Wonderfully Delicious Mint Brownies

I find myself attracted and often craving a particular sweet more than any other. When I see a recipe containing the words "mint chocolate", I'm immediately intrigued and scanning the ingredients to see if I have them on hand. I have tried many different kinds, some are wonderful, mouth watering creations (yes, my mouth is watering just thinking about them), some I quickly discard. Today I want to share with all of you who's mouth waters at just the mention of "mint chocolate", my all time favorite mint brownie recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 box brownie mix (for a 9" x 13" pan), plus ingredients needed per package directions
• 1 cup of chocolate chips

For the frosting:

• 1 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons softened butter, divided
• 2-3 tablespoons milk
• 3/4 teaspoon mint extract
• a few drops of green food coloring (optional)

For chocolate drizzle:

• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1-2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup Andes mint chips (crumbled)

Preparation:

Prepare your brownies in a 9" x 13" pan according to the package directions; adding 1 cup of chocolate chips to mixture before baking.

Frosting:

To make the frosting, use an electric mixer to combine the butter and sugar until desired consistency is reached. Add the mint extract and food color. Mix thoroughly. Spread over brownies and spread.

Drizzle:

Melt chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon of butter, stirring until smooth. Be careful not to burn the mixture. Add vanilla, blending completely. Drizzle over frosting. Sprinkle crumbled mint chips over the top. Cool or chill in refrigerator until set, cut into squares.

New Treasury: Rustic Love

'Rustic Love' by KingMtnTreasures

Great Valentine gifts for the rustic lover.

SWEET VALENTINE - R... MegsBrokenWing... $32.00	Handcrafted Mason J... zoeveedesigns $499.00	SALE - Rustic Whims... AntoArts $21.00	Brasil Natural Edge... conreysa $115.00
Stackable Rings Ste... LavenderCottag... $35.00	Rustic Farm Bed SouthernIngenu... $750.00	Valentine Rustic Re... TheLonelyHeart $28.00	Primitive Rustic Ta... PorchSittinPri... $209.00
Rustic Wall Shelf D... RustedCreek $98.00	Wedding Wine Box Lo... willowroaddesi... $85.00	ready to ship, shee... shannonpix $28.00	Rustic wood shelf, ... SouthernWood $40.00
Rustic Red Valentin... SoPurdyCreatio... $27.00	Rustic Farm Table -... Endever77 $850.00	XOXO Rustic Canvas... elgies $35.00	Rustic Trio of Hear... SoPurdyCreatio... $12.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Favorite 5 Friday: Turquoise & Green

One of my favorite pastimes is browsing Etsy. It's not only a wonderful way to find a fabulous gift or to get inspiration, but also to mingle with like-minded individuals.
I will be promoting (blog, Etsy, Twitter) my "Favorite 5" every Friday, so contact me if you would like me to check out your items. Tell me what you think about these items or share some of your favorites...
Find something you want, just click on the name. Please take time to visit these shops to see all their awesome items.


I came across a beautiful treasury that featured these colors and inspired my choices for this weeks Favorite 5 Friday. Enjoy these items in turquoise and green...
What an adorable, cheerful way to protect your table from water stains...
Coasters

This tag is adorable and makes me laugh. We all have a dog that can't resist a squirrel chase.
Dog Tag

I'm drooling of these earrings.
Earrings

These little glass dishes would brighten up any room.
Glass Dish

And a gorgeous necklace.
Gemstone Necklace

In His Word Wednesday: Luke 15:24

Luke 15:24
'For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.

In Luke 15, starting in verse 11, Jesus tells a parable which illustrates how God longs for us to return to Him if we have wandered away in sin. The parable tells of a son who took his inheritance and went away from his father into a far country and wasted his inheritance in riotous living. He became destitute and hired out to feed pigs. He became so hungry he even wanted to eat what the pigs ate. He decided to go back to his father and hire out as one of his hired servants. Verse 20 says, "And he rose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him."

In this parable the father represents God. Christ gave us this parable to show how anxious God is to have us come back if we have wandered away from Him in sin. God will run to us with open arms if we will only come back to Him.

