Holiday

Name: Cinnamon Rolls
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 2 h 15 min
Yield: 20
Ingredients: 4 cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup milk, warmed; 1 tbsp yeast; 3 tbsp margarine, melted; 1 tbsp white sugar, for using to active yeast; 1/2 cup white sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 tsp vanilla; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 cup brown sugar; 2 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon; 6 tbsp butter, melted

30 Easter Basket for Tweens & Teen Girls

by Ashley Mullen

Tween girls can be hard-to-please and we have lots of great ideas for filling their Easter baskets this year that they’ll love. My tween loves arts, crafts, games and other fun activities. I like to fill her basket with a few non-candy items for her to enjoy. Here are some ideas for filling an Easter basket for tweens that won’t break the bank.

30 Easter Basket for Tweens & Teen Girls

Easter Basket for Tweens & Teens

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Just like your daughter loved getting an Easter basket as a 9 and 10 year old, they’ll love getting a basket of goodies just for them. Tweens and teens have definitely developed their own personality and interests, and they’re all going to be a little bit different. That’s why I’ve divided this list into categories by interest. Whether you have a bookworm or a beauty guru, I’ve got you covered.

Sometimes we need to think a little out of the box for gifts for our tweens and teens. The basics for girls of any age though I think is the same: fun. They might not be playing with Barbies anymore but they still want to have fun even if that’s more with practicing to wear make up instead of Barbies.

Gift Guide for Book Lovers

by Ashley Mullen

It is no secret that we love books here. We have more books than bookshelf space right now. So what do you buy for someone like us who just loves books? I have listed a number of things that all book lovers are going to go crazy for. I have been reading to my kids since they were babies and my love for books has rubbed off on them.

Gift Guide for Book Lovers

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I love books, and you know what else I really love? Libraries. I love public libraries. The books and the atmosphere.

Does the book lover on your list want to show off their love for books everywhere they go? This black Bookshelf print infinity scarf loop scarf is just the thing to do it!

I want this! This is a great gift idea. A poster to scratch off the titles/covers of books that you have read from a list of 100 must read books.

These are perfect for reading in bed. No more trying to pile pillows up behind yourself trying to sit up comfortably in bed, this allows you to comfortably sit where ever you wish to enjoy your book.

This orange and nutmeg Library candle is perfect for any book lover. Relax with this orange scented candle. There is just something about the smell of oranges that relaxes me.

How cute are this library card socks?! My kids wouldn’t know what made them library socks only knowing digital check out but I still think that they are awesome. And maybe they would go great with this next gift…

I have thought about buying this personal library kit for my kids, and I just might this year for Christmas. It is a great way to keep track of your books, and to remember who has borrowed a book from you, if you let friends borrow them that is.

Curl up against your reading pillow, grab a great book and stay warm with this cozy waffle weave throw.

This is an amazing book! I read it before we moved and I’m so glad I did. ” Librarian Martha Storm has always found it easier to connect with books than people—though not for lack of trying. She keeps careful lists of how to help others in her superhero-themed notebook. And yet, sometimes it feels like she’s invisible. But all that changes…”

I know I’m not the only one who does this! How can we be expected to put a book down when it is just so interesting? My girls and I could all use this pillow.

My favorite movie ever! I still want the Beast’s library, can you just imagine curling up with a blanket, a cup of hot tea and one of the many books?

People who love reading book or going to libraries will love this cool If Found Please Return to Library t-shirt. This is perfect for any librarian or book lovers.

Looking for a new bag for all those books you are buying or borrowing from the library? Here you go!

Gifts for the Techie Homeschool Mom

by Ashley Mullen

I have some of these awesome things, and the rest I really want my husband, or kids, to buy me for Christmas this year. That coffee maker? I don’t know what we would do without it. It is the best appliance in our house, most used too.

Gifts for the Techie Homeschool Mom

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Echo connects to Alexa, a cloud-based voice service, to play music, make calls, set timers and alarms, ask questions, provide information, check weather, manage to-do and shopping lists, control smart home devices, and more. We LOVE Alexa!

We have this machine. This is our second Flex Brew because we just love it! A full pot in the morning to get this homeschool mom’s butt moving and school done. And then I can have a single brewed cup of coffee later on in the day as a pick me up if needed.

