Hot Chocolate Mug Cake

December 14, 2017December 13, 2017 RefreshHer7 Comments

How does this sound – Hot, gooey, fudgy cake ready in 90 seconds?! Not only is it really delicious cake, it can also be assembled to give as a special gift for the chocolate lover in your life! Can you think of anyone who would appreciate a hot little cake that is ready except for three little ingredients? Mix it up, pop it into the microwave, and in 90 seconds the cake is ready to eat!

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I found this recipe for Mexican Hot Chocolate Mug Cake in the recent edition of Southern Living Magazine. I whipped up four of these for my neighbors this week and they were super easy and cute as well! Each mug makes a really generous portion – so you could even share, but hey, it’s Christmas, right? You might want to enjoy the whole mug yourself!

Here are the ingredients:

Mexican Hot Chocolate Mug Cake

Ingredients

DRY MIX

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
2 tablespoons chopped toasted pecans
2 tablespoons bittersweet chocolate chips
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons mini marshmallow

How to Make It

Step 1

For each cake, combine all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, kosher salt, unsweetened cocoa, chopped toasted pecans, bittersweet chocolate chips, baking powder, and cinnamon in a small food-safe gift bag. Place mini marshmallows in a separate bag. Place both bags inside a 12-oz. microwavable mug.

Step 2

To prepare each cake, stir whole milk, canola oil, and vanilla extract into the dry ingredients in mug. Microwave on HIGH until cake rises and is cooked through, 60 to 90 seconds. Remove from microwave; sprinkle marshmallows on top. Microwave on HIGH 5 more seconds. Serve immediately.

Here’s how I wrapped mine up to give away:

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You might not be able to have everyone you love over for chocolate cake, but with this simple recipe, you might be able to give them all a cake of their own!

You can watch a video of the process here:

Happy baking/Gift-giving!

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Christmas · Home decor · Uncategorized

My Simple Christmas Decor 2017

December 13, 2017December 12, 2017 RefreshHer6 Comments

We’re down to the Twelve Days of Christmas! Rather than giving you three french hens or six geese a-laying, I thought I’d share some pictures of my Christmas home decor. I’ll give you a few glimpses into most rooms, which have just little touches here and there. Step inside…

The entryway ~

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My foyer has no outlet on this side of the wall, but it needs a soft light, so I love using these battery operated strands to brighten up the hallway!

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Just a simple drawing on the closet pantry chalkboard. (You can go here to see how I put the chalkboard on the door.)

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My Gingerbread Coffee House is on the buffet. After 10+ hours of work, I had no intention of eating this confection, even though everything about it is eatable! It still smells gingerbread-y and delicious!

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All the front windows of our house have a wreath, red bow and battery operated candle hanging from them. You can see the back of the wreath from this guest room. I’ve added just little touches in here – Christmas pillow, greenery on the shelf above the bed, and Christmas magazines in the tray.

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You may remember my post last week stating that I wasn’t putting up a tree this year, due to time constraints. Well, when we were out of town last weekend, Santa’s elves came and put up this adorable and beautiful tree in our bedroom! It was exactly what I’d hoped to do. I guess I’ve been a good girl this year after all!

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Now you see what I mean by that fact that I was just adding small Christmas touches here and there. But you know, I love it and it looks festive enough for us! Simplifying is a good exercise!

Thanks for taking a tour of my home, via these pictures! Was there a favorite spot you enjoyed? Are you finished decorating your home for Christmas?

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Christmas · Uncategorized

Simplifying Christmas

December 7, 2017December 6, 2017 RefreshHer10 Comments

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Some years my Christmas prep and decorations are over the top. Everything is decorated!

Every room,

every inch,

every tree.

But then there are other years when I have to give myself a little chance to relax the decor and the time I put into getting my home into the holiday spirit.

This is one of those years. We have had a very busy schedule. We’ll be out of town some days, and we have events in the calendar that are going to fill the time from morning to night. I also headed up a big event at church that took me away from home a good bit in order to prepare.

So, I decided this was a year to simplify . If you walked into my house it would look like Christmas, even though there’s no tree up. I have put touches of decor here and there over most of the house. But to find time to do the tree, just wasn’t going to happen. My baking has been scaled down, too, and instead of having tons of goodies on hand, I’ll prepare what I need just before the event.

