Whether your berries are picked fresh from a local farm or from the freezer section at Costco, this recipe is just what you need to turn delicious seasonal fruit into mouth-watering muffins — perfect for breakfast, brunch, afternoon snacks, or even dessert. 

This is a fun and easy recipe for little hands… especially if you let them munch on blueberries as they “help”.

I make them regularly all year long as I always keep a stash of frozen blueberries on hand for smoothies, quick breads, muffins, pancakes, and just eating as a snack. 

Fun Blueberry Fact:

Did you know… blueberries rank extremely low on the glycemic index, making them a perfect treat for diabetics. (Thanks to my former English teacher for that tip.)

If you love blueberries or even just love a great muffin, you must add my easy blueberry muffin recipe to your menu plan this week.

BONUS TIP: Set your alarm 30 minutes earlier and surprise your family with fresh-from-the-oven blueberry muffins for breakfast. You’ll win “mom of the year” and enjoy a bit of quiet time while the muffins bake.

Win-Win!

You’ll Love This Recipe

It uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients. In fact, I bet you have most of them in the house already! 

The muffins are soft, fluffy, but also dense and moist (thanks to the sour cream).

It’s quick (roughly 30 minutes total).

It’s delicious and everyone will want the recipe!

Need I say more?

Ingredients for Blueberry Muffins

• 1/2 c. softened butter
• 1/2 c. honey (or white sugar)
• 1/2 c. milk
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• 1/4 c. plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
• 2 c. all-purpose flour (or 240 grams of freshly ground soft white wheat)
• 1 T. baking powder
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1 c. blueberries (or 1.5 c. if you really want lots of blueberries!)
• coarse turbinado sugar (optional)

Ingredient Variations

There are many ways to mix up this recipe so it accomodates your dietary needs, taste preferences, or just what you have in the house.

Here are a few ideas…

• Swap coconut oil for butter if you want to go dairy-free.
• Use your favorite sweetener of choice — roughly equivalant to 1/2 c. sugar/honey.
• Use whatever milk you have in the house (buttermilk is great too).
• Try one of these egg substitutes if you can’t eat eggs.
• Use any brand/variety of plain greek yogurt or sour cream.
• Swap a gluten-free baking mix or 240 grams of freshly milled soft white wheat for the all-purpouse flour.
• Try raspberries or blackberries for a twist on these muffins.
• Omit the turbinado sugar if you don’t have it in the house.

How to Make Blueberry Muffins

1. Preheat oven to 375ºF

2. Grease (or line with paper) a 12-cup muffin tin.

3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine “wet” ingredients (butter, honey, milk, eggs, brown sugar, yogurt). Mix well.

4. Gently stir in flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined.

NOTE: if using freshly milled flour, let the batter rest for 15-20 minutes on the counter before adding the blueberries. This allows the flour to fully absorb the moisture.

5. Fold in blueberries — it’s OK if the batter is lumpy.

6. Scoop batter into muffin cups until they are almost full.

7. Sprinkle the tops of muffin batter with coarse sugar (optional).

8. Bake in preheated oven for 20-23 minutes or until middles are set and tops are golden.

9. Let muffins cool in pan for 5-7 minutes.

10. Remove muffins from pan and cool on a wire rack.

Do blueberry muffins freeze well?

These muffins can easily be frozen… however, I do think they taste extra delicious when they are fresh out of the oven.

Since they are so quick and easy to whip up, I often make them fresh and we eat all 12 in one day (sometimes for one meal!) 

However, if you want to make a bunch at a time, definiteliy throw some in the freezer for later.

More Easy Blueberry Recipes: 

• Delicious Blueberry Buckle
• Blueberry Peach Pie (these 2 fruits are the perfect combination)
• Blueberry Stuffed French Toast
• Blueberry Oat Pancakes
• Berry Smoothies
• Berry Fruit Compote
• Triple Berry Jam (I use strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries)

4 Tips for Extra-Delicious Muffins

Thse 4 tips make any muffin recipe extra delicious without any extra work.

1. Less mixing = lighter muffins.

I thoroughly mix the wet ingredients before adding the flour, baking powder, and salt so I don’t need to overmix once the flour is added. This helps create a lighter, fluffier muffin.

It’s OK if the batter is still a bit lumpy when you put it in the muffin cups, just try to break up any obvious flour clumps. 

2. Frozen blueberries = less “blue” muffins.

In my experience, using still-frozen blueberries results in less runny blue color AND firmer berries in the finished muffins. 

Add the frozen blueberries just before you scoop the batter into the muffin tins.

