A Day in the Life

Featured

Stormy Day American Brownie

/ Maggie Kuhn / Leave a comment

When I was young I often licked the brownie beaters.

I still make brownies on those cold, stormy unforgiving weather days.

It brings me joy to bake in my little kitchen. My apron tightly wrapped around me as I gingerly dip my head to examine the brownies rising in the oven.

If you find yourself in a similar rainy day need for brownies.

I love this recipe because it only uses one bowl.

Try my brownie recipe!

MAGGIE’S BEATER LICKIN’ GOOD BROWNIES

  • 1 stick of melted butter
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder (I use Nestle Tollhouse 100% pure cocoa)
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 c. gluten free FLOUR (I used Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Rising Flour)
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • CHOCOLATE CHUNKS (ABOUT 3/4 CUP DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LIKE YOUR BROWNIES

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8×8 pan with cooking spray. In a medium bowl combine melted butter, cocoa powder and brown sugar. Beat pretty darn well so that there’s no lumps. Add eggs one at a time beating after each egg is added then drip in vanilla and stir well.

Stir in flour and salt. Do not over stir!

Spoon into an 8×8 pan and spread evenly.

Sprinkle chocolate chunks on top of the brownie batter.

Bake 20-22 minutes. Remove from oven and wait a good bit to let the brownies cool enough. Then cut yourself a piece of Maggie’s Beater Lickin’ brownies and enjoy!

I gotta say baking has been such a relief for me during my classes. Wow, brownies give me studying “super-powers”, well, hah-ha, maybe that’s an EGG-ZA-GERATION!

Heehee, I couldn’t resist the terrible pun.

I love baking and am so happy to share my recipes on this blog and hopefully brighten someones day!

Featured

Nellie Gray’s March for Life- Pro-life Advocacy

/ Maggie Kuhn / Leave a comment

This post is past the date of Nellie’s passing.

I received an inspirational email from the March for Life President. I find this a very important issue.

When Nellie Gray began the March for Life in 1974, she could never have imagined this gathering in our nation’s capital would become the largest annual human rights demonstration in the world.

On this 9th anniversary of Nellie’s passing, we remember her heroic legacy and stand firm in our promise to continue the great work she began.


When Roe v. Wade was wrongfully decided on January 22, 1973, Nellie gave up her successful career as a U.S. government attorney to fully commit to the fight for life. Within a few months, she organized the first ever March for life on January 22, 1974, uniting over 20,000 pro-life advocates in our nation’s capital. Nellie thought the March of January 22, 1974 would be the first and only March for Life.

But tragically, one march would not be enough. So Nellie vowed to come back year after year until the Supreme Court corrected its wrongful decision. Nellie spent the next 40 years dedicating every waking moment to the defense of human life and to inspiring generations to advocate for life.

Many believed the American people would come to accept abortion and the pro-life movement would eventually fade. However, nearly fifty years later, Nellie’s legacy persists and the March for Life continues to grow. Even now, we are expanding our reach into state capitals across the country!

DONATE

It’s impossible for us to know the great difference our little “yes” to defending life can make. On the anniversary of her passing, we thank Nellie for her “yes” that has led us here today.

This email I received today as it is the anniversary of Nellie Gray’s death, God rest her soul. When I attended the March for Life Mrs. Gray was still alive and speaking at the March for Life.

My fiancé and I are planning to attend the March for life again this upcoming year. This will be his first time, too. Which will make it such a fun journey!

Featured

Moving Stress

/ Maggie Kuhn / Leave a comment

I’m exhausted.

This move is really weighing on me. It’s not that I’m scared to start over with friends with setting up a community, it’s just I’m anxious about getting everything together and making sure everything’s well.

I have everything pretty organized and set up concerning turning off utilities, researching voting for MN, I’ve packed a lot of boxes. But there’s still so much more!! And it’s making me anxious.

I sat on our porch tonight with a hot mug of cocoa and looked out across the yard to the creek past the mailbox.

What a beautiful place this is and will stay in my memory as such a wonderful beginning to my venturing out on my own.

Living here in PA has given me such joy. Walking the trail in the mornings, sharing a beer with my neighbors, and watching movies with my fiancé curled up in the couch we bought together from IKEA.

Wow, and I have been blessed with the kindest neighbors.

My Thoughts on French Pedicures

/ Maggie Kuhn / Leave a comment

My fiancé and I went on a delivery to NE for a delivery, recently. We got to book a hotel that had free coffee and all the accouterments a girl could ever want. I’m talking shaving cream to toothpaste. No, I know this may seem pretty basic for a hotel to some but I had never stayed some place this nice, so it was so neat for me!

So, friends, I have dived into the cool waters of buying a new wardrobe (it’s a mighty bit colder in Minnesota) and pedicuring. Definitely a new word I just came up with 😉

Speaking of new wardrobes!!! Mod Cloth is a new site (at least to me) that I’ve been looking for clothing on. Please check it out and use my code.

