whatever

Blog

Category Archives: Uncategorized

HERE WE GO…

November 17, 2018

On Instagram this week I mentioned how I was missing my blog so here I am.
there’s too much to cover if I make myself go back and write about everything I skipped so I am starting with today.
I can tell you WHY I stopped blogging. There are several reasons – time, bigger kids, different season, etc.
But I think a huge part of it was feeling like I had no more words.
My energy for words was gone.
You’ve heard the saying “little kids – little problems, big kids – big problems”
For awhile… parenting big kids really felt like a punch in the gut.
The emotional energy being poured out all day every day took all that I had.
It’s not been a smooth & easy path so I really felt like I had no words left to say at the end of the day.
I felt defeated & exhausted.
I certainly don’t have it all figured out now but I have been able to find a new rhythm.
It sounds crazy but what has brought back my energy has been taking of our sweet foster baby this past year.
He is all light & joy & fun all day long!
Caring for him has been life giving for me and helps me smile 100 times a day.
He’s brought our whole family closer getting to love on him together.
There’s plenty of stress that comes along with foster care too (because of all the adults not Tiny) but with so much happiness surrounding me it is so much easier to handle the highs & lows of foster care, parenting and life!
So that is where I am today. It may change tomorrow… who knows?!

Here’s a bunch of pics from the past few months!

Our daughter Lauren had a baby in July! He is so much fun!
His name is Lowry.
It’s weird having a baby at the same time as your daughter… but weird is not bad. 🙂
Tiny’s favorite thing in the whole world is lawn mowers.
And getting to sit on it with Craig is better than anything!

who needs parks when you have a mower?

On my 43rd birthday I was serenaded by waiters singing mariachi and it scared Lowry!

Tiny can walk now (when he feels like it) and reading books is the way to his heart (unless you have a lawn mower…)

we
we celebrated Tiny’s 1st birthday! He came to our home when he was 6 days old.
He did not like the cake, was confused by the singing but really loved the new ride on toy that plays music.

Talby has had a full season of volleyball.
I’ll post all her volleyball pics on another post but these were from a tournament day where they won everything and played with Tiny inbetween all their games.

kansas views… at the end of my block.
I can’t take the cuteness!!!!

I got to spend a weekend at the Craft House with these friends.
I love these girls!!!

Sean’s (#53) also had a full football season… more pics to come on that too.
He is a senior so football is over forever.
SO SAD!!!!

Craig & Sean went to a Chiefs game.
That’s A LOT of red!!!

Annie turned 14 – WHAT IS LIFE??
How is this possible? She is just a tiny baby… how can she also be 14?
She and my dad share a birthday so we sang to them both and they sang to each other.

we made Tiny a crown out of the chip bag at Chipotle.
and wore him out with all of our birthday shopping.
i love wearing sleeping babies!!! their little kissy lips breathing baby breath on my neck??? HEAVEN!

Annie started basketball and has had 4 or 5 games already!

Talby turned 17.
She’s the sweetest kid!
NONE of her birthday gifts arrived in the mail on time so she had birthday WEEK – getting different packages each afternoon after school.
we went to dinner with the whole family to celebrate…not quite as easy now that we have another baby (Lowry) and a toddler who doesn’t want to sit at the table (normal). But it was wonderful to be all together none the less.

Lowry & Tiny are 9 months apart.
Tiny is smallish/average for his age and Lowry is a tank.
They are so cute together.

So that is my post easing back in to blogging.
I want to FINALLY answer the loads of the questions I got about foster care.
There were over a hundred and it overwhelmed me. Foster care itself overwhelms me on certain days…
so I gave up on the post.
but I will do it because there are kids out there that need a grown up to stand up for them.
It can help more of you consider foster care or helping a foster family so I will do it.

And as far as Tiny’s future with us… in the next week we should know a lot more.
I love him.
forever.
he’s changed our lives, our hearts and our family.

and he just woke up from his nap so I will be done with this post.

thanks for reading for all the years!

show hide 60 comments

add a comment

Michelle - So great to hear from you, Meg! I’ve been reading along for years…

Rebekah - I am giddy that you’re coming back to the blog!! Yay!! Your pictures and words always bring me joy and I know it’s the joy of Jesus shining through you!

Patti Mullican - Thanks for blogging! I love your blog and instagram feed and I am so inspired by you as an artist, mom, Jesus lover, etc. Blessings on you and yours this Christmas season! P.S. I hope you do a gift buying guide this year – I always end up purchase at least one or more items from your list! LOL

Karyn - I am glad you are back! Will you please post one of your gift giving or stocking stuffer ideas for Christmas! I love reading them.

Jenny B. - OH, wow!! This post was bittersweet for me. I mean, not really bitter, but there was a tinge of sadness because my oldest just turned 14, and he and Annie were so little back when I first started reading. Sigh… To quote you — time is a jerk. 😉 Also, Sean has changed SO much. He looks so grown up now! This just tells me I need to follow you on Instagram! Hello! Why have I not been?? I miss blogs, but IG is good too… Congrats on your grandbaby, and I hope things go well with Tiny and your family! Thanks for the update!

Beccy - Congratulations on your new Grandbaby!!! Parenting is not for the faint of
heart. Looking forward to your foster care post.

Becca Groves - I’m so glad you are posting on your blog again! Thank you for sharing this way! And I will be praying for Tiny this week with earnest prayers, for him and for all the adults making the decisions for him. And especially praying for you. Love and Peace to you.

Toni :0) - I have always loved your blog. The colors, the family, the babies, you are just fun and so inspiring. It brightens my day. Thank you for being a flashlight 🔦 in a depressing world. Look up Kristen Hampton on Facebook. She’s funny and joy filled and she will explain the flashlight. It’s because of you that we love Jim Gaffigan and got to see him last summer in person. God bless you for fostering Tiny. 💜

Andrea - Loved the post. Love your blog….love to follow you on insta…. update us on Tiny. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Rachel Jeter - MEG! So glad to see you back on here blogging. Sometimes I browse thru your old posts. I’ve loved your blog since 2010! Praying for you guys on this foster care journey. What a blessing you are to Tiny and no doubt Tiny is blessing you. Lots of love from Arkansas and hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Lindsay - So happy to see you back! Looking forward to more blog posts! ❤️

Erin - Love to you, Meg! Long time reader who is praying for you all and so thankful for each time you do share.

Linda - So happy to see you blogging. I know what you mean by having no energy after dealing with big kids! Wow it is tuff. But I love your blog and the happy spirit it always has. Glad you are back!

Dana - So good to see you on here, Meg! We have 6 kids and our youngest is 4, so I’ve always looked to you to have a glimpse into what life could look like in the future. I completely want to do what you’re doing when all our kids are bigger, too- foster a baby! I know I would end up wanting to adopt, but I’ll leave that part up to the Lord. What you are doing is so important! I too have been a little bit disillusioned by foster care and DHS, but these kids are the ones who lose when we give up because it’s too hard. Keep up the super important, life-changing, good work!

CathyMA - Love this update Megan ❤️

Michelle - I saw one or two other people say this, but I also have been reading your blog forever and I’m wigging out at how big your kids have gotten! Congrats on making it through (I feel like we all need congrats on just getting by sometimes.)

Michelle - Welcome back, Meg! I don’t feel like you’ve been too far because I follow you on Instagram but this was a lovely update and I was grateful to read it. I hope this week brings the best outcomes for everyone involved. Not sure there is such a thing, but as close as you can get it my wish for you and Tiny. xoxo

Kelly - I loved “catching up”. I pop back into my blog and I do love it when I do it. Blog as much or as little as you want! Kelly

Heather - I’m so happy you’re blogging again! I have followed you for YEARS and always look forward to reading your posts. They are real, encouraging, and always helpful, from parenting to paint colors! 😉 I look forward to your Christmas gift ideas for teen girls each year and my girls get great gifts from your suggestions.

I’ve had the hardest parenting year of my life. I’m raising two teenage girls (15 & 16). And while they are great girls, teenage years are HARD! I found myself wishing for the days of sippy cups and Dora the Explorer. But God is good and makes good of all things. Lifting your family up in prayer!

Blessings,
Heather

Kayla - I can complete relate to your reason for stepping away from blogging because I have done the same thing. We have 6 kids and blogging about our lives was easy and fun when they were little. Now they are big-ish….and I feel like I can’t share “their lives” or candid moments anymore without their permission. I also had to pick and choose my words carefully, which made it more like work than fun! But, I am happy to get an occasional glimpse into your lives – from someone who understands the struggle!

jennibell - I’m so glad that you are blogging!! I’ve missed you so much. . .but know how seasons change and all that. I’m rarely on Instagram but have kept up a bit through that. Great post. Happy Holidays!!!