3. Full muffin cups = nice high muffins.

Most muffin recipes call for the cups to be filled only half-way to 3/4 full — but that produces flat muffins.

The batter for this recipe is quite thick, so I’ve had good luck filling the cups almost all the way full, which then creates a lovely high crown that looks extra appetizing.

4. Coarse sugar = yummy crunchy topping.

I love a good crunchy topping on my muffins but I rarely take the time to make a true “streusel topping”. Instead, I sprinkle a little coarse turbinado sugar on top before I pop them in the oven. 

It adds a nice texture to the muffins without any extra work or dishes!

What are your favorite easy blueberry recipes?

Visit my virtual recipe box for more simple, delicious, family-friendly recipes!

Press’nSeal wrap did make my list of Favorite Things several years ago, and it’s always first in my drawer because I reach for it so often.

Obviously, there are countless ways you can use Glad Press’nSeal wrap in your kitchen… but did you know there are a bunch of other creative and practical ways this plastic wrap can make your life easier?

Keep reading for a bunch of clever Press’nSeal wrap uses… and feel free to leave your favorites in the comment section below!

1. A Cover for Paint Brushes and Rollers

I do a lot of painting — walls, trim, cabinets, furniture, fencing, picture frames, etc. — so I’m often “in the middle” of a painting project. 

In between painting sessions, I cover my brushes, rollers, and any other painting supplies with Press’nSeal wrap, and they stay good for days.

This means I only need to wash out my brushes and clean up one time instead of every single time I finish for the day. I’ve been using this tip for decades, and it’s a huge time and money saver!

2. Paint Tray Liners

Paint trays are usually $5 – $10, and the liners are usually around $1 – $2 each. This might not seem like much, but when you paint with many different colors, that cost adds up.

Plus, for some reason, I always seem to buy the wrong size liner for my paint trays…

Thankfully, I solved that problem many years ago when I realized that Press’nSeal wrap was the perfect alternative to paint tray liners — and it only costs a few pennies per tray!

Simply line your paint tray with Press’nSeal (pressing it down very firmly), pour your paint in, and you’re ready to go. When you’re finished, just pull up the Press’nSeal and toss it in the trash.

Also, if you’re coming back to painting in an hour or so, you can use another piece of Press’n Seal wrap to cover the paint in your paint tray until you’re ready to paint again.

3. Keep Your Jewelry Tangle-Free

Whether you’re traveling for the summer or just bringing a change of clothes for an event after work, keep your jewelry completely tangle-free, neat, and organized by laying it on a piece of Press’nSeal wrap and then putting another piece over top.

Simply press all around the edges of each jewelry item, then roll it up and place it in your bag. Nothing will get tangled up.

This is an awesome trick that I’ve used many times over the years, and totally wish it were a thing back when I was in high school!

4. Keep Refrigerator Drawers and Shelves Clean

If you are constantly battling sticky, dirty, grimy refrigerator shelves and drawers, try lining them with Press’nSeal wrap first. Then the next time you spill, simply pull up the plastic wrap and put another layer down.

Another refrigerator tip (while we’re on the subject) is to line produce drawers with a thin cloth or a layer of paper towel to soak up any juices from the produce.  These can easily be washed or tossed (and replaced) after a few weeks to keep the drawers clean. 

5. Prevent Ice Cream Freezer Burn

We often have multiple varieties of ice cream in the house. We usually store it downstairs in our deep freezer, as the deep freezer is better at preventing freezer burn, but once we open a container, we bring it up to the “kitchen freezer”.

When we do this, we often cover the surface of the ice cream with Press’nSeal wrap and then put the cover on. This extends the life of our ice cream and prevents freezer burn. Plus, it only takes 5 seconds, so it’s totally worth it!

6. Keep Avocados Fresher Longer

I have a love-hate relationship with avocados — on one hand, they are delicious, on the other hand, they go bad SO fast that I’m often left frustratedly tossing another half in to the trash.

That is, until I discovered that you can drastically prolong the life of your cut avocados by keeping the pit intact and tightly wrapping the leftover avocado in Press’nSeal wrap.

It will last for several days in the refrigerator without turning brown and mushy.

Also, you can definitely freeze sliced/diced avocado if you find yourself with too much on hand.

7. DIY Sippy Cup

We used this when traveling, going out to eat, and when transitioning our kids from a sippy cup to a regular glass… and it worked for all 4 kids!

Simply cover any drinking glass with Press’nSeal wrap and poke a straw hole through the center. They can sip away while you enjoy your time without constantly worrying about them spilling.

