my blessed life™

Quick and Easy Gooey Brownies

Myra — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:30:22 +0000

Everyone LOVES these brownies. I make them for youth activities, parties and potlucks. These brownies quick and easy to make and the “goo” is just delectable!

I have a little brownie secret and I’m going to share it with you! Are you ready?

Yes, it’s Betty Crocker, my friends!

But, there’s a catch!

Quick And Easy Gooey Brownies

Two boxes Betty Crocker Brownie Mix (Hershey’s Chocolate Chunk)
5 Tablespoons water
3/4 – 1 cup oil
3 eggs

You will notice that I just tweak the water, oil and eggs.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Stir all ingredients until well blended.

Pour in glass 13×9 baking dish.

Bake 30-35 minutes until center is set and edges are pulling away from the pan. A toothpick inserted will come out gooey…well, because the brownies are gooey.

Goo is good. :)

Cool brownies completely. Then cut with a plastic spatula or knife…like this…

It works like magic!

Your friends will thank you for the gooey decadence and your hips will thank you when you bring home an empty plate. Ha!

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The Wisk Experiment

Myra — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 23:40:25 +0000

A few weeks ago I shared how Wisk was effective back in the 50s up to today. Wisk’s brand new Stain Spectrum Technology’s enzymes and cleaning agents target the full range of stains on a molecular level for a powerful clean.

So, Ridley and I did an experiment. We used Wisk, a grass stained piece of fabric and some scientific equipment (i.e. a beaker, safety glasses, a lab coat and some kind of squeezy thing). :)

Grass stains are protein stains.

The Cutest, Little Wisk Experiment Assistant

It’s okay if you laugh. We’re a crazy bunch! Please forgive the shaky video…my husband was throwing more candy corn at Ridley. Ha!

Check out Wisk.com to print out a $1.00 off coupon
Like Wisk on Facebook
Follow Wisk on Twitter

It doesn’t matter which type of stains you encounter, new Wisk with Stain Spectrum Technology is the solution to tackle them all!

What is your most difficult stain to remove in the laundry?

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. One2One Network and Wisk provided the information, however, the opinions in this post are entirely my own. This post has not been reviewed or edited by anyone except me. I was compensated for this post.

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Sunday Meditations – Sweeter Green

Myra — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 01:29:48 +0000

My sweet friend Emily, who I’ve known since childhood, has entered the blogging world. Her spirit is a testimony to God’s faithfulness and grace.

Emily’s first post at Sweeter Green resonates with my heart. I know you will enjoy it too…show her some warm, welcoming, bloggy love!

Sweeter Green:

We don’t always get what we want. My idea of where I would be in life at by now does not line up exactly with the actual life that God has chosen for me. The success of our plans and ambitions is in God’s hands, not ours, and our future does not belong to us, but to God.

But he’s given us the present, and with it, millions of little pleasures for us to enjoy, millions of little things for us to love; he has scattered tiny reflections of his glory and beauty in everything we experience. And it’s our job, not to wish and dream and hope and plan for our ideal vision of the future, nor to lament the fact that things didn’t turn out like we’d planned, but to grasp, and savor, and love the life that he’s given us now.

Click here to continue reading…

Friday Fails – Hornet’s Nest & Toilet Paper

Myra — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:14:13 +0000

I want to start off by clarifying that Friday Fails is just about keeping it real. It’s for laughs and encouragement, not because we are depressed about our failures. I write Friday Fails with my tongue firmly placed in my cheek and I’m sure that Friday Fails participants do as well.

Recently we had an Open House for our home that is on the market. I spent days getting the house clean and everything looking “just so.” When we arrived home after the Open House we found a note from the realtor that said there’s a HUGE hornet’s nest on the back porch. {major blush}

Ernie was out on the back porch the night before and didn’t even see it. Men, I tell ya, they are blind as bats sometimes. {chuckle} I’m SO glad no one got stung.

Of course, it’s still there because that’s just how we roll around here — “Out of sight, out of mind.” #fail

On Tuesday night as I heard my husband banging around in the bathroom cabinet, I thought to myself, “I bet he’s looking for toilet paper.” Sure enough, he came walking into the bedroom and asked, “Do we have any more toilet paper?” {snort}

I thought for sure that there was more TP in the bathroom closet, but after scrounging around, we found none. Nada. Zero. Zip. #fail

All that we had was a tiny roll to last until the next day. Then Ernie remembered that he had a roll in his car from when we ran out a few months ago and borrowed a roll from church. Please don’t judge. Ahem.

(After publically embarrassing myself, I’ll be sure to take roll of TP to church on Sunday. Then I’ll be even more embarrassed. Ha!)

To make it even better, Ernie left for work the next morning without bringing the TP inside. Brilliant! When I got up, I had neither a stitch of toilet paper nor a kleenex in the house.