Debbie H - Thanks for the post, Meg! LOVE all the photos! You must have even gotten out the BIG camera for the flowers and butterflies! 🙂 . Pray for you and Tiny that the best decisions are made. . . although I know from experience the system sure seems flawed. Hugs! And thanks for sharing yourself with the “rest” of us. So great to have you “back”. Happy Thanksgiving to your entire family. We all have so much to be grateful for. xoxo

Melissa - Are you going to adopt Tiny?

Lorri - Welcome back to this wonderful home you have made here on the Web and invited all of in for a visit. Thank you for sharing your home, business, family and journey these many years. Please know total strangers are out here rooting for you and your family, and sending prayers to all. God bless.

Tracy - So happy to read your stories again!! Makes me so happy! Can’t wait for the next post 🙂

Lisa - I feel like a creeper saying this but I randomly discovered your blog when Annie was like 4 years old! Which means I’ve been following your life for 10 years. The internet is a weird place. But I do want you to know your blog and Instagram and family has been an encouragment to me. Even your story of getting pregnant with your oldest. My 17 year old is pregnant and due soon. Your story encourages my mama’s heart! Also your comments about big kids is spot on. So thankful their stories don’t end during those teenage years. Xoxo

Beth - Love this and bless you for fostering!!
Nice to read about what you have been up to lately. I’ve been reading since tabby was like 3!!!

Shannon - Thanks for posting Meg. As the parent of four kiddos 13-24 I needed to hear this. I thought I was tired when my kids were little, but I had no how emotionally exhausting it is to parent big kids. Hang in there and know you are not alone!

Sue - Loved this. Thanks for the update! Thanks, too, for the confirmation that parenting big kids can be as draining as it has been for me! Will look forward to more whenever you’re able to post. Absolutely love seeing and hearing about Tiny.

stephanie ackerman - love EVERYTHING about this post..love you more and love #tiny even a little bit more than all of that #auntiesteph

liz c. - So fun to see a post from you, and so many beautiful photos. Tiny and Lowry are both darling. Sending good wishes to you and your family.

Tiffany - My energy for words was gone. – Sheesh, I hear you. But delighted to hear that you have more energy and looking forward to the Foster Care information.

Kristen - I’m newish here. I started following your Instagram because of Selah Signs. Visiting the craft house is on my bucket list! I didn’t even know you had a blog. But I feel like I could have written this. Except for the foster baby and the first grandchild. I have a kid who recently turned 17 and another who is 13. And another teen in the middle. I used to keep a blog too. And in this different season of motherhood, there’s just not words. But I sense God is doing something big. I don’t know what it is yet, but maybe it will come with a return to my blog.

Susan - So glad to be reading this!

Amanda - Life at Cloverhill - Lovely catch up. Nice to see everyone is doing so well 🙂

Melissa - Welcome back!

Cara - So glad you are back!!!!!

Rachel - So lovely to read your words again – I’ve missed your blog 👍😄

Jennifer - Welcome back! It was the perfect post. Thank you!

Kim - Just wanted to say “you’ve got this”. I don’t have teenagers yet but my 3yo is giving me a run for my money. Glad you came back to this space, it will be here when you have time for it. No pressure. 🙂

Kathi - Thanks for the post! I’ve missed you, Instagram just isn’t the same as a good old fashioned blog post:)

Lynette - I am so glad you posted. I so enjoy your words and your pictures are always so colorful! I have five kids, ages 5-16 (17 at the end of the month) and while the teen years are so much better in many ways than I anticipated, I love my teen girls, it is also such a challenging parenting season. We are so busy and life is full of weighty issues. In some ways teens feel just as needy as toddlers but their needs are more emotionally draining. I find myself completely done in at the end of most days!!! Mommying is hard. 😊 So inspired by your foster care story. It’s always been a dream of mine to be a foster mom.

Michelle - Thanks for sharing! I loved seeing all the pics!

Rachelle - So glad you are back. Much love and light.

Lisa Anderson - It made me so happy to read this post. I’ve missed your blog. Thank you so much for being honest about the big kids, big problems. I feel ya and sometimes I think I’m the only one having problems. It’s good to be reminded I’m maybe normal. Love your beautiful family and adventure with Tiny. Thanks for giving us the time!

Emily McNulty - Thank you for blogging again! I sure have missed you🌻

Kimberlee - I hope it felt good to write that. It felt great to read it! ♥️

Sara Neufeld - So good! Love reading the update! Reminds me of the old days when I read your blog every single day and Annie was a preschooler! Time just flies on by. Have a great weekend!

Shanna - Loved loved loved this wonderful update! It’s so beautiful to see this season of your life and all the joy you bring to it!!

Rebecca W - Thanks for posting all these years!

Jenn - Loved reading this post and seeing a bit of family life – thanks for sharing!

Laura - I loved reading this! I love your blog and I have missed it 🙂

Astrid - <3 Thank you so much for returning and sharing bits and pieces of your life with us. I truly have missed reading your posts. (PS…you helped to inspire me to paint our stairs in rainbow colors <3 )
I'm looking forward to reading more of your posts and learning more about foster care.

Amy - Yay!! I’ve missed your blog. Thanks for sharing!

Rita - So nice to catch up a bit! Good luck with it all!

Angela - This made my day!! Your family has grown so much! I was thinking about all your wonderful Christmas posts today while I was putting up our tree. So glad to see you back at it!

Catherine - Welcome back!!! So nice to read a post! Thanks for sharing so much! Life can keep us really busy and trying hard to figure out all that comes our way. ❤️❤️❤️

Kelly - Love all those sweet pictures and all the color and rainbows we know you for!

Rachel Boers - So glad you are “back.” Yes, life with “bigs” is a challenge, and in a different way than the physical exhaustion that came when the kids were little. And the stakes are so much higher too! Its not always easy (or right!) to ignore that and act like everything is fine, yet you have to respect their privacy at the same time, which can feel deceptive. Not to mention there is a grieving when kid after kid leaves the nest. Every year there is a new normal, not just for me and my husband, but also for the kids left at home. I’ve said to my husband over the past five years, “I just don’t know how much more change I can take!” It’s a season of transition, and while it’s necessary, and, in the end, good, it’s also still messy and JUST PLAIN HARD. But I’ve learned that I can’t let it steal my joy, and it looks like you’ve learned that too! There are still lots of great things happening, of course, and I am getting better at being content in this season of life. Please keep writing!

Mary Byberg - welcome back xo you were missed

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

three things

April 14, 2018

#1
I got to talk with Haley Williams on her podcast “Kindled”
we talked about creativity, the Craft House and lots of other stuff.
Click over and check it out.

#2
this looks really good and fun to make too!
i like the Tasty site because of the videos! I am a visual learner who enjoys instant gratification.
i love being able to see the whole recipe so quickly.
the recipe is here: Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie

#3
i have been searching for inspiration to remodel our master bathroom so i have been thinking about allllllllll the tile.
the only thing i am almost sure about is a freestanding bathtub.
but everything else is still undecided.
i am going to choose something white and maybe some black (but probably not).
but if i was the kind of lady that got to redo things majorly whenever i got tired of them… i would choose something really colorful.

i love all of those colors!
how fun is that pink vanity?!!!

show hide 2 comments

add a comment

Jill - Does Mr. Duerksen get a vote on a pink vanity in his master bath? ;-} Asking for a friend.

Tracy Koeppen - I like the green vanity! Paint is easy to change so you could easily change it once you decide to move on… green tile not so much.. Lots of pretty choices!

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

happy pics

April 3, 2018

these are instagram accounts i follow that make me smile and inspire me.
click on the photo and it will take you to their IG account. 🙂

I am positive you are feeling more happy than you were one minute ago after seeing all these beautiful pics!
and i hope you enjoy following their instagram feeds.

show hide 4 comments

add a comment

Laurie - You make me smile!! Thanks for the inspiration! I love new feeds to inspire me to create

Alisa Workman - We follow some of the same accounts. It’s always great to have color in your life.

Heather - Love these! I love colorful pictures in my instagram feed, thanks for sharing! Do you follow @studiodiy? I feel like you would love it / it fits in with all these other ones!

Lorri - Such sunny goodness – thank you for sharing! They will be a definite lift, just like your IG feed is. 🙂

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

CAMP CREATE SPONSORS & two giveaways!

September 29, 2017

giveaway winners: Bernadette B. & Joleen S. and both have already received their prizes!
thank you so much everybody!!!
———————————————————————————————————————–

.