This is also an easy way to always have “sippy cups” available for guests, or a great option if you find yourself at a guest’s house with no child-friendly cups.

8. Prevent Spills When Traveling

Have you ever packed sunscreen, lotion, or any other liquid item for vacation… only to discover the item leaked all over your suitcase?

If so, the next time you travel, take a few minutes to wrap the tops of your liquid items in Press’nSeal wrap and then screw the tops on.

You shouldn’t have any issues with spills.

9. Cover Seedlings to Keep Moisture In

There was a time, before we had kids, when I grew many of my flowers and vegetables from seeds.

I would put them on heating blankets in our living room, cover them with Press’nSeal wrap, and put them by a sunny, south-facing window.

It worked like a charm — and SO much better than any other frugal method I tried.

10. Prevent Your Bananas From Ripening Too Quickly

I read this tip a long time ago, and after years of testing, I can confidently say it really does work.

Simply cover the tops of each bunch with Press’nSeal wrap, and they will turn brown less quickly. It traps the ethylene gas emitted primarily from their stems, limiting its circulation to the rest of the banana and surrounding fruit

If your bananas are going bad too quickly, give this a try. Or, you could always just toss them in the freezer for banana bread!

Bonus: Cover your Phone to Keep it Dry

I know they make fancy waterproof covers for phones and tablets these days, but sometimes I just want a quick solution that still allows me to use the touchscreen when I’m out by the pool, making a messy recipe in the kitchen, or going for a walk when it’s a little rainy.

I wouldn’t jump in a lake with a phone covered with Press’nSeal wrap, but for light rain or splashes, it definitely does the trick.

There you have it, a few non-traditional ways to use Glad Press’n Seal wrap.

Do you have any other uses to add to my list?

I don’t care how big or small your home, office, purse, closet, basement or attic is… the problem usually comes down to trying to fit too much stuff into your space.

Sometimes it’s also a lack of an organizational system (a nice closet or pantry set-up can make a huge difference), but the root of the issue is just too much stuff.

Can you relate?

An obvious solution for “too much stuff” is to donate, sell, or trash some of your stuff (and also stop buying/accumulating more stuff), but we all know that’s easier said than done.

If you’re trying to declutter but struggling to part with your beloved things, consider the simple yet very effective concept of “purging like you’re moving”!

Purge Like You’re Moving…

If you were moving across town, would you pack and transport your 10 pairs of too-small jeans, your finicky toaster, and that box of extra cords you’re convinced you “might need someday”?

If you were moving across the country, would you waste time, space, and energy carting stacks of old magazines, newspapers, and junk mail with you?

If you were moving internationally, would you pay to ship all your holiday decorations, unused wedding gifts from years ago, and every single piece of artwork from your children’s school days?

I suppose you might initially think, “Yes! I’d want to move it all!” — but would you really?

After you pause to let your rational brain have a say in things, I dare to bet you’d leave at least some of the things above behind.

When Dave and I moved to our current house in December of 2010, we had no kids, no pets, no collections, and no shopping addiction. We were only moving a few miles from our previous house, and we were moving into a much larger home (with an extra outbuilding).

Even so, we sold so much stuff on Craigslist and thoroughly decluttered every room and closet because we didn’t want to waste time or energy moving anything we didn’t want, need, use, or love.

Our new home was a different style, and I knew I’d want to decorate with more of a farmhouse theme. I also knew we would be demolishing much of the home’s interior, so I didn’t want to move unnecessary items just to let them sit and be covered by dust and construction debris.

It felt amazing to have so much less stuff to pack and move. It was also fun to see so much empty space when we first moved into our farmhouse. I try to think of that feeling whenever I’m decluttering — knowing I’ll continue to benefit from my efforts down the road!

Of course, if you’re not actually moving, this is sort of a mental game you can play with yourself (and your family), but it really does work!

In fact, the majority of my past organizing clients admitted that it was easier to purge when they went into the process with a “moving mindset”.

If you’re looking for a simple decluttering tip, just keep asking yourself, “Would I keep this if I were moving?”

If not, you know you’re probably safe to donate, sell, or trash the items.

More Decluttering Resources:

• How the 80/20 Rule Helps Me Declutter
• Declutter Your Closet in 5 Simple Steps
• 5 Questions I Ask When I’m Purging
• The Questions That Helped Me Purge 75% of My Clothes
• 10 Excuses We Make to Keep Our Clutter
• How to Finally Let Go of “What if I Need It Clutter”

Oh, and if you actually are moving, here are 6 tips to simplify moving

What are your best tips to declutter more?