Does someone on your shopping list always seem to be loosing things like their keys or their iPad? Save them some time searching by buying them a Tile or two.

The thinnest, lightest Kindle Paperwhite yet—with a flush-front design and 300 ppi glare-free display that reads like real paper even in bright sunlight. Now waterproof, so you’re free to read and relax at the beach, by the pool, or in the bath. It is perfect for you to catch up on reading while running your kids around to their various activities.

I just told my husband I want this. This FitBit has Alexa built into it. I want it. Buy this for your homeschool mom friend/wife please, she will thank you.

This is perfect for any techie mom, homeschooling or not. This is a gift that she can happily use to find books to read for herself or for reading with her family.

Designed specifically to fit most 11 to 12 inch laptops,tablets, such. Also a perfect travel electronics organizer to keep all of electronics accessories in order in reach without searching all over the place. This is perfect for homeschooling on the go.

This wallet, a case folio wallet back cell phone shell with magnetic flip durable cover case. It has 12 carry slots to hold your cards, including your well used library card.

I love getting gift cards for myself. I know not everyone is happy with gift cards but I love them. With a gift card a techie homeschool mom can buy herself exactly what she wants.

Noise Cancelling technology cuts off surround noise significantly and lets you enjoy your music or other audio in its pure form. It let’s mom block out the silly fighting of her kids too which is always helpful.

Cinnamon Roll Bundt Cake

by Ashley Mullen

I use this site as my personal recipe book. Which is why I was surprised that this recipe wasn’t already on here. I have been making this for too many years to remember. I often make this cinnamon roll bundt cake around Christmas time. It serves as a dessert, or for our Christmas morning breakfast.

Cinnamon Roll Bundt Cake

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You can use any recipe for cinnamon rolls you like, use your favorite one. I have never tried using Pillsbury cinnamon rolls so I can’t say if they would work or not, but I don’t see why not, as long as you watch how long you bake them.

I have included my recipe for cinnamon rolls here too, and instructions on baking them as well because they are great on their own too.

Making Cinnamon Roll Bundt Cake

After mixing all the dough ingredients together, and letting it rise in a warm place for an hour, you get the fun of rolling out your dough, this is the only part I don’t like doing, and usually in list in my husband to do for me, as he is the one that typically wants me to make this in the first place. You gotta work for it honey!

I always melt my butter and then spread it over the dough with a pastry brush because it’s easier. Sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon over the melted butter.

Roll them up, and slice them. I use my bread knife which keeps my cinnamon rolls in a nice shape and not flattened on the bottom.

Line them up on a cookie sheet to rise for another half hour in a warm place. Preheat your oven for 350.

Grease your bundt pan really well, you don’t want these to stick. Start lining your rolls around your pan.

Bake for 15 minutes until the cinnamon rolls are brown, you want to make sure they are cooked through. Let them sit for a few minutes before carefully flipping your bundt pan over onto a plate and gently shaking to get the cinnamon rolls to release from the pan.

Let them cool a bit, but all the way. While they are still a bit warm but no longer hot, spread your frosting, or cream cheese or what have you over the top.

Cinnamon Rolls

Yield: 20

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Rising Dough Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Cinnamon roll recipe that I use to make my cinnamon roll bundt cake, but you can use to make either the cinnamon rolls or the cake.

Ingredients

Cinnamon Roll Dough

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup milk, warmed
1 tbsp yeast
3 tbsp margarine, melted
1 tbsp white sugar, for using to active yeast
1/2 cup white sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Cinnamon Roll Sugar Filling

1 cup brown sugar
2 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon
6 tbsp butter, melted

Instructions

Cinnamon Roll Dough

Warm milk in the microwave milk for 45-60 seconds. It should be warm but not hot to the touch.
Place milk into the bowl of your standing mixer, then add 1 TBS sugar and 1 TBS yeast to the warm milk. Stir and let it sit for five minutes or until it becomes foamy.
Add the ½ cup sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla to the mixture in the bowl of your standing mixer. Use a dough hook to stir until combined.
Add 4 cups flour, salt and cinnamon and stir the dough hook, starting on low and increasing to high.
Knead dough in the standing mixer until a large ball is formed. The dough should be smooth and only slightly tacky to the touch. If the dough seems too sticky and is not forming a ball, add more flour 1 TBS at a time until a smooth ball is formed.
Grease a large bowl and place the dough inside.Cover the bowl with a warm, damp towel and put the bowl in a warm place to rise.
Let the dough rise in a warm place about 1 hour or until dough has doubled in size.