At each Camp Create we have generous sponsors who send their product to our guests as a gift!
It’s so kind and every camper is so thrilled.
I’d love for you to click through all of these shops today, taking advantage of the discounts they are offering.
We are so appreciative of all of our sponsors.
thank you! thank you! thank you!

and leave a comment at the end for a chance to win one of the giveaway prize bundles!

DAYSPRING
Dayspring has so many products that are great for yourself but also make wonderful gifts for friends, family and even teachers!
I am loving all the Christmas products they have this year.
Use the code: 20CAMPCREATE for a 20% discount on your order.

BENZIE DESIGN
This is my favorite felt! It’s a dream to cut & sew with and to use to make projects!
If you’ve never tried this felt… you are missing out!
You will never use craft store felt again after using Benzie.
Use the code: FALLCAMPCREATE for a 10% discount off your order.

New York Times best selling author COURTNEY WALSH sent her book for our guests!
She is a novelist, artist, theater director, and playwright.
Courtney’s most recent novel, titled Hometown Girl, just released September 19.
She’s written almost a dozen books – come over to her Author page to see them all!

PITTER PATTER ART
Laura Kelly is writer and an artist.
She has a shop that she fills from time to time with FUN handmade goods like these wristlet key rings or
personalized name pillows and even original paintings.
She is super talented obviously but what i love most about Laura is that she has a HUGE heart!
Take the time to read her blog and you will be inspired to do better with your life!
This girl… she is just one of my most favorite people!
Here is where you can find Laura: blog – instagram – shop

ILLUSTRATED FAITH
You know I am 100% on board with mixing creativity together with time in the bible!
Shanna Noel and her team have so many great products to make bible journaling even more fun.
i love everything about this company!
🙂
Use the code: print4jesus for 20% off your purchase in their digital shop – click here

FEATHER & BIRCH
This shop makes me soooo happy!
She has over 400 beautiful items for your home in her shop!
We used her mini wood words for one of our projects at camp and it was the perfect finishing touch!
Her font choice is completely on point.
Go find something for your house right now!
Use the code: CAMPCREATE15 for 15% off your purchase.

EMILY P. FREEMAN
Emily is a writer, creative director, and spiritual mentor who helps create space
for the soul to breathe so people can walk in step with their calling.
She is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Simply Tuesday and Grace for the Good Girl
as well as Graceful and A Million Little Ways.
This Simply Tuesday coloring book is a fun addition to go alongside her book.
Giving the book, coloring book and a set of colored pencils would be a great gift!

MERCY HOUSE GLOBAL
I love the mission of Mercy House and that it gives all of us the opportunity to purchase with a purpose.
Shopping with Mercy House provides employment & empowerment for women all around the world!
Use the code: FABFALL to get 15% off your entire order in their online store
AND/OR
Get $5 bucks off for trying out their subscription club for one month with code: FAIRTRADE
(only applies to our Main box – not Earring or Bracelet of the Month)
at fairtradefriday.club

I am super excited because it’s been quite awhile since I’ve gotten to do this!
I have two BIG giveaways that two lucky people are going to win!
(follow the instructions at the bottom)

GIVEAWAY #1
books by Lisa-Jo Baker – Dayspring, notebook -pen_and_paint, key fob – pitterpatterart, notecards – mary wangerin, paper packet – illustrated faith, bracelet set – Mercy House Global, necklace – jennifer dahl designs, book by Holley Gerth, Simply Tuesday coloring book and a book by Courtney Walsh.

GIVEAWAY #2
watercolor sign – Barn Owl Primitives, notecards – Gracelaced, notebook – pen_and_paint, LippyClippy – Gabriel’s Good Tidings, scripture cards – Melissa Beaver, necklace – Raising Up Rubies, coloring book – AdornIt, books by Emily P. Freeman, Annie Downs & Holley Gerth.

~~Leave me a comment with your FAVORITE DESSERT to enter to win!~~

contest is closed.

show hide 478 comments

add a comment

Karen Thurman - My favorite is Cookies and Cream ice cream 🙂

Margie - Creme Brûlée

Michelle - As a lover of all things sweet it’s hard to narrow it down to one…but mom’s rhubarb crisp and homemade ice cream. I HATED going out in the hot summer days to the garden to cut the rhubarb, smelling that compost pile and the feel of squishy, brown lawn clippings under my bare feet. But the warm,sweet-tart heaven and melting, frozen sweet cream (omg there were raw eggs in it and we actually LIVED!) takes me back to a simpler time.

Terri - I love homemade vanilla ice cream!!!

Tina M. - Lemon bars are my fave!

Kim york - Dessert is my favorite dessert 🙂 Carrot cake

Jamie - Creme brule

heather - macaroons

Alysha D - Anything chocolate!!

Allison albainy - Ice Cream every time !

Reeanna Altom - Lemon blueberry cake

Suzanne - Hello Dolly bars

Amanda Shannon - Carrot Cake!! Yum!

Our learning - Orange velvet cake

Karen - Black raspberry ice cream

Mari L. - Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

Liz R. - Dirt cake with gummy worms!

Donna - pound cake with strawberries!

Karen - Homemade Chocolate Pie!

Becky Muir - Mississippi Mud Cake – so so so very delicious

Lisa Gering - Pecan pie!

Lael - Peach Cream Pie!

Cheryl - Any kind of cheesecake!

Emily landers - My favorite dessert is anything with cream cheese!!!

Kathy L. - I have a sweet tooth but nothing beats a warm chocolate chip cookie from the oven. Yum.

Jamie Weathers - Carrot cake

Jackie - Definitely homemade coconut cake! My great grandmother made the absolute best!

Mitzi Corrill - Chocolate cake.

Chocolate chip cookies are a very close second!

Beth Shaha - Favorite Dessert is a warm brownie right out of the oven with vanilla ice cream on top…oh and then hot fudge…and then sprinkles…not really for the taste, but the color ;).

Elizabeth C - Chocolate Cream Pie

Cindy Hilliard - Homemade vanilla ice cream with fresh sliced strawberries.
Yum!

Julie Schomacker - Favorite dessert-How can I pick just one?
Peach cobbler, apple crisp, pecan pie, chocolate chip cookies, banana cake

Sarah Kochert - Pick one dessert?! Pumpkin Roll (or most anything chocolate) 🙂

kima - Grocery store buttercream frosting! (cake optional)

Kim - Cherry Pie!!!!

Mary - So hard to pick just one! At the moment, I’ll say anything w/pumpkin and cream cheese for the current season!

Kirsten - Strawberry rhubarb pie

Angela - I love chocolate cake, but ’tis the season for pumpkin desserts and I love pumpkin rolls too!

Emily Patterson - Anything chocolate!

Lori - Chocolate chip cookies!

s - chocolate cream pie!

Kayla - Definitely ice cream and if it is homemade – even better!

Sarah - I love, LOVE, LOVE bread pudding.

Christy - Tiramisu for sure, but I’m pretty partial to any type of pie (other than chocolate pudding)!

Liesl Holtz - Usually chocolate – but this time of year it’s pumpkin pecan dump cake! Fast, easy and a crowd pleaser!

Liesl - Usually chocolate – but this time of year it’s pumpkin pecan dump cake! Fast, easy and a crowd pleaser!

Leona - Chocolate Pudding Brownies. These have 4 different chocolates and are the most delicious brownies I have ever tasted!

Mary - The Chocolate Dream at Carrabba’s is my all-time favorite dessert…heavenly!

Kelly - I have a sweet tooth so this is challenging. I’m thinking apple dumplings would be my favorite. .. perfect fall yumminess!!

Melanie - CHEESECAKE 😉

Tracy - blueberry pie

Wendy - Starberries, angel food cake and lots of whip cream

Ronda - Anything with chocolate and caramel is really a can’t lose with me but I will have to say my favorite dessert ever was a chocolate passion fruit tart from the Angelina in Paris. Oh so good, I want to go back just for the food.

Rita - WONDERFUL give-aways! Right now, favorite dessert is monster cookies. They don’t last long where ever I take them !

Dana Smith - Chocolate cake

Jane Goetz - Cherry Cheesecake and Lemon Chiffon Cheesecake

Vicki I - I love BROWNIES!!!!

Traceylynne - My favourite dessert is my Mom’s apple pie. She only makes it for Thanksgiving, and I crave it all year long!

Heather Henricks - Fav dessert is brownies with vanilla ice cream- no nuts allowed!! What a fun giveaway! So much color 🙂

Jessica Clevering - My favorite dessert is birthday cake. Especially when it is not my birthday.

Courtney F - This time of year it is apple crisp for sure!