Favorite Tech = AirPods

Many years ago, I purchased knock-off wireless earbuds on Amazon, and they worked for about a year, and then the issues started.

Around that same time, I won an Apple gift card and used it to purchase AirPods for myself and for Dave. We are now HUGE fans!

I’ve used mine daily for many years with no issues (mainly for audiobooks and podcasts) and would honestly say they are worth the extra money.

We also have this little tool to quickly clean our AirPods and case — it’s amazing how effective it is.

RELATED READING: My Favorite Podcasts

Favorite Movie = Field of Dreams

It’s official. We finally watched one of my all-time favorite movies for movie night a couple of weeks ago — Field of Dreams!

It’s a classic, and considering the boys won their third straight Little League Championship earlier in the month, it felt like the perfect time to break out Field of Dreams.

We had to pause the movie a few times to explain what was going on, but I think the kids liked it.

I rarely go out and buy an organizing container until I’ve lived with the newly organized space for several weeks — just to make sure the space works well for my needs before investing more time and money.

I also keep a (small) stash of my favorite organizing tools in an extra closet, which I can then use for a variety of projects — either as a temporary or long-term solution.

Since many have asked for my go-to organizing tools, I thought I’d compile them in one place… but remember, you probably shouldn’t be buying them until after you’ve decluttered and lived with your space for a bit!

Donation Bags

This is sort of a joke… but in all honesty, I keep donation bags in several different places throughout our home, and they serve as one of my best organizing tools.

Grab a few paper grocery bags, a large Amazon box, or a clothes basket you plan to donate, and use them as convenient places to stash your cast-offs until the next time you drive past your local donation center.

Then, simply load the containers in your trunk, drop them off, and start the process over again.

Planner and/or Calendar:

I’ve always been a pen and paper gal — and despite trying to go digital many times, it just feels easier to keep it on paper.

I use a 2-year pocket planner and a large magnetic calendar to keep myself and my family organized

If there’s a digital option that works best for you, use that — the important thing is that those who need to know what’s happening can access it whenever they need to.

This might not clear the clutter from your kitchen counters, but it will help you better organize your life (and reduce a lot of stress!)

Related Reading: How to Plan Monthly versus Weekly

Clear Storage Bins with Lids

I don’t keep a ton of long-term storage, but we do have some seasonal decorations, a bit of memerobelia, and a few rarely-used tools and kitchen items that I want to keep out of the way, but still easily accessible.

So we have 12 clear storage bins with latching lids that I use for these things. My favorite are the Sterilite 66 quart containers as they hold a lot, but not too much that you can’t lift them. They also stack nicely.

Related Reading: See What’s In Our Memory Boxes

Over The Door Shoe Organizers

We use over-the-door shoe organizers in almost every room of our house — for shoes, socks, swimsuits, winter gear, charging cables and other electronics, small gadgets, and even kitchen items like spices and seasonings.

They are inexpensive and very versatile. Plus, they help use up otherwise wasted vertical space.

Related Reading: How to Maximize Storage with Vertical Space

Small Drawer Organizers

I use plastic drawer organizers in our kitchen, office, bathrooms, bedrooms, and even the garage.

They are such an easy and inexpensive way to organize small items in shallow drawers, allowing you to quickly see everything in the drawer (and know where to put items away again).

Related Reading: How We Organize Everything In Our Kitchen

Space-Saving Hangers

We’ve used space-saving velvet hangers exclusively in our home for well over a decade.

Not only do they help to save valuable closet space, but they also keep clothing from falling off the hangers, and they help the closet look more visually appealing.

Related Reading: How to Thoroughly Declutter Your Closet in 6 Steps

Baskets

No matter your decorating style, you can likely find decorative baskets that work as storage + decor for your home.

We have lots of baskets in closets, under beds, in the pantry, and even right out in the open — concealing cords, chargers, snacks, socks, extra toiletries, gift wrap, books, games, office supplies, and more.

There’s likely a basket for every organizing project — the hard part is not hoarding all the cute baskets you find!

I’ve had really good luck finding baskets at our local thrift store; however, if you want them to match, you’ll likely need to buy new.

Large Outdoor Deck Boxes

We have a couple of large outdoor deck boxes that we use to organize pool toys, sports gear, furniture cushions, etc. They are super easy to open, find what you need, and close again… and they keep everything inside dry.

I’ve found all of mine on Facebook Marketplace.

Related Reading: How We Organize All Our Outdoor Toys and Gear

Shoe Boxes

Honestly, shoe boxes are my go-to organizing tool for so many areas in our home.

We have shoe boxes in our bathroom, our medicine cabinet, our closets, our mudroom, our basement, our garage, and even in our freezer!

