned from Pinterest that
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Chipotle Roasted Chickpeas
This recipe for chipotle roasted chickpeas is an easy snack to make for game day, road trips, or anytime. Easily modify by using the same roasting method for different seasonings for tasty alternatives.
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Mint Chocolate Brownie Bites
A beloved flavor combination, these mint chocolate brownie bites are as delicious as they are cute. My all-time favorite dessert flavor combination is chocolate and mint (followed closely by chocolate and peanut
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Cereal Scotcheroos {Chex + Cheerios}
Use cereal you have on hand and combine with this classic scotcheroo recipe (straight from my grnadma!). I used Chex and Cheerios for these favorite cereal scotcheroos. Scotcheroos are one of those oldie
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Curtains: Make or Buy?
We’re in the homestretch of redoing our kitchen. All along I’ve been planning to make curtains for our sliding glass door in our dining room. and a Roman shade for the kitchen
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Penne Mac & Cheese with Chicken
You won’t see food posts that often here. While I like to bake, I’m not very skilled when it comes to meal planning. To be honest, I just feel like I never
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Painting Bathroom Cabinets
Each year I take off the week between Christmas and New Year’s from work, and each year I generally try to tackle a home project. One year I organized my basement (wish
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