This simplifying has been so helpful, but to be honest, I had to come to grips with it! Can we say Guilt? Wondering if my family would wonder what’s wrong with me was one thought. But when I stopped to realize that I need to do what will help me focus on the most important part – the birth of Christ, I understood that it really is okay, and I knew my family would be good with it, too.

A less stressed me is better than a tree!

It’s a small sacrifice, really, but it has helped me to be able to do other things, and I look forward to the rest of this month and will be able to celebrate just as heartily without the evergreen standing in my family room!

Don’t get caught up in what you feel obligated to do. If you need to simplify your prep this year, it may possibly be the best gift you can give to your family!

I posted a video last year about other ways to simplify Christmas. I hope it will give you some ideas to help you make the most of these special days as we treasure the wonder of Christ coming to earth to die for our sins.

How about you? Do you need to let go of some of your own set expectations? You’ll be surprised how that will lighten your load and help you to focus on Christ this Christmas!

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Christmas

Enjoying December Without Stress

November 29, 2017November 29, 2017 RefreshHer2 Comments

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The Thanksgiving crumbs have been swept up, the fall decor tucked safely away into storage bins, and the leftovers are finally gone. You sit down to take a moment’s rest and you see your December calendar with red reminders flashing at you brighter than Rudolph’s “nose so bright!” The realization that there is barely time to breathe in the next month can cause anxiety, stress and even dread for what should be the most joyous time of year.

How do I know this? I was there…the day after Thanksgiving!

I began to let my mind go to what needed to be completed by the end of next week, and I jumped into panic mode, sending texts, making lists and allowing a flurry of palpitations to pound my heart. But then I stopped in my Prayer Closet and took those needs to the Lord. He quieted me. He turned my heart to the thanks I had given Him only hours before as we praised him around the bounty of our table. I had praised Him for satisfying my mouth with good things, for always being enough for every trial. Will He not also guide me through the maze of events and plans in December, too?

Psalm 104:34 – My meditation of Him will be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.

When I choose to look at Christ, and give Him my schedule, the demands breathing down my neck like the leviathan mentioned in verse 26, I am made glad in the Lord. My memory of what He has done in the past is sweet and it calms my heart and reminds me to trust in Him today…and every day of the Christmas month.

If you’re already getting anxious about all that is coming at you in this next month, can I encourage you to do what seems counter-productive, and stop! Stop to pray and ask God to give you wisdom to use your time carefully. Ask for strength to accomplish only what He wants you to do. Ask for the understanding of when to say “No.” Many times we’re stressed because we’re doing things we shouldn’t have taken on.

Let’s enjoy this month that we look so forward to all year. It will be gone before we know it. Let’s finish the year strong in the Lord each day of December!

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Christmas · Crafting · evangelism · Events · Gifts · Home decor · Thanksgiving

Pinterest Party Success!

November 15, 2017November 15, 2017 RefreshHer3 Comments

Last Friday I mentioned that our church was hosting our 7th Pinterest party on Saturday. We had over 70 women, with more than half of them being visitors! It was so much fun! It was filled with new friends, great food found on Pinterest, fellowship, and a challenge from God’s Word. Where would you find Pinterest in the Bible?! Our speaker showed us! =) It was in all the words like, Search, Save, Follow, etc. So good!

Then of course there was tons of great crafting! I made only one complete craft, due to helping others with theirs, but that’s okay! I made many new friends and had a great time!! I thought I’d share with you some of the crafts that were available for us to make. You could make them ALL for $10!

Wood ornaments

Pumpkin Garland

Salt Scrub

Grapevine wreath with felt flowers

Cinnamon Ornaments

Paper journals

Painted Pine Cones

Most of the crafts were super easy to put together. I think most everyone went home with a bag full of completed projects! This has become a favorite event of our ladies each year. It’s so well executed and is a great tool to reach out to unchurched ladies! I’ve blogged about it here and you can see how Christina pulls it all together.

If you’re interested in the “how-to” of any of the above crafts, you can find them on this page on Pinterest. They’re all such cute ideas!

Pinterest is my favorite place to browse for ideas! I’ve “pinned” LOTS of them with everything from recipes to sewing patterns, and I’ve tried many, many of them. It’s just a great tool that saves leg work and the accumulation of books. Anyone else love it like I do?