Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

My favorite candy and ice cream flavor is chocolate & peanut butter, so when I came across this easy recipe...I was so excited. So here's the recipe just in time for Halloween and the upcoming Holidays...

Ingredients:
1 pound milk chocolate
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2⁄3 cup confectioners' sugar
1⁄4 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Finely chop the chocolate. Melt slowly over a double boiler until smooth.

Use a small spoon or pastry brush to coat small peanut butter molds or mini muffin cups with chocolate.

Refrigerate for about 30 minutes to let the chocolate set.

Combine peanut butter, confectioners' sugar, and salt in a bowl. Spoon the mixture into the cups, filling to just below the top of the cups. Cover the peanut butter mixture with the remaining tempered chocolate. Use an offset spatula to smooth the tops.

Refrigerate peanut-butter cups until set (about 1 hour) before removing them from molds.

Enjoy!

*Taken from Parents Connect Newsletter

Congratulations!

I had to end the Disney on Ice a little early so I picked a winner and the free tickets go to Patrice Y. - Congrats and enjoy the show!

And for all of you that did not win this prize pack, here's a great deal you can use:

Purchase a 4‐pack of tickets for only $44 for weekday shows,
or receive $4 off weekend tickets by logging onto www.ComcastTix.com and
entering the coupon code: MOM.

Philadelphia Show Dates:
Wednesday, October 14: 7:00pm
Thursday, October 15: 7:00pm
Friday, October 16: 10:30am, 7:00pm
Saturday, October 17: 11:00am, 3:00pm, 7:00pm
Sunday, October 18: 1:00pm, 5:00pm

**Get 4 tickets for $44 Monday‐Friday matinee, or $4 off weekend tickets by entering the code “MOM” in the promotional box on ComcastTix.com.
Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Front Row, VIP Gold, or VIP
seats. Cannot be combined with other offers. Service Charges & handling fees will apply.

Beyond the Rack...

As I continue to workout and train for next year's triathlons, I am finally starting to lose some, much needed, baby weight. I am slowly starting to feel good about how I look. Now I need to get out of this "mom funk" I am in....I need a makeover. So I scheduled an appointment at a local salon for a cut and style. I have begun shopping little by little each week, looking for new trendy clothes that flatter my figure vs. wearing the "comfy clothes" that are just plain easy to throw on. Through this search, I have found a website called Beyond the Rack. Have you ever heard of it?

Beyond the Rack, is a private online shopping club that allows its members to access luxury brand name fashion and accessories at up to 70% off retail prices.

Sales events typically run between two and four days long. Inventory is limited and is on a first-come first-served basis.

The prices are amazing and definitely work with all kinds of budgets. I cannot wait to start making some purchases for myself so I can once again feel like a woman & not a "mommy" all the time.

So are you tempted to check out this site? Well you're in luck because I have a private invitation exclusively for you! Just visit this link to accept the invite and start receiving email notifications inviting you to sales events. It's worth a try :-)

Disney on Ice is coming to Philly....

It's that time of year...Come experience 'Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic' playing at the Wachovia Center, with your family!

I have A SPECIAL OFFER FOR YOU! Feld Entertainment and Mom Central have given me the chance to give one reader a FREE 4-pack of tickets for opening night (10/14 at 7 pm).

To enter this giveaway, give me a 'follow' and then leave a comment below (include your email). The contest will run now until Thursday, Oct. 8th @ midnight, ET. The winner of this contest will pick up the tickets at the Wachovia Center 'will call' the night of the show. Valid ID is required to claim your tickets.

And if you do not win this prize pack, no worries...I have this awesome coupon code to share with you:
Purchase a 4‐pack of tickets for only $44 for weekday shows,
or receive $4 off weekend tickets by logging onto www.ComcastTix.com and
entering the coupon code: MOM.

Philadelphia Show Dates:
Wednesday, October 14: 7:00pm
Thursday, October 15: 7:00pm
Friday, October 16: 10:30am, 7:00pm
Saturday, October 17: 11:00am, 3:00pm, 7:00pm
Sunday, October 18: 1:00pm, 5:00pm

**Get 4 tickets for $44 Monday‐Friday matinee, or $4 off weekend tickets by entering the code “MOM” in the promotional box on ComcastTix.com.
Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Front Row, VIP Gold, or VIP
seats. Cannot be combined with other offers. Service Charges & handling fees will apply.

Marshman Triathlon 9/20/2009

I did it!

Woohoo!!! I completed the Marshman Sprint Triathlon yesterday and had so much fun! I still don't have my pictures yet but will definitely be posting very soon.

