Bite-Sized Party Bark

Info from happyhourprojects.com

I have a fun and simple recipe today, and a way to dress it to impress, as well!  You can have this party bark done from start to finish in an hour or less – about 15 minutes of prep, and the rest of the time for your bark to set.

With the help of a set of shaped ice cube trays or candy molds, a simple recipe like chocolate bark looks so much more festive.  I found these star-shaped ice cube trays at Wal-mart… for a buck!  The silicone ones are even easier to work with, though they tend to be a little more expensive.

What you will need:

White Chocolate to melt – or go the really easy route, and use Candiquik.  You could also use milk chocolate just as easily.  If you do, make sure you are using something that’s designed to melt easily.  How do you know?  Check to see what the melting instructions on the package are.  Avoid anything that doesn’t have melting instructions.

You will also need something salty, something crunchy, something chewy, and something with nice color for a good recipe.  You don’t need to follow my recipe exactly – check your cupboards!  You probably have ingredients that will work.

What I used for 2 trays of candies (28 pieces):

1/2 package of Vanilla Candiquik
2 Tbsp. chopped peanuts
2 Tbsp. Heath toffee chips
2 Tbsp. mini chocolate chips
1 oz. Craisins  (sorry, I don’t know how many Tbsp. that would be, I just had the individual packages on-hand for lunches, and I used one of them)

If your peanuts are whole… chop them.

Stir all your mix-ins together.

Now, melt your chocolate.  Pay close attention to the package directions.  I always melt mine in the microwave because it only takes like, a minute.

Stir it often.  Mine was actually done when it looked like this – because when you stir it really well, the hotter spots will melt the remaining chunks.  You can overheat it, and that will just make it harder – not smoother.  Don’t do that. :P

You can spoon your melted chocolate into the cube sections, but I find another method to be WAY easier and more controlled.  I have a set of ketchup/mustard bottles that I found at the dollar store.  Put your melted chocolate into the bottle.

And squirt it that way.  No little candy strings that way, and you can put in exactly how much you want.  Now, how much do you want?  I found I was a little heavy on the Candiquik when I filled these nearly halfway, so I’d recommend adding about 1/2 inch, maybe less.  It needs to be enough for all your toppings to stick into, but not much more than that.

If you think it’s a hassle to wash out when you’re done… for that price, you can throw it away if you want to.  (I just wash mine, I don’t mind.)

Sprinkle your toppings on.  Press them in just a little, to make sure that everything sticks.  You may wonder why we didn’t just stir the whole mixture together… I just find that this way is easier and prettier.  If you’d rather mix it and spoon it – feel free!

Now, just cool your bark until it’s solid.  If you’re in a rush, you can speed this process up by putting it in the frig, though it’s not necessary – it will harden just was well on the counter.

Then, just pop them out.  If your trays are pretty rigid (like mine) I found that by twisting them like you would for ice, then turning it upside-down and giving each cavity a decent press on the bottom with a spoon handle, I got all of them to pop out without too much of an issue.  If you’re using silicone trays – it will be really easy.  Just press up on the bottoms and your bark will pop right out.

Then, just toss them on a plate to serve!

I link up to these great parties!

VERSE OF THE DAY!

I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
—Psalm 59:16

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
So many things in our lives can be stolen away by natural disasters, aging, and death. Satan could be appropriately called "The Thief of Always." But God is immovable and unstealable! We can invest ourselves in him and know our spirits are secure in his care. He is a fortress and a refuge.

My Prayer...
O Great Rock of my salvation, thank you for being unchangeable and faithful. Thank you for being the source of security and future in a day of chaos and change. Thank you for being God. You are my God and in you I place my life, my hopes, and my future. May you be glorified in me today. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Tax Tips For College Students

If you're in college, doing your taxes feels like one more final exam.

But there's one big difference. This grade is measured in cash.

With a little research and time,

you can ace this test and maybe even earn a nice check in the process.

Here are 12 tips to help you over the rough spots and make this tax exam a little easier.

