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holidays

How to get your mojo back

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Do you feel like you’ve lost your mojo? Are you thinking any, or all, of these things?

What has happened to my life?

My house is a mess.

I haven’t been to the gym in months.

My eating is off plan.

I’m not sleeping well.

I’m scrolling social media too much and getting ragy!

What do you do when you’ve lost your Mojo?

Start with the end in mind.

I find it’s helpful to look ahead and decide what result I want. Let’s don’t drag up 75 reasons why we haven’t done it so far. Let’s just decide the result we want and start living into that space. Start living as if…

What would I do if I was a person who took really good care of her health and was fit?

What would I do if I was a person who had a really organized and peaceful house?

You start figuring out what it is to live in the result. You might even brainstorm it out into your bullet journal. What does it look like? How do you feel?

Let’s say your house is driving you crazy. You’ve got kids doing school from home or now you’re working from home, and you feel like your house is always just a dumpster fire. It’s always a mess. It’s disorganized. You hate being there.

What I want you to do is envision what it would be like if it was organized, uncluttered, peaceful, and nourishing. What would it actually look like and be like? How would you feel when you woke up in the morning if you knew that it was organized? You put yourself into the position of having achieved the result and you learn to live there.

What we tend to do instead is we look to the past and think, “Well I haven’t been doing that so far. My house is pretty much a dumpster fire. Everything is cluttered. Everything is everywhere. I can never find what I want. I hate being here. It’s always a mess.”

That’s living in the past. That’s the way your house used to be. What I want you to do is go to the future. What does that result look like? How can you start living there already? What does it look like to be a person who can easily keep a decluttered house that feels nourishing and peaceful?

Many of you look at the thing that’s bothering you the most in your life right now, and you feel like it’s impossible. I promise you, it’s possible when you learn to take action from a place of feeling like it’s already there.

Then the action feels easy and doesn’t exhaust you. The reason you’re exhausted by the result you’re NOT getting is because the thoughts you think about it are exhausting.

You think to yourself all the time, “I hate how I’ve been eating lately. It’s driving me crazy. I hate my house lately. I can’t keep up.” Those thoughts are exhausting to me even just imagining thinking them! How can you change that and live into the results? Start with the end in mind.

Expect failure.

You’re not going to do it perfectly. Don’t wait until Monday to start, or the first of the month, or after the holidays. The reason you’re going to try to wait until Monday is because you’re afraid of failure, and you think if you just had a little bit more time to get yourself organized then it would be fine. That’s not true.

You need to expect failure. You’re going to start, you’re going to do it fine for two days, and then you’re not going to do it great. This is where the key moment is. You’re going to keep your house organized or you’re going to eat on your plan, or whatever your thing is, and you’re going to do it really really good for two days, and then you’re going to blow it! Am I right or am I right? I’m right!

The question is not whether you’re going to fail. You are going to fail. The question is, what are you going to do about the failure?

What are you going to make it mean? Are you going to make it mean you are incapable of making a change? Are you going to make it mean it’s just not “you” to have a clean organized house or that you’re just not a one of those healthy people?

Or are you going to say, “Oh yeah! There’s going to be failure along the way, so let’s just jump back right in.”

You don’t ask yourself, “What am I going to do IF I fail?” You know you’re going to fail. You decide ahead of time what you’re going to do with the failure, and what you’re going to make it mean.

You’re going to make it mean you’re human and you’re going to jump right back into the thing that you were doing!

Expect failure instead of running from failure.

The reason you don’t want to start until next Monday is because in your mind, that puts off the failure a little longer. No, we embrace the failure. We know what’s going to happen, and when it comes, we know what to do with it because we’re expecting it to come.

Stop making excuses and blaming other people, things, and circumstances. 

The reason we lost our mojo is on you and on me. Yes 2020 has been crazy. Yes working from home is different. Yes there are a whole host of things we can blame. Let me tell you why you don’t want to do that.

If you blame the fact that we’re dealing with a crazy virus, or you blame the fact that now you’re having to work from home, if you blame a circumstance or someone else, you make yourself a victim to whatever you’re blaming. Then the only way your situation can change is if your circumstance changes, or if those people change.

