Valentine Peanut Butter Chocolate Heart Cookies

One of my favorite types of cookies are peanut butter blossoms, but I only make them around the holidays, but when I saw these cute heart shaped chocolates I thought these would bring my peanut butter blossoms into a Valentine treat. 

What you need to make these cookies:

Bag of Hershey's Valentine Heart Shaped Chocolates (I got mine from the market, but found these here)
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup Peanut Butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup additional granulated sugar for rolling

 Heat oven to 375°F. Remove wrappers from chocolates.

2. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.

3. Shape dough into about 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar (optional) place on cookie sheet. I like to put parchment down on my cookie sheet.

4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

This makes about 25-30 cookies (depending on the size of peanut butter balls you make). These came out so soft, chewy and the chocolate in the middle was so smooth and soft. It was heavenly. Perfect treat to put in a pretty box and wrap a large bow, or for you to indulge in.

Free Valentine Printables

You don't have to spend a lot of money to make your Valentine feel special. There are so many ways of doing things for your loved one. Whether it's going for a walk, making breakfast or dinner, or printing these free printables.

A Delicate Gift makes really cute banners, straw wrappers, and other party supplies. These "I Like the Way you Roll" are some of the most adorable tags I have seen for Valentine's. These make great little Valentine gift for the boys in your life. http://www.adelicategift.com/2015/02/11/valentines-day-class-gift-free-printable

These adorable 5 page Valentine printables from Tiny Me are some of the cutest I have seen. Printable available here: http://makemytinyme.com/printables/product.php?designcode=VP001-01

These beautiful and stunning pink watercolors include chocolate bar wrappers, tags, and coffee wraps. Available at: https://liagriffith.com/printable-valentines-day-labels/

And this is just a cute hearts Desktop background, perfect background on your computer for the month of February. From Design Love Fest: http://www.designlovefest.com/2013/02/dress-your-tech-20/

A perfect Valentine treat to have after ordering out Chinese good. They looks just like the real thing. There are four pre-written fortunes range from romantic to racy, while the other four are left blank so you can write your own little fortune for your loved one.
http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/printable-valentines-day-fortune-cookies

Mini Pizza with Heart Pepperoni

Who doesn't love pepperoni pizza? It's my favorite kind, a perfect classic that the Ninja Turtles would approve of. I was craving one, so I made some mini pizzas with cute mini pepperoni hearts. Nothing says I love you more than pizza, that just a personal observation.

I simply bought a bag of pepperoni and using a mini heart cookie cutter I cut heart shapes into the pepperoni slices.

Put some tomato sauce and shredded mozzarella on the pita pockets.

Next, is the fun part, decorate with any toppings you love. Put them in the oven at 350 degrees until the pita pocket is toasted and the cheese is melted. Cute and perfect mini lunch for Valentine's Day. This can also be a cute family dinner with make your own pizza night for Valentine's Day.

Bananas and Strawberries Dipped in Chocolate

One of my favorite things to eat are fruits and chocolate. Combining both is the ultimate treat for me. Getting ready for Valentine's Day I grabbed some organic strawberries and bananas and dark chocolate and got to work. These are not only a great little alternative to a sweet treat, but put them in a box with a red bow and they make a great gift to give.

First, slice bananas, I recommend cutting thick slices, even more think then the slices I cut.

Melt dark chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. I usually add chocolate morsels to a small cereal bowl, and then microwave 30 seconds and then mix and then add them in for another 30 seconds. I keep a good eye and stop when about 75 % are melted, then I keep stirring and usually by then it all melts. You never want to over heat the chocolate, the opposite will happen, and the chocolate will get hard and chunky to work with. 

Next, with a fork, dip the banana slice into the chocolate and then bring it back up. You might have to dip again. Ensure that it is completely covered. And then place it on a piece of parchment paper. Don't wait until they are cooled to decorated. I added sprinkled sea salt and shredded coconut to mine.

They came out delicious. The heat of the chocolate warms up the bananas and secrets this yummy natural syrup.

Now for my favorite part, dipping strawberries in chocolate. Using organic strawberries, wash them thoroughly, leave the stems on them, and dry them.

Next, holding the stems dip the strawberries in chocolate and place them on the parchment paper.

After a few minutes the chocolate will harden, or you can put them in the fridge. I recommend adding crushed nuts, shredded coconut, or any other toppings.

Enjoy!

Valentine Gift Guide 2016

Valentine's day is in about 2 weeks, not to add any pressure or worry to you. Just a friendly reminder that you need to get cracking on planning something sweet and special for  your loved ones.

For me, Valentine's day isn't just for our partners, but for everyone we love, our family and friends too. I like to send a little special something to everyone who has a place in my heart and let them know I am thinking about them.

I have been already planning on some sweet treats I am going to be baking and fun crafts I am going to be making in the upcoming week to give to friends and loved ones.

