I love to bake.  I do it a lot.  So I'm pretty excited when the holidays come along and I can bake my little heart out. 

Pies are one of my favorite things to bake.  I can sometimes see myself as Jenna from Waitress (minus the horrible home life and job), creating and baking pies all day.

Here are some of my favorite pies to make around the holidays:

I've made this apple pie in the past, but lately this recipe is my personal favorite and the clear winner around my house. 

I love this peppermint pie, but I think I'm the only one in my family that likes peppermint so it doesn't get made often.

This peanut butter fudge pie is always a favorite at family gatherings. 

For the past couple of years, instead of the peanut butter fudge pie, I've made a chocolate pie.  It's been a big hit with my family (except for Jason who only likes apple pie or cherry pie).  This year I'm going to attempt to make mini chocolate pies. 

I could probably skip the Thanksgiving meal and go straight for dessert.  But I won't. 

For a fun summer pie, try this one.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Remember that time we listed our house the weekend before Thanksgiving and sold it two days later with the buyers wanting to close and be in the house on December 30, sending us into a sudden panic and potential homelessness?  

This will be the funny story I tell with a gleeful giggle this time next year.  At this moment, it's not so much funny as it is terrifying.  And stressful.

We officially listed our house last Thursday and by Saturday we had three showings scheduled and an open house.  We received an offer Saturday night and countered on Sunday, with the buyers accepting our counter offer.  Though we've been looking for a new house, we have yet to find one that we like.  So, we don't have a house lined up to live in by December 30.

Instead of freaking the eff out, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'm going to list everything that I'm thankful for in this current situation:

I am thankful that our house sold as quickly as it did and for more than asking price.

I am thankful that I completely cleaned out and packed up the entire basement months ago.  That decision has saved my life.

I am thankful that we don't have to move the washer and dryer out of the house because the buyers wanted it.  (And I get to buy a new ones!)

I am thankful that my parents moved north to be near where we live and bought a big house, and are willing to let all of us move in with them at the end of December.

I am thankful that it will not be hot outside when we move.  (We've always seemed to move in August.  This will be a nice change.  Assuming there are no ice or snow storms.)

I am thankful that storage units exist.



We truly do have so much to be thankful for and I can't wait to see what adventures are ahead for us.

Happy Thanksgiving!

To say it's been a little crazy around here would be an understatement.  Jason's been working some serious long hours, and we (technically I) hosted our first Thanksgiving at our house.

We weren't sure Jason would even be home for Thanksgiving, but luckily he made it home in time to have a late Thanksgiving dinner with us.

The day started out with Katherine and I enjoying some Pumpkin French Toast and watching the parade.  She actually watched most of it and loved the musical acts.

{Full Thanksgiving menu listed on our chalkboard.}

{Pumpkin French Toast with pumpkin butter and maple syrup.}

{My breakfast date couldn't take her eyes off of the parade.}

The good thing about not eating until late was that Katherine and I were able to lounge around in our PJ's until late morning.  My mom came over around lunch time with some snacks, which were devoured just in time for Katherine's nap.

Once Katherine was down for her nap, Operation: Thanksgiving Prep was underway.  My dad came over to fry a turkey, while my mom and I baked one in the oven.  I'm not sure how I did it, but by the time Jason came home several hours later, dinner was ready.  For dessert, I made a chocolate pie and thawed and baked an apple pie from the "Great Apple Adventure" (remember that??).

{Finally using the nice wedding dinnerware.}

{My favorite table accessory:  Turkey S&P shakers.}

Dinner went fabulously.  Not bad for my first time hosting.  No need for a "turkey nap" at our house.  We just went bed shortly after dinner.

{Katherine with her Uncle Zach and Aunt Mandy.}

We're not really Black Friday people, so the rest of the weekend was spent decorating for Christmas.  Decorating a Christmas tree with a toddler in the house is a whole new ballgame.

I'm so excited that the holiday season is finally here.  Tomorrow is Cyber Monday, so I'm offering a special deal at my Etsy shop.  Use coupon code:  CLARKGRISWOLD at checkout for 35% off of any purchase at the shop.  Tomorrow only!

In the meantime, I'm working like crazy to restock the shop with lots of new scarves, as well as some fan favorites.  Stay tuned......