Katy - Chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches. I would never turn down dessert!

Michelle - Favorite dessert is cheesecake! 🙂

Skye - Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies!

se7en - I believe ice-cream is a food group, but some people call it dessert!!! Love it, all of it!!!

Carol vargas - My favorite new dessert is pickles pineapple dessert casserole

Marie - I love strawberry rhubarb pie with homemade ice cream!

Alison Speerbrecker - my favorite dessert… hmmm… probably any house-made restaurant dessert that comes out mostly chocolate, warm, covered in ice cream and two spoons for sharing.

Kirsten Lake - Favorite dessert? Anything chocolate!!

Kim - Red Velvet cake with homemade cream cheese frosting!

Carrie C. - My favorite dessert is crème brulee.

Kathie Whisman - Hmmm…I like a scoop of chocolate chip ice cream with a side of mint chocolate chip!

Erin Guisbert - Pumpkin Roll ♡

Diane - Banana cream supreme

Jamie - Ice cream cake.

Christie K - Most kinds of fruit pie.

Jasmine - Ooey gooey fudgey brownies with a glass of cold milk

Toni D. - Cherry Chip Birthday Cake!!

Becca - Cheesecake, any & all cheesecakes!!!

Jess Roy - You can never go wrong with a warm brownie and vanilla ice cream on top

Melissa - My favorite dessert is homemade apple pie served warm-with a scoop of vanilla ice scream. Yum!

Abby Hutchins - My favorite dessert is BY FAR a brownie with vanilla ice cream. It never gets old 🙂

Emily B - Hands down – my mom’s brownies:)

Ashley - My favorite dessert is anything chocolate! Pie, cookies, M&Ms… It doesn’t matter as long as it’s chocolate!

Michelle Johnson - I love Donuts – they are definitely dessert! Right?

CassM - It’s always a shopping danger when you post the link to your Camp Create sponsors!!!!

Favourite dessert?? Hmmm, that’s hard. How can you pick a favourite child? But the Raspberry Crepe Cake we made for our wedding (and now anniversaries) is over the moon delicious!

LeAnn Gaffney - My favorite dessert is jello poke cake!

Gabby D. - Brownies, please – no nuts!

Brooke Clark - My favorite dessert is Brownies for sure! 🙂 Hot and gooey!

Nanette Ryan - Apple Pie a la mode is my favorite dessert ever!

Helen C - Such lovely things – my favorite dessert is German chocolate cake

Chris - Toasted coconut gooey butter cake-yum!!

Stephanie - Cheesecake! Cheesecake! Cheesecake!

Amy Webster - So excited, I forgot to add my favorite dessert! A bowl of choc chip ice cream or Houlton Dairy Farms Grapenut Ice cream, it’s a Northern Maine thing. 🙂

Amy Webster - This is all too good to be true! What a wonderful giveway for a very lucky winner!
xoxo
Amy

Cindy - Love the giveaway! and your blog! there aren’t many desserts I don’t like – I’d say favorite are scotcharoos.

Ruth Goertzen - chocolate sheet cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Deb - I love cream puffs with chocolate whipped cream, and just a drizzle of chocolate on top. YUMMM

Sarah - Chocolate Concrete and Mint Custard.

Kat Lugo - Dreena Burton’s sweet potato chocolate cake. It is so moist and yummy that it doesn’t even need frosting! 👍🏻💖

Lisa - Chocolate chip cookies!

Amanda Soltoff - A big bowl of ice cream!!!

Rachel Twenter - anything with brown sugar & oats. 😂 especially this time of year! 🍁🍂🌾

Kelly W. - Right now my fave is warm baked apples with vanilla ice cream because that’s what I’ve been making. My *all time* favorite is Tiramisu but it’s very rare that I find a really good version of it. 🙁

Suzanne - My daughter worked at Krause Berry Farm this summer and even though their pies are dangerously irresistible, my current favourite dessert is their Raspberry Ice Cream in a freshly made waffle cones.

Bethany - Incredible bright and fun gifts from your sponsors! ❤️

Alissa B - Cake and frosting..hands-down!

Victoria - Only one favorite dessert? My new fav is chocolate flourless torte! So rich and decadent. Also love Bavarian Torte, so easy to make and delicious!

Jolene - I’m a pie girl….I love me a yummy pie….sweet or savory, doesn’t matter!

Megan - Rice Krispie treats

Becky - Pecan pie or anything chocolate 🍫

Erin Foster - My favorite dessert is any kind of cheesecake–yum!! Thank you so much for the fun giveaway. You’re so generous!

Jesse K. - Chocolate milkshake with a swirl of peanut butter!!

Suzanne Murray - Key Lime Pie with real key lime juice – makes me smile!

Melissa Smith - my mom’s chocolate pie!

jamie - Thanks for the opportunity to win!

Warm brownies with chocolate ice cream and chocolate sauce. Love me some chocolate! 🙂

Bethany Flokstra - Favorite dessert, or at least my favorite one to serve is apple crisp. I have a simple recipe that my mom always used. It came from a cookbook put out by Gold Medal Flour company on their 50th anniversary.

Tracey - Current favorite: frozen custard hot fudge sunday with nuts!

Bernadette - My Aunt Bea’s German chocolate cake…no one can beat her homemade icing.

Kim Rohrbough - chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream – or maybe just the cookie dough! Great giveaway!

Yvonne Currey - I love, love, love desserts! Any and all of them! HA! Since it is fall, my current fave is pumpkin dump cake! It tastes so good warm right out of the oven with some vanilla bean ice cream! Thanks for the chance at winning.

Becky Kindel - Fun Stuff – Peach pie is my fav. <3

Terri Fretwell - Coconut Cream Pie! among many…..

Susan - Ooo, blueberry crisp, hands down!

Gina Murawski - Peach Pie!!

Lexie Gallagher - Do I have to pick just one? Ice Cream is my absolute favorite. Just about any flavor. In a cone, dish, on top of cake or a cookie! I have been known to eat ice cream for dinner!

RACHEL - I LOVE ANY KIND OF PIE! Pecan Pie is my fave!

Laura King - I was sent here by Emily P. Freeman — wow, what a great collection you have! And my favorite dessert is my Mom’s poppyseed bundt cake, with a crunchy sweet cinnamon-sugar crust.

Janel - Anything Kimberlee makes!!!

Stephanie R. - Chocolate cake!

Jennifer - My favorite is a good apple crisp!!! with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!!!

Heather Lilyquist - I LOVE dessert … warm cobblers with vanilla ice cream … or a good ole Binet cake with cream cheese frosting … yum, yum, yum!

Abigail English - Oh darn it’s supposed to say “baked” filling. autocorrect fail! Totally embarressed.

Abigail English - My mom’s Dutch apple pie:Apple pie with a spiced vanilla yogurt custard filling naked over the apples.

sam - Love anything that combines chocolate and raspberries. As I work on reducing sugar from my diet, my current fave is a dark chocolate chip tucked inside fresh raspberries. Of course eating a bowlful probably doesn’t qualify in reducing sugar.

Rhonda Fendt - I love cheesecake… the recipe you shared, Pams’ Cheesecake is amazing!

Gretchen Poulson - yellow cake with chocolate icing!

Kim Hahn - My favorite dessert is key lime pie. So good!

Jenni Carlisle - Such a fun giveaway! Lemon meringue pie! Lemon + sugar anything really – yum!!

Susie - Classic chewy chocolate chip cookies

Tammy B Allen - My favorite dessert is a red velvet cake that a childhood friend’s mom made every Christmas. I have the recipe and it tastes great but I have never mastered how pretty the cake was when she made it.

Jamie - My favorite dessert….I have to pick one? I can’t say no to homemade poundcake. Leave it plain, add strawberries, chocolate, ice cream….ok, now I want a slice… 🙂

Kim Fry - My favorite would be banana pudding…made with sweetened condensed milk, so much better!!!

Nicole - Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting!

Kara - oatmeal carmelita bars!!

Sarah - Anything chocolate! 🙂

Cheryl W. - Anything involving chocolate, of course! Awesome giveaways! Thanks for the opportunity.

Kayla Rokosz - Oooh, so many to choose from….but, I think I will go with hot fudge sundae with peanuts.

Krista W. - My FAVE dessert is white “wedding” cake! 🙂

sheryl - I love a good apple crisp!

Kirsten - Any kind of pie

Tracy - Cheesecake – I love Cheesecake!

Cyndy - Chocolate chip cookie dough! 🙂

Jenna - Blackberry cobbler! Or really anything you put in front of me… 🙂

Jill Pitzer - Creme Brûlée

Jody - Chocolate cake. Or vanilla. As long as it’s cake!

