By 30

This time last year I wrote a list of where I wanted to be in a year. It was phrased to me that way because it wasn't necessarily supposed to be a to-do list so much as where I wanted to see myself, to have something to look forward to. The list served its purpose at the time -- to cheer me up around my birthday, it's hard when you have SAD and your birthday at once -- but to be honest, I had only looked at it a few times since. Until this week.

When I wrote the list I had just turned 28, and you may well know, birthdays are often a time for remembering all the stuff you meant to, but haven't accomplished yet. Anyway. About three-and-a-half of the five big things that I wrote actually have happened!

OK, so what's my point?

The point is, I am turning 29 today and I thought I would make another list. Because, unlike those pesky New Years resolutions, these give me positive things to look forward to for the next year, no matter how or when they happen. Just a little encouragement to know that with another year gone by, I did actually do some significant, meaningful things.


In one year (30th birthday)

-Continue towards minimalism at home, work harder to simplify
-Enjoy Naomi's first year of life, even the tough parts, it will go by fast
-Work on self-esteem, to set a good example for Naomi
-Continue to get out of debt (this makes my lists every year) & be able to save and give more
-Appreciate my family & friends more, really let them know how wonderful they are and that I love them year-round

That's it! I can't believe I will be 30 next year... 1984 has never sounded so much like ancient history! Oh well, no need to worry about that yet, I know 29 will be just fine. (Hey, I rhymed).

-Paige
(Pic is me on my birthday last year :)

Pull-apart Muffins

Last Friday a strange thing happened... It snowed! Well, strange for North Carolina anyway. This seemed like a good time to try and bake something new, and I had been promising my husband monkey bread (I think pull-apart bread sounds nicer) since the week before Christmas. Well, our daughter was born on December 27th and that's just how long it took me to feel like or be able to cook anything!

Now about that bread. In my mind, pull-apart bread is a great comfort food. It's something my mom made for us growing up. She made it in a bundt pan. Now I asked her recently what her secret was, of course she assures me there isn't one. I guess it's just the fact that nothing can ever taste as good as mom's!

For my recipe I adapted it from three recipes I had seen on Pinterest. (I do this with most recipes I find online, search out several varieties and take my favorite parts of each).

What I might do differently next time:

Use dairy milk for the icing, almond gave it an after-taste I wasn't crazy about.

Use buttered biscuit dough, it would just save a step.

THE RECIPE

Refrigerated biscuit dough (you'll get one muffin for each biscuit, I used Pillsbury Simply Buttermilk)
Light brown sugar
Cinnamon
Butter (cold or room temp, half a stick made 6 for me)

Topping: (for 6)
1/2 c. Confectioners sugar
1 TBS Milk-beverage of choice (I used unsweetened almond milk)

1. Preheat oven to 350*
2. Line or grease muffin tin
3. Put into each: a small slice of butter, about a teaspoon of brown sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon
4. Break one biscuit into four pieces, roll into balls, place in tin
5. Repeat step 3 on top of dough
6. Bake according to biscuit package directions. (about 15 min for mine)

Topping
Whisk (or use a fork) sugar and milk in a bowl, spoon over hot muffins.

If you try this recipe, please let me know what you think or if you have any questions.

--paige--