Andes Brownies

Friday we had a Holiday party to attend.  We had to bring a dessert or an appetizer so I opted for dessert.  Little did I know that there'd be not one but two cakes from Nothing Bundt Cake there.  Anyways, I threw together some simple but yummy brownies.  All you need is a box of brownie mix (with the required ingredients), Andes baking chips and peppermint extract.

1. Follow the directions on the box for brownie batter.
2. Stir in 1 tsp peppermint extract.
3. Stir in a couple handfuls for the chopped mints.
4. Bake according to box.

Sprinkle a few more over the top before baking!

I was in a hurry the other night and forgot to take a picture of the finished project and I surely wasn't going to take a picture at the party!  I did eat one and it was delish!  I might make these and deliver them to my neighbors.

Enjoy!

Advent Calendar

I started reading an Advent book with my daughter a couple years ago.  Last year I decided I wanted to find a cute calendar to put trinkets and stuff in for the kids.  Well, I looked online and found a cute one but waited too long and decided to wait until the next year which would be now!  I searched etsy and found lots of cute ones but then realized I could make one myself.  Of course I waited until the week of Thanksgiving to get started and just finished it today.

First, I bought a new mini muffin tin (because I will be using the one I already have during this time period) with my 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby.
Next, I cut out squares in four different Christmas prints.
Then I cut out smaller squares of red, green and white card stock followed by a Christmas sticker.

I started with number stickers and decided I didn't like them so back to Hobby Lobby I went to buy number stamps.  Before I stamped them all I attached magnets to the top and bottom of each square.  I bought the magnet roll at Hobby Lobby for $2.99.

I decided after I had already attached the magnets that I wanted to protect them so I could use them again next year.  The best thing I could come up with was to cover each square with packing tape.  Had I started my whole project earlier I would have taken them to Kinko's and had them laminated.  But, this works.

The finished calendar!

Some daily examples are:

2 Hershey Candy Cane Kisses

2 Chocolate Kisses

Activities to do:

Make Christmas cookies

Take treats to a neighbor

Make a Christmas card for a teacher

Make a Christmas card for a friend

Do a Christmas craft

Make a handprint Santa

Listen to Christmas music

Learn the song "The Three Wise Men"

Scriptures:

Joseph would care for Mary while she was pregnant. Matthew 1:24-25

Lots of angles joined in praising God! Luke 2:13-14

The wise men again found the guiding star. Matthew 2:9-10

Merry Christmas!  Happy Advent!