Stephanie Sytsema - My favorite dessert is the Milk Dud dessert my sweet grandma always used to make for family gatherings.

Lisa L - Pumpkin dessert (especially this time of year!)

Genesis - I love cookies! Any type! Or anything with caramel sauce 🙂

Susan Faulkner - These giveaways are fantastic! Many items I’d love to use! Tiramisu is my favorite dessert!

stacy - Chocolate chip pumpkin cookies & chocolate chip zucchini bread, & regular old chocolate chip cookies!

Lori - Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting ~ yummy!

Michelle Yoder - Cheese cake! Any kind love them all!

Meghan K - Chocolate cheesecake!

andrea - Brownies all the way! Especially the corner pieces.

Jenna - Chocolate…. Chocolate salted caramel torte??? Or just plain old chocolate chip cookies (with flaky salt on top)

Julia - brownies from the Joy of Cooking cookbook and vanilla ice cream (bonus points if they are frosted!)

Melissa Lackey - I LOVE Caramel Pie. Yum!

Kimberly - I absolutely L O V E the red velvet bundt cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes!

Kathy - Peach pie

Megan puksa - Dunkin donuts used to have a donut that had icing in the middle of it. I’m from Canada so I had not had it in years and don’t know the name but it was THE MOST delicious donut I’ve ever had. Went back this June and was told they do not have a donut like that anymore. I still think about it. So good!

Kasey - I love a good chocolate chip cookie.

Beccy - Raspberries and chocolate

Lisa Robertson - Creme Brûlée!

Deitra Shoemaker - Chili’s Chocolate Molton Cake…what a fun question for your giveaway!

Jen B. - Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp!!

Joleen - With the fall weather in Michigan right now it is apple pie.

Charmin - Squash pie! Have you heard of it? Pumpkin pie made with butterceup squash instead of pumpkin? So good!

Kathy P - Anything chocolate!

Maureen Sharma - Apple Dumplings a la mode. Yuuuummmmy!

Alysen Sobecki - I LOVE fall time desserts like apple crisp and apple pie!

Amanda - Chocolate ice cream. Plain and simple. 🙂

Candice - Brownies. Mmmmmm. 😊

Kelly Krause - Just one favorite? Hmmmmm, that’s too hard! Peach pie? Coffee ice cream? Chewy coconut bars? 🙂

Kristi Kooima - Key lime pie!

Jenn - Strawberry Shortcake 🍓

Rebecca Kriner - wedding cake….or white cake with white icing!

Nancy D. - I don’t have one favorite, I love all dessert. So my top three are Creme Brulee, Cannoli, and Hot Fudge Sundaes. YUMMY

Mary Beth Hall - Texas sheetcake

Kelli Sardo - Any type of crisp… apple, berry whatever but it must have a scoop of ice
cream on top!!

Sara Brown - Birthday cake!

Donna Jo Anderson - Pineapple upside down cake!

Luz - Favorite dessert…..ice cream….any flavor…any time….toppings..or none.

Jessica murray - Tiramisu 😍

Sara hansen - Bread pudding. Yummm!

Tina Hammond - Forgot…any cheesecake !!!

Tina Hammond - Love all of this. Hopefully one day I can attend . Thank you for sharing!!

Susan Brewer - My favorite dessert is a warm from the oven chocolate chip cookie.

katherine - Lemon meringue pie (minus the meringue! :)) is my absolute favorite!

Crystal - Brownies with vanilla ice cream 🙂

Heather Secrest - Poor Man’s Eclair!

Emily G. - Homemade Banana Pudding, of course.

Molly - Oh man one favorite dessert. Probably chocolate cake with chocolate frosting!! Yes please!

Sherri - Black Tie Mousse Cake (from Olive Garden)… heaven on a plate!!!

cindy b. - ANYTHING Chocolate! seriously! 🙂 or a really good homemade carrot cake…

Sommer lynn - Home made chocolate chip cookies with a glass of cold milk…nomnomnom

Candy M - Cherry pie!

Charity Boehm - It has to be chocolate chip cookies!….or maybe no bakes, hmmm, either way it’s COOKIES! 🍪

Brantlee - Cheesecake!

Raye Marie Chappuis - German chocolate cake ‘

Janelle Goodrich - My favorite dessert is fruit pizza!!

Nicole - Dutch apple pie. ..a la mode, of course!

Heidi Durant - Brownie and ice cream

Kim Western - Favorite Sweets… All of them? French Macaron Ice Cream Sandwich is pumpkin
Cheesecake!

JessR - Carrot cake!! All day, every day! (In my dreams, of course!)

Carrie - My grandma’s famous cheesecake!!! So good!!!!

Janna Reid - Kettle corn–for dessert AND dinner sometimes.

Tricia - I adore ice cream… Anytime, all the time!! 🙂

Teri Balch - Homemade Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting…full of Walnuts!!! Yummy!! 😋

Kelly - How does one pick one favorite dessert? Ice cream . . . creme brulee . . . smores! My favorite this week has been brownies with ice cream. 🙂 Thank you for hosting such fun giveaways! Kelly

patti - Pumpkin pie!! Thanks for the chance to win!

Tiffany - Brownie sundae🎉

Liz Martig - Tiramisu, the real deal with marscapone, coffee liqueur, and espresso!! AMAZING!

Melissa - Cake! All kinds… I’m not picky!

Rachel Zana Mason - Brownies and cookies!

Naomi Johnson - heath blizzard from dairy queen

Kim - Hot fudge cake with homemade vanilla ice cream! Yummy! 🤤

Donna - Right now my favorite dessert is pumpkin tarts!!

Nikol - Chocolate Cream Pie !

Jamie Bell - favorite dessert is peanut butter pie!

Megan gerrity - My moms homemade peanut butter pie.

CarrieC - Hands-down warm strawberry rhubarb pie ala mode!

Shannon Schneider - Tiramisu…love it!

Rachelle M - Carrot cake

Allie Pankratz - Thanks for babysitting me 🙂 miss you and your family! Our families should have a reunion soon!

Leanne - Red velvet cake. That cream cheese frosting – yum!

MaryAnne Hommel - Lemon cake! It’s my birthday cake evey year.

Jamie - Cheesecake!!!

Amanda Baird - Apple Spice Cake + Caramel Cream Cheese frosting. My mother in law makes it for my brithday every year. With a cup of coffee it’s heaven!

Becky Jones - Oh my- my momma’ s cream puff dessert- decadent!! Thanks for the giveaways!!

Missy - Bread pudding! Oh, how I wish I was up there. I’ll be back next year! ♡

Traci Jones - wedding cake or Pam’s cheesecake – mmmmmmm

Jessica A - Banana pudding! Yum!

Cheryl - My favorite is key lime pie. 😍

Amanda Gindlesperger - Tiramisu! Yum!!

Tonya - Ummmmm…brownies…thick, fudgey, thin, cakey…as long as they’re homemade.

Lisa C. - My favorite dessert is my mom’s pound cake!

Sherri H. - 2 Frosting Cookies. It’s a recipe that I grew up with.

Shawnette - Hands down Pecan Pie!

Amber willis - Ice cream. Everyday all day. Espcially PB and chocolate.

Heather Jones - My dad’s chocolate chip cookies

Sarah W - Chocolate Lava Cake

Lori Grade - Creme brulee all the way!!

Nancy Jordahl - Is this favorite sweet? Cinnamon roll. Or fave dessert? Hot fudge sundae

Kay Hefner - Tiramisu cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory. 🙌🏻

Robin C - Nestle Toll House cookies with LOTS of pecans!

Donna Joy - Snickerdoodles!

Donna Joy - Awesome giveaway!

Cristy - Sopapilla cheesecake!

Amanda - Cheesecake

Carolyn - Coconut cream pie

Rebecca Kaufman - Chocolate cake!!!

Gina - Chocolate cake with buttercream icing 😀

Amber Machado - Brownies!!

Arlene Freytag - Chocolate cake from scratch with vanilla ice cream !!!

Katie - Stunning selections! You can’t ever go wrong with chocolate chip cookies!

Cari P - My moms chocolate chip cookies.

Tracey Nichols - Cheesecake!!

Tonya - Warm chocolate chip cookies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Melissa - Strawberry cheesecake.

Jenna - Cherry Cheesecake!! 🍒

Chris - Apple Pie

Leah S. - Pumpkin cream cheese roll!!

Terri - Pazookies!!!

Tiffanie - Cheesecake 🤗

Michelle - Pecan Pie!

Lari - My moms traditional yellow cake with fudge icing. It’s the best.