We're hosting our first Thanksgiving this year, and I'm actually getting pretty excited about it.  Every year, we pack up and drive 3.5 hours south for a rushed and hectic holiday.  This year, we get to stay in our own house and I can literally feel the stress melting away (besides the fact that we're hosting our first Thanksgiving).

I'm a firm believer in "no Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving."  So, we're enjoying the last little bit of fall decor around our house before Christmas completely takes over.  Meanwhile, I'm busy making my Thanksgiving shopping list and scouring Pinterest for table setting ideas.    





When I worked for a resale store, we received an awesome Thanksgiving sweater in a donation box.  I had never seen an "ugly Thanksgiving sweater," and was super excited to get it onto the sales floor.   Even though I placed it on the mannequin by the front door, this beauty never sold (can you imagine?!).  So, after Thanksgiving it went home with me!

I literally can't get over this sweater.  Every Thanksgiving detail is hilarious, down to the pilgrim hat buttons.  I think this sweater will definitely make an appearance at our first Thanksgiving at our house.  



My favorite part has always been the giant turkey on the back.  I wish someone would throw an "Ugly Thanksgiving Sweater Party."

I promise the second Thanksgiving is over, it's Christmas Central in this house.

I can't even begin to describe how blessed I feel this year.  We have been blessed beyond measure this year and I am so thankful. 

Our beautiful baby daughter was born this year, happy and healthy.  Jason was recently promoted at work (and also finally got a new "company car").  And while I ended up quitting my job earlier this year, I've managed to sustain a successful at-home business to help out financially.  For the first time in years, I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

I worried and fretted about quitting my job.  My hours at work had been cut, and it was becoming clear that I wouldn't be getting the salary (and promotion) I had hoped for.  It was a hard decision, but it made more sense to just walk away.  Still, I worried.  How would we get by with less money coming in and a baby to take care of?  Would we still be able to pay our bills?  Would you believe that, for the most part, I haven't noticed the decrease in income?  We've cut back on a lot of things and don't go out as much as we did, but this makes us appreciate what we actually do get to do.  I am so thankful to God for taking such good care of us, even when I doubted Him.

Living on a smaller income has opened my eyes to what is really important.  I'm thankful for that too.  If you had told me a year ago I would be thankful for less money, I would have never believed it.  Life is different, but life is better.

Now, enough of the mushy stuff.  We had a great Thanksgiving with our families in Kennett.  I'm so thankful that Katherine got to see almost all of her family in one weekend. 

{Up too early on Thanksgiving.  Her daddy has this same look in the morning.}

{Eating Thanksgiving lunch.}

{With her Mimi, Great-Granny Lu, and Great-Granny Dot.}

Before he died, my grandfather made wooden rocking chairs for my future kids, and my brother's future kids.  One rocking chair for each of us.  He died almost ten years ago.  Katherine got to sit in her chair for the first time on Thanksgiving.  Her great-grandfather made it just for her.

{In her new chair.}

{First family Thanksgiving picture.}

 The next day was Thanksgiving #2.

{Spending time with Aunt Steph.}



{Playtime with Daddy at Nana's.}

We had lots and lots of yummy food.  I made my famous peanut butter fudge pie (recipe here).  I'm always so happy when Katherine gets to spend time with her family.

We've got a crazy busy week ahead so I'm glad we got to relax with family.   Even if it was just for a couple of days. 

The Year of Chocolate Desserts challenge is almost complete!  November's dessert is Chocolaty Rice Pudding (recipe here).

I was dreading this dessert for two reasons.  One, I'm not a fan of rice pudding.  Two, I can't make rice.  I literally can't do it.  I mess it up every time.  Every.  Time.  I never get the rice to water ratio right.  The rice is always either soupy or crunchy.  So, I don't make rice. 

It was a Thanksgiving miracle that I was able to correctly make the rice and the pudding. 

This turned out how I expected.  It was ok, but keep in mind I'm not a rice pudding fan.  The recipe called for pistachios as a garnish, but I opted for whipped cream.  Overall, not bad.  Not my favorite of the year, but not bad. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Did you know that every time a Christmas tree is lit before Thanksgiving, an elf drowns a baby reindeer?  Ok that's not true.  But I do feel like every year, Thanksgiving takes a backseat to early Christmas craziness. 

I have a strict rule in our house, that Christmas doesn't go up until after Thanksgiving.  At the very earliest, we've put the tree up the week of Thanksgiving so that it's already up when we get home from Thanksgiving.

