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Coffee and Dessert - Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

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From Jill Mills at kitchenfunwithmy3sons.com , these pumpkin pie cupcakes have the delicious flavor of a pumpkin pie, and a similar texture. They only take a short time to prepare, and about 20 minutes baking time. Once they are cooled and chilled, just top with whipped cream and enjoy! The only problem you might have, is not eating too many at one sitting.  Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes 1 - 15 oz. can of pure pumpkin puree 3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3/4 cup evaporated milk 2/3 cup all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon baking powder whipped cream for topping Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, and line a muffin pan with cupcake liners. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin puree, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and evaporated milk and whisk until smooth. In a separate medium bowl, combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, salt, baking soda, and baking powder and whisk until combined.  Pour dry mixture into pumpk
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Friends

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We all have friends. Some come into our lives for a while and then slowly fade away. I have always believed that they come into our lives for a reason, and once the need has been fulfilled, they are gone. Either we needed them during that time, or they needed us. Either way, it was a good thing for both. Then there are the friends that come into our lives and are with us forever - through good times and through bad. The connection we make with them just feels right from the moment we meet. These lifelong friends are truly a blessing. I am very fortunate to have some amazing lifelong friends. Whether we see each other often or only occasionally, we are able to pick up where we left off. From the moment we say hello the conversation flows easily and feels like the warmth of a hug. If things are going great, we share in the joy, and if things are rough, we lift each other up. We listen or give advice depending on what is needed. We laugh together as we share humorous stories from our live
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It Is Not Always That Easy

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The sun has risen on a brand-new day, and what is it all the cheery people say? Put on a smile, turn that frown upside-down, and everything is sure to go your way. Sometimes these words give us a good start, and our happy heart begins the new day. We move through the morning with ease, hoping this sunshine mood will remain. The trials and tribulations we live with, most days are handled with little effort. But every now and then we will falter, and the weariness and sadness move in. We know not the stress others may have, that put brick walls up in their way. Hard as they may try to knock them down, They will end up feeling defeated again. Everyone has their burdens to bear, there is nobody immune from hard times. For those fortunate to carry a lighter load, have compassion for those with heavier weight. The words of others that we read each day, preaching how to live a light filled life. Think positive advice, even well intentioned, can make others feel like a failure again.  There ar
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Beware of Ulterior Motives

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Propaganda - In formation, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view. Propaganda can be true, but most of the time is false, and is used to push a personal agenda. During World War I the use of propaganda emerged as modern media outlets were on the rise, and was refined into an art. The sole purpose was to spread misinformation and rumors for political purpose. There are seven techniques used to spread propaganda: Name Calling: Using negative or discriminatory words to arouse suspicion and prejudice. To create the dislike of a group of people they attack their beliefs, leaders and religion. Glittering Generalities: Making generalized statements using slogans or catchphrases. Usually, they involve the ideas of love, honor, glory, family values, freedom or patriotism that will inspire pride. The statements say very little so they cannot be proved or disproved. Transfer: Using a revered symbol to promote the pro
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What's for Dinner Tonight? - Fall off the Bone Slow Cooker Short Ribs

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From Alyssa Rivers at  Therecipecritic.com , these fall-off-the-bone slow cooker short ribs are a hearty and savory meal. It is a great way to cook tender, juicy beef and fork-tender carrots immersed in a delicious sauce. Serve with a side of mashed potatoes, mashed cauliflower, or your favorite rice. You can serve the meat and sauce on top of the sides to help soak up all the savory flavor.  I substituted a pot roast in place of the short ribs, and it was great! Fall Off the Bone Slow Cooker Short Ribs Prep Time:10minutes minutes Cook Time:8hours hours Total Time:8hours hours 10minutes minutes Servings:6 People 8-10 beef short ribs salt and pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil 5 large carrots sliced 1 cup beef broth 3 cloves garlic minced 1/4 cup tomato paste 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce 1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning Salt and pepper the beef short ribs. Heat a large skillet with the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the short ribs and sear each side for 1-2 minutes or until they hav
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The Urge to Run Away

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When we are faced with circumstances that we never expected in life they can come at us like a freight train. We may feel like the wind has been knocked out of us, and also saddened by what will never be again. In the midst of it all we try to make sense of what lies ahead and gather the strength to move forward, as it is in moving forward that we will once again see all in our life that is good. Below is a blog I wrote a few years ago that I stumbled upon today. It appeared at the right moment and is a reminder that sometimes we need to step back and remember that strength and courage always come when we need them to show us how fortunate we are. We all have those moments in our lives where we feel overwhelmed or just plain tired. In these moments there can be an urge to run away from it all. Where another place or life seems appealing. We wouldn't be human if we didn't. During times of struggle, it's easy to look at someone else and think their life is more exciting or le
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Seville, Spain - Hola and Adiós

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The last two days of vacation would be in Seville, Spain. Our Airbnb was a beautiful apartment a short distance from the historic center of Seville and was along the section of the Walls of Seville known as the Macarena Wall. The Walls of Seville are a series of defensive walls that surround the Old Town of Seville. The city has been surrounded by walls since the Roman period, and they were maintained and modified throughout the successive Visigoth, Islamic and finally Castilian periods. The walls remained intact until the 19th century. At that time, they were partially demolished after the revolution of 1868. Some parts of the walls still exist, especially around the Alcázar of Seville and some curtain walls in the barrio de la Macarena. On our one full day in Seville, we drove into the historic center to explore. After a wonderful breakfast at a sidewalk restaurant, we walked to the Seville Cathedral for a tour. The Catedral de Santa María de la Sede, better known as Seville Cathedra
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