NEWSFLASH: those people aren’t changing and your circumstances may not be changing either!

How can you learn to take responsibility and manage you? You take care of the only thing you can take care of, which is how you respond to the crisis, and how you respond to the situation, and how you show up to crazy 2020, or how you show up to the working from home life.

You can only control you.

Here’s the beauty of taking 100% responsibility. You CAN change you. You might not be able to change your circumstances. You might not be able to change the people in your life, but you CAN change you. That’s a powerful place to be!

Don’t put yourself in a place of weakness by thinking you need something or someone to change, and THEN you’ll get your mojo back. Stop making yourself a victim to the circumstances, or to the other people. You take responsibility for you, and decide what result you want in your life and how you can start living into that now.

Get some accountability.

It really helps when you want to achieve a certain result to tell someone, or do it with someone, so you have some accountability. That’s why we’re doing a challenge together in November!

A lot of times the holidays are when it all falls apart. You’re doing your exercise plan just great, or you’re keeping your house nice and tidy and decluttered, and then the holidays come and it all goes to pot!

“Well, I guess now I’m just waiting until January.” No! We don’t want to do that. We want to really get back control of the things we want to have happen in our lives, so that as we go through the holiday season we keep these practices in place.

Instead of just letting everything go, we just keep it in place.

We’re starting the challenge on November 2nd and it’s called The Honor Challenge: 12 Ordinary Days, 10 Life-changing habits. It’s based on this scripture out of Romans 12:10.

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ~Romans 12:10

Go here to sign up and get the Honor Challenge Guide. I will be doing live videos every day here on my Lifeingrace Facebook page, and TOGETHER, we’re going to get our mojo back!!!

I can’t wait to get started!

5 Morning Habits That Will Change Your Life

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One of the highest engagement I’ve ever gotten on an Instagram Post was my tribute last year to my brother, Todd.

I ADORE him and the post was pretty sweet and very heartfelt. You can read it here.

I think one of the reasons it struck a chord with many of you was that our relationships are so very important, and most of us spend very little time cultivating the relationships we want.

Todd’s birthday was on October 7th so at the top of my planner for that day, I wrote his name and surrounded it with hearts–like I was channeling my inner 8th grader.

I thought about him and all the things I love about him throughout the day.

When I sat dodwn to send him a message, it was so easy to think of so many things I’m grateful for about him.

Part of the reason for that was that I directed my brain towards him early that day.

Our morning habits and morning thoughts are so important, because they set the tone for the rest of the day! Today, I want to tell you about FIVE morning habits that will CHANGE YOUR LIFE! Buckle up buttercup–you are going to love this!!!

One – Prep For The Morning The Night Before

Does this one surprise you? Here’s what I mean.

It is so, so, so important that we all prioritize our sleep. The research is unequivocal on this people! The first step in prioritizing your sleep is to have a good evening routine so that:

  • you are going to bed EARLY ENOUGH to get a good amount of sleep
  • it’s EASY to fall asleep
  • you actually GET the sleep you need

Really, really prioritizing sleep makes everything better.

If you want to live your best life, you have to get your sleep.

So one of my favourite parts of my nighttime routine is to lay on my bio mat! Have you heard of a bio mat? Mama, it is the ultimate! It is like a revved up heating pad and I love, LoVe, LOVE laying on it–it relaxes me so! I will take my evening supplements. I take a yummy hot Epson salt bath–usually with a variety of AMAZING essential oils that help me sleep. I can’t even tell you how much better I sleep when I don’t rush to bed and just do my little routine. Hot bath with essential oils? Check! Evening supplements? Check! Lay on my bio mat while reading? Check! I often also listen to something–a podcast or whatever–while I am winding down.

So, there it is! Your number one habit is your nighttime routine and making sure that you are going to bed early enough to get enough sleep.

While winding down I am also thinking ahead to what I need to accomplish the next day–your number two habit!!

Two – Make Tomorrow’s List Tonight

Here is the thing about this and its so simple, but so POWERFUL!

