Favorite Friday

Hello!!!!!! Welcome to Favorite Friday where the Treat Girl gives you the scoop on some of her favorite things. This week it is certainly the new Peanut Butter Oreos I have become addicted to. Yep, just one more thing to keep me going to the gym everyday. I'm telling you...I ate a whole row in one day!! And while I was cruising around the internet looking for an image to post, I found they make these in DOUBLESTUFF too!!!!!!! YIKES!! Double the fun :) Try them, but save some for me...

Socks

I have been spending the last few months knitting socks. I have been knitting since I was in about third grade, and I've never knit a pair of socks. I've been wanting to try them for a long time now and finally over the summer I decided to get busy. It also helped that Joanne's had a big sale on all of their sock yarn one day when I was in there :) Look how super cute these turned out?!! I have found the perfect pattern too!!! Click HERE to find out for yourself. Wise Hilda has shared THE BEST basic ribbed sock pattern. They really fit!!!!



This was actually the first pair I knit from one of those free patterns they have in the yarn section at Michael's or Joannes. They turned out a little "slouchy", but not bad for my first attempt.

I bought TONS of sock yarn with full intentions of knitting a pair for all of my girlfriends for Christmas. Well, I've figured out it takes me almost a MONTH to knit just one pair....very slow going when you're using super thin yarn and needles the size of toothpicks!! I may have to revise my gift giving list :) But I have to say I have the sock knitting bug!

Favorite Friday

So sorry for not keeping up on my little blog.....I thought for sure when the kiddos went back to school I'd have TONS of time to get caught up on all of my favorite blogs and have lots of cute stuff to post about....but that doesn't seem to be the case. I PROMISE I'll try harder!!!! But it's Friday and you know I love to feature something that's a big hit with me....this week I'm into making these fun stretchy bracelets.



I found these fun beads in my stash a while ago and one afternoon when I was supposed to be cleaning I wound up down in my craft room making a bunch of these super cute bracelets. They are great to wear one at a time, stacked with 3 or 4...or to give away to a friend. Giving always makes me feel so much better :) Best wishes for a terrific weekend peeps!

Ovarian Cancer Walk

September is the National Ovarian Cancer month and yesterday was the Pittsburgh chapter's 11th annual Karen F. Bowers Memorial Walk to Break the Silence of Ovarian Cancer. My mother in law passed aware from this horrible cancer last August 24, 2010. Ever since she was diagnosed our family has been participing in this event.



It has grown in size and donations every year with more and more people becoming involved. It is so amazing to see thousands of people all out in support of the many survivors, and others there to honor those they have lost.



We call our group "Nancy's Circle of Friends". There were over 75 of us this year...you can see her picture on the back of the sign we carry as we make our way around the lake at North Park. We all miss her so very much, and this is just a tiny way for us to keep her memory alive and help in the fight against Ovarian Cancer.



Here are Cub, Chip and Cindylou ready to start the walk.



We helped my father in law host a luncheon for all the walkers in our group. And of course the Treatgirl said she would be bringing cupcakes!!!! I made vanilla/vanilla and tinted the buttercream teal...the color of Ovarian Cancer. They didn't last long...I'm starting to have quite the following in my family for baking scrumptious cupcakes! Be sure to tune in to the Dr. Oz show tomorrow, he is dedicating his show to Ovarian Cancer.

Favorite Friday

Happy Friday.....Let's go Yanks!!! How awesome is the N.Y. Yankee ice cream?????!! In case you're not aware, I am THE.BIGGEST Yankee fan. well...mostly number 2....Derek Jeter :) :) But no, I have been a fan, along with my Dad since I was little. The neck and neck race with Boston all summer has got my last nerve frazzled...so this ice cream with be the perfect thing to help me relax. It is chocolate with little chocolate crunchies and fudgy chocolate swirl. As with all of these seasonal/special edition type things...they suck me in and I'm in love, then it's over and gone! So of course the Treatgirl bought a few of these to stash away in the the extra freezer downstairs for when they are gone :) Have a terrific weekend!!

First Day

Today was our first day of school.....as always I was the only mom there with tears leaking out. The older two flew out the door at 6:39 a.m. and started their year together in the IHS building.....9th and 10th grades. Cubby is on to second grade. I just can't get over it!!!! It seems like yesterday I was carpooling him to pre-school. He was up and ready with no problem.



Our bus stop has a ton of kids......every year we always get a group picture ( Lots of mommy scrapbookers :) This was the first year I can ever remember that it was actually a bit chilly.....almost fall-like.



As always, I made a cake for the first day of school....I learned a few things....it looks a bit tall and top-heavy, but it's really yummy. I used a boxed Devils Food cake mix and wanted to make it an 8" triple layer cake. Well, 1 box wasn't quite enough, and 2 boxes was toooo much! The kids didn't seem to mind...Cub was wondering if it was a wedding cake because it was so high :)

Here's the recipe for the Chocolate Covered Oreo Cookie Cake:

1 pkg. (2 layer size) devil's food chocolate cake mix
4 squares Baker's Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate
1/4 cup butter, cut up
1 pkg. (8 oz.) softened cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping
12 Oreo's coarsely crushed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare and bake cake mix as directed on the box in two nine inch round baking pans. Cool 5 minutes, remove from pans. Cool completely on racks.

Microwave chocolate and butter in a small microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 minutes or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Cool 5 minutes.

Beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Gently stir in whipped topping and crushed oreos. Place 1 cake layer, top side down, on serving plate. Spread top of layer evenly with cream cheese mixture. Cover with remaining cake layer, topside up. Spoon chocolate glaze over top of cake. Let stand until set. Store in refriferator.

Favorite Friday

Wow.....these weeks just keep flying by faster and faster. I certainly hope when my kiddos go back to school next week I will have a little more time for some blogging fun. I just haven't had much time to hop around and check out all of my bloggy friends....so sorry :(

But here is my pick for my favorite thing this week...Trident Splash Peppermint gum. I have to start right off my saying that I am NOT a gum chewer. I very rarely chew gum and I can probably count on one hand how many times I have actually even bought gum....but I think I'm going to start!

A few nights ago at football practice our designated "Team Grandmom" ( who was actually Cindy Lou's first grade teacher....and after 36 years of teaching retired this year) offered me a piece of this gum. I took a piece and looooooooved it. It stays soft and holds it flavor FOR.EVER. She then proceded to tell me it's kind of hard to find...and when she does, she buys a bunch of it. Well....I may just have to start buying gum and chewing it. It's that good....so tell me....do you have a favorite??