In case you haven’t looked at the calendar lately, it’s August — AUGUST!? How on earth did that happen!
We’re quickly coming into apple season, and before you know it pumpkin E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. will be showing up. Don’t worry I’ll let you enjoy your tank tops and flip flops a while longer, but apples are always welcome in our house!
We’re also getting real with gray hair, a remodel update and some of my favorite sale items. So let’s jump in!
What I’m Makin’ | An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
That adage was spoken because apples are one of the most nutritionally packed fruits you can eat and when eaten regularly can aid in so many areas of your health. Here are just a few of the benefits:
- Lung strength
- Heart health
- Asthma management
- Bone health
- Weight loss
- Brain health
- Immune system support
- Gut health
And the irony is not lost on me that several of these recipes are paired with sugar, so grab an apple, wash it and eat it while browsing this post! Raw apples are always the best!
Easy Instant Pot Apple Butter Recipe {Low Sugar}
This velvety and sweet Instant Pot Apple Butter recipe is perfect with all the fall flavors and warm spices, like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice – it's low sugar too. Using an instant pot, your cooking process is finished in a fraction of the time, making it a great gift!
Easy Apple Pecan Chicken Salad with Tarragon
Classic Apple Pecan Chicken salad will become one of your favorite go-to chicken salad recipes. Loaded with must-have crunchies like apples, buttery pecans, shallots, and celery; then lightly dressed in a bright lemon, tarragon mayonnaise dressing.
Easy Mini Apple Pie Recipe in Muffin Tin
NEW! An easy mini apple pie recipe in your muffin tin. With a simple sugar cookie crust, a quick homemade apple filling, a drizzle of caramel, and a buttery streusel topping.
Easy Gluten-Free Apple Pie Recipe with Crumb Topping
This gluten-free apple pie will rock your socks off; with the crust and crumble topping made from the same dough, this is an easy, fail-proof pie. You don’t have to be gluten-free to love this pie!
Easy Air Fryer Apple Crisp Recipe {Low Fat, No Refined Sugar}
Buttery, sweet, and tart little apple crisps adorned with a decadent streusel topping– yes, please! This easy Air Fryer Apple Crisp recipe is a quick way to make healthy individual apple crisps that are just perfect for fall.
Easy Caramel Apple Dump Cake Recipe
This Caramel Apple Dump Cake recipe has all the fall flavors and is so easy to prepare. Such an easy recipe, only 5 main ingredients! The fruit mixed with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, topped with dry cake mix is the perfect fall desserts.
Amazing Apple Crumb Cake
Apples and cinnamon, a light, buttery cake, with not one but two layers of crumb streusel topping! Perfect for a fall or chilly morning, delicious with a cup of coffee or tea.
In the here and now | Real-life stories
Not a lot happened around our house this week — kind of a same O’ – same O’ kinda week. Although I enjoyed a sweet lunch with a girlfriend, went to a BBQ and had my hair done, always so very welcome.
I have decided to grow out my gray — this was not an easy decision, but at 58 I just couldn’t see myself continuing to color my hair for the next 30+ years, so working with my stylist we’ve come up with a plan. She’s adding some highlights and lowlights “easing” my transition. And I really like it!
Main Floor Remodel Update Week 4
We are out of the really messy stage of our remodel! YAY! Subflooring has been laid and we are ready for the flooring guys to come next week. Painting will happen over the weekend, it’s all shaping up.
We lost our downstairs toilet, though, boo. I’ve had to be intentional and not wait too long, since I have to run upstairs now! An accident waiting to happen! #58yearoldbladdersareweak
What Readers are Saying
“Definitely the best high-altitude banana bread recipe I’ve tried. I bet it could easily be modified for zucchini bread too. It came out perfectly moist but not dense and soggy like other recipes for lower elevations. I’m at 8,300 for reference. It was also super easy. Love this one!” ~Moonwillowofthemountains
Easy Banana Bread Recipe Baking at High Altitude
One of the best High Altitude Banana Bread Recipes! Using 4 bananas, and a few changes to the original process, this recipe is moister and amazingly delicious! It freezes great too!
Back-to-School and College
Our youngest son heads back for his sophomore year in a little over a week; that one hit me upside the head! And our oldest will start his senior year, but wait they are still my babies. Sniffle, sniffle!
You’ll love this Back to College | A Students Survival Guide, and remember to send them off with some easy and great recipes for college students!
My kids and their friends love these crocs! And these moving bags are lifesavers!
What Caught My Eye | Sales and Deals
What you loved!
- Oh how you all loved these Pebble Bead bracelets would be a great gift at a great price!
- And these Clark’s FlipFlops (ON SALE!), I just ordered the black ones!
Remodel Purchases
We bought a DESK for my husband’s office, this simple L-shaped Trestle style desk! Now we are on the hunt for a book shelf and side table to hold the printer, kind of loving this 2 Drawer side table.
Plus I would love to get him a cozy chair now that we will have more room in the office or maybe this one, with an ottoman?
If you want to know, this is the vanity, mirror and light we purchased for the bathroom.
As for me, I’m dreaming of cooler days, and love this long cardigan that doubles as a light jacket.
My favorite foot file ~ strange I know!
Can I gush for a minute about this amazing foot file (yeah, I know, really, Kathleen, a foot file?!) just hear (or is it read?) me out. I was given this file as a gift probably at least 8 years ago and it is still going strong, and I have gifted it to so many people.
Swiss-made, with a crazy lifetime return policy (if bought from Nordstrom), use wet or dry- it works better than anything I have ever used! I even bring it to my nail gal when doing a pedicure! You can get it on Nordstrom or on Amazon — same price. And you should get this nail brush too, love this one!
Check out all of my finds HERE! Plus, previous week’s deals! No gimmicks, I promise.
BROWSE MY AMAZON STOREFRONT
Weekly Inspiration | Because of God’s Strength
I love doing the Verse of the Day story through the Bible App and so appreciated this reflection from Naomi Hutchison on Psalm 59:16.
But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.
Psalm 59:16 (NLT)
Naomi says, “Because of God’s strength, He is able to be our protection in whatever it is that we’re facing. And because of His love towards us, He wants to be our safe place.”
Stay tuned for exciting updates, recipes, and tips in our next Fresh Fridays newsletter. And May our Loving God remind you how very much you are loved!
P.S. If you missed last week’s Fresh Fridays, recipes, sales, tips, ideas, and more!
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