Opportunity

 

There are opportunities all around us. Every day. Every where. Every person we meet has a story, a dream, a passion, a persistence, and a unique way they are running the race. Are we slowing down enough to take notice of these opportunities? Or just letting the rush by in a blur on the sidelines?

 

We are so connected to people these days. Through all the ever expanding social media there are endless ways to share your story, and participate in an other's story. But at the same time, it is a distant connection. We can 'like' something another is doing, it doesn't take much out of us. We can even 'Share' it, and that takes all of three minuets [at the most]. But are we truly participating? Are we truly 'bearing one an others burdens'? Are we running 'with persistence the race set before us' for the Glory of God and the good of our brothers and sisters around us? Are we grabbing hold of the opportunities God has laid out before us?

 

Today, I'm sharing a story.

 

This is Brittany

She has a dream. A passion. A song to sing.

 

She mentions in the video about her project, how “this is only possible because there are people who were willing to invest in a dream that is not their own”.

 

What a beautiful thing. This is something I have experienced in my own life, to the point where someone saw a dream in me before I did, and invested in it, which encouraged and blessed and stretched me in more ways than I can describe.

 

Consider today investing in a dream not your own, and see how God will bless you because of that.


 

 

Click here to watch Brittany share her dream.

 

You can also find her online here:

brittanybarberamusic.tumblr.com

reverbnation.com (brittany barbera)
youtube.com (brittany barbera)

 

 

Don't let opportunities to bless someone pass you by today!

And have a wonderful Wednesday!

-Kerry-

Chocolate Chip Brownies with Cookie Dough Frosting

To start with here's the recipe for the Deep Dish Brownies that my family has been making for years!

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Deep Dish Brownies

3/4 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

3 eggs

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or peanut butter chips

 

       Heat oven to 350*. Grease square pan, 8x8x2 [inches]. In medium mixing bowl blend melted butter, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs. Beat well with spoon. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt {I like to sift these ingredents together, but it's not nessicary}. Gradually add dry mixture to egg mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in chips. Spread into baking pan. Bake 30-40 mins. or until brownies begin to pull away from the sides of pan and crust forms on top. [My rule of thumb is that I'd rather error on the side of 'too-gooy' rather then 'too-crispy'; check 'em often. Cool completely. [this is when you'd frost them if desired, or just enjoy as is] Cut into squares. Makes 16 brownies.

       You can also make them in cupcake tins, with the little paper cups like I did this time. Fill cups about 3/4 full [or less, if you want more room for the Cookie dough icing], and bake about 15 min. Cool completely and frost with Cookie Dough Frosting, if desired. It still made about 16 brownies.

 

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Head on over to The Girl Who Ate Everything blog to get the exact recipe for the Cookie Dough Frosting that I used here for this combination. It's easy and soooo yummy! Exactly like eating cookie dough. I made a double batch so I could pile it high on the brownies, and have some left over for snacking... :^)

 

 

Hope you're having a wonderful Thursday!

-Kerry-

Thin Mint Puppy Chow - And the mystery of Real Chocolate

Thin Mint Puppy Chow
by ShugarySweets

So, there is not much healty, or natural about this recipe. But I have always had a weak spot for Puppy Chow and I love chocolate mint. This just happened to be a perfect combination, in my humble opinion. And since it was my 25th birthday when I made it [nearly two months ago now], I decided to go ahead and splurge.

 

Ghirardelli large chips, Andes Mint Pieces

 

But the recipe called for chocolate flavored Candiquik as the 'chocolate' base. Which, in case you don't know, is NOT chocolate. [shock]

 

It's just, like, sugar, wax, butter, and 'natural and artificial flavors'. This is not chocolate.

 

Instead, I used Ghirardelli baking chocolate [or any kind of chocolate chips; just check the ingredients, cause the "Chocolate flavored morsels" are not usually chocolate either, you have to be discerning these days to know if your really getting chocolate or some ones cheap idea of chocolate.

 

The recipe also called for Green's & Black's 3.5 oz chocolate mint bar. I couldn't find that, but found a bag of Andes Mint Pieces [in a bag like the chocolate chips, in the same isle, too]. Since it's a total of 19.5 oz of meltyness in the original recipe I put in about 15-18 oz of Chocolate and about 3-5 oz of Andes Mint Pieces.

 

ShugarySweets suggests melting in a microwave, but since I don't have one, I put it on the stove top, on low heat, melting slowly, and stirring constantly.

 

All Melty! [and smelling AMAZING!]
 

Pour over a box of Rice Chex Cereal [about 10 cups]



 

Just look at all that amazingly real chocolate!





Add 2 cups of powdered sugar...

Toss together, set on a couple sheets of foil/wax paper let set a few and enjoy!