When you direct your brain somewhere, that is where it will go. Simple, right?

For example, say I know that I have to write an email the next morning, make an outline for a livestream, go to a hair appointment (Yay for the Hair Wizard!!). Here’s what happens. I start thinking. I know my topic. Here’s what I’m going to be talking about. I just get my brain thinking about it and, “Oh, okay, good.” I don’t actually DO THE THING–I don’t write the email or make the notes but I got my brain percolating on it so that when I wake up the next morning–MOTIVATION CITY!!! This is simply because I already know what I need to accomplish and most of the time, I can get one or two things off my list before I wake Thomas up.

I think a lot of times, instead of looking ahead, we replay our day. We think about things we wish we wouldn’t have done or said, things we wish we had done–thinking that is very focused on the PAST.

I love thinking ahead, “Okay, what kind of day do I want to have tomorrow and what do I need to accomplish?” So, when I wake up, the anticipation of the day is so motivating and allows me to JUST START.

Being intentional about my evening and mornings sets me up for a fantastic day!

Three – Wake Up Without Delay

The number three habit is waking up–without delay.

Waking up with intention.

Waking up rarin’ to go!!!

Obviously, it really helps to do morning habits one and two, but it’s pretty much the first thing you do every day. If you train yourself so that the first thing you do every day is delay your day–can you see how that isn’t the greatest?

I first heard about this concept from Mel Robbins in her book The Five Second Rule. Here’s an excerpt from her book:

Start by counting backwards to yourself: 5- 4- 3- 2- 1. The counting will help you focus on the goal or commitment and distract you from the worries, thoughts, and fears in your mind. As soon as you reach “1,” move. That’s it.

Mel Robbins said the habit of launching herself out of bed and starting her day this way (and then using it in other situations) changed her life! (P.S. I highly recommend this book!)

So wake up without delay and just commit to, “This is the time I wake up.” Because if you do, you’re going to have 30 minutes, 45 minutes, an hour before other people get up. Of course, this will be easier if you’ve gone to bed early enough and gotten adequate sleep.

Four – Thought Download

I grab water, start my coffee and then I do a thought download.

By thought download I mean I do a little bit of journaling, “Okay, here’s what I woke up thinking about.” Or, “Okay, here’s what I need to remember today.” Or, if it’s grocery store day, “Here’s the list.” I usually wake up with a full mind and I want to transfer all that “fullness” onto paper so that it’s not clouding my mind when I start my work. I want to start my work with intentionally. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!!

Five – Pick The Thoughts You Want To Think AND The Three Things You Want To Get Done

I have a list of intentional thoughts that I like to keep on hand, “This is what I want to train my brain to think.” Some of my favorite morning thoughts came from ideas I got from Louise Hay. It’s a POWERFUL list.

  • I experience love wherever I go. I am surrounded by loving people and easily give love to others. 
  • I begin and end everyday with gratitude.
  • My heart is open and I am willing to experience anything God brings my way.
  • I am full of creative ideas for my life, my family, and my business.
  • My body is strong and I create abundant energy for myself by how I eat and move and rest.
  • I easily forgive myself and others and joyously accept God’s truth about my worth and value.
  • I am surrounded by love. All is well.
  • I show up with love and service for myself, my family, and all those I meet everyday.
  • I live and work from a place of sheer abundance. My heart and life are full and overflowing.

Now you’re going to say to me, “Dr. Edie, I don’t wake up feeling these thoughts everyday.”

Neither do I, but I tell my brain that this is what I want to look for.

If you tell your brain to look for that list of things, you’re going see love everywhere. You’re going to see how abundant your life is. You’re going to see reasons to send people love notes and write amazing posts about them instead of complaining. Complaining about politics or the restaurant you went to that didn’t get your order right.

Do you see the power our words and our thoughts have that we aren’t using?!? We just let out thoughts go to the “default”. And since we are human, it defaults to sin. It defaults to complaining. It defaults to blaming. It defaults to resentment and unforgiveness.

But you are the BOSS of your brain and you have to tell it what you want it to think and do.