1. File
Sure, you might make too little money to file, but if you've had money withheld from paychecks, you've got a refund coming. "The most common error is that people don't realize 'it could make a lot of sense for me to file even if I don't have to,'" says Mark Oleson, director of the Financial Counseling Clinic at Iowa State University.

2. Start early
Even if you haven't received your W-2s, your final pay stub will have the pertinent tax information, such as your income and how much was withheld. You also can go online and download state and federal forms you'll need. Taking an advance look at your tax situation will help you know which issues might apply to your return.

Think you might need a little help? It's probably closer than you think and possibly free. Most college accounting departments have students offering free tax help so they can get some practice with real-life returns. If you haven't seen ads around campus, contact the accounting or business department and find out how you can get some advice. The Internal Revenue Service also offers in many communities Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites where you can go to get help from IRS volunteers, says Oleson.

Remember, though, the closer you get to April 15, the longer the wait for help. Jace Sanders, a financial adviser for Albuquerque-based Essential Financial Planning Inc., still regrets waiting until the last minute the first time he sought on-campus help in college. He stood in line for two hours. But it was worth the time, he says. "They advised me of the Hope Credit."

"The sooner you start, the better off you'll be," advises Oleson. "If you have a tight spring schedule and can't talk to someone for three weeks, saying that on Feb. 1 is a lot different than saying that in April."

3. Give yourself a weekend
No, filling out your forms won't take that long. But if you allow a weekend, you'll have time to take a few breaks when you get tired and still be able to double check the numbers before you mail that return.

Sanders says his first college return took the better part of a weekend. "I got off work Friday, and Monday I was still finishing it up," he says. Even so, he neglected his earned income credit. "And the IRS isn't going to say, 'Here's some extra money you want to take.'"

Oleson recommends you take a leisurely weekend to do your returns. Then take the next week to seek any outside help and ask more questions. Next weekend, check your numbers again and send it.

4. Practice on paper
Even if you're filing electronically, many students find it's more efficient to fill out the paper forms and work out the bugs before they go online to file, says Oleson.

5. Take extra credit
These days, college students (or parents paying college tuition) are getting a little help from the government in the form of credits and deductions. While there are three major ones, students (or their parents) get to select only one per student. And whoever claims the student as a dependent is the one who is eligible for the credit. Pick the one that best suits your family and situation:

`Hope Scholarship Credit -- Gives you a tax credit for up to 100 percent of your first $1,000 in tuition and fees and up to 50 percent for the second $1,000. The maximum credit is $1,500 and it applies to the first two years of college only.

`Lifetime Learning Credit -- Gives you a tax credit equal to 20 percent of your tuition and certain related expenses up to $10,000. The credit maximum is $2,000.

`Higher education expenses deduction -- This deduction could be as much as $4,000 for families that meet earning guidelines. If you make too much (in the IRS's eyes), you'll get a reduced deduction. The downside: Deductions usually give you less bang for your buck than credits. You get to subtract a credit amount from the actual tax you owe, whereas a deduction reduces the income you pay tax on. So in this case, even if you have $4,000 in expenses you can claim on your tax return (at the bottom of page 1 of your Form 1040), in reality this deduction would at most produce a $1,000 reduction in your tax bill if you're in the 25 percent tax bracket.

6. Understand your family's financial situation
Talking to mom and dad about money is almost as difficult as talking to them about sex (and just about as much fun). But you need to know a little about their financial picture to plan who should claim you as a dependent and possibly use your education credit or deduction.

If your parents are paying more than 50 percent of your expenses, they are entitled to list you as a dependent on their taxes.

Also keep in mind that the available education tax credits will wipe out taxes that you owe, but they won't generate a refund. If you're not making a lot of money and don't owe any taxes, these credits can't help you. And the value of a deduction (for example, the higher education expenses deduction) increases with your tax load, making it much more valuable to someone in the 35 percent bracket (your folks) than someone in the 15 percent bracket (you). So unless you expect to owe a bundle, chances are your parents will get more out of a credit or deduction than you will.