So in keeping with tradition, our house is decked out with Thanksgiving loveliness.  I want to have one last week of fall serenity before the hustle and bustle of Christmas. 





One last week of pumpkin, before I usher in the season of peppermint everything! 

Several years ago, I was sorting through my coupons from the newspaper when I ran across a recipe for a peanut butter fudge pie.  The recipe was on a random coupon page advertising hot fudge and peanut butter.  I saved the recipe and eventually tried it out.  It is now a staple at family holiday meals; both Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

I decided to share the recipe for other peanut butter pie lovers to enjoy.  For this pie you will need:

1 prepared chocolate cookie pie crust
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
8 oz. cream cheese (at room temperature)
4 1/2 cups (or 12 oz. container) of non-dairy whipped topping
1 jar (11.75 oz.) hot fudge topping

For Drizzle Topping:
2 tbs. of the hot fudge
2 tbs. of peanut butter

Combine in a medium bowl, the peanut butter, cream cheese, and sugar.  Gently fold in 3 cups of the whipped topping.

{Mixing the ingredients.  I used a mixer, but you can also mix these items by hand.}

Spoon mixture into the pie shell.  Using a spatula, smooth mixture to edges of pie.  Reserve 2 tablespoons of hot fudge topping and peanut butter for drizzle topping.  Microwave the remaining hot fudge for 1 minute.  Stir.  Spread the hot fudge topping over pie to cover the peanut butter layer.  Refrigerate until serving time. 

{Filling pie crust and topping with hot fudge.}

Just before serving, spread the remaining whipped topping over the hot fudge layer, being careful not to mix the two layers.  Place the 2 tbs. of hot fudge and peanut butter in separate plastic bags.  Cut a tiny hole in one corner of the bags and drizzle each over pie. 

{Finished pie.  Please excuse the uneven decorative lines.}

I'm 24 weeks this week.  Definitely starting to feel uncomfortable. 

{24 Weeks}

With everyone getting ready for Christmas already, I feel like poor Thanksgiving gets ignored. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays for several reasons.

Of course one reason is the food. Years ago my family would go down to Newport, AR to have Thanksgiving at my mother’s Uncle “Hobo’s” house (I forget why he was called “Hobo.” His real name was Bill). Uncle Hobo had an entire building behind his house just for food gatherings. There was always more than enough food, and more than enough people I may or may not know. When the meal was finished and everyone grabbed their plates, Uncle Hobo would sit off to the side and watch everyone. After preparing such a feast all he wanted to do was rest. I remember the organized chaos of that day; with everyone running around and talking over each other. These days Thanksgiving is a little less theatrical. My mother prepares Thanksgiving food now and more often than not, it’s just my parents, brother, and Jason and I.

For me, Thanksgiving is like the calm before the storm. It’s the last day before the holiday season officially kicks off. It’s the last day you can get away with not having any Christmas gifts bought yet. After Thanksgiving is over, you’re expected to have started your Christmas shopping or even be close to being finished. This is another reason I like Thanksgiving; a last good meal before you run yourself ragged getting ready for Christmas.

I don’t think we should wait until Thanksgiving to think about what we’re thankful for. Over the past couple of years, I’ve found myself having pity parties almost daily. I had to stop and realize all that I really did have to be thankful for. I try to remember everyday how blessed I truly am. Thankfulness is another reason I love Thanksgiving.

Every year, before I get the Christmas decorations out, I try to devote at least a couple of weeks to Thanksgiving by putting my Thanksgiving decorations out. There aren’t a lot of them and they usually don’t stay long, but I want them to at least see the light of day. This will probably be their last week on display.

I’ve said before that I love fall. My mood always lightens in the fall. There are so many things about fall that I love. I decided to list them to remind myself how much I love this time of year.




*Pumpkins

*Halloween

*Thanksgiving (or should I just say Thanksgiving FOOD)

*The leaves change colors

*St. Louis Bread Company’s Pink Ribbon Bagel

*Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks

*TV shows premiere their new seasons

*Going to Pumpkin Hollow

*Homecoming season

*Going to Haunted Houses

*The weather gets cooler (normally…not this year apparently)

*My birthday (I still love my birthday)

*Going home in early fall and seeing the cotton in the fields

*Making popcorn balls and pumpkin bread

*Football (yeah I know…weird right?)

*Baseball playoffs

*I see my family more