See why the thought download is so important? Because you will realize, if you do this for awhile, that sometimes you don’t wake up with the most wonderful thoughts.

You have the power to change that.

You have the power to direct your mind, to think about what you want it to think about.

That, my friends, is life changing

After I download my morning thoughts, I organize that thought download into a meaningful list. Then, I pick three things that I want to get done that day. THAT’S IT. If I get more than done–YEE HAW–I love it when that happens!

Most importantly, when I make my list of the three things I want to do, I do it with my intentional thoughts in mind. When I write an email to you, I do it with the thought in mind, “I’m surrounded by loving people. I live in abundance. I work from a place of love and service.”

When I’ve got these intentional thoughts in my head, I generate good work. I generate things that are helpful for people. It allows me to do my work in the world without worrying about what other people think of it. I’m thinking, how can I love and serve? How can I embrace the hard things that come? How can I keep my heart open?

What’s your FIRST morning thought?  Is it about the past or about the future? Is it positive or negative? Does it make you worry? Feel fearful? 

Or does it motivate and energize you?

Imagine starting everyday with a handful of positive, intentional thoughts.

How would that change your day? Your relationships?  Your life?

I’m so excited about our Honor Challenge based on Romans 10:12

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

It starts November 2nd! We are going to take 12 ordinary days and create 10 life-changing habits! Sign up here and get your FREE download!

Yarn Wrapped Wreath

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Preppy_Yarn_docx

We are so enjoying Advent and a very SLOW move toward Christmas. In other words, I still have pumpkins in my kitchen and on my front porch.

I’m obsessed with all things yarn right now so as we speak, I’m knitting some cool bracelets and a cowl or two.  I made these wreaths last Christmas and I love them SO MUCH!  This project is so easy and takes a little over an hour.  I love to craft during the holidays because it forces me to slow down, to SIT DOWN.  I can listen to music or podcasts or I can eat Grannie’s fudge but I can’t run myself ragged while I’m doing it.  It’s a great way to teach yourself how to relax.  Or at least it is for me.  Yarn bracelets coming soon!  I also made a pom pom wreath last year which I then converted to a  pom pom garland, so check it out too!

What you’ll need:

  • Foam/Straw/Styrofoam wreath (sold at craft stores for $2-$3)
  • Yarn – any kind, I used a #4 medium weight
  • Felt or linen flowers or your choice of embellishments
  • Spray adhesive
  • Scissors
  • Ribbon/string for hanging

 

What you’ll do:

  • Do not remove the plastic wrapping from the wreath, especially if you’re using the straw kind.  It’s easier to just wrap the yarn right around the plastic wrapping.
  • Cut four strips of yarn the same length, about two yards.
  • Hold those four pieces together and after spraying a little adhesive onto the wreath form, begin wrapping.  Wrap it in such a way as to cover up the ‘tails’ of the four strands of yarn.
  • When you’ve wrapped those four strands, make sure you leave the ‘tails’ of those strands on the back side of the wreath.  You’ll use the next set of four strands to then cover the ‘tails’ of the previous strands.  (I illustrate this is the video, if that’s confusing!)
  • Continue spraying and wrapping, until your wreath is covered and full.  It took me about an hour to finish one wreath.  The reason I use four strands at a time and cut them to a manageable length is because a) it’s way faster and b) you can avoid trying to wrap a whole skein of yarn through the wreath form.
  • When you’re finished, use a piece of coordinating ribbon to hide the last set of ‘tails’ from your yarn.
  • It looks wonky from the back unless you’re a perfectionist which I AM NOT.  But it only shows from one side, right?

And may your crafting force you to slow down dear friends!

openhouse

p.s—I’m joining my friend Myquillin’s wreath party so head on over for more homemade wreath goodness!  And in case you’re in need for some colorful quirky Christmas cheer, head over to my Christmas tour from last year.  And by the way?  The crazy mannequin with the evergreen bough is coming back!!

