Recipe: Peppermint Mocha Cookies

So I was sitting around the other day dreaming about Starbucks Peppermint Mochas (as I tend to do all holiday season), and suddenly (as if divinely inspired) I thought, "If only I could make these... at home...in cookie form!" I was inspired by the Mint Chocolate Cookies Brittany posted the other day. But with a baby at home, just the thought of making the different layers was exhausting. So I spent half a morning searching for the perfect recipe for Peppermint Mochas in cookie form, that met the following criteria: 1. Chocolate + Coffee + Peppermint.  I found a lot with 2/3 but I needed all 3 2. Quick...

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Just wanted to share because I thought it was funny :-)  This is me "rolling-out" pizza dough. I think it's genius! ...

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A Different Kind of Cookie

I saw Barefoot Contessa make these on her show and thought they looked pretty good. I was looking for a cookie that was a little different. These are like fruit cake but in cookie form. To be honest I've never even tried fruit cake before. I know it gets a bad wrap but it definitely is festive and from the reviews I read everyone seemed to love these, and they were a great alternative to fruitcake. They were flaky and crispy from the butter and chewy from the fruit and not too sweet. Worth a try if you are looking for something a little different and fun. A few comments: - I'm not a fan of cherries so I used cranberries instead, I think...

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A Few Blog Updates

Hey guys...just wanted to let you know I added a few new things to the blog. One is the "LinkWithin" at the end of each post. It offers some suggestions for posts of similar topics to check out. A nice way to navigate around the blog. The other is the "Labels" on the right sidebar. There is a spot in the bottom right corner when you are writing a post to put in a  "Label", basically the category the post falls under, ie. recipes, crafts, homemaking, etc. We should also put our names. Can you go back and add them for the posts you've already written when you have time? That's it for now. Great job on the posts! I'm getting some great ideas and encouragement from you both. I'm trying to finalize my font color for posts. What do you guys think? Purple is very B...Green is very Teppy...I'm...

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Freezer Cooking: Getting Started

So speaking of getting back on track..I know I've been promising to give you guys some tips on my freezer cooking for months now. Well, the thing is, I did such a good job of stocking up before the baby was born, I'm just now, 5 months later, needing to do some cooking again! I got the idea from MoneySavingMom and it's one of those things that really changed my life for the better. It is so great to be able to have hot, homemade meals every night with hardly any prep time. And it's not just for dinners..also works great for breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and desserts. It also is one of my tricks for keeping our grocery budget around $40/week. ...

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B's Secrets to Easy Entertaining

So I'm having what is really my first girls night. I've had my girlfriends over before of course, but I've never had an official "girls night party". And there are a few new girls coming that I've recently become friends with. I'm really looking forward to it! I plan to make it super Christmasy!  I got stressed for a matter of a second, trying to think of what to make for food and wanting to impress everyone. But I quickly realized that the food isn't what it's all about. It is about getting the girls together and enjoying eachothers company! If I got stressed about what I would make every time I wanted to have people over I would probably never have company!  So I think I found the secret to easy entertaining. Taking very simple ingredients and recipes and making it fancy!...

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Getting Back on Track

Sorry I've been MIA for awhile. I've been in sort of a weird place lately...a cross between a funk and feeling really great, like I'm coming out of the survival mode fog and getting my life back on track now since the baby. I think I'm just getting to a place where I feel like I have things a little more under control and can start thinking about being productive again..which is great and exciting..but I don't even know where to start. For one, I've been trying to cut back on computer time until I can learn to control myself better. I was starting to waste so much time. I'm so proud of you guys for keeping things going here! I'm excited to try those cookies Steph (and I'm so in love with the white peppermint mochas at starbucks too! I spilled one all over my car the other...

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Best Chocolate Chip Cookies of All Time!!

Ok you guys have got to try these cookies! Guaranteed best chocolate chip cookies you've ever had! They are a Paula Deen recipe in my Betty Crocker cookie booklet.  Double Chocolate Chip Cookies 1 C. butter 1 1/2 C. creamy peanut butter 2 1/2 C. packed brown sugar 2 whole eggs 1 egg white 1/2 C. sour cream 2 t. vanilla 3 1/2 C. Better for Bread flour (* I used all-purpose flour and they came out awesome) 3 t. baking soda 1/2 t. salt 1 bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips 1 C. mini semisweet chocolate chips 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together butter & peanut butter until creamy. Add brown sugar, beat until creamy. Beat in eggs, egg white, sour cream, and vanilla. gradually beat in salt, baking soda, and flour. Stir in chocolate chips. 2. On ungreased...