The race started at 7:30 am, 50 degrees temp. & only a little bit of sun. We began with a 1/4 mile swim in the lake (69 degrees water temp.) followed by a 12.5 mile bike ride (which had 3 huge hills but very scenic) and then a 2 mile run. Overall not so bad but I only started training 8 weeks prior so it was quite an accomplishment for me. It took me 1 hour and 50 mins. to complete, which is kind of slow, but my goals were to complete the tri and not be last.....so I succeeded, haha.

I look forward to participating next year and making some good times. It should be a breeze if train all year!?!

Wanchai Ferry Giveaway

I love Chinese food and have been craving it a lot lately. So when I received the opportunity from MyBlogSpark to review and host a giveaway for a Wanchai Ferry gift set, I jumped on it!

I received a free pack of the Orange Chicken meal along with this cute set of bowls, chopsticks, and bamboo mats. Not to mention a coupon for another free dinner (which I have already used for the Shrimp Lo Mein - awesome!). The meal was easy to make and done in only 14 minutes. I loved the shrimp lo-mein but wasn't much of a fan of the Orange Chicken.

So if you would like to win this set & coupon for a free dinner, leave a comment below by Sunday at 10 pm, ET.

Don't forget to leave your email address in the comment as well.

In the meantime, if you want to print a coupon for $1.50 off one of their 5 meals , click here.

It's almost time...

Well after 8 weeks of training roughly 1 hour 5 days a week, the Marshman Sprint Triathlon is almost here. I think I am ready, although the more I think about it, the more I psyche myself out.

It's like studying for a test. You think you know all the material but when you start talking with a group, you begin to 2nd guess yourself and psyche yourself out for the actual test. This is how I feel with the race. I just entered to push myself to workout, have fun, and accomplish something I never thought possible. Now I am a little concerned, the more I talk to friends and others in passing, maybe I go it in over my head? (sigh)

So then I try to calm myself down. Remind myself that if I can't complete the run then I can walk....no big deal. If I am getting tired during the biking portion, I can slow my speed down. And the swimming....well I like to swim, it's the 1st part & the lake will probably be cold enough so that I swim faster!

Well...I hope to get some pictures and post next week, but in the meantime, say a prayer for me and feel free to leave a comment with any last minute advice.

Bag O Books Sale

For those of you living in Chester County, PA...Did you know that the Third Weekend of Each Month at the Henrietta Hankin Library , there is Bag O Books Sale!? Bring a standard size paper grocery bag and fill it full of books for only $10. Bring (or buy) a blue Henrietta Hankin Library Book Bag and fill it full of books for only $5. The sale runs from 9:30 am - 5:00 pm and begins this month on Friday, 9/18 - Sunday, 9/20. So cool, cannot wait to take the kids and stock on some new books!

All purchases must be made at the circulation desk. This sale applies to books only. The library reserves the right to disqualify oversized and non-standard bags.

This special sale is held the third weekend of each month, Friday through Sunday.

If you have any questions, contact the Branch Manager @ 610-321-1707 or aberstler@ccls.org

I've gone a little crazy I think....

So just in case anyone is wondering where I have been lately, I thought I would share....crazy me decided to start training for a sprint triathlon! Yes, I decided no more excuses, I need to get my butt in shape and start exercising. By signing up for a triathlon I could not make any more excuses for myself. If I want to cross over the finish line than I have to work-out at least 4 to 5 days a week.

I am doing a sprint triathlon, which is a mini-triathlon: .25 mile swim in an open lake, 12 mile bike ride, and then a 2 mile run. The one I am preparing for is called the Marshman...held at the Marsh Creek State Park, PA. Fortunately my wonderful husband has agreed to do it with me ;-) We started our "training" about a month ago, luckily we already were members of the 'Y' so I am able to swim, bike, and run there. And the added bonus is I get some time to myself with my ipod while the kids are in babysitting at the gym. I have to admit, I find myself feeling way more stressed now on the days I take "off" from exercising....it's amazing!?

Anyway, the event takes place on 9/20 (only 3 more weeks)....I will make sure to post some more updates but please keep me in your prayers (ha-ha) & wish me luck!

Kidzsack Giveaway

In celebration of the last few weeks of summer and weeBgreen's newest product, Kidzsack, they're giving one away!



Awarded "Best Vacation Toy" for 2009 from both Dr. Toy and Creative Child Magazine, this multi-use, multi-purpose, earth-friendlier bag is just right for your growing wee one!

So if you'd like this Sea Life Kidzsack for your wee one, leave a comment over at weeBgreen's blog. Let them know what you like about the weeBgreen concept and if you have any suggestions for future products.

Goodluck!

This giveaway ends 8/30 at 10 pm, ET. (Make sure to leave your email address in the comment too) ENTER HERE

Sorry for the delay...

The winner for the Old Bay gift pack is.....Shananigans!

Congrats and enjoy.