They are often the perfect size, they stack well, and they are sturdy but lightweight.

Now, before you start hoarding hundreds of shoe boxes, it might be wise to set a limit… maybe 5-10 shoe boxes that you’ll keep on hand for future organizing projects. The rest can go.

Related Reading: Practical Tips to Organize Your Medicine Cabinet

Mason Jars

While I normally opt for square or rectangular containers, I do love using mason jars with these plastic lids for organizing snacks and pantry staples.

They come in a variety of sizes and are super convenient for leftovers, snacks, bulk nuts, seeds, and grains.

Related Reading: How to Store Bulk Food

Small Filing Cabinet

Personally, I try not to keep many papers in the house because so much of what we need can be found online these days.

However, there are plenty of papers we need to keep around — like recent medical records, current directories for groups we are a part of, current tax documents, etc.

We have a small 2-drawer filing cabinet in our office that we use for pretty much all the papers in our home. It’s nice to have a place for all our papers to live.

If you don’t want or need a filing cabinet, you could try an accordion folder or a wall file organizer instead.

Related Reading: How We Paired Down Our Paper Clutter

Masking Tape or Painter’s Tape

Label makers are definitely cute… but you don’t need one to get or stay organized. I never use a label maker, yet most of my things are labeled, thanks to a little masking or painter’s tape + a black Sharpie.

Even if you do prefer using a label maker, I’d still recommend starting with masking tape until you are 100% positive you have your space set up and organized how you like it. Then create cuter labels in place of the masking tape.

We were recently talking about our wedding reception with the kids, when one of them asked if we had our “dream wedding”.

I jokingly said, “No, that was before social media”.

But as I thought about it more, my 20-year-old self did have a vision of what my “dream wedding” might be like if time, money, and practicality were no issues.

However, it was just a dream — nothing I ever actually planned to create in real life. I didn’t feel slighted in the least that almost none of my “dream wedding” ideas were incorporated into our wedding or reception.

I mostly just wanted to get married, and I’m honestly thankful I didn’t feel pressured to create a dream wedding… let me explain.

My Dream Wedding

Back in 2005/2006, my dream wedding would have been in early October on a farm… preferably in a cute old barn with the reception under a giant white tent on the lawn.

My colors would have been ivory and brown, with more of a rustic feel for the flowers and decor. Probably a wooden arbor dripping with greenery and ivory roses — and definitely a string quartet.

I would have worn a flowy ivory dress — nothing too fancy, and the bridesmaids would have worn a similar dress in brown. The groomsmen would have been more casual — brown or khaki pants, a cream button-up, and brown ties.

The reception would have offered gorgeous views of the farm property on a perfectly sunny and unseasonably warm fall day, and everyone would have eaten their fill and danced the night away (the food and dancing did actually happen!)

There probably would have been a horse-drawn wagon involved, too.

Our Actual Wedding

I married a teacher, so a Fall wedding was immediately out of the question — June 30 was the first available weekend date, so that settled it.

Michigan weather is extremely unpredictable, so although I loved the idea of an outside wedding and reception, my practical nature won out, and we had it at my home church. Turns out we got an absolutely gorgeous summer day, but an indoor wedding was still ok.

No string quartet… but I did get trumpets to play me down the aisle.

I loved the idea of an ivory dress, but I found a simple white dress that fit me almost perfectly on the clearance rack at the first store we visited… $90 and 1 hour later, I had my dress with little to no stress or indecision.

We went with a light green color as that was fairly popular at the time, and both my sisters liked a certain bridesmaid dress in that color. The groomsmen went with traditional tuxes because that was easy and cheaper. I honestly just didn’t care enough.

I used Granny Smith apples as our table centerpieces — they were the right color, I love apples, and they were cheap. Plus, a bunch of guests munched on them throughout the night.

I printed the invitations and programs on my parents’ home computer for less than $25 (everyone throws them away, so why waste money on them).

I used almost all silk flowers that I arranged myself, thanks to Hobby Lobby coupons. Both my younger sisters ended up using most of the flowers in their future weddings, and then I sold them on Craigslist.

The reception was about a mile from the church (convenient for our guests) at a local country club, which did have nice field-looking photo opportunities.

I don’t remember what song we first danced to, I don’t remember what food we served, I don’t even remember what the pastor preached on.

I do remember that our cake was fake! It was frosted styrofoam disks with a small real cake as the top layer, so we could have something to cut. Our guests enjoyed Costco cake.

