My BOGO Addiction!

Everybody has a thing. A thing that they live for. A thing that they save up their pennies for. A thing that they put on their wish list every holiday. So I ask you, what is your thing? Purses? Clothes? Jewelry? Well, growing up I was a tomboy, and really, when I think about, I still am. Therefore I never really had a thing. I didn't care what I wore, or what I looked like. I was to busy playing outside and getting dirty. I am a jeans and tee kind of girl. That being said, there have always been stores that I have shopped at that I consider my fave stores of all time. Payless is one of them. I would say at this time, my favorite one. I've realized over the last year or so, that there is a little bit of more of a girly girl in me than I thought there was. Don't get me wrong, I am not one of those girls who is against make-up, or dresses. I love a good dress up day. As a teenager, I did buy cute shoes and things, but I never really put an effort into it. Again, I was a tomboy, but lets get back to the point. Have you ever had a store that had so many cute things, that it made you want to buy a lot of other things. This is my Payless story. Over the last year and a half, I have had a serious issue with Payless. They have come out with a ton of awesome shoes, bags, and jewelry! I should not be allowed in there anymore. I go in there, and look around and think, what kind of outfit can I put with these shoes? Or, where could I wear these too? Then I think, wait, I'm on a budget. This is where I become a super shopper! So, Payless always has a BOGO sale like every other month or so. Their bogo event includes all shoes, purse,and jewelry items. You can match them whichever way you please. So you can always score some good deals. Did I mention they have designer brands now? Like Christian Siriano, and Lela Rose...so awesome. Anyway, what you might not know is that if you sign up for their email, they send you 20% off coupons too. You can use these coupons during bogo for extra savings. Which is an even bigger score. So this week, I went to the store to check out two pairs of shoes that I had seen a few weeks back. Here is what I bought. These are from Fioni. They are snakeskin like heels. So awesome with skinny jeans. The shoe name is Helena.

Also from Fioni, "Kaput" great with jeans. A suede feel to them.

I also found a great purse form Airwalk, and a three set of earrings from Minucci.

So, here is the best part. I am going to give you the breakdown.
Helena- $22.95
Kaput- $24.95
Airwalk Purse- $19.95
Minucci Earrings- $7.99
So, all together it should have cost a grand total of $75.84.
Don't forget, it's Bogo, with an extra 20% off. So my grand total was actually...$51.00!
Basically, I got the purse and the earrings almost free. Did I mention that I love me some Payless?

Happy Shoppping!

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Get ready for a sugary chocolate overload kiddies! I made Whoopie Pies a few weeks back, and they were super yummy! I was only able to eat 1/4 of them because if I had eaten all of it, I would have been bouncing off the walls! They are super moist and super huge, so the recipe that I am giving you only makes 9 cookies. You can make them smaller if you choose.

Cookies-
1 Box Devils Food Cake Mix
3/4 Cups Water
1/2 Cup Veggie Oil
3 Eggs
2 Tablespoons red food coloring (I have used both the liquid ones and the gel, they both work fine)
1 Box (4-serving size) chocolate instant pudding and pie filling mix.

Heat oven to 350. Lightly spray cookie sheets with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, beat cookie ingredients with an electric mixer on low speed until moistened. Beat 1 minute longer on high speed.

Drop batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto sprayed cookie sheets, 2 inches apart.

Bake 12-15 minutes or until completely set (do not overbake.) Cool for 2 minutes, then place on cookie racks to cool. Cool completely for 15 minutes.
Side note: You have to let the cookies completely cool, otherwise your filling will run out and it will be very messy, like so...

Filling-
1 Cup butter or margarine, softened
2 Cups Marshmallow Creme (2 jars)
1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

In a large bowl, beat filling ingredients with electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy.

For each cookie pie, spread about a 1/4 cupful of filling on the bottom of 1 cooled cookie.

Top with remaining cookie.

If you would like to make your cookie smaller, prepare using 2 tablespoons batter, bake 8-10 minutes. These will make them more cookie like instead of a cake-like pie.

Recipe courtesy of Pillsbury
Enjoy!

1 2 3 Get Healthy!

I hate working out. I mean, I really hate working out. My favorite saying is "I'm going to start on Monday!" Lets face it, I never really start on Monday. However, I refuse to buy any more clothes in bigger sizes when I have perfectly good ones at home. So today I started my workout again. Which means, I will be putting some healthy recipes on this blog! Whoa there! Don't panic, this blog will still have yummy, gooey delish desserts on it, but mixed in will be some healthy stuff too. I'll also let you in on some great excercise stuff! Stay tuned!

Golden Oreo Cheesecake Bars

Alright kiddies...you want it...you got it! Here it is... the recipe that you have all been waiting for! Da Da Di Daaaa! Oreo Cheesecake Bars!  This dessert doesn't even need an introduction. This is the one recipe that everyone I know asks me for.  It has been described as "sent from heaven." Haha, I would be lying if I said that wasn't true, but it is. The funny thing is that you can make this even if you are not a baker, because there is really no baking involved.  Here is what you need.

24 Golden Oreos
2 Tbs butter or margarine, melted
25 Kraft Caramels
1 Tbs of water
2 (8 ounce) packages Phiily Cream Cheese, softened
1 (7 ounce) Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme
1 Egg

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place 14 of the cookies in the food processor. Process until finely crushed.. Mix with butter.

Press firmly onto the bottom of a 9x9 inch baking pan. Bake 10 min or so until golden brown. Cool 10 minutes.

Place caramels and water in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high, 1 min. or until they are completely melted, stirring every 30 seconds if needed.
Side Note: They are going to be very HOT! Be careful when touching bowl and pouring the caramel!

Coarsely chop the remaining 10 cookies. Beat the cream cheese and Marshmallow creme in a large bowl with mixer on medium speed until well blended.

Add in egg, mix well. Stir in chopped cookies, and pour over crust. Drop spoonfuls of caramel mixture over batter. Swirl for effect.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely.

 Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Makes 20 bars. Store in a tight container in fridge.

Recipe courtesy of Kraft

Enjoy!