That was my 16-year-old cousin’s remark as she ate her first SmashBurger tonight.

Tomorrow the new Ankeny location opens and we were among the throng of invitees to the pre-opening this evening.

I’ve told you about SmashBurger before so I won’t go too deeply into how they smash the meat and sear it, sealing in the juices, then scrape it carefully from the surface before flipping to keep all the yummy crunchy bits.  Mmm…

We’ve been to the Des Moines location a few times and have had the Iowa burger, the SmashBurger, the Cobb Salad, veggie frites and SmashFries.  Tonight I had the SmashChicken and Haystack Onions while Doug had the Mushroom Swiss SmashBurger.

SmashChicken with Haystack Onions

I’m going to let you in a a secret- I’m not a big fan of chicken unless I make it.  Or it’s breaded.  So when I say that this may be the best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had, well, that’s saying something.  And it wasn’t breaded.  Nope, it was seasoned, smashed and seared.

Now about those Haystack Onions…  Thin sliced and crispy.  They didn’t need the dipping sauce that came with them to taste good (and I used it on my chicken sandwich!).  I could have eaten a double order of these and still wanted more!

Mushroom and Swiss SmashBurger with SmashFries

While Doug may not have “had a moment” with his burger his report is “excellent”.  Lots of melted Swiss and garlic sauteed mushrooms with a side of SmashFries (tossed in rosemary and olive oil).  He was a happy man.

While we were driving my cousin home she was texting her boyfriend and telling him that the next time he came to see her they would be going to SmashBurger.

SmashBurger Ankeny is located on S Delaware Ave across from Target (in the same area as TJ Maxx and Okaboji Grill).  Open 10am-10pm daily.  Go get smashed.

With all of the available add-ons, apps, and extensions you can use with your browser or iPhone today, how do you know which ones you should really have, and which ones are just going to take up valuable memory and window real estate? The deciding factor for me has been if someone I know uses it and recommends it. Companies can always find someone they can deem an “expert” to endorse their product or service; hearing it from people you trust to give you the unbiased truth is the ultimate litmus test.

One product I discovered earlier this year is SimplyBox, a program you can download as a toolbar on your Internet browser and use to capture, organize, and share content. What makes SimplyBox stand out is its visual component. When you highlight something (or “Box It,” as SimplyBox puts it), it shows up like a screen captured image in whatever “Box” you choose. You can even organize several boxes into one “Container” of like boxes. For people like me who are very visual, this is not only a much more fun way to keep track of articles, links, and ideas, but it’s also a more effective way.

You can get a great overview of SimplyBox by watching a video on their site. It’s really very simple: 1) Download SimplyBox. 2) Create an account. 3) Create boxes and start capturing content! There are some cool features and tips that can enhance your use of the application, but you can begin capturing with just those three easy steps.

SimplyBox can be used at work or for personal use; I use it for both. And it’s easy to keep them separate with Boxes and Containers. Although you can tailor this to tool to your particular need, here are 5 ideas of how SimplyBox could simplify or enhance your browsing and sharing experiences.

1. Replace your bookmarks.
Instead of bookmarking articles or sites that you want to remember to revisit, capture it and add it to a box, where you can leave yourself a visual reminder of what you found interesting as well as comments that describe it. I have a box called “Blogging Articles” and another called “Twitter Articles.” When I find a post or article that I want to come back to, I “Box It” and drag it into the appropriate box. Easy peasy!

2. Create visual Christmas wish lists.
Create a Box for each of your kids (or for yourself!), and have them create their own Christmas wish list by capturing gifts they’d like to have on Amazon.com, toysrus.com, or whichever site you choose. Then (and this part’s really cool), you can choose to SHARE those boxes with whomever you’d like: Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Amy, whomever. All you have to do is enter their email address and they’ll be able to access that particular box. Then they’ll be able to see pictures of all of the gift ideas and with one click can arrive at the original site where they can learn more or even order it. Unlike wish lists on individual sites, this wish list can contain products from multiple sites. Cool, huh?

3. Plan your class reunion.
This is on my mind as I have my 20-Year 5-Year High School Reunion next year. Create a box entitled “Class of ” and then instead of just “Sharing” the box, make it “Public.” (This is an option when you create a box.) Everyone who is helping plan the reunion can add captured ideas for music, venues, or food, and people can add comments as well. This would be a fun and easy way to collaborate on planning an event.