Many people think Valentine's Day is just a made up day and excuse for consumerism, and hey there might be a chance that this long-time tradition has been going on for so long because of that, but any day we celebrate love is a good day to me. As some of you might already know, I usually celebrate Valentine's day about a week before. I have gone out on Valentine's Day before and I always feel rushed and the crowds kill me every time. So after 14 years together we just like to spend a night in, order out, make homemade popcorn, watch a movie, and indulge in chocolate, that's the perfect night for me.

As I am planning little surprise Valentine gifts and boxes to send to loved ones, I made a small list of some gift ideas, some classic options like chocolates and some with a unique twist like the adorable Moschino teddy bear perfume. It's two gifts in one, really. Its a cute bear and a perfume once you rip his head off.

‘Moschino Toy’ Eau de Toilette - Fashion Designer and Creative Director Jeremy Scott created this unique eau de toilette as a nod to his and house founder Franco Moschino's unabashed love of teddy bears. Who knew? And the scent is unisex, so ladies, you can also give this bear to your guys.

Candy Hearts Banner - Make Valentine's Day a little party with this cute banner that you can hang in your office, or you can make one yourself to decorate the table with sweet treats. I think a lovely idea is to surprise your loved one with decorations, like heart shaped balloons.

Heart and Arrow Stud Earrings -  Jewelry is a traditional gift to give on Valentine's day. This cute set of stud earrings from Kate Spade New York is a cute heart and arrow. Mix and match stud earrings is the new cool thing to do, so I hear, I haven't personally tried it, but if I am, I would do it with these.

bkr Glass Water Bottle - bkr releases a limited edition glass water bottles every season. And this is an adorable one. I drink over 65 ounces of water a day, it's a constant goal of mine. I make tiny games in my mind on how much water I need to drink before lunch time. Drinking water is imperative, and something I bet you need to do much more of. Did you know that once you feel thirsty, that means you are already dehydrated? This bottle is BPA-free, phthalate-free and holds a whopping 32 fl. oz, that means you only need to drink two bottles of these a day.

Printable Valentine's Day Fortune Cookies - This is my absolutely favorite and it's free. There are four pre-written fortunes range from romantic to racy, while the other four are left blank so you can write your own little fortune for your loved one.

To assemble the cookie, simply print the cookie shapes and fortune strips, read the included directions for folding and filling, and add a dab of glue to finish.

Order Chinese food, and replace their fortune cookies with these. There might be room for a little gift in there too.

What I Love About You by My Book - Sweet and personal, this small hardcover book spells out exactly what you love about a special someone. Complete each page's fill-in-the-blank responses and simple prompts with racy disclosures or heartfelt sentiments, and you have the perfect personalized keepsake. I would also tuck in some photos.

Stella McCartney Lips iPhone 6 Case -  This iPhone case is just plain fun to give to a friend or sister on Valentine's day with a bunch of chocolate lips.

Godiva - So I have a confession to make. Dang it. I love chocolate. Who doesn't? I eat chocolate everynight, please don't tell my Taekwondo Master. And I have a special little place in my heart for Godiva chocolates. There are just so many yummy truffles that they make. This little box comes with 15 heart-shaped chocolates and truffles.

Christmas

I got a late start decorating the house for Christmas, and though I usually have the house decorated right after Day of the Dead, this year I ran behind big time, it may have been the warm weather leading up to the holidays( we had like 70 degree weather on Christmas day) or the fact I was finishing up a film project that was taking up all of my free time for months, finished a Taekwondo competition, and started horseback riding. So the holidays crept up on me and though it is out of the norm for me, I was behind decorating for the holidays and shopping for the holidays.

While the weather was warm and sunny, I made hot cocoa with marshmallows in these adorable vintage inspired reindeer mugs from Pottery Barn, to get me in the holiday spirit.

I was gifted this beautiful red cardinal from my mom who knows how much I love this little bird and now it sits on top of my bird and woodland inspired tree, which is filled with little red cardinals.

I found these cute gray deer ornaments at Target and had to grab a few. I missed out on the huge gray deers they had which would have been perfect for the fireplace mantle. Which reminds me, have you gone to Target lately? Because all Christmas decorations are like 80% off. I've been eyeing a silver advent calendar for month, and they had the gold one available for only $10, I had to grab it, but I haven't made my mind up about it yet because most of my decor at home is nickle or silver finish. 

I also received a little vintage elf from Japan from Yanni, who knew I found it adorable when I first spotted it in a local vintage shop. It looks like an original Elf on the Shelf, but this one is definitely cuter.

I spent the holidays and New Years with my family. It was so wonderful to spend uninterrupted time with them. I definitely over indulged in sweet treats, and I received some thoughtful and meaningful gifts that I will treasure for the rest of my life. The holidays are meant for a time to spend with family and/or friends. And when I look back at the holidays it is not the gift giving that I remember, the memories I hold and cherish is the time I spend with my family, the laughs we share, the smiles I see on their faces. These are the moments I treasure the most and everything else is just an icing on the cake. I hope you all have a lovely holiday and I want to wish you a very Happy New Year!