It’s Just One Day

It was fun to have dream wedding ideas (I think most girls would admit to dreaming about their future wedding). But our wedding was one day. And even though it was a fantastic day, I honestly rarely think about the actual events from the wedding or reception anymore — except when our kids ask.

I’m more practical than many, and I now have 20 years of “hindsight”, but I’m still glad I didn’t kill myself trying to plan an over-the-top event or spend a fortune on one day.

It was such a fun day with family and friends (the reception staff had to kick us out at midnight because so many people were still dancing), and I’m glad we had a nice wedding, but I have zero regrets about not having my “dream wedding”.

Hopefully I can convince my children, too!

If you’re in the process of planning a wedding for yourself, a child, or a friend, I encourage you to take a step back from the planning process and think about how you’ll feel 10 or 20 years down the road.

Will you care if you offered 10 different appetizers?

Will you care if your flowers were fresh or silk?

Will you care about the venue? I know this sounds like a huge deal, but it’s really not.

Save yourself the time, energy, stress, arguments, and money… and keep it simple.

I don’t think you’ll regret it.

More Wedding Posts

8 Frugal Date Ideas

Our Engagement Story (it’s good!)

Why We Waited a Week for Our Honeymoon

10 Ideas to Repurpose a Wedding Dress

How to Host a Pantry Shower (a fun alternative to traditional wedding showers)

We Love Puff Pancakes

Obviously, they taste great… otherwise I wouldn’t keep them in the rotation.

It’s also fun to create a “puff pancake buffet” where everyone can do their own toppings.

However, my favorite thing about puff pancakes is that I can easily bake 48 or more in the oven at the same time, while I make eggs and sausage on the stovetop.

If you’re short on time, you can even mix up the batter the night before… which means you can have breakfast on the table in less than 20 minutes!

And if you want to occupy small children, turn the oven light on and let them watch as the pancakes puff up while baking (my toddlers would literally pull up a chair and sit in front of the oven door.)

Ingredients for Puff Pancakes

• 1 c. all-purpose flour (whole grain flour doesn’t work well)
• 1 c. milk
• 1/4 c. melted butter or oil
• 6 eggs
• a pinch of salt
• optional toppings (see below)

Topping Ideas

Here are a few optional topping ideas to get you thinking… but almost anything tastes great with these pancakes!

• butter and maple syrup
• powdered sugar
• chocolate chips and bananas
• any type of fresh fruit
• canned pie filling
• any type of jam
• apple or pumpkin butter
• whipped cream
• chocolate or caramel sauce
• sprinkles

How to Make Puff Pancakes

1. Preheat oven to 400ºF.

2. Grease two regular-size 12-cup muffin tins and set aside.

3. In a 4 c. measuring cup (or medium-size bowl), combine flour, milk, butter, eggs, and salt.

4. Stir until well combined (the batter will be very thin).

5. Pour batter into regular muffin cups until they are 1/2 full. (You do not want to use mini muffin cups).

6. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes (they will get very “puffy”).

7. Remove pancakes from the pans, top with optional toppings, eat, and enjoy!

Puff Pancakes Quick Tips

Save time in the mornings by mixing up the batter the night before and storing it in the fridge. The “puff” comes from all those eggs, not from baking soda or powder, so you don’t need to worry about baking right after mixing.

It’s easiest to mix up the batter in a pourable container. Since the batter is so runny, it’s hard to “scoop” it into muffin tins. Pouring is easier and much less messy.

Make more batter than you think you’ll need — these pancakes are very light, so it’s easy to eat several in one sitting. My family of 6 can easily eat 3 dozen or more.

Puff Pancakes taste great as leftovers, just not quite as puffy. We reheat them in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.

They get VERY puffy in the oven, so depending on how closely your oven racks are located, you might want to remove the rack above where the Puff Pancakes are baking.

More Hot Breakfast Recipes

• Banana Chocolate-Chip Pancakes (Gluten Free)
• Blueberry Stuffed French Toast
• Cream Cheese Danish
• Sourdough Starter Pancakes
• French Toast Sticks
• Hearty Whole Grain Oat Pancakes
• Light and Fluffy Waffles
• Make-Ahead Belgian Waffle Mix
• Overnight French Toast Casserole
• Perfect Pancakes

What are your favorite fun and easy breakfasts?

Visit my virtual recipe box for more simple, delicious, family-friendly recipes!

It’s natural to look back with fondness. Our memories have a way of softening the hard edges and highlighting the moments that made us smile.

But what if we’re looking at this all wrong?

What if the good old days aren’t behind us?

What if we’re living them right now?

The Danger of Living in the Past

Nostalgia can be a beautiful thing. It helps us appreciate where we’ve been and the people who have shaped our lives.