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Yummy Cookies!

Chocolate-Mint Layered Cookies 3/4 C. butter 3/4 C. sugar 1 egg 1 t. vanilla 2 1/4  C. all-purpose flour 1/4 t. baking powder 1/4 t. salt 9 oz. bag semisweet chocolate chips 1 T. all-purpose flour 9 drops green food color 1 t. mint extract 1 t shortening or canola oil 1. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla. On low speed, beat in baking powder, salt, and 2 1/4 C. flour until dough forms. Divide dough in half (about 1 1/4 C. each) place 1 portion in medium bowl. 2. In small microwavable bowl, microwave 1/2 C. of the chocolate chips on High 30-60...

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No one knows Christmas like Dickens! :)  What I find so amazing about Christmas is that it is the one time of year where the world is united in joy and love. I'm not saying we have world peace, but most people do seem to be in a special kind of mood. I think it is so amazing to walk into almost any store and see decorations everywhere and Christmas music playing. In the evenings people are home with their families around the Christmas tree, making cookies. It is the one time of year where almost every household is contributing to at least one Christmas tradition at any given time of the Christmas season. And what I thought of when I was reading that quote in A Christmas Carol is that the magic of Christmas expands not only geographically, but time as well. People feel the same way about...

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Lessons from a Christmas Carol

Every year at Christmas I want to read A Christmas Carol but never actually get around to doing it. So this year I am going to do it. I started reading it last night and here is an excerpt from the book below. I really like the way the nephew in the story explains Christmas. "Nephew!" returned the uncle, sternly, "keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine." "Keep it!" repeated Scrooge's nephew.  "But you don't keep it." "Let me leave it alone, then," said Scrooge.  "Much good may it do you!  Much good it has ever done you!" "There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say," returned the nephew.  "Christmas among the rest.  But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come...

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I haven't forgotten about the blog, I'm just not very good with it I don't think. I'm never quite sure what to say. But I guess that will only get better with practice. Plus I usually don't have a computer or a camera. Austin and I are looking into a new laptop for me so I know that will make a huge difference! But I have been trying my best to keep up with my "plan" for myself. I'm trying to constantly work on ways to better myself and my life. Notice I use the word "trying". I start to stray here and there, but at least I have a plan and I'm aware when I start to stray. It's always in the back of my mind. This month I want to focus on Christmas. And I mean REALLY focus on it. About everything Christmas means. The happiness and warmth, love for family and friends, the cozy peaceful...

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Immanuel and I watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving last night and it was the perfect atmosphere setting video for Thanksgiving. Holidays just aren't the same without watching the Charlie Brown movies. Check it out here at hulu: http://www.hulu.com/watch/193930/a-charlie-brown-thanksgiving  It's great to listen to in the background while you are cooking :) Have a great Thanksgiving! I'll miss you guys! -S...

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Great Crowd Pleaser

Last night my group of high school friends got together for a girls night at my friend Lauren's house. We all brought an appetizer to share and what we wanted to drink. I went through a TON of recipes trying to find something that would be tasty, satisfying, not too weird, and easy enough to make. Its hard making something for a group that you think everyone will like. Since I've known my friends forever I know that they don't like to be super adventurous with their food, so I thought, what is something everyone loves? Pizza of course! So I found this Giada recipe that was a hit and it's super easy to make. I followed the recipe exactly and...

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Yay! I did it! I figured out how to sign in! Sorry I haven't posted anything. This whole blogging world is new territory to me. Don't expect anything fancy for awhile. I don't even have a camera at the moment to put up pictures... I LOVE the Thanksgiving and Christmas ideas!! Who posted those? Be sure to sign your name at the bottom. Infact I think I'm going to go ahead and do some of those ideas. I don't ever think Holidays should just pass on by. You really need to make a point to make them extra special and magical! The Holidays go by so quickly, you really have to make every day count! Thought I would update you on my plans for this month... It's a new month and a new chance to start fresh! Thats how I look at it anyway. Each month is a chance to start off on a brand new foot. Especially...