Sanders recalls one family's innovative solution. The parents wanted to claim their daughter as a dependent and were fully qualified to do so, but she was dead set against it. She had her eye on a $200 refund, while the parents were looking at saving thousands through a dependent exemption and education tax credit. It all worked out when the parents took the dependency claim and tax credit and agreed to make a couple of car payments for the daughter.

"It's not huge dollars, but it's very complicated," says Doug Stives, CPA and partner in The Curchin Group. "Do what you're going to do, but understand you want to coordinate with Mom and Dad."

7. Don't automatically take the EZ route
File a 1040EZ and the form automatically assumes you will claim yourself as a dependent, says Stives. But if your parents make the same claim, both of you will get letters from the IRS. If you've already filed when you learn your parents plan to claim both you and your education credits, file a corrected return.

8. Determine where you live
Sounds obvious, right? Not when it comes to taxes. If you're going to college in one state and spending summers at home in another, you could have two states vying for your tax dollars.

The qualifications for residency "depend on the state," says CPA Barry Picker, author of "Barry Picker's Guide to Retirement Distribution Planning." But in some situations, you could be considered a full-time resident in two places and be required to pay both, he says.

9. Nail down your tuition money's origin
It could make a difference in your taxes. For instance, if any of your tuition bill was paid with money from a 529 account or Coverdell education savings account, you can't count those expenses in your total education debt when you try to recoup an education credit or deduction. Since Coverdell and 529 money accumulates tax-free, the government has already given you a tax break on those funds.

"Usually, people don't have enough in a Coverdell or 529 to pay the whole thing, so that's not an issue," says Picker.

If your tuition is coming from unsubsidized loans, you can deduct up to $2,500 in interest, says Oleson.

And while most financial planners will tell you that grant and loan money is tax-free, there are always exceptions. "A grant that includes room and board is technically taxable," says Stives. Read the fine print carefully for any money you take so you're prepared come tax time.

10. Watch your income
If you rely on need-based grants or loans, keep an eye on your income throughout the year. It's smart to leverage your funds so that you can qualify for every tax advantage. But you don't want to outfox yourself and lose tuition money, either. Best bet: Check with your financial aid office before you do anything, such as taking a summer job or putting stocks in your name, that might affect your scholarship standing, says Oleson.

Also be wary of claiming yourself as a dependent if you want to stay on your parents' insurance, says Stives. While the two things seem unrelated, an insurance company could use your independent status as justification to deny your health claims, he says.

11. Be careful with work-study arrangements
These programs are taxable. Many colleges and universities issue students checks and take the proper withholdings. If you're not getting a check, make sure that you're putting some money aside for April 15. And if your school simply gives you a break on tuition in exchange for your work, your "income" is taxable. Talk to the director of the program for details.

12. Don't mail your return the moment you finish it
Come back the next day to double check your math, make sure you've included, and signed, all the forms and made a copy for your records. Says Stives, "You always let it cool off overnight, at least, before you lick that envelope."

Wow.... Breaking News

Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of the most critically acclaimed actors of his generation, was found dead in New York on Sunday morning of an apparent drug overdose.

Mr. Hoffman, 46, was found in an apartment in the West Village around 11:30 a.m. by a friend who had become concerned at not being able to reach Mr. Hoffman, a law enforcement official said.

Investigators found a syringe in his left forearm, at least two plastic envelopes with what appeared to be heroin nearby, and five empty plastic envelopes in a trash bin, the official said.

“It’s pretty apparent that it was an overdose,” the official said. “The syringe was in his arm.”

RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman

I just seen him on the big screen during

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire :(

IT'S SUPER BOWL DAY!

VERSE OF THE DAY!

As it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.
—1 Corinthians 2:9

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Many of the things we anticipate and dream about are much less glorious in real life than they were in our imaginations. There is one event, however, that is better than we can imagine and beyond our wildest dreams. When Jesus returns to take us home to be with our Father, it will be far better than we can ask, imagine, dream or think. Maranatha - Come Lord Jesus!