I made a plea for help on Twitter. Leaves, napkins and other lovely alternatives were suggested. Ha! I quickly made it to the store and our toilet paper crisis was abated. Whew!

Please tell me that I’m not the only housewife that forgets to pick up toilet paper!

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Do you have a “fail” to share? Link ‘em up here! If you don’t have a blog, just leave a comment. Please follow the rules! I can’t wait to read your fails! Try to spread the love and comment on the other “fails” posts!

Simplifying My Bookcases!

Myra — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:35:09 +0000

Over the last few weeks my living room bookcases have really started to get on my nerves. I look at them and just think, “Ugh, what a bunch of junk!”

I love to yard sale, thrift shop, rescue items from the side of the road, create and collect. I do a lot of collecting. Maybe too much. Some items are sentimental, others are items that I just don’t care about.

On Monday, I woke up with a mission – to declutter and simplify my bookcases. I made a pile of things to put away until Spring and another pile of “stuff” to get rid of. I couldn’t be happier with the results!

Bookshelf #1 – Before & After

The “after” is so wonderfully peaceful. My mind and eyes can relax instead of being so ridiculously stimulated by all the clutter from before.

A collection of white

Displaying similar items together delivers so much more impact rather than being scattered around a room.

Backwards Books

Yes, I know. I’m crazy. I already had all my books turned around backwards, but I decided to fill up shelves instead of having the books scattered around.

Remember, I’m simplifying!

We rarely read or need these books and I like how the white-off white-yellow pages create a beautiful unity instead of having a rainbow of different colored book bindings.

Bookshelf #2 – Before & After

LOVE!

I couldn’t believe how many glass vases I had from flowers that my sweet hubby has gotten me over the last several years. At last count I had at least 10!! They are needless clutter that is now in the “get rid of” pile!

I can’t tell you how pleased I am with my simplified bookshelves. I love living in my living room without the clutter getting on my nerves. Ha!

Oh, do you see the cute “fall” canvas on Bookshelf #2? I’m going to post a DIY tutorial in the next week or so! Squeeee! Can’t wait to share it with you!

I think I will make this decluttering/simplifying thing a Spring and Fall event at our house. It is a great time to clean up and out and get rid of unnecessary junk….my next decluttering challenge is my cabinets, closets and dressers. {somebody hold me}

Do you like and collect stuff? How do you stay on top of keeping clutter – I mean stuff – to a minimum?

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A Sneak Peek At Fall!

Myra — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:34:14 +0000

I’m itching for cooler weather, pumpkin spice lattes, sweaters and just good old fashioned coziness. This week I started simplifying and decluttering around my house. I have a long way to go, but it’s a start.

Here is a peek at what I’ve been working on. You’ll just have to stay tuned for full photos, blog posts and DIY projects! I can’t wait to share them all with you!

Happy September 1st!

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Creme Brulee Cheesecake Bars

Myra — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:14:43 +0000

I test-tasted this recipe at Baking With Betty. It is simply to-die-for-delicious. I can’t wait to make Creme Brulee Cheesecake Bars for a party!

Creme Brulee Cheesecake Bars

1 pouch Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
1 box (4 oz) French vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix
2 T. packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 1/2 t. vanilla
2 eggs plus 3 egg yolks
2 pkgs (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup toffee bits, finely crushed

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray bottom and sides of a 13×9 pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, pudding mix, brown sugar, melted butter, 1 t. of the vanilla and 1 whole egg until soft dough forms. Press dough in bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of pan.

In small bowl, beat cream cheese, sour cream and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add remaining whole egg, 3 egg yolks and remaining 1 1/2 t. vanilla; beat until smooth. Spread over crust in pan.

Bake 30-35 minutes or until set in center. Immediately sprinkle top with crushed toffee bits. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate about 3 hours or until chilled. Cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in the refrigerator.

Enjoy and try not to eat the whole pan!

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The Baking With Betty Event!

Myra — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:35:33 +0000

This post is {over}loaded with pictures, but I’m not apologizing. I hope you will enjoy reading about the fun trip that I went on last Monday and Tuesday to General Mills HQ in Minneapolis. I put on my big girl pants and flew all by myself, navigated three unfamiliar airports and seriously had the time of my life with 29 other fabulous bloggers!

On Monday night, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner cruise on Lake Minnetonka. The food was delicious, the conversation wonderful and the weather and scenery gorgeous.

Tuesday morning came bright and early. We arrived at General Mills HQ in a flurry of anticipation. We were thrilled to be there. It was so awesome to be around other women who “get” me. Do you see all the cameras in that photo below? Cameras, phones, Flip cameras galore!

See the Cheerios carved out of stone? They were carved out of the same stone that is used to carve figures of past U.S. Presidents. Cool!