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Craft Ideas - Christmas

That site has a ton of great ideas! Here's a link with template for christmas cards. Making homemade cards is on my "super-mom" to-do list :)   This would be an easy way to start. And I really want to make an advent calendar to countdown the days to christmas. Do you guys remember that little cardboard one Mom had..where you'd open a little door or window each day leading up to christmas and there'd be a little christmas scene behind it. I LOVED that thing. It was so fun for building anticipation and excitement leading up to christmas day! I want something that combines the countdown with each day getting a new little ornament...

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Craft Ideas - thanksgiving decorations

I'm always finding fun crafty ideas when going through blogs..and then always lose the links. I thought it would be nice to post them here to both keep track of the links and to share with you guys. Then we can do a post if we actually end up making any of them (**fingers crossed that I actually follow through!**) I love this idea and it looks pretty easy. I really want to work on bringing a more personalized touch to the home to surround me with more family pictures and things with meaning. Thanks Board I was thinking you could also do one with your last name and hang family pictures below. I think I would just buy those little...

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Storage Container Tips

Steph, Good question about where to find the best storage containers. You've come to the right place. I'm (borderline) obsessed with them. One of my biggest dreams is to be completely cardboard box free in our house. We are getting close! For plastic storage totes,  my favorite places is, surprisingly,  Lowes! I try to find those standard size (I think 18 gallon) plastic totes that I use for most of my storage for around $5, like this one here. I've had the best luck there. Target and Walmat don't have nearly as big of a selection as Lowe's. They have a whole huge aisle (or 2!) dedicated to all kind of storage bins,...

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I am focusing this week on getting organized! Tiff, post what you used to organize (i.e. bins you used...etc.) and where I can buy them. I know you can buy organizing stuff almost anywhere but I like to hear what works for other people. I wish I could do a weekly plan but my weeks are always changing. Like sometimes we work late and I just don't feel like coming home to cook and clean... or whatever it was I wanted to accomplish that day. And I don't want to set unrealistic goals for myself because then I feel like a failure if I don't accomplish them. I work better with mini goals that I create the day before or the day of. Yesterday I decided that today I was going to get our winter clothes more organized (sweaters and jackets take up so much room!) and also find...

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Weekly Plan: TT

I'm excited about getting back into planning out my goals for the week! It feels so great to give a purpose to each day so I know what to do with my "free time" while Lizzy is napping (which keeps getting shorter..we're working on that), to feel like I'm working everyday on my personal goals, and to know when my housework is "done" for the day.  I found myself spending way too much time yesterday just thinking of all the things I wanted to do and all the different (countless, really) ways I could plan out the week. I'm working on a way to streamline that a bit...maybe at least a concrete plan for things I need to do on a regular basis like dusting, vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms, etc. I also want to make a weekly spreadsheet template. I'll keep you posted! So here's what...

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How about we start with a better picture?! ...

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Getting Started

Hey guys! I'm so excited about our plans for sharing how to help each other get our lives in order through the blog! I've been taking baby steps to get things going, but have made some great progress!! As you know I completed my first craft for the month! A 5 year old could have done it but I was still very proud of myself! Because I had an idea and I made it happen! Yes it was an easy craft but it was still a lot of fun! I figure starting small is probably better anyways so I don't get overwhelmed and feel I want to quit. Even walking around Micheal's was a big accomplishment for me! Those craft stores can intimidated me. But I felt just walking around and getting acquainted with the store was a big step. My next project will be getting back into painting. And again I'm going to...

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Need to start somewhere..

We've been talking so much about getting the blog going, so I thought I would just pull the trigger and start one. If we don't do it now, we probably never will! Let's just start posting and see where it goes from there. We'll figure out what we want out of it as we go along. For me, I just really want a place for us to 1) share what's going on in our lives; and 2) help keep each other on task with our little "life improvement" projects.  I know we've all been feeling a little lost and confused about what we want out of our "new lives" now that you two are newlyweds and things are settling down around here for me since Elizabeth was born (I'll just call her EB from now on, since that's what's you guys have been calling her..and it's much easier than typing out her full name!...

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