Product Review: Another Lip Balm

I'm always purchasing different items, so I thought it would be a good idea to share my thoughts on my purchases. And what better place to share my opinion than my blog...

I know your saying "lip balm again!", but I really have an obsession with dry lips. I'm striving to find that perfect lip balm that's not too waxy or greasy, a nice pleasant scent, is good for my lips, and doesn't contain nut oils.

I was searching for a gift for a young (she's 19) friend of mine and decided to buy her a lip balm holder like the one I have (Lip Balm Pouch). Of course, I didn't want to give her the holder empty, so off I go to find some lip balm. I always search for coconut lip balm because I just love the smell of coconut (can't stand to eat it though), that's when I found Country Blossom. This store offers a variety (lots of variety is very important to me) of lip balms, lotions, candles, soaps, etc. The prices were good also. I was attracted to the coconut peach flavor. The first thing I look at now (because of my BIG mistake with purchasing my last lip balm) is the ingredients. I looked at the entire page from top to bottom. After my close, almost anal inspection, I purchase two balms, coconut peach for me and strawberry lemonade for my friend.

They arrive promptly in a bubble mailer and Ziploc bag.

These balms are made using beeswax, olive oil, coconut oil, vitamin E oil, and flavoring oil. You would think with all that oil, they would be super greesy or slimy, but they are not. Mine keeps my lips super soft and the smell is delicious. I will purchase balms from this store again.

My friend said her gift raised her status to "super cool" because none of her friends have a cute balm holder and yummy strawberry lemonade balm. You gotta love kids!

New Treasury: By the Toasty Fire

'By The Toasty Fire' by KingMtnTreasures

I love a fire on a cold winters day

Fire Cats - Siamese... kerrybeary $48.00	Black Flower Earrin... hawaiibeads $22.00	Cashmere Fire Orang... thejunebride $14.50	Canvas Wall Art, 7.... glennisphotos $89.00
Rare FIRE Agate wit... SandCastleGems $73.00	Orange pebble leath... artoncrafts $125.00	Playing with Fire N... TangoPig $28.00	Fire Rasta Love slo... BessetteArt $24.00
Big Focal bead Fire... carolinedousi $24.50	Tree of Life Pendan... JbellsGems $59.95	Fire in the Sky 8X1... AprilLahti $20.00	Agate Dragonfly Nec... MDsparks $19.00
Kindle Fire/ Kindle... RooKCasE $59.99	Estate Style Cushio... LaraLewis $14.50	Spin Your Own Art Y... kittygrrlz $25.00	ON FIRE... Women ... WiseCreations $16.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Favorite 5 Friday: Words That Inspire

One of my favorite pastimes is browsing Etsy. It's not only a wonderful way to find a fabulous gift or to get inspiration, but also to mingle with like-minded individuals.
I will be promoting (blog, Etsy, Twitter) my "Favorite 5" every Friday, so contact me if you would like me to check out your items. Tell me what you think about these items or share some of your favorites...

Find something you want, just click on the name. Please take time to visit these shops to see all their awesome items.

For this week I wanted to feature words that inspire me. I hope they inspire you to be more creative, live life fully,

I used this picture in a treasury not long ago called Salmon Overcast. The words are meaningful to me because I love what I do.
Do What You Love


I find those who embrace their uniqueness very inspiring. I find myself being gravitated to those with different taste, likes, interest, etc., I just like us being different because it makes life more interesting.
Embrace Your Uniqueness


If we let past hurts build up, it does nothing but hurt us. I am all for taking a short time to heal the hurt, and then forgive.
Hold Hands Not Grudges


There is just something fulfilling about creating. I find a wonderful serenity when I have finished a creative project.
Create


I couldn't find the words that I liked for this inspiration...Laugh Daily. I have several silly things sitting around my house that make me chuckle when I spot them. Whether it's funny statue, photo, etc., treat yourself to a daily laugh. These little Dachshunds crack me up...I guess it's because I can relate to dogs in the chicken yard...LOL.
Laugh Daily