Fun Distractions :)

for a fun way to distract yourself for 5...10..15...+ minutes, click here:
www.sporcle.com

this website contains TONS of fun, trivia quizzes that you can do by yourself or with friends! (I think it is always more fun to do with friends because we always get more answers right when we put our heads together!)

hope you have a blast with Sporcle!! :)

Chocolate Truffles for Valentine's Day! :)

My sweet friend Laura Smith (on staff here in Rome) had a Valentine's Day party tonight for all of her friends. It was so wonderful to get together with Italian & American women, from all different walks of life, to enjoy a night of togetherness and great food! We were all each supposed to bring something to share, and I chose to bring yummy chocolate truffles that my sweet friend Stefanie always used to make at Miami. I included the recipe below so that you can surprise your sweetheart or sweet friends with delicious and easy Chocolate Truffles! :) Enjoy them!, and above all else------ I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ romances your heart, and you experience His steadfast love and faithfulness this weekend-- and always! He loves you very much! I pray you'd experience that!

Easy Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) package Oreo chocolate sandwich cookies, divided
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 (8 ounce) packages semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted
• 1 bar of white chocolate & red food coloring (not necessary, only if you want!) :)
  

Directions

1. Crush the cookies to fine crumbs in a Ziploc bag using a rolling pin (or in a food processor if you have one!) Place the cookie crumbs in a medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1-inch in diameter.
2. In a double-boiler OR in the microwave, melt the chocolate, and dip balls in, carefully, either by using your fingers (messy but this is what I did!) or you can use a couple spoons to help you. I think using toothpicks was too hard- the truffle balls got the most "messed up" when I used toothpicks. Place dipped truffles on wax paper-covered cookie sheet.
3. Let stand until firm; if needed, refrigerate. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator.
4. To add an extra step-- note that I said you could purchase white chocolate & red food coloring--- and I melted it, dyed it pink, put it in a Ziploc bag, cut a small hole in the corner.. and used the melted chocolate to pipe designs on top of the truffles.. to make them look a little more like Valentine's Day. This step obviously isn't necessary, but it's fun! :) Check out the finished product below! :)
   

"Nerja" song :)

click HERE to watch a video of my friend Alex Priebe & I singing our re-worked version of Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash's song-- "Jackson." We re-wrote the lyrics to be all about "Nerja" -- the city in Spain where our staff's annual conference is held. Hope you enjoy! :)