My Prayer...
Abba Father, thank you for knowing me before time began. Thank you for crafting me in my mother's womb. Thank you for sending Jesus to pay the price for my sins. And thank you in advance for the day Jesus comes to take me home to be with you forever. Through my Conquering Savior I pray. Amen.

HOW TO MAKE SUGAR SCRUB CUBES

Info from Brit.co

I’m a big fan of shower scrubs. They’re fast, easy to make and leave you with a delightful pampered feeling. What I’m not a big fan of? Planning ahead. So it’s usually after I’m showered and getting dressed that I realize, holy mackerel, exfoliation needed, stat!

Enter sugar scrub cubes. This is genius, folks. The benefits?

• You whip them up whenever the scrub-making urge strikes.
• They aren’t all gloopy and gooey.
• They’re the portioned out to just the right size.

Love!! You’re now wanting to make your own, right? Here’s what you need:

• 1/4 cup coconut oil (or other oil of choice)
• 1 cup of sugar (white or brown)
• 1/2 cup of unscented soap, shredded
• Mixing bowl & spoon
• Optional add-ins for scent
• Ice cube tray or other mold

How to make them:

• Mix the oil and shredded soap together in a microwave safe bowl.
• Microwave on high for 10 second intervals stirring in between each. Continue until the soap is melted into the oil.
• Add in optional scents or other ingredients and stir.
• Quickly move mixture to a mold and let firm up (putting it in the freezer helps).

The optional stuff is my favorite part. Here are three fall flavors we tried out.

MAPLE + BROWN SUGAR

Replace the white sugar with 1 cup of brown sugar and add 1 tablespoon of maple syrup.

VANILLA COFFEE

Coffee is great for cellulite! Mix in 1/4 cup coffee grounds and 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract.

PUMPKIN SPICE

We couldn’t not do a pumpkin version. Add 1 tablespoon of honey and a heaping teaspoon of pumpkin spice.

HOW TO USE

You can use fun molds (like this spider and web one last seen in our Halloween bath bombs). When the scrub is firm, pop them out of the mold and keep them in a covered container until ready to use (otherwise they will dry out and crumble). Then take a couple of cubes into the shower and crush them a bit in your hand under the water. Then scrub away!

Info from Brit.co

Creative Ice Cubes !!

ALL OF THESE COOL CREATIONS WERE MADE IN AN ICE TRAY!

I'll be posting the name of each photo

&& the recipe over the next couple of days so be on the look out!

VERSE OF THE DAY!

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
—Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
So many times Satan seduces us into a flat, 2 dimensional Christianity - going to church and doing good deeds. But God calls us to a three dimensional faith. He wants us to love him with all of our being in all of our actions and with all of our might.

My Prayer...
Dear Heavenly Father, I honor you as God Almighty. I appreciate you for all your kindness and blessings lavished upon me. I love you because you first loved me in Jesus. My heart's desire today is to demonstrate my love for you in all I do, and love and say. Through Jesus. Amen.

FUN FRUIT SUSHI

Info from FoodNetwork.com

Total Time: 15 min
Prep: 10 min
Cook: 5 min
Yield: 20 sushi rolls
Level: Easy

Ingredients
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2/3 cup mini-marshmallows
2 cups cooked rice (any)
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
1 banana, thinly sliced
1/2 pint fruit medley, like strawberries, pineapple, kiwi, and cantaloupe
Thinly sliced mini chocolate chips and toasted shredded coconut, for topping sushi, optional

Special equipment: Nigiri sushi mold or plastic ice cube tray

Directions
To make sweet sticky "sushi" rice: In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter and marshmallows until completely soft. Remove from the heat and stir in the cooked rice until well blended. Spray the nigiri mold or ice cube tray lightly with nonstick spray. Take slices of the fruit medley and place in the bottom of the mold or ice cube tray. Spoon in rice and press gently into the fruit. Unmold the "sushi" and top with mini chocolate chips and toasted coconut, if desired.

PHOTO CHALLENGE!