4. Use it for educational pursuits.
I was really impressed to see that SimplyBox has an enhanced application for educational institutions to use. What a great idea! Teachers can create boxes that their students can access for research projects or an interactive lesson. Students could also create their own boxes for individual projects. Parents who homeschool could find this really useful, I think. They could create a Box or Container for each subject, and within that include sites, photos, videos, or whatever resources they want their child to access. It’s all organized in one place and allows students and teachers/parents to add comments and make it truly interactive.

5. Easily share Tweets.
SimplyBox now works with Twitter (Del.icio.us and Tumblr too) so you can share Public Boxes with your followers. After you’ve made a box Public, check “Pair with Twitter.” Then every time you add anything to that box, SimplyBox will automatically generate a Tweet in your Twitter account, and all of your followers can then click on the link and access that box. You can even customize the automatic Tweet so it says whatever you want. This is just another way to connect and share with your peeps and Tweeps.

iPhone App

Have I mentioned yet that you can use SimplyBox for FREE? Yeah, I know. Something this cool shouldn’t be free. There are enhanced versions for Business and Education, but the original SimplyBox is plenty versatile for personal use. And I just found out that they now have an iPhone app, which is also free. Bonus! You can then access and add to your boxes wherever you are. Adaptability and portability are becoming more important and valued every day, and obviously SimplyBox got that memo.

Does anyone else use SimplyBox? If so, what do you use it for? And if you haven’t used it yet but know what you’d use it for, let me know!  As I said before, SimplyBox can be really, whatever you want it to be.

Of course I didn’t spend it relaxing or pampering myself, though I did get my hair cut and colored in preparation for I_Blog- which is next weekend!

Nope, what I did was create something new in an old space.  I did this a few weeks ago in my kitchen; this time I took on a larger space – the huge closet in our “office”, technically the house’s 4th bedroom.

It looked like any closet; white walls, a wire shelf/hanging area.  We had it stuffed with office supplies, filing cabinets, a book shelf and random crap.  Lots of random crap.

Here’s what it looked like after we emptied it, got rid of the stuff we didn’t need to keep and organized the other stuff to designated locations out of the closet:

Behold: the Empty Closet

Doug took down the shelving (which is being relocated to the attic space above the garage), filled the holes and sanded.  I picked out the paint- which, I think, may have been a tougher job.  I ended up choosing a green by Bher called “asparagus”.  I taped the walls and helped edge, though Doug did most of the painting.

It’s a bright, happy color without being overwhelming.  I really like it. Now, as for what we put in it.  I was vacillating between two ideas: creating a full library or turning the entire space into a craft room.  I “split the difference” and did both.

The Finished Product

Now here’s the fun part: out of pocket cost for this room.  Under $22.  Yep, you read that right.  The only thing we paid for was the paint.  We had the bookshelves in our office space- moving them created more space in the room- and the craft components were my birthday gift from my family (on sale at Michael’s for 30% off).  I already had the white drawer storage and the long shelf (both in the far right photo).

So I spent most of Saturday and part of today organizing and reorganizing the new craft/library room, the office and portions of the storage room.  And I had fun.  Yes, it’s a sickness.  I hate to clean but I love to organize.  Anyway, I am happy with the results and can’t wait to use my room.

Speaking of craft rooms, I am watching this contest over at Eat, Scrap, Love.  She is looking for suggestions for a saying to put on her wall ála Uppercase Living.  I don’t have any ideas but if you do, and yours is chosen, you could win scrapbooking supplies!

I love Chicken Cordon Bleu so when I found this recipe on AllRecipes.com by using my Dinner Spinner I knew I had to try it!  It’s not a true Cordon Bleu recipe but it’s so easy and tasty.  If you want a more “true” Cordon Bleu option butterfly the chicken and stuff with the cheese and ham, or pound the chicken flat and roll around the cheese and ham.  No matter how you make it, this recipe is sure to please even picky eaters.

You need:
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup milk (I thought it was a little soupy; I will cut down the milk next time to 3/4 c)
4 ounces sliced ham
4 ounces sliced Swiss cheese
1 (8 ounce) package herbed dry bread stuffing mix
1/4 cup butter, melted (I used 2T butter and it was plenty)

Directions:
Mix together the cream of chicken soup and milk in a small bowl. Pour enough of the soup into a slow cooker to cover the bottom. Layer chicken breasts over the sauce. Cover with slices of ham and then Swiss cheese. Pour the remaining soup over the layers, stirring a little to distribute between layers. Sprinkle the stuffing on top, and drizzle butter over stuffing. Cover, and cook on Low for 4 to 6 hours, or 2 to 3 hours on High.

