Why I <3 Target

I just love Target.

Fred Meyers......no way!
ShopKo......ewww
Walmart......plain old disgusting

Target= L.O.V.E.

For Example.......

Are this Target rain boots not the best? How could anyone not want a pair of cherry rain boots? They make me happy just looking at them!


Some fun items that I think would look lovely adorning my counter tops in my red/black kitchen.....

More fun Target items to come people...just you wait.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Go check Geoff and I out at elf yourself.com This is pretty funny

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1849949928

Hot Chocolate Cookies

For the cookies:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup instant hot chocolate cocoa mix - 1
teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
24 large marshmallows, cut in half crosswise

For the chocolate drizzle:

1.5 ounces of bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Preheat oven to 350.I
n a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa mix, baking soda and salt.
In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter and sugar until creamy.
Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until combined after each.
Mix in milk and vanilla.
Add the dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
Using a teaspoon cookie scoop, drop the dough onto parchment lined baking sheets.
Bake until the cookie are set, about 8 minutes.
Remove and carefully place a marshmallow, cut side down, in the center of each cookie.
Place back in the oven and continue baking until the marshmallow begins to look puffy, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Remove and let cookies sit on the baking sheet for 1 minute before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the chocolate drizzle:
Melt the chopped chocolate in microwave on high for 30 second.Pour the melted chocolate into a zipper bag, and cut a slit at one corner.

Unleash the Picaso in you and pipe away!

These little yummies are the most fantastic cookie that you will EVER taste!

Brownie Bottom Cheesecake

Okay...I'll admit it. I am in LOVE w/ cheesecake! Any kind of cheesecake really but this one rocks since it has the brownie on the bottom. That's like the best two desserts put together! Bliss.


4 squares BAKER'S Unsweetened Baking Chocolate
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2-1/4 cups sugar, divided
5 eggs, divided
1/4 cup milk
2 tsp. vanilla, divided
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
3 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream

*Preheat oven to 325°F.
*Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted.
*Stir until chocolate is completely melted.
*Add 1-1/2 cups of the sugar; mix well.
*Add 2 of the eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended.
*Add milk and 1 tsp. of the vanilla; mix well.
*Combine flour and salt.
*Gradually add to chocolate mixture, mixing after each addition just until blended.
*Spread evenly into greased and floured 9-inch springform pan.
*Bake 25 min.

*Beat cream cheese, remaining 3/4 cup sugar and remaining 1 tsp. vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
*Add sour cream; mix well.
*Add remaining 3 eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. *Pour over brownie layer in pan (Filling will come almost to top of pan.)
*Bake 55 min. to 1 hour or until center is almost set.
*Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. *Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
*Let stand at room temperature 30 min. before serving.
*Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

Chicken Parmesan Bundles

This is an awesome recipe that I got off of the the Kraft website a few years back and it is delish!! Plus it been a big hit with kids as well! Everyone must try!

4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) cream cheese, softened
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained
1-1/4 cups shredded skim mozzarella cheese
6 Tbsp. grated parmesan cheese
6 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 lb.), pounded to 1/4-inch thickness
1 egg
10 Ritz Crackers, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1-1/2 cups spaghetti sauce, heated

*Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
*Mix cream cheese, spinach, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and 3 Tbsp. of the parmesan cheese until well blended; spread evenly onto chicken breasts. Starting at one of the short ends of each breast, roll up chicken tightly. Secure with wooden toothpicks, if desired. Set aside.
*Beat egg in shallow bowl or pie plate.
*Mix remaining 3 Tbsp. parmesan cheese and the cracker crumbs in separate shallow bowl or pie plate.
*Dip chicken bundles in egg, then roll in crumb mixture.
*Place, seam-sides down, in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
*Bake 30 min. or until chicken is cooked through (165ºF).
*Remove and discard toothpicks, if using.
*Serve topped with the spaghetti sauce and remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese.

Recipe Day I :Blue Cheese-Tomato Spread

1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes
Boiling water
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 pkg. (4 oz.) crumbled blue cheese
3/4 cup real mayonnaise
2/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1/2 cup minced fresh basil

Place tomatoes in small bowl. Add enough boiling water to completely cover tomatoes; let stand 30 min. or until tomatoes are soft and plumped. Drain tomatoes; chop into small pieces. Set aside.
Beat cream cheese and blue cheese in small bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
Stir in tomatoes, mayo, pecans and basil; cover.
Refrigerate several hours or until chilled.
Serve as a spread for assorted crackers.

