Reese's Cookie Brownies

Reese's cookie brownies are very simple to make and are satisfying to both chocolate and peanut butter lovers. All that you'll need are Reese's peanut butter cups, chocolate chip cookie dough, and fudgy brownie mix. You can either use refridgerated break and bake cookie dough or make it from scratch.



Reese's Cup Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie
You will need: Reese's peanut butter cups, chocolate chip cookie dough, and brownie mix.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease muffin pan.
2. Press 1-1/2 break and bake cookies into each bottom.
3. Place Reese's peanut butter cup upside down on top of cookie dough.
4. Fill 3/4 full with brownie batter.
5. Bake for 18- 20 minutes, let cool, then enjoy!

-Dani

Love is like a butterfly...

I was inspired to make this project on the day of my good friend’s wedding. I was out for a walk that morning and came upon a patch of milkweed along the way. I was surprised to actually find several caterpillars munching on leaves, and figured that by the time Amber & Jacob got back from their honeymoon these little creatures would be chrysalises – a perfect gift, just waiting to hatch into beautiful “wedding butterflies.” I snagged a few and raised them for a couple weeks, gathering fresh milkweed leaves every 1-2 days (I had an internship with Michigan Butterflies last summer, making me an expert caterpillar-raiser. If you need more information about raising Monarchs, there are great websites available, or just ask me!).

Amber’s mom actually gave me a couple vases of flowers from the wedding reception – Mason jars to be more exact! I decided to use one of these for the chrysalises. Wedding-day jars and wedding-day butterflies! Once the flowers died, I threw them out and cleaned out the jar. My mom had some spare fabric in the basement, and I found some mesh/net white fabric to place over the top. It’s important to allow free-flowing air into the jar – otherwise moisture may build up and cause problems for the insects.

Once the caterpillars formed their chrysalises on the top of their temporary cage (a Tupperware container), I used my butterfly internship skills to pull the chrysalises from the top and hot-glue them to a stick. Remember to make sure they have plenty of space for the butterflies to emerge and open their wings!


I then decorated the jar with twine, flowers, and a small piece of paper with a quote reading:

Love is like a butterfly. It goes wherever it pleases and pleases wherever it goes.
I love this project not only because it combines some creativity with my Biology interests, but it’s for two of my great friends for a very special occasion. Congrats to you two & may your love be like the butterflies!

--Jenny

Summer is Upon Us

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart. -Celia Thaxter

Summer is the best in my opinion. It's worth the long, bitter winters we have to put up with. Summer truly is a gift from God that I'm so grateful for every time it comes around. I came up with the idea to paint this sunny little collage as I was thinking about all the things I want to do this summer. I want to squeeze every last drop out of this sweet summer that I'm given the chance to enjoy.


-Dani

Can we get some skirt weather please?

For some reason, Dani sparked a little seed in me this weekend to work on some sewing. What she really wanted was for me to show her the ropes and teach her how to sew. But what ACTUALLY happened was me taking over and getting a couple projects done while she "supervised." No surprise there. Once I get going on a project, I can't stop.

The first skirt I started making is of navy blue jersey fabric. I pretty much followed the tutorial for the Socialite skirt on this link: However, I ran into some issues with the elastic thread they said to use. The waist band was bubbling up really weird, unlike how it's flat in the picture. I ended up putting strips of elastic in the waistband to give it some structure, make it tight, and just give it a little bit of a different look. In the end, I think I salvaged it but I wouldn't say it was my best work.





When I got stuck/frustrated with the first skirt, I started on another one for Dani. She picked a blue and white striped seersucker fabric and found this tutorial online for me to use. It was literally so quick and easy and SUPER cute...I was shocked! AND Dani loves it. Jenny bought fabric for me to make her one, and I have a couple of ideas for who else might like one. I wish I had found this tutorial sooner. I could have been making all my little restaurant hostess skirts for the past year and half! I'll definitely be making this one again!







-Megan

Psalm 18:30-36

Photo: Jenny Rose (Greeneville, TN)

As for God, his way is perfect;
The word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
For all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
And makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
He enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
My arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me your shield of victory,
And your right hand sustains me;
You stoop down to make me great.
You broaden your path beneath me,
So that my ankles do not turn.

-- Jenny