During, this trip I decided I needed some pampering. Not completely necessary but I thought ya know sometimes pedicures are just nice. I bet I could count on one hand the times I’ve had a pedicure. So, I was very excited after making the appointment.

Ooh my! And do my toesies like it!

Goodness gracious.

Literally, since my gait is kinda wonky and my left foot is well pretty frazzled. It was the most calming and wonderful thing. My feet always feel 100% better after I’ve had a pedicure. My toenails are so incredibly better too. I’ve had problems with thick toenails and damage from the trauma of my accident. Which surprisingly have been mitigated.

Now, I am able to walk barefoot unlike before.

It’s crazy.

So, I’m resolved once we move to be making pedicure appointments at least once a month.

Featured

Blessing #9: Strife of Packing and Tasty Donuts

/ Maggie Kuhn / Leave a comment

The soft murmur of our coffee percolator sounded across the kitchen as I watched contemplating life. It seems a good place to contemplate—in front of a bubbling coffee percolator. It helped me think through everything, at least.

It was a big day ahead of studying, applying for this and that in our new state, checking on my financial aid (foot tapping in expectation), and applying to nearly 5 more scholarships. I think by now I have about 15 that I’ve applied to this month.

It’s been quite a humbling day. The bright sun glinted through my window as I awoke and I have had quite a sunny happy day today.

I’ve been all “wired up“ as I think my fiancé put it because of all the packing that needs done. I find packing fun. So at least that makes the process a little less dreary.

This morning, we ran to our favorite coffee shop (well one of our top favorites at least). The car, which is packed to the gills, literally, is now “toothless” from her front bumper hanging lopsided.

Funny story for another post! 😜

On the way home we stopped at the local grocery store to pick up some bread for our tuna sandwiches we’ll be making tonight. My lovely fiancé added in a donut as a little “don’t stress” treat.

As, we walked out bags in hand, I saw across the street a shining garage sale sign. Heehee, one of my favorite things!

And wowzer, friends, this lady was selling things without prices. Offering whatever price you thought was best for the item. We got a great deal on a car neck pillow brand new and a couple of new phone covers!

Featured

Blessing #7: Jesus, Blue Skies, Dry Heat & Trips down Memory Lane

/ Maggie Kuhn / Leave a comment

Today, has been a roller coaster of emotions for me.

The day began hot and cloudless the sun bathing down on the front garden like a magnifying glass refracting light, in a most piercing manner.

I started my day with coffee, which was good. I’ve been browsing around for coffee deals as this wedding planning is not nearly done. And ya know for planning and college classes, everyday, sometimes you just need a little perk up! I love African coffee and notes of chocolate, yes please!

Try Our Organic Bali Blue Moon Roast, Coupled With Rich Dark Chocolate Notes & A Spiced Finish

I sure didn’t start the day in a very healthy way, skipping breakfast.

I guess, nowadays, with my IBS it seems harder for me to eat because if I eat something that’s now low-fodmap I sometimes, literally double over in pain.

So, I became overwhelmed about my college financial aid, which, imagine my luck, I was chosen for financial verification. Which is a random selection… Arrgh. Skipping breakfast and having that to deal with that, I was such an emotional mess by 9:30 am. Thankfully, my

dear fiancé held me while I cried. He’s so good and loving!

Then we prayed our morning Novena’s together, which is always such a beautiful and unifying thing for us.

That I think was the change I needed for my day to become brighter.

After we prayed, he went off to work and I was able to sit down and really get down to the nitty-gritty of my college class.

Which, I worked on for much of the afternoon and got a couple of assignments outta’ the way. Which was actually surprisingly successful! To my great relief. I scored a B on my 8 page APA essay, which I was happily surprised with.

I’ve been having some pain in my feet recently which I think is due to the heat, perhaps. I painted my toes for the first time in a coon’s age. I like the color it’s an ESSIE quick dry nail color.

I am absolutely thrilled about my fiance getting a teaching position at a high school. I think he’ll really enjoy that!

The wonderful thing is I have no idea where he’ll get a job and therefore where we’ll be living. I do hope we find out before August though. Being surprised about where you’ll be living is good. But being surprised about where you’ll be moving within a couple of days I think is a bit jarring.

Admittedly, I’m a little anxious about that.

In the early evening, I was able to go through some old boxes of mine in the attic and closets. What a treasure trove of different memories, I found, goodness! I used to be such an artist and I found so much of my art.

I also have this somewhat odd affinity for saving letters and cards that people have sent me. Kind of a bad habit, I guess. I even found my confirmation papers and several Catholic books about finding happiness while being single and prayers for your future husband. Golly gee, those books are all dog-eared and coffee stained. Haha, they sure served a purpose though! So, all in all, the trip down memory lane was one filled with great joy and many tears.

Well, until tomorrow my dear friends, I hope all is well 🙂