Allison M. - My most absolute favorite dessert is my mom’s classic chocolate pie! I get it once a year on my birthday (which is 5 days before Christmas and also my dad’s birthday!) before all the Christmas dessert baking and eating madness! It’s amazing!

Angie Shepherd - Apple Pie!

Diane - hot out of the oven peanut butter cookies

Shana Yoder - French silk pie!

Laura S - I have to go with peach pie!! By the way, I love the signs from Feather and Birch, they are wonderful!

Ann C - Muddy’s Cupcakes (a Memphis, TN staple)

Shelly Primm - My favorite dessert is warm chocolate chip cookies with milk!

Love your blog!

Crystal - Pumpkin bread

Meredith Feisel - Grandma’s Chocolate Pie with her graham cracker crust!!!! Yummy!!!

Jenny Keylor - Pumpkin scones with a cup of coffee!!!!!

Bre Hargrove - Cheesecake! 🤤

Tonya Goertzen - I can tell wait to read the Walsh and baker books. I have been looking for a new author to try and those look great.

Becca Robertson - homemade cherry pie with vanilla ice cream

Ann Marie Latini - cupcakes 🙂

Nicole - Triple Fudge Cake! Family recipe that is the easiest dessert to make, but so fudgy and delicious!

Teresa Myers - Hard to pick a favorite! But I’d have to say ice cream. Or no…maybe cake. Pecan pie. No Apple Pie. Apple Pie with melted cheddar cheese on top. Yes definitely. Apple Pie with melted cheddar cheese on top!

Jackie O Marks - Favorite dessert depends on the season but if I must choose one over all? Strawberry Rhubarb Shortcake. . . with for real shortcakes.

Thank you for sharing so much on your blog ~ miss that they are not as frequent as once but that’s life, ja?

Lynette - Chocolate Chip cookies

Christyn - Cherry Cheesecake

Jessica CornmN - Cheesecake! Preferably with chocolate and peanut butter accents!!

Amanda - Thanks for the wonderful ideas!! I just did some Christmas shopping!

Staci Brown - I love s slice of homemade red velvet layer cake with cream cheese frosting.

Linda sodaro - 🌈 cake!!!!!
Best cake I’ve ever had and soooo pretty too!!

Amy - Any sort of baked goods! Pie, cake, brownies, cookies, cobbler–yum.

Linda sodaro - FUN FUN FUN!!!
Crossing my fingers 🤞🏼

Rhiannon - Cheesecake!!! I’m even making pumpkin pie cheesecake bars today!! 🙂
This is all such fun stuff. You gals are all lucky ducks for getting this great stuff at each of these creative retreats!!

Amanda - Chocolate lava cake!

Marina - Chocolate chip cookies!

Elizabeth - Vanilla store cake with buttered frosting.

Tricia Hicks - My favorite dessert is Pumpkin Cheesecake from Sam’s Club, because I’m fancy like that. 😃 Seriously delicious,though!!!

Lisa Foster - My favorite dessert is called Dream Cake. We named it ourselves. It has layers of chocolate pudding, crushed Oreos and Reese’s cups! What’s not to dream about?!

Deborah - Brownies and ice cream!

Denise Talen - Brownie Ice Cream Sundae

Cynthia Bras Toriumi - Ignore my other comment — clearly I’m a rule-breaker. But while breaking rules, I love my Nana’s chocolate meringue pie!

~ Cynthia

Cynthia Bras Toriumi - oooooohhhhh! All these beautiful things — would love a give-away, Meg! If not, appreciate the discounts – always. 🙂

~ Cynthia

Angie Mathis - Cake! All the flavors. Apple. Birthday. Chocolate. Dump. Eclair. I could go on alphabetically but I think you get the idea:)

Jamie Johnson - What beautiful lovelies!! My favorite dessert is ice cream!

Jamie Johnson - What beautiful lovelies! Thank you for this giveaway!!

Nancie - Apple pie!

Michele J. - I love tiramisu! And any other coffee-type dessert. 🙂 Thanks so much for the chance to win all of these amazing things! So exciting! xo

Julia R. - Warm apple pie w/vanilla ice cream

Linzi Kavanagh - my fav is creme brulee, but I’d give it up for a lifetime if it meant winning these goodies!! 🙂

Linzi Kavanagh - I love creme brulee or lemon posset!

Liz Grissom - Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Crystal Bsrlow - Tie between apple pie (no ice cream and not heated!) Or basic cheesecake with strawberry topping

Megan - Key lime pie is my favorite, followed by carrot cake!

Melissa Newport - Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream. Every.single.time.💗🎉👍🏼

Heike Wilson - I love anything chocolate but especially warm fresh chocolate chip cookies!

Katie - It’s hard to pick just one, but my favorite dessert would probably be gooey butter cake or ooey gooey bars as my brother calls them! 😊

Abby Schaber - Pumpkin pie with whipped cream! I’ll eat it any time of the year!

Bridget - Homemade hot fudge sauce, right out of the jar

Tanya Horn - WhateverCraft House RAINBOW CAKE!!❤💛💚💙💜

Carlee - Chocolate pecan pie!

Juanita - Chocolate lava cake!

Susan R. - Right out of the oven chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk!

Dana - Chocolate cake…any day and every day! 🙂

Beth B. - Fresh peach pie!!!

Donna - Cheesecake

Cathy S. - Cheesecake! With chocolate.

Rachel Clair - Chocolate chip cookies or chocolate brownies with vanilla ice cream!

Susan Purnell - Oh duh!! I didn’t see the question! My favorite dessert of all times is Boston cream pie!!

Molly - You can never go wrong with chocolate chip cookies or chocolate ice cream!!

Gail - My favorite dessert is fruit crisp from Tanya’s a local restaurant. I actually got the recipe and it’s my favorite thing to make in the fall.

Susan Purnell - What wonderful offerings on your giveaway!! I have Emily P Freemans coloring book, but I would love to gift that and some of the other offerings to family and friends! God bless you and your ministry!

Andrea B. - Chocolate dessert of anykind is my favorite.

Trish - Striped Delight – Oreo cookies, butter, cream cheese, whipping cream, icing sugar, chocolate pudding, and more whipping cream! 🙂

Sarah Guevara - Chocolate cake!

jill Funkhouser - i love scotcharoos..love licking the bowl

Dana Rounds - Creme brûlée

Tameeka A McIntosh - Ooo my favourite dessert would have to be Tiramisu. Yummy! _ Thanks for the chance to enter 🙂

Kirsten Juenke - Brownies and ice cream with hot fudge sauce 🙂

Kristin - Creme Brûlée! Yum!

Katrina Caceres - banana cream pie

Savannah Tollison - I love love love this special recipe my aunt makes. It’s a mayonnaise cake. It’s basically the best chocolate cakes anyone every created!

Jessica Kassebaum - My all-time favorite dessert is pecan pie.

HEATHER - Ice cream. Vanilla. 🙂

Kristin Pippin - Cheesecake or anything lemon!

Leslie - Pumpkin pie

Stacey - Chocolate chip cookies

Stephanie Fever - Ice cream with Oreos+Heath!!

Meggan - Carrot Cake!!

Emilee - Banana pudding!

Bethany - Hmm…depends on the day, but if I had to pick one it would be peach pie (crumb top).

Abby - My go to dessert is ice cream. I have to scoop it into a bowl or I’ll eat the whole container!

Kate zerbe - Ice cream!

Kristen Kerwin - Shoo fly pie…delish for dessert (OR breakfast!!!)

AMANDAk - Cheesecake. Always chesecake

Margaret - Pumpkin pie for sure!

Jane - Definitely Hazlenut Torte, my grandma’s special recipe and she taught my sister before she passed away. Layers of a hazlenut meringue with cream and berries and jello inbetween – dining!

Stephanie Arndt - This might sound lame because all I do is go and buy it… Ha! But my all-time favorite dessert is mint chocolate chip ice cream!

Kathie Simmons - Chocolate anything!

Tabatha F. - Blueberry Pie (warm)

Sara Mincy - What a great giveaway! You’re awesome :))) I’m loving right now: meringue cake with whipped cream and berries 🙂

Kim - Love cherry pie with a crumb topping1

Chelsea - Favorite dessert… coffee cheesecake!

Maria - Usually anything chocolate, but anytime I see a creme brûlée on the menu, I need it!

Laura - My grandma’s peanut butter pie!

Jen Thompson - Def key lime pie!

Bonnie Stoltzfoos - Ice cream! 😍 Ice cream sandwich, ice cream cake… haha any form! 🙂

Caryn Presswood - Lemon pie!!

