
Photo by Andre Hunter
“A man is as unhappy as he has convinced himself he is.”
— Seneca (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
(circa 4 BC – 65 AD)
Roman Stoic philosopher
from Letters from a Stoic
Photo by Andre Hunter
“A man is as unhappy as he has convinced himself he is.”
— Seneca (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
(circa 4 BC – 65 AD)
Roman Stoic philosopher
from Letters from a Stoic
Enjoy this Super Simple twist for National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day.
Super Simple No Bake Cream Cheese Pumpkin Pie
Here’s a great way to keep holiday cooking scrumptious and Super Simple!
1 prepared graham cracker crust, chilled
Filling: 16 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 c sugar (or half coconut brown sugar and half white sugar)
1 ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
1 c canned pumpkin puree
1 T pumpkin pie spice
1 scoop plain (or vanilla) protein powder
½ c whipped cream (canned is fine)
Topping: Whipped cream
Make the filling with a hand or stand mixer to beat the cream cheese, sugar, extract, puree, spice, and protein powder till smooth. Then fold in the whipped cream and pour into cooled pie crust. Cover and chill at least 4 hours. To serve, top with whipped cream. Makes 8 servings.
KISS Notes: You can decorate the top of the pie with freshly whipped cream and a sprinkle of graham cracker crumbs, ginger snap cookie crumbs, candied pecans, toffee bits, mini chocolate chips, salted caramel bits, a drizzle of butterscotch sauce, or a combination! (My fave is crumbled hermit cookies.) You can also make your own Graham Cracker Crust: combine 1 ½ c graham cracker crumbs, 3 T brown sugar, a pinch of salt, and 6 T melted butter. Press into 9” pie pan and bake 8-10 min at 325°F. To make your own Pumpkin Pie Spice, combine 3 T cinnamon, 2 tsp ground ginger, 2 tsp nutmeg, 1 ½ tsp ground allspice, and 1 ½ tsp ground cloves.
Photo by Manfred Richter
“The only disability in life is a bad attitude.”
— Scott Hamilton (1958 – )
American figure skater (retired) & Olympic gold medalist
“Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can.”
— Richard Bach (1936 – )
American author
Photo by Faris Mohammed
“I don’t think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains.”
— Anne Frank (1929 – 1945)
German Jewish girl & diarist who perished in the Nazi Holocaust
Photo by Camille Brodard
“Letter writing is the only device for combining solitude with good company.”
— George Gordon Byron (1788 – 1824)
English poet & member of the House of Lords
What do you get when you top a perfectly cooked 8-oz beef burger patty with cheddar cheese, lusciously smoked brisket, tangy barbecue sauce, and crispy onion strings? Ahhhhh! ‘Tis the Sully’s Place October Burger of the Month… BBQ Brisket Beef Burger. Beyond AMAZING! Don’t worry if you miss this spooktacular October special, because Sully’s Place in Columbus, North Carolina, will bring out another smashing gem in November!
For National Grouch Day, we celebrate Oscar the Grouch. So, go ahead. Be grouchy. Try to keep it fun, but go ahead and vent your miserable frustrations if need be.
Photo by Vicky Sim
“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger (1947 – )
Austrian American actor, businessman,
& former multi-title-winning bodybuilder;
38th Governor of California (2003 – 2011)
On what would have been his 32nd birthday, I salute Charlie Kirk. His patience, persistence, faith, love, and strength. He openly encouraged dissenters to express opinions against him. As a result, Charlie Kirk opened hundreds of thousands of young minds to think critically and challenge popular rhetoric. His assassination on September 10, 2025, ended his life, but breathed life and awareness into millions of other hearts, minds, and souls. God bless. Remember that people scream and react angrily only when they lack the knowledge, awareness, or words to inspire other people to listen.
“Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence.”
— Hal Borland (1900 – 1978)
American writer & journalist
“It is as impossible to translate poetry as it is to translate music.”
— Voltaire (1694 – 1778) Francois-Marie Arouet (M. de Voltaire was his nom de plume)
French Enlightenment writer and satirist,
Noted for criticism of slavery and advocacy of freedom of speech and religion
Photo by Tom Barrett
“You can find peace amidst the storms that threaten you.”
— Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917 – 2008)
American businessman & religious leader in the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Photo by Saira Ahmed
“In the mountains of truth you never climb in vain.”
— Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 – 1900)
German philosopher & cultural critic
Ice cold beer and a slice of pizza… If you love it, this day’s for you.
October 9 is International Beer & Pizza Day. Enjoy your favorite combination or try some new flavors. You can’t go wrong.
“Intellectuals solve problems;
geniuses prevent them.”
— Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955)
German-born theoretical physicist & Nobel laureate
October 7th is National Forgiveness and Happiness Day. We are all encouraged to practice forgiveness to let go of anger, grudges, and resentment, as we promote peace, healing in relationships, and overall well-being for individuals and communities. I found this especially timely, considering my new “Life Seasonings” book series titles of both “Forgiveness” and “Happiness.”
