These pumpkin swirl mini cheesecakes are the perfect compromise for him and delicious to boot! They make a great addition to any cheesecake recipe collection. One of my mother’s favorite desserts at Thanksgiving is pumpkin pie. I’ve never been much of a fan of a whole pie, (I usually eat just the filling of the …
Today is a day when nothing short of a OMG sauce will do, and this honey garlic Dijon chicken has just that. There are many days when clean eating is my middle name. But when the fall weather sets in, all that seems to change. Pretty funny how my waist line seems to grow with …
This autumn makeover is perfect for Halloween and with a few adjustments in a couple of weeks, it will go right through Thanksgiving. I love everything about autumn. When the temperatures start to fall, I know that good things are right around the corner. Having three fun holidays in a row gives me so many …
These candy corn pretzel balls are a delicious bite of sweet, salty, creamy fall delight. They are the perfect addition to your Halloween or Thanksgiving menu planning. Ah yes….fall. My favorite season. There are so many reasons to look forward to fall. The cooler temperatures…all the gorgeous colors in the leaves, pumpkin decorating, and oh …
This delicious garlic pepper pork stir fry has all the flavor of your favorite take away pork stir fry. But made in your kitchen, with love in 25 minutes. Why go out? Can we say sweet? Can we say spicy? What a great combination! I don’t normally care for spicy dishes but when you quiet …
This Southern country pot pie with a cornbread crust is full of flavor and very easy to put together. Mmmm…mmmmm. Southern cooking. What is not to like? When I think of Southern food, I think of hearty dishes cooked with a lot of love (and a bit of butter!) Time to celebrate Southern cooking with …
My reading corner makeover gives me the perfect spot to have a cup of tea and relax with my favorite gardening magazine. I have a corner of my family room that is a great place to sit and read, but it is sorely in need of a facelift. It has a really pretty chair but …
This Tuscan inspired tomato basil chicken with a buttery sauce features a few leaves of the last of my summertime basil, and the delightful aroma of freshly minced garlic. May I introduce you to new favorite way to eat chicken? Oh my, oh yes, that is how I want my chicken, thank you very much! …
Keeping your dog happy is one of life’s little pleasures, for me. I mean, how hard is it to do things for someone you love so much? Our family members are huge animal lovers. We have had so many furry friends that have become a part of our family over the years – count ’em …
This honey apple cake is full of the flavors of autumn. Why not serve it as a part of your Thanksgiving dessert table? What do all these have in common: falling leaves, hoodies, carving a pumpkin, corn stalks, decorating, apples? Of course! It’s fall. My favorite time of the year. And what could make it …
These easy chicken fajitas are super tasty, super easy to prepare and one of my favorite 30 minute meals. This is such a busy time of the year. The summer is over, kids are heading back to school and there don’t seem to be enough hours in the day to do everything that needs to …
Yum….fresh fruit. This time of the year, the choices are so wide and the flavor is sublime. My friend Regina, who used to blog at Molly Mel, has shared with me her favorite way to dress up custard – with a seasonal homemade fruit sauce! Sometimes, less is more. This recipe shows that to perfection. …
The kids in the neighborhood will love coming to your house this Halloween if you make these spooky Halloween Goodie bags. I just love this time of the year. The temps are cooler, the leaves are changing and I know that the holiday season will soon be here. Keep reading to find out how to …
If you are looking for a fun way to incorporate fitness on your life, try walking your dog. I recently developed a new attitude to my health and fitness and have taken it up with a vengeance. I admit it. I have been lax for years about getting in some daily exercise. I have …
This budget friendly fall patio makeover can be put together in just a few minutes and sets the mood from Halloween right through to Thanksgiving. I am giddy right now. The temperatures have finally dropped and the leaves are starting to change color. MY TIME OF YEAR! Living in NC is hard on a gardener …
This gluten free black bean pizza is loaded up with some of the freshest ingredients around and the barbecue sauce base will have a party in your mouth, for sure. It is loaded with items that are good for you, but still gives you a feeling of eating some comfort food, which we all need …
This pan fried swai with Indian spices fits right into my clean eating mood. In a word, it is delicioso! For the last 10 days, I have had a case of mommy’s time out going on. Not in the way that you might think, with me taking a vacation or a must needed rest. My …
This recipe for taco chicken 15 bean soup is so hearty and delicious. It makes a filling lunch or a first course before dinner. Don’t you just love it when the temperatures start to fall and you know that all the holidays are around the corner? I do, and I also love fall for the …
Diet accountability is a hard thing for me. I tend to rely on the scales to tell me how I am doing, but those darn things can be part of a love-hate relationship with me. So, I have come up with an idea to showcase how the week has gone with a Wednesday accountability post, …
Unless you are a fitness person at heart, I am sure you have a million reasons why you should not exercise. I call these exercise excuses and I have a ton of them. My mind knows that I should exercise, but my motivation is not always present. On those days, I have a 101 reasons …
Trying to get some exercise in every day can be a challenge when you have healthy issues. So today’s question is “should you still walk when it hurts?” The answer is a qualified yes! It is sort of a catch 22. Walking is good for your knees and hips. But knees and hips with arthritis …
These creative ideas for fall decorations make use of the natural colors and textures that we find outside in nature. Most can be put together for very little cost and expense. Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved the change from summer to autumn. I love all of the seasons but there …
Follow these easy walking tips and you will be getting the exercise you need and enjoying it to boot. When your hips and knees hurt, it’s hard to get motivated by the thought of any exercise. Even walking can be dreaded more than anticipated with pleasure if your joints hurt. But there are many things …
This chocolate peanut butter smoothie is the best of both worlds. It has the combination I like, but in moderation and it makes a great breakfast option too. You don’t have to have been reading my blog for long to know that I believe that chocolate and peanut butter are food group options. I love …
A winning weight loss attitude does so much to help you stay on track. For me, dieting occurs in the kitchen, with some exercise and in my mind! If you listen to the experts, they will tell you that eating less and moving more is the key to losing weight. And to a certain degree, …
These DIY Halloween wooden decorations have been a favorite yard decor idea for our family for years. When my daughter was much younger, I was very much into all sorts of crafts. I especially loved decorating for the various holidays because she loved what I came up with for decorations. This project takes more time …

