Bethany - Brownies and cookies.

Ashley Michael - CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES! There isn’t anything better! Thanks for posting about these shops. I always find the best, most unique gifts from your lists! ❤️

Sarah C. - Chocolate chip cookies 🙂

Sarah cummins - My favorite dessert is a pizookie. Chocolate chip cookie topped with vanilla ice cream!

Nikki - Special K bars

Carrie - Monster Cookies. All Day. E’ery Day.

Grace Keith - creme brûlée….hands down!

Debra - Cheesecake is my favorite dessert!

Angie Alvarez - Coffee ice cream with hot fudge and whipped cream!

Lynne - Ice cream!! Chocolate especially 😋😋😋

Kim - Cheesecake

Patti H. - My favorite dessert is a hot fudge cream puff with chocolate ice cream. 🙂

Sara Sowers - Chocolate chip cookies!

Hayley - Chocolate chip cookies 🍪

Denise Karnes - Strawberry poke cake!

Brady W - I loooooooooove pecan pie!! It’s the best!

Heidi - Snickerdoodle Blondies

Tiffany - Fresh peach pie or peppermint ice cream with bits of peppermint candies in it.

Amy B - I love dark chocolate cake. I love the one from Costco.

Anna - Ice cream!!!

Gretchen N. - Favorite dessert: cheesecake! And great giveaway!!

Rachel Schumacher - My mixed berry and apple pie is a favorite in our house.

Sabrina - M&M cookies!!! They are my favorite!!!

Hannah Widener - Right now I am loving hot pumpkin donuts covered in cinnamon surgar.

Ashley Sumners - My favorite dessert is a cookie that my mom always makes only at Christmas: coffee snowballs. SO GOOD!

Jennifer Hamm - All the desserts!

Erin - Carmelita’s!!

Sara - Bumpy cake!

Chastity Eads - We love doing baked apples this time of year!

Kat - My favorite dessert is really cake. I LOVE cake. A little too much.

Carly - Favorite dessert is bananas foster!

Dalene Perrin - I am from Texas so it is a toss up between Texas Sheet Cake or Pecan Pie! Yummy…

Carly - Amazing as usual!!

Rhondi - Favorite dessert is rhubarb pie.

Terri - Peanut butter pie!! Sooo good!!

Tiffany - You always have such awesome sponsors! Beautiful products!

Nadine - Cheesecake!

Abbybeth - Yes yes yes!! Such a bomb haul!!

Michelle - Cheesecake always!

Beth Eaton - I’d love to attend one of your camps some day ❤️❤️❤️

My favorite dessert? Fudge brownies hot out of the oven! There’s nothing better 😍

Sarah - Tiramisu! Ugh, still searching for a slice like I had in a restaurant in college.

Alison - Love chocolate chocolate chip
Ice cream and brownies!

Cindy Mandernach - I am embarrassed to say that my favorite dessert is…dessert. Nah…not really embarrassed!! Anything chocolate. For reals!!!

Michelle - Peach pie. Mmmmm….

Megan Clark - It’s not fancy, but brownies and ice cream are my favorite!

MaKaela - Chips and dip is my idea of dessert!

Penny Smith - Moist chocolate cake with a creamy (not too sugary) frosting! (Like a cream cheese, or sour cream frosting. YUM!)

Kristi - Kimberlee’s cheesecake…must be eaten at the craft house, of course! 😉

Shauna - Cake of any kind!

Brook Declusin - My Grandmother Ruth’s famous 24 hour fruit salad. It’s so yummy tons of fresh fruit lots of whip cream and pudding. It’s a holiday favorite!

Krista Priest - Anything with chocolate or peanut butter!

Sue - Carrot Cake

Carrie Haughey - My moms ginger plum crisp with vanilla ice cream!! 😋

Kellie Fite Turner - I can never resist brownies with vanilla ice cream!

Raine - Triffle! The ultimate Christmas dessert.

Dianne B - Unfortunately for my waistline, dessert is my favourite time of the day 🙂 My favourites are cheesecake (I’ve made Pam’s – it’s good!) and ice cream…

Tricia - Chocolate chip cookies!!! 🍪🍪🍪

Becky McArthur - Such a tricky one because I love dessert! Cheesecakes, chocolate yumminess and ice cream hit the top of the list though!

Meghan - My favorite dessert is chocolate candy bars.

Sarah F - What great sponsors! I’d love to try/read all of these!

Mandy D. - Any ice cream!

Beverly Dennis - Strawberry cheesecake!!!

Karyn - Chocolate cake is my favorite, with a great chocolate icing or maybe it is Texas sheet cake…great, now I want dessert!

Heather Wartenburg - It’s a toss up between chocolate cake and a good old fashioned fruit cobbler with vanilla ice cream melting on top.

Larissa - So hard to pick just one-guess I will go with Cheesecake drizzled with chocolate and caramel.

Katy P - Chocolate Mousse Cake!!

Amy Griffin - My very favorite is homemade cookies n cream ice cream!

Megan Shearer - Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting

Kristin joustra - Apple pie 😀

Shelly Clark - Kona ice Cream Pie at Islands

Krista - Chocolate cake!!!

Greta Wiebe - Dutch apple pie!

Katy P - Chocolate Mousse Cake!!

jan - You’ve partnered with some awesome sponsors!
Love them all! 💗

Molly Pearce - My favorite dessert is Apple pie with vanilla ice cream

Emily K - Apple cider doughnut!

Jenn - Brownies for sure

Tara - Dark chocolate!!!!!!!!!

shelley w - anything chocolate!!

Julianne Brimner - Tiramisu with a good cup of coffee.

Heather B. - Chocolate cake!

Amy K. - Brownies and ice cream… or you know, anything chocolate!!

Julie Barker - My favorite dessert this time of year in New Hampshire is Apple Crisp. Yummy!!

Shay WLBM - Cake! Give me a good German Chocolate cake and I am a happy girl.

Linda - German chocolate cake!

Erin - Allll the ice cream!

Beth - Creme brulee. Of course I only get it when we go out for a nice dinner

Erin - Berry cobbler!!!

Makila L - Cheesecake. Plain cheesecake, no berries.

Jennibell - I just had a dessert at a local restaurant a few weeks ago…crime brûlée cheesecake!!! Absolutely amazing 🙂

Carrie D - Mmmmm. Hard to choose! I love brownies and froyo. So good!

Julie Anderson - A frozen piece of Key Lime pie on a stick, dipped in chocolate 😉

Vickie Sutphin - Love Cheesecake of any kind,

Katelyn Boese - Chocolate cake!

karen - My mom’s apple pie!

Shawna - A really good carrot cake!

Shawna - A really good carrot cake

Colleen Inman - Sugar cookies with icing are my favorite dessert!!

DeNeal - My favorite dessert is banana pudding! Thanks for offering the amazing giveaways!

Jenifer Higgins - Cake!

Amy - My favorite dessert is cherry cheesecake! Even from a box! 😀

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

listen & watch

March 27, 2017

i have three things for you today.
two for listening and one to watch.
🙂
enjoy!

————————————————————————————————————————————

M AKING OPRAH

I absolutely loved this whole series of podcasts!
I miss the oprah show! or at least i miss that time period in tv… and maybe in my life too.
I came home from school and watched oprah – pretty much every week day.
I was home with babies for years and years and every day at 4:00 “who’s on oprah?”
it was part of life!
I even got to go to an oprah show when we lived in chicago! 🙂
I loved hearing so much about the early years and behind the scenes in these podcasts.
if you enjoyed the oprah show – you’ll love this!
and i liked all three bonus episodes too.

————————————————————————————————————————————

GLEASON
we watched this documentary and i couldn’t stop thinking about it.
it will stick with you.
plot: After he is diagnosed with ALS, former professional football player Steve Gleason begins making a video diary for his unborn son, as he, his wife, and their friends and family work to raise money for ALS patients as his disease progresses.
it’s not an easy movie to watch.
but i am glad we did.

————————————————————————————————————————————

This American Life Podcast – Switched at Birth

I have listened to lots of these the past month or so.
It’s been around for years and years but i never checked into it.
So i started current and have been working my way back. This particular one was so interesting! I made craig have a whole conversation with me about it and he hadn’t even listened to it. I just needed to talk about it! It is wild!

show hide 10 comments

add a comment

Ronda - Yes, podcasts are how I survive my commute everyday. Totally adding Making Oprah to my lists. I second the Mike Rowe’s the way I see it as it is like 10-15 minutes and man is his voice mesmerizing. And if you aren’t listening to the The Popcast with Knox and Jamie then you need to go and do that immediately as they are the best and are like two best friends in your living room that keep you laughing.

