$('ul.list').children('li.target') .css('background-color', 'yellow') .append(' <span class="label label-info">.target</span>');
<ul class="list"> <li>list item</li> <li>list item <ul> <li>list item</li> <li class="target">list item with target class</li> <li>list item</li> </ul> </li> <li class="target">list item with target class</li> <li>list item</li> <li>list item <ul> <li>list item</li> <li class="target">list item with target class</li> <li>list item</li> </ul> </li> <li>list item</li> <li class="target">list item with target class</li> </ul>