Great Games

The first thing you notice when you walk into Incredible Pizza is how huge it is.  It sits on the corner of 86th and Douglas where Albertson’s grocery store once was.  The number of games is, well, incredible.  And there was fun for everyone.  Caelan loved the mini merry-go-round while Brenna found the games that required a bit more skill enticing.

Attractions

And then there are the attractions. Bumper cars, race cars, black light mini golf, mini bowling…Plenty to keep you occupied.

Buffet

Of course the place is called Incredible Pizza, so you know there is food.  And not just pizza, but a buffet that included a nice salad bar, tacos, nachos, meatloaf, chicken nuggets, potatoes, soups, cookies and brownies (and more).  Everything we had was really quite good; better than I expected, to be honest.

Where you sit to eat brings more choices than you might imagine.  Our large group was placed in the “family room” which had a TV playing classics like The Beverly Hillbillies and Gilligan’s Island.

The Drive In

Also available are the “gymnasium”: a very large room with cafeteria style tables, the television was playing Blues Clues when I passed; the “diner”, styled like a 50’s diner; and the “drive in” which is dark and plays a classic, Viva Las Vegas was the movie when we visited.

Fun like this doesn’t come cheap, though there are ways to save.  We had purchased two Restaurant.com coupons a while back that saved us $25 on food.  Incredible Pizza also has special deals that combine food and games.  Monday and Tuesday have the best deals and all deals require a buffet purchase.  (FYI these offers are only good at the Urbandale, Iowa location.)

Of course a place like this does birthday parties.  They also have “Mommy (or Daddy) and Me” Monday-Friday.

All in all it was a lot of fun and the girls can’t wait to return.  OK, I’m looking forward to going back, too.

Also worth a look…  The Dollar Spot (always a great stop!) is newly stocked for the holidays!  I picked up some great stocking stuffers for $1!

Yes, Doug got me a shower head for Christmas.  It’s a nice “rain” one.  But I was a bit disappointed- to say the least.

Since then I have been much better about making my wants and desires known, not just for Doug but for my entire family, by using Wishpot, a free online wish list.

I actually hesitate to call it a wish list as it does more…

Ever seen something online and thought it would be a great gift for someone only to forget about it?  Wishpot has a Gift Ideas list.

You can also create your own lists on Wishpot.  I have a Fab Finds list and a Stuff I Recommend list.  Go ahead and take a look at my Wishpot page.

To easily share your list they have a fun widget for your blog (or MySpace) and a Facebook app so you can share it easily with your closest friends and family!  Or, if you’re me you share it with your faithful readers:

Adding items is easy, too. Wishpot has a button you can add to your toolbar.  If you like something online just click the button and it will add it to whatever list you specify.

Wishpot is also a great place to search for the perfect gift when you don’t know what to buy for that tricky nephew or in-laws.  Check it out and be ready to get what you really want this year!

Disclosure:  I am a Wishpot expert.  Which means that I contribute to their blog once in a while.  I do not receive compensation from Wishpot nor was I paid to write this post.  I use it.  I like it.  Therefore I shared it.

Before you pull out the credit cards I urge you to read Dave’s Thoughts on Holiday Shopping.

Top tips:

• Research the gifts you plan to give.  Find the best price.  Look for online deals and coupon codes.
• Make a budget.  Or, in my opinion the harder part: stick to it!
• Use cash.  You spend less when you use cash and those “impulse” buys are less likely to hop into your cart.

Don’t forget: many traditional retailers offer their “Black Friday” prices online.  Get the deals and avoid the crowds!

This slow cooker lasagna, recipe from Kraft Foods,  does take all day.  But in the easiest way imaginable- in your slow cooker.  Busy morning?  No problem!  If your slow cooker has a removable liner (crock) prepare the night before, refrigerate and pop in the slow cooker before you leave the next morning.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
1 jar (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1 cup water
1 container (15 oz.) Ricotta Cheese
1 pkg. (7 oz.) Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
1 egg
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
6 lasagna noodles, uncooked

Directions:

BROWN meat in large skillet; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce and water. Mix ricotta, 1-1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 Tbsp. Parmesan, egg and parsley.

SPOON 1 cup meat sauce into slow cooker; top with layers of half each of the noodles, broken to fit; and cheese mixture. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles, broken to fit; cheese mixture and meat sauce. Cover with lid.

COOK on LOW 4 to 6 hours or until liquid is absorbed. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses; let stand, covered, 10 min. or until melted.