Emily - I love podcasts and listen on my runs and any time I’m the driver on a road trip.
This American Life has been a favorite for years! One of our very favorite episodes is House on Loon Lake. Fun, creepy, nostalgic….I think you would LOVE it.
Stuff You Should Know is also fun and quick….and you feel kinda smarter after you listen.
This Is Criminal is a true crime podcast without being too dark.
Of course there’s Serial season 1 (NOT Season 2) which got lots of people into podcasts for a good reason…it’s excellent!
Checkout Radiotopia for lots of great podcasts.
Thanks for the share on the Oprah podcast, I listened the other day while I folded laundry and pulled weeds. I am so productive when I have a good story to listen to!

Cassandra Heck - YES! The switched at birth podcast was very interesting!! Have you listened to Mike Rowe’s The Way I Heard It? Short little random history stories, good stuff. 🙂

Shelly Reil - Just got done watching Gleason. Thanks for the suggestion! I watched it with my son and it wrecked both of us. My great uncle passed away from ALS probably 15 years ago (?) And now his son is battling it. It is so debilitating to everyone involved.

Renee - Love these posts because I’m always looking for new stuff! Keep ’em coming 😊

Christine - I LOVE podcasts too. I could listen to them none stop if I allowed myself. I too have listened to This American Life. Right now I am hooked on Good Job Brain. Hubby and I will talk about the podcasts we’ve listened to that were particularly good. Have a great day. Love your blog, have followed you for years!

Kimberlee - I listened to Making Oprah this Spring too and LOVED it!

Whitni Frasier - Hey Megan,
I sent you an email through the link on your website. I had a few questions about how you started your business. I know you’re very busy but if you ever get a minute I would really be so thankful for some wisdom from you. My email address is Whitni.Frasier@gmail.com

Thanks so much and have a great week!

Elz - That podcast episode drove me crazy. The mom just kept her mouth shut for decades and seemed so ambivalent to the daughter she raised. My girls and I were going crazy about it. WHY? Huh? Wow? What?!

I’m a podcast nerd, I listen to so many. It’s a great way to learn all sorts of stuff.

Kelly Sites - I’m OBSESSED with Podcasts. It’s my treat to myself for when I’m working out, and it really makes me GO to the gym, and stay longer, because I want to listen to Podcasts. I have many favs, but I’m so super excited to listen to the Oprah one you mentioned. I LIVED for Oprah back in the day. And like you, every day at 4:00 was my time.

Podcasts I’ve loved:
The Simple Show- episode 64 A year off the internet

Smartest Person in the Room- all episodes on behind the scenes Hollywood (so fun)

The PopCast with Knox and Jamie- die laughing every single time….all of them are awesome.

Up and Vanished- great true crime (edge of your seat)

Embedded (great stuff)

ENJOY (and keep sharing great stuff like this)

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

photos of the week

May 10, 2016

FullSizeRender (28)
the peonies have been blooming.
which always means rain is coming.
and it has.
so i made sure to cute what i could before they are mushy.
FullSizeRender (34) FullSizeRender (25) FullSizeRender (10)
checking out the local green house! FullSizeRender (14)
curious chickens.

weekend basketball.
all year round.

donuts!!!
FullSizeRender (11)
she’s a grumpy old bird.
her feathers match her personality.

FullSizeRender (40)
and speaking of eggs….
i bought this little Egg Cooker recently and WE LOVE IT!
we can have hard boiled eggs within minutes!
we have eggs for days with all these happy chickens and my kids love hard boiled eggs.
just fill the bottom of the cooker with a few tablespoons of water and turn it on.
and in a few minutes… hard boiled eggs!
easy, healthy breakfast or snack!
no pot watching. no oven preheating. no thinking. it’s mindless.
and i like things like that!!
and it’s tiny and takes up very little space in your cabinet!

FullSizeRender (16)
multi-tasking.

FullSizeRender (17)
track meets.
talby is a triple jumper, long jumper, high jumper, hurdler and runner.

FullSizeRender (18)
talby worked hard on her hurdles this season and won FIRST PLACE at League!!

FullSizeRender (36)
scott is a high jumper.
sean throws shot put, discus and jav but the one meet i was able to attend of his… got rained out just as he began.

FullSizeRender (20) FullSizeRender (23) FullSizeRender 12
Treat Yo’ Self!

FullSizeRender (29) FullSizeRender (35)
piano practice after school.

FullSizeRender (19) FullSizeRender (21) FullSizeRender (26) FullSizeRender (33)
mornings are hard.
FullSizeRender (37)
lots to plant!
i got all of my pots planted on saturday.
now i have a bunch of perenials to get in the ground!
i love gardening season!
FullSizeRender (32) FullSizeRender (30)
we expanded the chicken coop fenced area.
i’m pretty sure they LOVE it!
FullSizeRender (31) FullSizeRender (27) FullSizeRender (39)
loving this book “Looking for Lovely” by Annie Downs.
it’s really good!
i think we’d be friends. 🙂

these four girls broke the school record in their relay!

all my girls were home for craig’s birthday.
i like that.
FullSizeRender (24) FullSizeRender (38)
all the 8th grade girls after they won the League Track Meet.
and so smiley because track is now over!

FullSizeRender 14
my lady friends!!

FullSizeRender (22)
my favorite chore.

FullSizeRender 13
waffle is a total weirdo.

it’s been a pretty good week.

show hide 19 comments

add a comment

favorites from the internet | - […] Meg posted about this egg cooker. […]

Renee - Can I ask a rude question? How much do you spend on flowers each spring? I would love to recreate the impact you give, but have no idea what to expect financially. Do you shop around? Buy the cheapest? Or just splurge?

Kari - Your peonies are gorgeous! We have some in our yard, but they’re always covered in ants. Despite their beauty, I have to restrain from bringing them in because I’m afraid of bringing in a bunch of ants. How do you keep the ants off of them/get them off of them before you bring them in?

Tobi Layton - What a fun post! And, on a personal note, it brought back memories! I used to triple jump, long jump, and hurdle for the Swathers! It was fun seeing pictures of my alma mater!

Lynne - OMG I can’t believe that you have a pet named Waffles. We have a cat named Waffles because he waffles from good to evil at the drop of a hat. What kind of dog is Waffle? OH by the way your peonies are beautiful.

Rebekah Wales - I’m so glad I’m not the only one whose children like to recline on the kitchen counter. 😀

Andrea - I love it when you post random pictures!

Kimberlee Jost - The peonies with your Grandma’s cow…I have looked at that picture at least 10 times. Something is drawing me in. I want to live in that picture. Shop print?

Mary - Can you please tell me where you got your adorable frayed jeans. Love them!!!

Crystal D - We bought the egg cooker in November and it is amazing!! One of my favorite appliances. We’ve used it over 25 times and only once had an undercooked batch (I don’t think I used enough water). I cannot give it enough “5 stars”

Kathi - I also love your pictures! Could you blog about your chicken coop and how you tend to your chickens? We are considering chickens, neither of us has any chicken experience. Any tips?

Sarah - I love your photos. You inspire me to get behind the camera more often. Also, I’ve had the opportunity to get to know your friend Jana. She’s co-teaching one of my classes and she is so very lovely and insightful. 🙂

jamie - HAHA the waffle photo made me laugh out loud almost snort! can you imagine having that in your shop as a canvas??!? and HELLO with the egg cooker it’s now in my amazon cart where has that little thing been all my life. the COLORS of all your flowers are just so stunningly beautiful and happy. your photos inspire.

meg duerksen - Julie- the alarm is slightly obnoxious but it’s no big deal. We have always had perfectly cooked eggs! It’s totally a great appliance!

Julie Cross - So excited about the egg cooker but when I looked at the reviews on Amazon, people hated it. Do you think the alarm is annoying? Or that they undercook? Just thinking that they might have improved it since those yucky reviews. Thanks!

Lori - Love your photos! They are so bright and happy! Looks like a pretty good week to me 🙂

stephanie - I love all your pictures! The daisies and peonies especially. I just moved to Utah after living in the southern half of the US (desert and Gulf Coast) for my entire adult life. Can I just tell you how thrilled I am that I now get to grow peonies?! They are my favorite and won’t grow in the south. So now I’m in the club! lol

cathie w. - These ‘random’ tidbits of your life are some of my favorite posts!! Love all the color and thoughtful musings. Have a fabulous week!

Chris - I love when I come to your site and there’s a new post full of pictures. They inspire my morning. Love the bright pink peonies. We only have white, which are beautiful, but those pink…

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top