Yum-O

Holiday Recipe Extravaganza!

I saw this on this awesome girl's blog so seeing as how I *L*O*V*E* new recipes I decided to hop on her bandwagon! I think it would be so fun if you all did too! I was thinking...All of you should join me in posting your favorite holiday recipes on your blogs this week! I would LOVE to add some new favorites to my recipe binder! Put your blog address in the comments section if you decide to join me, and feel free to steal this little ditty below for your own blog! We'll call it the Holiday Recipe Extravaganza.

{ Fun Picture/Quote Post }

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

Have an awesome day!

{ Fantastic. }

I found this awesome website that is similar to Shutterfly. You can download their FREE book software and create any kind of book you want. You can do different sizes and hardback or softback. Here's the kicker.......prices for 7"x7" softbound books are only $12.95. That's right folks 12 bucks for a cute 40 page custom made book! How cool is that? The website is http://www.blurb.com/home/1/. Everyone should go check it out, I downloaded the software and played around w/ it and you can do some cool things.......

{ Happy Day }

I found a brand spanking new scrapbooking store in Idaho Falls yesterday! It called "I Scrap". It is located across the street from the mall next to Once Upon A Child & Citi Financial. I had a chance to talk w/ the owner and she rocks! Lots a great product that you can't get anywhere else in town. Everyone should check it out!

{ Random Photo Shoot w/ My Baby }

Geoff and I drove all around Idaho Falls today and got some really great shots downtown and at Freeman Park....here's is just a sampling of some of Geoff's pics

[ I Found This Little Guy in My Kitchen Last Night ]

Geoff just cracks me up! Last night I was sitting in the kitchen cracking open and eating walnuts when Geoff came in and started STUFFING his mouth full of uncracked nuts, he reminds me of Hammie on "Over the Hedge" Funny stuff right there.

{ I Had To Do It }

Okay I know Thanksgiving was only yesterday but I had to do it. That's right people I had to put up all my Christmas decorations. I am one of those people who would probably put up Christmas decor the day after Halloween if Geoff would let me! I LOVE THEM!! So needless to say my house is beginning to look ALOT like Christmas! Pictures to come soon!

{ Just For Fun }

{ Sorry about the fact that you can't read the journaling....my pics kinda turned out bad }

{ I Have A Secret...Shhh }

So randomly the other night I decided to watch this new show on the CW network called "Gossip Girl". This show sucked me right in, so much so that after it was over I HAD to go online and find the earlier episodes on the CW's website so I could be up to speed on what's going on. This show has so much scandal and drama how could you not like it? Plus it's got that cool girl from the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants! For real peeps you need to check it out if you have not done so already. It comes on on Wed. nights on the CW.

Live a Colorful Life......

Just A Quickie........

I'm In *L*O*V*E......

.....with this new Tide/Bounce/Downey Pure Essentials stuff. It smells so amazing! The White Lilac is the best, everyone needs to try it.

Cheesy Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Another fab recipe....gotta try it.

Cheesy Spinach and Artichoke Dip

1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained, finely chopped
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained
3/4 cup KRAFT 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese
3/4 cup KRAFT Mayo Light Mayonnaise
1/2 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Reduced Fat Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 tsp. garlic powder

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Mix all ingredients until well blended.

SPOON into 9-inch pie plate or quiche dish.

BAKE 20 min. or until heated through.

Serve with toasted bread and/or crackers and assorted cut-up fresh vegetables.

Yummiest Pie Ever

So Geoff is selling peaches on his "off" days at the fire station, so needless to say we have A LOT a peaches at our house! Here is one of the best peach pie recipes I've come across thus far. The raspberries add just the right amount of "tart" to the combo. Yum.

Peach-A-Berry Pie

INGREDIENTS

4 cups fresh peaches - peeled, pitted and sliced
1 cup fresh raspberries
3/4 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 (9 inch) pie crusts
2 tablespoons butter, softened and cut into pieces
1 tablespoon coarse granulated sugar

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

Place peaches and berries in a colander for about 15 minutes to drain any excess fluid , then transfer to a large bowl.

Gently toss with sugar, flour, and cinnamon.

Transfer to a pie crust.

Dot with butter, and top with remaining crust.

Cut vents in top crust, and sprinkle with coarse sugar.

Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until crust is golden brown.

Enjoy!

Introducing......

.....Carmella. She's the newest addition to our menagerie of animals. She's a cutie though, we picked her up from a breeder in Rigby.