 

MY NEWEST BLOG SPONSOR:

 

This post is generously sponsored by my YL. I am into natural choices for my family, and this is the main way I help boost our immune systems and alleviate lots of minor aches, pains, and injuries.  Read more about how we are using them everyday! My Young Living essential oils are also my newest business venture, and the oils are so well loved that they sponsor my blog!!! Thank you, friends!  Enroll by clicking here.

Hosting Thanksgiving {Without Losing Your Mind!}

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how to host thanksgiving

First let me say, I have a confession to make.  I haven’t totally recovered from book writing.  Otherwise known as, I’m not on my A game right now.  Otherwise known as, I’m tempted to order Thanksgiving from Popeye’s.

Second, if you haven’t watched my video on bullet journaling, it will make planning events like this SO MUCH EASIER!! You can get the video here!

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I’ve lost a good portion of my mojo and it’s taking its sweet time coming back. [Read more…] about Hosting Thanksgiving {Without Losing Your Mind!}

How I Plan the Perfectly Imperfect Staycation

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staycationing

This is our 3rd year of official stay-cationing and we have come to LOVE IT.   Home is actually our favorite place to be so stay-cations are our love language.  But even if you’re not planning a full vacation at home, this might encourage you for the occasional summer company.  Here’s are some tips on preparing for some festive time at home!

Ready the House

 

Do your cleaning ahead of time just as if you were about to leave on vacation.  I don’t know about you, but when I leave for vacation, I like to leave my house pretty spotless.  You know, in case the plane crashes and my mom and sister have to come and sift through all my chotch-keys, I’d at least like the place to be clean.  And I find that giving yourself a few hours of focused cleaning (on the bathrooms, kitchen, and places where guests will stay) is usually enough.  I rally the troops and we clean like there’s no tomorrow so that it has that welcoming vibe and smell!  Then,  next week when it all looks like chaos?  Who cares?  We’re on staycation, remember?

And while you’re readying the house, don’t forget to ready yourself.  Maybe you need a pedicure? Some new flip flops?  A cute sundress?

Prepare as if you were headed to Key West.

Change Your Mindset

 

You have to keep reminding yourself that you’re on stay-cation, because it’s easy to slip into your old routines.

Can’t the laundry wait?  Maybe we should ditch dinner plans and go out?  Leave the dishes til morning?

YES, yes, and yes! YOU ARE ON STAYCATION.  Don’t forget.

Kids wanna stay up late and eat popsicles at midnight? Well, of course.

Momma wants to get up early and read all morning?  I can’t think of anything better.

Everybody sleeps in til 10 and we decide to start the day at Waffle House for brunch?  Sure, we’re on staycation.

Staycation is like vacation—low on rules and high on fun, rest, and relaxation.  You’ll have to keep reminding yourself, trust me.

 

Pencil in Your Festivities

 

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We’re lucky to live on the lake so we have very little planning to do.  Hang out at the lake everyday—that’s our plan.

But.  I do like to festive it up by having some fun photo booths, by having festive food, and by RELAXING enough to enjoy it all!

Maybe you’ll do a day trip or two.  Maybe you’ll stay up late and star gaze.  There’s always homemade ice cream and picnics and campfires and (if you’re at our house) plenty of corn hole.

Have a loose schedule and then follow your stay-cation whims wherever they take you.

summersoiree2

 

Plan Your Food

 

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Don’t like to cook?  Order out all week.  We’re foodies, so part of the fun for us is planning ahead and enjoying some  good food together.

Also? We live in Bean Station, not exactly a metropolis of delicious eateries, although there is that one gas station where Stevie sometimes takes me for a date.

Anyhoo, I love a good menu plan and it gives us a guideline for the week.  We ditch it whenever we feel like it but you have to start somewhere.

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

  • Breakfast—Bagels,  Lox, and Egg Sandwiches
  • Lunch—Picnic on the boat
  • Supper—Smoked Ribs and Homemade Pizza, and homemade ice cream

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday (the 4th)

Saturday

Okay, so tell if you’ve ever tried the stay-cation.  I’d love to know all about it!

(p.s. I had to make a quick road trip with my sister for family illness so the podcast is coming, just late.)