However, when we become too focused on the past, we risk missing the beauty of the present.

We tell ourselves things like:

“I miss when the kids were little.”

“I wish I could go back to those simpler days.”

“Those were the best years of my life.”

And while there may be truth in those statements, they can unintentionally rob us of gratitude for the season we’re currently in.

Because every stage of life comes with unique gifts.

The years when your children were toddlers were wonderful. But so are the years when they can carry on meaningful conversations, drive themselves places, and become adults you enjoy spending time with.

The years when your home was full of noise and activity were special. But so are the quieter years when you finally have time to pursue hobbies, friendships, and interests that may have been set aside for a season.

Every chapter has something worth appreciating.

One Day, You’ll Miss This Too

A few years from now, you’ll likely look back on today and realize how quickly it passed.

The messy kitchen after family dinners.

The pile of shoes by the door.

The text messages from your teenagers.

The busy schedules.

The daily routines that feel repetitive and ordinary.

The people sitting around your table.

The body you’re living in.

The home you sometimes complain about cleaning.

One day, many of these things will change. And when they do, you’ll probably find yourself wishing you could relive a few ordinary moments that seem insignificant today.

The reality is that many of the things we currently take for granted will become memories we cherish.

Stop Waiting for Life to Start

Sometimes we convince ourselves that life will be better when:

• The house is organized.
• The kids are older.
• We lose the weight.
• We retire.
• We have more money.
• We finally get caught up.

But life isn’t waiting for us on the other side of those milestones.

Life is happening right now.

It’s happening in the carpool line, during family dinners, while folding laundry, during conversations with friends, and while sitting in the hot tub watching the sunset.

If we’re constantly looking ahead or behind, we miss the moments unfolding right in front of us.

Embrace the Season You’re In

Every season has challenges.

Young families deal with exhaustion and constant demands.

Parents of teenagers navigate new worries and responsibilities.

Empty nesters face transitions and changing identities.

Retirees encounter their own adjustments and uncertainties.

No season is perfect.

But every season contains joy, purpose, growth, and opportunities that won’t come again in quite the same way.

Instead of wishing for a different chapter, what if we learned to appreciate the one we’re currently living?

Not because it’s perfect.

Not because every day is easy.

But because it’s ours.

These Are The Good Old Days

Years from now, you’ll likely look back on this season with those same rose colored glasses you currently reserve for the past.

You’ll remember the people, the routines, the traditions, the challenges, and the ordinary moments that made up your life.

So don’t wait until they’re gone to appreciate them.

Sit on the porch.

Call a friend.

Laugh with your family.

Take the picture.

Eat the dessert.

Enjoy another ordinary day.

Celebrate the season you’re in.

The good old days aren’t just something we remember…they’re something we’re creating right now.

However, we never have enough time to tackle ALL our clutter, and when clutter continues to accumulate, it can make an already busy season feel even more overwhelming.

That’s why I’m a fan of “mini decluttering challenges”.

It’s exactly like what it sounds — a mini challenge you can do any time you have 5 minutes throughout the day.

These mini challenges work for real life, real families, and real homes because you aren’t organizing anything… just decluttering.

Let me say that again: You are NOT “organizing”, only “decluttering”.

You don’t need to make it look pretty, create labels, or find matching bins. You simply need to remove things that should no longer be taking up space in your home and life.

Instead of setting aside hours for a major organizing project, you’ll spend just 5 minutes clearing out what you no longer need.

No complicated systems. No marathon cleaning sessions. Just small pockets of time spent reducing the excess and creating a little more breathing room in your home.

These quick wins may seem insignificant at first, but over time, they can add up to a home that feels lighter, calmer, and easier to manage.

As you go throughout your daily tasks, ask yourself the questions below. If you can’t answer “yes”, it might be time to declutter that item.

Keep a trash bag and a donation box handy on every floor of your home and continually add to them throughout each day and each week. You might be surprised how quickly you fill them!

General Decluttering Questions

• Do I actually need this item?
• Do I actually use this item?
• Do I even love or at least like this item?
• Do I want this item?
• If I moved across the country, would I pay to have this item moved with me?

Related Reading: Love it, Use it, or Lose it – a Simple Decluttering Guide

Clothes, Shoes & Accessories Questions

• Does it actually fit me?
• Does it flatter my current body shape/size?
• Do I feel great wearing it?
• Is it in style?
• Is it in good to great condition?
• If I went shopping, would I buy this item again?