Kix, Pillsbury, Wheaties, Betty Crocker, Cheerios and PlayDoh

Breakfast! Yum!!

All eight original Betty Crocker portraits!

After breakfast, the General Mills historian (wouldn’t that be a super cool job?) told us all about how GM got started and their history leading up to the present day. I love history, so it was just fabulous to listen to each detail.

Then we headed to the Kitchens!

Where the magic happens…The Betty Crocker Kitchens!

Beautiful!

All of the bloggers were divided up into groups to rotate through different stations. My group started out at the Cookie Station. It was so fun to see all the different variations that can be made by using a Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix!

Cookie Station

1. Red Velvet Rich and Creamy Cookies

2. Cranberry-Macadamia Bars

3. Creme Brulee Cheesecake Bars (I’m posting this recipe tomorrow!)

4. Citrus-Kissed Fig Thumbprints

Cake Station

1. Ice Cream Cone Cakes

2. Jack-o’-Lantern Cake

3. Tie-Dyed Cupcakes

4. Mini Pumpkin Cakes

Brownie Station

1. Brownie ‘n Berries Pizza

2. Brownie Goody Bars

3. Rocky Road Brownies

4. Brownies on a Stick

Breakfast/Bisquick Station

1. Caprese Pizza with Crispy Pancetta

2. Cherry Swirl Coffee Cake

3. Fresh Lemon Cream Crepes

4. Apple Oven Pancake

Note: Two of these recipes are not available on BettyCrocker.com, but I will be making them and sharing the recipes with you soon!

Lots of red aprons, cooking, baking and taste testing going on.

Oh…and giggling too!

So, the camera crew asked Amanda and me to do this…ahem…”natural” conversation about the new Dessert Mix. We could barely keep a straight face. Then I said that the craisins were so yummy and Amanda said, “Oh yes, so fresh.”

I cackled. She cackled. Then I snorted. The video was over. Ha!

We learned about these new Betty Crocker products.

Dessert Mix that will be available at Sam’s and Costco
Gluten Free Bisquick and Cake Mixes!
Specialty cookie mixes that will be available during the holidays! Can’t wait to try these!
Decadent Supreme Cake and Brownie Mixes

Before we left for the airport, we took a whirlwind tour of the photography studios and prop storage area. I was amazed at the stylizing that goes into each recipe photo. Wow! And I would so be in heaven to get to “play” with all the props!

Me in the magical Betty Crocker apron…not the most flattering angle, but oh well.

This is what 30 women look like in sugar-induced comas

No…wait…

THIS is what they look like…

I’m giving shout outs to each of the wonderful bloggers that attended this event over on my Facebook page. Be sure to go “like” My Blessed Life on Facebook, so you can visit each blog.

The loot I brought home. Kitchen tools, a bag and a booklet of all the recipes we made and tasted. I even managed to get through airport security with the cake knife and icing spatula! Squuueeeee!

A huge thank you to General Mills for both the invitation and covering the costs of my trip. It was wonderful! Thank you also to Kelly who organized everything and kept all 30 of us crazy bloggers on task. Also, thank you to Matt Holland Photography who took several of these photos and put up with the craziness!

P.S. Today, I made my husband’s birthday cake with a Betty Crocker cake mix and icing. I would have made a cake from scratch, but he specifically asked for a boxed cake and icing. Silly boy.

Sunday Meditations – All The Way…

Myra — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 03:45:36 +0000

These precious words encourage and uplift my heart. I hope that you will be encouraged by them as well.

I’m so thankful that He leads me and I can trust Him to lead me all. the. way.

All The Way My Saviour Leads Me

All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;

All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread;
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;

All the way my Savior leads me
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way;

by Fanny Crosby

Friday Fails – A Bullet List

Myra — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:30:54 +0000

On Monday and Tuesday, I was in Minneapolis, MN at General Mills Headquarters for a Betty Crocker event. It was SO much fun! I’m working on a post to tell you all about it. Yay!!

Here’s a lovely “fail-full” bullet list for your viewing/reading pleasure:

I’ve failed miserably at replying to comments lately. So sorry about that! #mustgetbetter

I wrote an apparently lame post on lamp light earlier this week. #fail Ahem.

I chose to go to sleep last night instead of writing a post for Thursday. #fail Hope you didn’t expect any brilliance because there just wasn’t any there. Ha!

The UPS driver assumed that because there is a “For Sale” sign in our front yard, that we had moved. #fail The package sat at the UPS place for six days before we were informed that we had moved. {rolls eyes}

Our luggage is still packed from our trip to Indiana a couple weeks ago. I wonder if I’ll get it unpacked before my sister and I head to Charleston next month. Hmmm… {blush}

And the list could go on and on and on…