“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”
— Albert Schweitzer (1875 – 1965)
German French polymath, philosopher, physician & Nobel laureate
My deepest thanks to everyone who has kept the torch glowing or been there to brighten my world when I needed it most, especially when you didn’t even know my flame had been doused or my spirits dampened.
“If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.”
— Margaret Fuller (1810 – 1850)
American journalist, critic, & women’s rights advocate
“If you can’t be a good example, then you’ll just have to be a horrible warning.”
— Catherine Aird (pen name of Kinn Hamilton McIntosh) (1930 – 2024)
English novelist
Photo by Roberta Sant’Anna
“I don’t need a hair stylist; my pillow gives me a new hairstyle every morning.”
— Anonymous
Photo by Saimy Patel
“If we were to wake up some morning and find that everyone was the same race, creed, and color, we would find some other cause for prejudice by noon.”
George D. Aiken (1892 – 1984)
US Senator 1941 – 1975
64th Governor of Vermont 1937 – 1941
“Every creature is better alive than dead, men and moose and pine trees, and he who understands it aright will rather preserve its life than destroy it.”
— Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862)
American naturalist, philosopher, and writer
As written in his Journal on January 21, 1838
Tomorrow is National Homemade Cookie Day. A friend recently asked for my Mom’s Whoopie Pie recipe, as she had misplaced Volume 1 of my “Fifty Years of Fabulous Family Favorites: Starters, Sippers & Sweets.” I understand; these are the very best Whoopie Pies ever! So, instead of just sending the requested recipe to her, I thought this would be a great day to share it with you. Enjoy!
Mom Burnham’s Whoopie Pies
A family summer outing was not complete without these! Many wonderful memories include Mom’s wonderful Whoopie Pies.
½ c Crisco shortening
1 c sugar
2 eggs
1 c milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 c flour
1½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
5 heaping T cocoa
Filling:
1 c Crisco shortening
2 c sifted Confectioners’ sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 T hot water
½ jar marshmallow fluff
Make cookies by creaming sugar into Crisco shortening. Stir in eggs, milk & vanilla; beat until smooth. Sift dry ingredients together & mix into shortening mixture. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased baking sheets; bake 7 min at 400°F. Cool. Meanwhile, make the filling. Cream sugar into shortening. Stir in vanilla & water. Beating on med-high, add marshmallow a little at a time until light & creamy. Spread onto cooled cookie halves; top with another cookie to make mini sandwiches.
KISS Note: Mom always doubled this recipe because there never seemed to be enough! If she could hide any in the freezer, she always tried, because they do freeze beautifully. I also make mini versions of these for any reception where you are serving finger foods and want to include some sweet bite-sized treats. (Bake them 1-2 minutes less.)
Find all three volumes of “Fifty Years of Fabulous Family Favorites” wherever books and digital books are sold.
“And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties, there isn’t any privacy.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896 – 1940)
American novelist & essayist
From his 1925 “The Great Gatsby”
Rosecliff Mansion, Newport, RI
How delicious to be a guest this weekend at a true Gatsby-style, black-tie celebration…
… the wedding of a dear friend.
We have now attended a truly royal wedding!
The entire Gatsby-inspired event was held at the Rosecliff Mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, the site of the lavish parties in the 1974 film “The Great Gatsby.”
Over-the-top barely begins to describe the festivities.
Congratulations, Wendy & James!
Today’s the Day. This is “Ask a Stupid Question Day.” So, go ahead and ask a stupid question. No worries, because there is no such thing.
(The answers, however, may be downright ridiculous!)
Photo by Mads Severinsen
“If the camel once gets his nose in a tent, his body will soon follow.”
— Arabian proverb
Who needs a little humor? “Humor: and Other Life Seasonings” launches today in paperback and digital book formats. The 5th book in my Life Seasonings series follows “Perspectives,” “Hope,” “Happiness,” and “Forgiveness.”
“Humor” is a fun little guide to living a better, fuller life. It’s full of comic information, quips, quotations, jokes, and words of wisdom, plus full-color photographs. Enjoy this Super Simple tool to add smiles, insight, and support whenever a little levity or perspective is needed… not that any of us need a bit of humor just now.
“Earth laughs in flowers.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882)
American writer & philosopher
Photo by Aaron Burden
“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”
-Greek proverb
“A good heart is better than all the heads in the world.”
Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873)
English statesman, poet
Photo by Casey Horner
September 21st is the annual International Day of Peace. May peace grow in everyone’s hearts.
“The world is now too small for anything but brotherhood.”
— Arthur Powell Davies (1902 – 1957)
English American Unitarian minister
Photo by Tiffany Chan
“A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives the rose.”
— Chinese proverb
I find it healthy to pause daily and express gratitude for the sage advice and guidance I have received from my elders. We are very blessed when those who have lived much longer than we set great examples and create a path which we can follow.
My 95-year-old Mom always gets my utmost respect. She raises the barre and consistently exudes more love, compassion, and energy than I could ever imagine.
(Thank you, Mom!)
“Those who respect the elderly pave their own road toward success.”