ORANGE!!

That's right, Geoff and I painted our living room ORANGE. Now let me just tell you how much begging this took on my part. Geoff was convinvced that orange would look horrible. After much discussion he finally gave in, and guess what? We both LOVE IT!!

We are thinking of adding crown molding to the ceilings....What do you think about the color change/crown molding idea?

Yea...So I'm Friends With Rock Stars...

Geoff's cousins from Washington always come for the 4th of July and this year Geoff had just gotten Xbox 360 & Guitar Hero II for his birthday, so as you can imagine there was so pretty rock concerts happening all week long.......

4th of July Week....

We had a fantastic 4th of July week, yes you heard that right , 4th of July week. On Tuesday Geoff and I went to Warm River with his family that was in from out of town. It was a lot of fun to just relax and float the river. After we left the river we drove up to Mesa Falls and took some pictures and got eaten ALIVE by mosquitos. Yuck! It was a really fun day all in all! Of course we went to the Greenbelt for the actual 4th of July fireworks, which were great. Then to round out the week we went up to Heise to do a little swimming and sliding!

Dancing ballerinas.....cracks me up!

Geoff and his cousin Sam, from Washington.

Geoff little sister, Kelsey

Everybody better hold on....at least for one picture!

More dancing ballerinas

Another picture of Sam....what a crazy kid!

No-Oven Peanut Butter Squares

This are delicious and SO easy to make.

No-Oven Peanut Butter Squares

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2 cups powdered sugar
1-1/2 cups NABISCO Graham Cracker Crumbs
1 cup peanut butter
1-1/2 pkg. (12 squares) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate

LINE 13x9-inch baking pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan. Set aside.
MELT butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 45 sec. until melted. Add sugar, graham cracker crumbs and peanut butter; mix well. Spread into prepared pan.
MICROWAVE chocolate in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 to 2 min. or until melted, stirring after each min. Cool slightly; pour over peanut butter mixture in pan. Cool. Cut partially through dessert to mark 48 squares. Refrigerate 1 hour or until set. Lift from pan, using foil handles. Cut all the way through dessert into squares.

Did I Mention.....

How much my little cat, Dash **LOVES** bags? Well he does. Throw any old bag on the floor and he'll crawl right on in and settle down. Do you think it has something to do w/ me finding him abandon in a box?

And Here Are The Little Fur Babies Themselves...

So since I introduced you to our dogs I thought I'd let you in on what our cats are like....now I have to add that these cats are the death of Geoff (he really doesn't enjoy them much)

So our first cat was Runt, we got her as a stray at my parent's farm about 2 1/2 years ago. When we first got here she was really sick and weak and we had to nurse her back. Now she's great, except she is fat as heck, in fact her nickname is Butterball ( as in she is the size of a Butterball turkey...no joke) This next little guy's name is Puma. Puma is my giant tom cat. We got Puma about 2 years ago so Runt would have a companion when we were at work. He probably causes the most trouble therefore Geoff likes him the least. ( He's my favorite though)

And last but not least is Dash. I found Dash in a abandoned box outside Target about a year and a half ago. He is the wildest cat. He literally FLIES around my house! But I love him to death because he is so desparate for attention ALL THE TIME

Anyhow here is all three of my little "fur babies" all cuddled up together.

Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

So I thought I'd introduce you to our cute as heck puppies ( more like our kids, at least that's what Geoff calls them)

This little cutie is Bailey, and he's all mine. Bailey is a malti-poo that Geoff got me for my birthday right after we moved into our house. He is absolutely adorable!!! Love him to death even though he is a tad bit wild....scratch that he is crazy!!

Tthis is Kira. Geoff always wanted a malamute because he had one when he was younger. When we moved into our house a year ago I decided to get him one for his birthday. Not gonna lie this was not easy. It seems everryone in Idaho breeds their dogs in the off season, therefore I had to get Kira all the way from South Carolina. She my little traveler. ( Oh yea and that's my b/f Geoff in the picture w/ Kira)

So there you go...that's all kids....next post I'll introduce you to our three cats.....

Tah-Tah***Lindsay

Zoo Fun.....

So on my last day off Geoff and I decided to head to the Idaho Fall's zoo. Now I got to tell you I have not been to the zoo for ages! Literally since I was 12 or so. Though it seems a little kiddish, it was a lot of fun. Here is some pictures from the day........( Don't mind Geoff, he is kinda like a kid some days)