Related Reading: How to Declutter Your Closet in 6 Steps

Kitchen & Home Goods Questions

• Have I used or displayed this item in the last 6 months?
• Do I have a place for this item?
• Can I make do with something else I have?
• Would it be very difficult or expensive to replace the item if I did need or want it again?
• Am I hanging onto it out of guilt or because it was given to me by someone special?
• Am I hanging onto it because I’m hoping to sell it?

Related Reading: How to Declutter 100 Things From Your Home Today

Kids’ Stuff Questions

• Is it in good to great condition?
• Is it something I actually liked and found useful?
• Realistically, will I have children who could use/wear this again?
• Will the item be out of style or expired by the time future children could potentially use it?
• Would it be difficult or expensive to replace the item if I did need/want it again?
• Do I have adequate space to store it?

Related Reading: How to Finally Let Go of “What if I Need it Clutter”

Sentimental Item Questions

• Is this something I actually want and love?
• Do I have space to store or use the item?
• Could I repurpose the item in any way to make it more usable?
• Am I hanging onto it out of guilt or because it was given to me by someone special?

Related Reading: Practical Solutions for Sentimental Clutter

More Decluttering Help

I’ve written extensively about decluttering over the last 2 decades… here are some of my favorites:

• Why You Should Stop Organizing and Start Decluttering
• 9 Questions to Help You Declutter Your Home and Life
• What to Do when Decluttering Feels Wasteful
• The Ultimate List of Clutter-Free Gifts (something for all ages!)
• 50 Things to Declutter Right Now

If you’re struggling with clutter in any of the above categories, start asking and answering those questions — and then start decluttering!

You don’t need to

What area will you start with?

I make some version of this cake several times throughout the year (keep reading below for some of our favorite flavor combos). Sometimes, I’ll even bake 2 different cakes at the same time, cut them both in half, put half of each in the freezer, and save half of each to eat right away.

As you’ll notice by the pictures below… anything with chocolate is a winner in our home!

If you’re looking for a simple and delicious dessert recipe for an upcoming event… or just a special weeknight treat, give my from-a-box bundt cake a try.

I promise, no one will ever guess you started with a boxed mix!

Ingredients for Easy Bundt Cake

• 1 – 2 pkgs. any variety of store-bought cake mix (18.5 oz.)**
• 1 pkg. any flavor instant pudding (4 serving size)
• 1 c. water
• 1/2 c. applesauce or oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 c. mix-ins (optional) — chocolate chips, nuts, peanut butter chips, etc.
• optional frosting, glaze, and toppings

** NOTE: When I first started making this recipe many years ago, cake mixes were 18.5 ounces. They eventually changed to 15 or 16 ounces, and now many are only 13 ounces!! If you buy a smaller cake mix, you’ll want to use 1 full package and half the second package to get closer to 18-20 ounces of cake mix.

You could also substitute the cake mix part of this recipe with the dry ingredients for any homemade cake recipe (here’s one we love for chocolate cake).

How to Make this Easy Bundt Cake

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.

2. Grease a 10″ bundt pan and set aside.

3. In a medium bowl, mix dry cake mix and dry pudding mix.

4. Add wet ingredients and any mix-ins; stir until combined.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan.

6. Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes.

7. Remove cake from pan and cool on a wire rack.

8. Frost if desired and add topping or garnishes (chocolate chips, peanuts, coconut, etc)

Our Favorite Ingredient Combinations:

Almost any cake mix + pudding mix combo could work for this bundt cake recipe, so feel free to experiment. I’ve shared a handful of our favorite combinations below.

• Chocolate cake mix + chocolate pudding powder + semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Chocolate cake mix + butterscotch pudding powder + 1/2 c. milk chocolate chips + 1/2 c. peanut butter chips
• Yellow cake mix + vanilla pudding powder + semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Yellow cake mix + lemon pudding powder + 2 t. lemon extract + 2 T. poppy seeds
• Chocolate cake mix + butterscotch pudding powder + 1/2 c. chocolate chips + 1/c. pecans
• Red velvet cake mix + vanilla pudding powder + white chocolate chips
• White cake mix + vanilla pudding mix + 2 t. almond extract + slivered almonds as a garnish (on top of the already baked cake)

Want More Easy Cake Recipes?

The recipes below are all super simple with easy-to-find ingredients… and best of all, they get 2 thumbs up from our family!

Whole Grain Apple Cake

Zucchini Banana Sheet Cake

Reese’s Peanut Butter Brownie Cake

From-Scratch Chocolate Cake

Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake

Dairy-Free, Egg-Free Chocolate Cake

Angel Food Cake

Lemon Pound Cake

Almond Pound Cake