Assemble Cinnamon Rolls

Sprinkle a large work surface with flour. Roll the dough into a 24x12” rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick.
Melt butter. Mix together brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.
Spread butter over dough with a pastry brush, and then sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon over the dough. This way is so easy.*
Roll up dough cut into 12 equal sized rolls (feel free to measure and cut each roll to be 2” long).
Line them up on either a grease cookie sheet or a cookie sheet lined with parchment button. Give them space to rise.
Cover and place in a warm place for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350.

If Making Cinnamon Rolls

Bake for 15-20 minutes. Check them often.
Once baked add a cream cheese or icing topping while they are still a bit warm.

If Making Cinnamon Roll Bundt Cake

Grease you bundt cake pan really well.
Move your cinnamon rolls from the cookie sheet where they were rising and start placing them in your bundt pan, over lapping the row below.
Bake for 15-20 minutes. The top cinnamon rolls should be quite brown, so bake for a few more minutes if needed.
Let rest for a few minutes before flipping upside down onto a plate or cake stand.
While they are still warm spread frosting of some kind over the top and down the sides.

Notes

*Alternately you can mix together the melted butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar before spreading it over the dough but I find this harder and more time consuming.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 20 Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g

Practical Gifts that are Perfect for Everyone

by Ashley Mullen

Sometimes it is really hard to buy for someone, what do you buy for your sister? The sister who has “everything”? How about one of these practical gifts? They aren’t boring, but are thoughtful and perfect for that person on your shopping list.

Practical Gifts that are Perfect for Everyone

This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.

Does someone on your shopping list always seem to be loosing things like their keys or their iPad? Save them some time searching by buying them a Tile or two.

With 13 pockets total this purse organizer, (3 exterior pockets, 10 interior pockets) with singly detachable pocket in the middle which can keep valuable articles or used as a separate wallet after detached. Extra detachable long felt keys chain help find the keys easily.

This double wall insulated Lilac stainless steel bottle filters as you drink, reducing chlorine (taste & odor) found in tap water. This one is on my wish list! I don’t care for the taste of tap water.

This bathtub tray has a holder for stemmed glass and a holder for your book or tablet with three different tilting angles for watching movies or reading. It creates a nice environment for a relaxation.

This 20oz tumbler is with Double-Wall vacuum technology to keep drinks hot for over 6 hours and cold for around 24 hours. I don’t know about you, but I could never have too many travel mugs, I use them on the go, and I use them in the house because cup get knocked over, coffee split, and I don’t need little ones getting burned.

For your best friend, an animal lover, this cute dog print heart friendship cellphone popper is perfect. It has an unique pattern design to make a cell phone or tablet look beautiful and have a comfortable grip. This is something I really should get for my phone too… maybe it wouldn’t hit the floor as often.

This is the perfect size for personal lunches. You can give the gift of being able to bring the comfort of flavorful meals on-the-go. And being dishwasher safe, it’s not work to use it. I love this Crock-Pot Lunch Warmer.

Best Friend ring decorative dish. Give your bestie a safe place to put their rings while they shower, sleep, or do the dishes.

A special locket style design essential oil diffuser bracelet, you can change your favorite different scent to make yourself charming everyday. It also can give you peace of mind and relieve your pressure. We love our diffusers.

Thanks to the comforting and immensely pleasant scents of sweet vanilla and floral lavender. The familiar scent of vanilla is strong, unmistakable & at the same time, very, very delicate.

Holiday

Easter Basket for Tweens & Teens

Gifts for the Bookworm

Gifts for a Creative Easter Basket Tween or Teen

Gifts for the Beauty Guru Teen

Gifts for the Active Teen

Gift Guide for Book Lovers

Gifts for the Techie Homeschool Mom

Cinnamon Roll Bundt Cake

Making Cinnamon Roll Bundt Cake

Ingredients

Cinnamon Roll Dough

Cinnamon Roll Sugar Filling

Instructions

Cinnamon Roll Dough

Assemble Cinnamon Rolls

If Making Cinnamon Rolls

If Making Cinnamon Roll Bundt Cake

Notes

Nutrition Information:

Practical Gifts that are Perfect for Everyone

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