A Year in Review - Easy Life's Most Popular Posts 2013

Easy Life's  Most Popular Posts of 2013 & Blogiversary

On Thanksgiving eve of 2012, we took our blog live and it was the first time we had an official blog site. It was a soft opening since we didn't really know what we were doing. We started adding substantive content (well that might be debatable) the end of December, 2012. We can't believe how far we have come in such a short time so in celebration of our blogiversary we wanted to reflect on our most popular posts in 2013.

We also want to take this opportunity to thank our blogger friends, mentors and all of our visitors. You have made our venture into the blogging world a lot of fun and quite enjoyable! Top posts below

First Pineapple of the Season

 My husband and I have always enjoyed the pineapples over in the Bahamas. They are so sweet and have a very low acidity to them. I hope this will turn out like those that we love. It takes up to two years for a pineapple to produce. Meanwhile, I am waiting for this little gem to ripen a golden yellow and then I will pick it and eat it!

Authored by +Shawna Williams

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Tuna Platter at Shingos

Tired, feet hurt, shopping burn out and honestly can't eat any more high in carbs and fattening food. My body begging for something good. My daughter and I looked at each and said Sushi time! 

There is a place in Lake Worth called Shingos that serves the best Sushi. The price is right and its always fresh. One of our favorites was the tuna and avocado salad you see on the bottom row in the middle. My daughter and I both want to learn how to make Sushi  ourselves. So now we are in search of a Sushi making kit. Wish us luck.

Authored by +Shawna Williams

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Farmers Pork Chop & Scalloped Potatoes One Dish Casserole

Easy to make baked pork chops on top of creamy scalloped potatoes casserole - a one dish wonder that produces a delicious hearty meal.

Four Seasons Blog Hop #32

Welcome to the Four Seasons Blog Hop

A party where we can celebrate the greatness that each season brings to our lives.

Wishing you a beautiful holiday and a New Year of peace and happiness -  May the Spirit of the Holidays be with you throughout the New Year 

                       Betty, Kenneth, Lynn, Sandra, Shawna & Terri

Blog Hop Blitz #16

thesportspost.com

Merry Christmas!

Hope you're not scrambling like Santa! Last minute craft project? Squeezing just one more awesome blog post in before the in-laws head in? Already cooked up some holiday goodies? This is your spot to showcase your work!

Welcome to Week 16 and to the only virtual tailgate party around!

Pomegranate Cranberry Champagne Punch

This is the time of year we love sharing food, drinks and laughs with our friends and family.
At my Christmas Party we all share some of our favorite dishes, but I have to say the hit of the party was my Champagne Punch. The punch bowl station always had a crowd around it and definitely was the talk of the night. 

Decorated Holiday Jars

In another life I did quite a bit of crafting and even circuited the local craft shows but several kids and a professional career ended that extra time devoted to crafting.

Four Seasons Blog Hop #31

Welcome to the Four Seasons Blog Hop

A party where we can celebrate the greatness that each season brings to our lives.

Rolo Turtles

I got this recipe off of a Hershey's candy site and thought it looked so easy why not give it a try. It taste so much like the turtles but with an extra crunch with a little salt. Awesome right? So simple and so good. Trust me this will be a keeper.

Rolo Turtles
1 bag of Rolos
1 bag of small cross pretzels
1 bag of pecans
Heat oven to 350 degrees and line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place pretzels down on parchment paper then top with one unwrapped Rolo. Bake 3-5 minutes until caramel gets soft, but does not melt. Top with pecan's and EAT!

Authored by +Shawna Williams

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The Eagle Has Landed

Do you ever have one of those days where you wake up feeling like a slug? It is in the low 20's, the sky is hazy as if a snow storm is brewing somewhere out there, and everything is gray and white dotted with brown. There certainly wasn't any creative juices flowing. I felt burnt out by too much shopping, wrapping, company, family drama, sitting in front of the computer and the list goes on. It's only been winter for a few weeks and I can already feel the walls closing in on me.

I knew the only thing to get me out of this funk was to be one with nature. So I put on my heavy winter gear, grabbed my camera and went to find the Eagles that migrate to Iowa in December. South of downtown Des Moines and along the river they speckled the trees as far as the eye could see - hundreds.

Bringing You Musical Holiday Cheer

Sharing a little holiday spirit with some of our favorite Christmas Songs by
 Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, Rascal Flats, Leona Lewis, Mariah Carey and Train

Wishing you all the Hope, Wonder, and Joy that the Season can bring! 

Blog Hop Blitz Week #15

Be thankful that this is not you:

Four Seasons Blog Hop #30

Welcome to the Four Seasons Blog Hop

A party where we can celebrate the greatness that each season brings to our lives.

To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring. 

George Santayana 

Thank you to everyone who shared their wonderful creations last week and to all of you who are joining us new this week! 

Holiday Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

This weekend was spent experimenting with a new holiday cookie recipe that I had written down years ago but never pursued. If you could see my collection of  recipes torn out of magazines and handwritten you would know how easy it is for me to forget or lose a recipe!! Good grief, I really need to get organized which I have been telling myself for years. Maybe tomorrow.

These cookies are delightful but of course I find chocolate irresistible so they are actually doubly delightful. Who can resist a delicious Hershey Kiss inside a chocolate cookie with creamy buttery frosting.

Start Your Week with a Song - Music for the Soul

We love music as much as we love food! So here is a song by Imagine Dragons to start out your week. It is a dark but great song!

Wishing you a happy and most excellent week!

 Imagine Dragon's Demons

Authored by +Terri Henkels and +Shawna Williams

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Breakfast Sausage Ring

I love this recipe because it is attractive and super easy. You make it the night before so preparing breakfast the next morning is a breeze.  The perfect recipe when hosting a brunch.

Blog Hop Blitz #14

WELCOME TO  BLOG HOP BLITZ - Week 14

Welcome to the most versatile hop around. This is your spot to showcase your latest DIY decor/projects, tailgate recipes or your best post of the week!

Keep this in mind as we enjoy the holiday season. 

Four Season Blog Hop #29

Welcome to the Four Seasons Blog Hop

A party where we can celebrate the greatness that each season brings to our lives.

To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring. 

George Santayana 

Pumpkin Gem Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

I made several desserts for Thanksgiving day and this was everyone's favorite. I know everyone is probably pumpkin'd out right about now but if you are like me, I will be making pumpkin recipes throughout the Winter. 

This recipe is easy to make, the cupcakes raise beautifully and they are ultra moist! Topped with Cream Cheese Frosting they make an absolutely gorgeous cupcake.



Print Recipe

Ingredients

1 yellow cake mix
3 eggs
½ cup canola oil
2 teasp. Cinnamon
20 oz. pumpkin
Cupcake holders

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350.
Place cupcake holders in cupcake pans or grease and flour cupcake pans.
Blend cake mix, eggs and canola oil.  Add cinnamon and pumpkin and mix well.  Fill muffin pans 2/3 full.  Bake for 15-20 minutes (depending upon size of cupcake holder size).  Use a wooden pick to determine doneness (place pick in center of a muffin and it should come out with only a few moist crumbs).  Remove from oven and cool in muffin pans until you are able to move them to a cooling rack.  Let cool before frosting.

Click here for Cream Cheese Frosting from our post on Pumpkin Bars.

Thank you for visiting our blog! 

Authored by +Terri Henkels 



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