(pps. I’ll be taking some time off from blogging beginning some time next week to dive into book writing and enjoy my people for the summer.  I’ll be sending out some short updates via my newsletter, so subscribe here if you haven’t.  I’ll also still be on Instagram and Facebook, if you want to follow me there!)

Best Ever Blueberry Coffee Cake {with Lemon Glaze}

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Best Ever Blueberry Coffee Cake {with Lemon Glaze}

Well.  I’m 3 days into recovering from food poisoning.  I no longer wish to die, so that’s always a plus. I got out of bed almost like normal for the past two days.  I’m still slightly nauseous but am overall on the mend.  I haven’t been able to exercise all week, which usually negatively affects by writing, but I have to say I had way too much fun yesterday writing a few pages about camping with my family in the 70’s.  I laughed until I cried and thought how overly cautious and over involved we seem as parents compared to our parents back in the day.   You know, back in the day before sunscreen, healthy snacks, water bottles, and picture perfect campfires with s’mores.  Before Pinterest, when camping trips actually had very little to do with kids at all.  Back when nobody gave a hoot about whether or not the kids were having a good time.  I have to say that I’m actually not sure we’re doing our kids any favors.  But, I digress.

(Side note:  If anybody has any slightly traumatizing camping stories from the 70’s, I’m all ears.  You’ll have to wait a year or so to hear mine!)

Which somehow brings me to coffee cake.  Maybe because I’m finally hungry?  Who knows.

My girls were headed out this morning to a friends house to swim and I made them whip up some homemade goodies to bring to the family before they left.   They’re used to this from me so they didn’t complain and got right to work.  One of my friends had recently made this so it’s been on my mind, especially with all the berries so fresh and plentiful in the house lately.   I was looking up the recipe and noticed how very bad the photo was so I decided to repost it with better photos and with the capability of easy printing.  My very delightful youngest daughter made it with almost zero help from me and I had a few bites and must say that it is all shades of DELIGHTFUL.   Hope you’ll try it this summer!

Best Ever Blueberry Coffee Cake {with Lemon Glaze}

What you’ll need:

For the cake—

  • 1/2 cup butter,softened
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 2 ounces almond paste (or 1 t. almond flavoring)
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 1/2 c. flour
  • 1 1/2 t. baking powder
  • 1 1/2 t. salt
  • 1 3/4 cups blueberries tossed in 1 T. flour and 2 T sugar

(Hint:  I added about 1/2 cup of blackberries from our blackberry bush in addition to all the blueberries and it was divine!)

Best Ever Blueberry Coffee Cake {with Lemon Glaze}

For the lemon glaze:

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 T. lemon juice
  • 2 T. heavy cream
  • 1 T. softened butter

What you’ll do:

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Combine butter, cream cheese, almond paste and sugar; beat until fluffy.
  • Add eggs and then flour, baking powder, salt and mix well.
  • Then fold in blueberries.
  • Bake in a well-greased bundt pan  for 40-50 minutes or in 2 loaf pans for 40-50 minutes.
  • While it cools, combine ingredients for glaze and stir until smooth.
  • Drizzle over pound cake and enjoy!!

Best Ever Blueberry Coffee Cake {with Lemon Glaze}

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

For the cake

  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 2 ounces almond paste or 1 t. almond flavoring
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 1/2 c. flour
  • 1 1/2 t. baking powder
  • 1 1/2 t. salt
  • 1 3/4 cups blueberries tossed in 1 T. flour and 2 T sugar

For the glaze

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 T. lemon juice
  • 2 T. heavy cream
  • 1 T. softened butter

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Combine butter, cream cheese, almond paste and sugar; beat until fluffy.
  • Add eggs and then flour, baking powder, salt and mix well.
  • Then fold in blueberries.
  • Bake in a well-greased bundt pan for 40-50 minutes or in 2 loaf pans for 40-50 minutes.
  • While it cools, combine ingredients for glaze and stir until smooth.
  • Drizzle over pound cake and enjoy!!

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Don’t forget the camping stories.  I need some comic relief.