– African proverb
Photo by Shayna Douglas
“If you believe free speech is for you but not your political opponents, you’re illiberal.
If no contrary evidence could change your beliefs, you’re a fundamentalist.
If you believe the state should punish those with contrary views, you’re a totalitarian.
If you believe political opponents should be punished with violence or death, you’re a terrorist.”
— J. K. Rowling (pen name of Joanna Kathleen Rowling) (1965 – )
British author & philanthropist, best known for Harry Potter series
Posted in her X account on September 11, 2025, following the assassination of Charlie Kirk
America felt a wide swath of hatred and intolerance on 9/11/2001. Today, we pause to reflect on more weaknesses in our human existence. From Martin Luther King, Jr. to Charlie Kirk, our nation has endured political and philosophical assassinations and assassination attempts. No matter what one’s philosophy, politics, or faith, violent responses or even advocating violent responses to someone whose views may differ from our own is ALWAYS wrong.
Freedom of speech is not just for those with whom we agree. Name-calling, derogatory labeling, and other extremist rhetoric that calls for violence as a response to political disagreement have absolutely no place in a democratic society. Diversity of opinion makes this country strong. Intolerance, especially expressed by those who regularly espouse tolerance, breaks us down.
Anyone who snickers or believes the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk is worthy or somehow good for America needs to do some serious soul searching or even seek mental health support. (That is not sarcasm.) Pray for sanity for violence advocates.
Meanwhile, remember one thing. Martyring Charlie Kirk does not silence his conservative advocacy, especially among our nation’s young people. Silencing one strong influencer merely awakens thousands more.
August 30 is National Mai Tai Day. The timeless rum-based cocktail was created in 1944 by Victor Bergeron (founder of Trader Vic’s) in Oakland, California. The name hails from his Tahitian friends, who said it translates to “out of this world” or “the best.”
Here’s the original Mai Tai recipe.
4 parts gold rum
1 part orange curacao
½ part simple syrup
1 part orgeat syrup
2 parts fresh lime juice
Combine and shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Strain into glass; add crushed ice. Garnish as you choose… mint leaf, twist or round slice of lime, or some other favorite.
Super Simple Beef Stroganoff
Last night we enjoyed dinner with friends and served up Super Simple Beef Stroganoff.
One of our friends is not a mushroom fan, so we kept them separate for his sake and served them tossed with the stroganoff sauce in a separate bowl.
(This recipe is for you, Elaine!)
Stroganoff Preps
Super Simple Beef Stroganoff
Serve simply with crispy onion bread and tossed salad on the side. This recipe can also be cut in half easily.
2 lbs of steak strips
1 tsp salt
2 T olive oil
6 T butter (divided)
2 lg sweet onions, peeled & sliced
1 lb shiitaki and/or cremini mushrooms, sliced
½ tsp minced garlic
2 T flour
2 tsp paprika (sweet or smoky)
1 T Dijon mustard
2 c beef bone broth or stock, whisked with 1 T Better than Bouillon Beef
2 c light cream or half-and-half
1 c sour cream
Ground black pepper, to suit your taste
4-6 T chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Sprinkle beef with salt; heat the oil and 2 T butter in skillet over med-high heat. Add steak strips; stir-fry 3-4 min. Transfer steak with slotted spoon to a large bowl and set aside. Add 2 T butter to pan; add sliced onions; reduce heat to medium; let cook for 5 min, stirring a couple of times. Transfer onions to bowl with steak. Add 2 T butter to pan and the sliced mushrooms and garlic; cook 3-4 minutes till mushrooms have released their moisture and started to brown. Transfer mushrooms to the bowl with steak and onions. Remove pan from heat and whisk in flour, paprika, and a couple spoonfuls of broth. Then whisk in mustard and 1 cup of the broth. Return pan to heat and whisk in remaining broth. Stir over med heat till stock thickens. Reduce heat to low; add the cream; bring to a simmer over med heat for 5 minutes. Stir in the sour cream, beef, onions & mushrooms. Season with pepper. To serve, spoon over hot cooked pasta (egg noodles or rotini) or rice and garnish with parsley. Makes 8 servings.
KISS Tips: Remove steak, onions, and mushrooms from pan with slotted spoon, reserving liquids in pan. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. (Thaw in refrigerator.) This makes a creamy sauce, which we like as pasta absorbs sauce liquids, but you can cut back on the broth for a thicker sauce. You can also keep this warm in a slow cooker, with or without the pasta stirred into the mixture. While cooking steak and veggies, boil water and cook & drain pasta.
“Money and success don’t change people; they merely amplify what is already there.”
— Will Smith (1968 – )
American actor, rapper & film producer
(Photo by Alexander Mils)
Photo by Matt Collamer
“When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?”
— Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)
American social activist & stateswoman
U.S. First Lady: 1933-45; Ambassador to UN
Photo by Tom Barrett
“No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see the possibilities — they’re always there.”
— Norman Vincent Peale (1898 – 1993)
American Protestant clergyman and best-selling author
From his book “Positive Thinking Every Day”