I couldn't find the green M'n'M's that ShugarySweets used, but I got those York Peppermint Pieces and added to the mix. They are minty, and pretty blue and white.

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Thin Mint Puppy Chow - SN Variation

16 oz Real Chocolate [chips/bakers/etc. Just not 'chocolate flavored' whathaveyou]

4 oz Andes Mint Pieces

10 cups Rice Chex cereal

2 cups pwd. sugar

Optional; m'n'm's, york peppermint pieces

 

Just melt the chocolates together, pour over the cereal, toss in the pwd sugar, spread out and let set 10-20min on wax paper or foil. Add candy. Enjoy!

 

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Have a blessed day!

Kerry

Spring Savings!

Hello everyone!! This post is to update you on what's happening this month at Simply Natural Designs. Two things, so keep reading...

#1. 10% off all items every weekend.
Every weekend this month [April 2013] you can get 10% off all items on the etsy store. Simply use the COUPON CODE : "SPRINGSAVINGS" to get 10% off your total purchase every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in April! Go to www.SimplyNaturalDesigns.etsy.com to start shopping!
[If you are local to Potosi area, let me know before you make your purchase and we can work out a pick-up so you don't have to pay for shipping!]

 

#2. 20% of every sale goes to Run For the Son.
Every day from April 1st until May 4th, 20% of every sale made on or off line will benefit the CMA [Christian Motorcyclist Association] yearly fundraiser, Run For the Son [RFS]. Of the funds raised, CMA gives away 60% of it to other Christian organizations dedicated to spreading the gospel. These organization include:



       The JESUS Film Project - This ministry takes the film about Jesus to countries all over the world, from remote jungles to inner cities, to share the Gospel in the peoples native language [or 'heart-language']. Then, they provide them with discipleship mentors and Biblical materials as well as an audio Bible in their heart-language.
        OpenDoors - This ministry, founded by Brother Andrew, smuggles Bibles into restricted nations, bring Truth and Hope to many lost in darkness, and serving persecuted Christians worldwide.
        Missionary Ventures International - This third ministry partner provides transportation to indigenous pastors so they can travel farther, faster, and reach more of their country men with the Gospel. They often receive motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, boats, horses and even donkeys; what ever is the most useful for them and their area.
        Christian Motorcyclist Association - This ministry is dedicated to 'Changing the world, one heart at a time'. They strive to reach out primarily to motorcyclists, but not exclusively, with the Gospel of Christ. They print and provide tracts, and training tools to equip members to reach out to their communities with love, truth and hope.

We are shown that through averages over the years [this fundraiser has been going strong since 1988!] each dollar that Run For the Son receives equals 10 people hearing the gospel and 1 person making a decision for Christ!

So, if you go to my website and purchase three tubes of lip balm for 9.00 [but you get 10% off! -.90 = 8.10] and 20% of that goes to missions that = $1.80. Nearly 20 people will hear the gospel in their native tongue and 2 will make a decision for follow Christ! Praise the Lord that He can use that for His glory!

I think I've covered everything, if you have any questions, let me know!!

Blessings

-Kerry-

 

Sock Completion!

Yay! I finally finished a pair of socks today that I have honestly been working on for over 3 years... :^\ I started them and got a good ways done on the 'leg' of the sock and realized my gauge was WAY off, so I had to order the right size needles in the right length [because I like doing two-at-a-time-socks] and once they finally got ordered and arrived I didn't start right away and once I did I did not work on them stedily at all...

 

But, they are done now! I finished the toe with the Kitchener Stitch which is a really neat way of grafting two sets of live stitches together and make it look like there is hardly even a seam. I followed the instructions for it in this handy video. But I only watched it for the first sock, doing it step by step with the video. By then I 'thought' I had it figured out so I did the second sock without watching the video... the result? I have a weird seam on that one. So, I was able to take it out and redo it.

 

I gave them to my Mom... She loves them! They fit her perfectly, too! I'm so pleased. :^)

 

 

Have a great week! Make time to create something!

Kerry

 

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"And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it."

Psalm 90:17

Valentine

Yes, you read that right. Valentine. I set this as a draft one day when the pictures weren't cooperating and then completely forgot about it! Oh well, here it is now. My Valentines day project! A 'lovely' heart shaped pine cone wreath with a "Love" banner made from washi tape! Enjoy!

 

Happy Monday!

Kerry

 

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"And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

I Corinthians 13:13

Birthday Craftyness

I've been getting crafty in the kitchen this past week!  And I've made a couple short videos about the experiance. Did you know SimplyNatural had a youtube channel!???! You better go check it out!

Phase 1:

http://youtu.be/U91A9I4XUKs

 

Phase 2:

http://youtu.be/U91A9I4XUKs
 

 

Have a great day!

Kerry