Holiday Gift Guide for the Ladies in Your Life

I made a list of some of my favorite things right now that I think some of the ladies in your life might like for a gift.

Urban Decay Naked Palette. The newest palette from Urban Decay has been out for a few months now and is specifically made for a smokey eye. If the gal you are buying for loves makeup this is definitely one for her collection.

Bounkit Earrings. These aren't just any earrings. These are two-in-one interchangeable earrings. They can be worn long, or you can unhook the bottom half and they become studs. I love these and they come in a variety of beautiful stones. I recommend buying them in the receiver's birthstone shades.

FitBit. These athletic bracelets are very popular right now, they track your steps, heart rate, amount of calories you burn, steps you take and miles you walk. Additionally, you can set up an online profile and your daily information can easily be uploaded for you to track results, and if wanted you can allow friends on the FitBit site see your progress.

M. Patmos Dickies. They are back. Quite a few designers are making dickies fashionable, they are soft, perfect for layering, and stay put, unlike a scarf. M. Patmos has been some beautiful ones in cashmere and wool.

Leather Backpack. And I don't mean one with Elmo on it. I mean a backpack bag that looks great, but is also multi-functional. A little leather backpack is great when going out to run errands, when you want something casual, yet also a little fashionable.

Sockwell Compression Socks. No, these are not just for the cast of Golden Girls, which by the way is still one of my favorite shows. Compression Socks come in different level of compression, so I recommend starting is a lower level of compression. These socks are perfect for those who sit long periods of times whether behind a desk, on a train or plane, or stand all day too. I have this pair and I love them.

Pendleton Uggs. Pendleton and Uggs collaborated again and this year they created a Southern California inspired collection with shades of blues and browns. I love that they are neutral and can be worn almost every day.

OPI Starlight Collection. "Give Me Space" is a beautiful lapis like blue color. The colors in the "Starlight" collection are beautiful and inspired by constellations.

Maggie Louise Chocolates. Speaking about constellations, these chocolate are also inspired by constellations. The box includes 9 constellation cubes in milk chocolate with cream caramel and chocolate nougat. Dreamy.

High Street Market Crystal Ball. I have always wanted to be able to tell the future. The closest I got was playing with the magic 8 ball. This glass ball on brass is a unique gift to give to the bohemian at heart. It make a beautiful piece of home decor.

Lapis Ringly Ring. Ringly connects to your phone via Bluetooth and lets you receive customized notifications through vibration and a subtle light on the side of the ring.

Agate Coasters.   Gold Plated Agate Coasters add a beautiful natural and organic touch to home decor. This set is Azure Blue and comes with a set of 4. Mined in Brazil electroplated gold edge / glossy finish, easy to clean discreet rubber feet protect your tabletop each one measures between 3.5" to 4.5" in diameter

Thierry MuglerAngel Perfume. Angel, the first perfume by Thierry Mugler, evokes the emotion of tender childhood memories together with a sense of dreamlike infinity. Angel, which launched a new fragrance category called the "oriental gourmands," seduces us with angelic flavors found deep within the heart of our memories, as well as sensual and passionate notes.

Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies

Just when I thought I had made every type of Christmas cookie there was, I found these adorable Rudolph the Reindeer cookies from The Bakergirl. I am always so inspired by her cookies. I had to make these cookies the moment I saw them.  I made just a few slight changes and cut the recipe in half. This will make about 20 little reindeers. I also could not find mini pretzels dipped in chocolate like she used, so I used the mini pretzels in the Chex Mix bag and dipped some in chocolate, this is why some pretzels are square and round, but I think they did the trick. I also, didn't dip them all in chocolate, because I thought they looked cute with just plain pretzel, they looked more antler like to me.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

6 Tablespoons of of peanut butter

1/2 cup and 2 table spoons of brown sugar

1/4 cup of butter (4 tablespoons)
1 1/2 tablespoons of milk

1/2 tablespoon vanilla

1/2 egg (crack egg beat it a bit and put half the mixture in the recipe)

1/2 cup and 6 tablespoons of all-purpose flour

1/8 of a teaspoon baking soda

1/8 of a teaspoon of salt

Mini pretzels (Which I couldn't find and used the pretzels in a Chex Mix bag)

Mini brown M&Ms

Regular-sized red M&Ms

Additionally, you can do the entire recipe of 40 cookies.

Combine brown sugar, peanut butter, butter, milk, and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until well blended. Add half of the beaten egg.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix just until blended.

Form dough into 1-inch balls. To make reindeer-shaped cookies, pinch the bottom of the ball slightly to form a point, then gently flatten with your hand. Space cookies about 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 7 to 8 minutes, until set or just beginning to brown. 

Remove from oven and immediately (and gently) press two mini pretzels into the tops of the cookies for the reindeer's antlers. Press two mini brown M&Ms in for the eyes and one red M&M for the nose.

Transfer to a wire rack or paper towel to cool completely. 

Enjoy!