Happy Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin Pizazz Dessert

This is Dana's absolute favorite Thanksgiving dessert…a pumpkin pie alternative.  Lighter texture, creamy and just plain delicious.  Enjoy!

24 crushed graham crackers
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter (melted)

2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup sugar
6 oz. cream cheese (softened)

2 cups pumpkin
3 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbl cinnamon
1 envelope plain gelatin

3 egg whites
1/4 cup sugar

Whipped topping (9 oz carton)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Crush graham crackers and mix with 1/3 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup melted butter.  Press into a 9"x13" pan.  Mix eggs, 3/4 cup sugar and cream cheese with beater until smooth.  Pour over crust.  Bake 20 minutes. Let cool.

In a saucepan, cook pumpkin, egg yolks. 1/2 cup sugar, milk, salt, cinnamon until mixture thickens.  Dissolve gelatin in 2 tbl cold water.  Add to pumpkin mixture.  Cool.  Beat egg whites and 1/4 cup sugar until stiff and makes peaks.  Fold into pumpkin mixture.  Pour over cooked baked crust.  Top with whipped topping.  Chill.

FIRST DAY OF FALL! HALLOWEEN WREATH

Around here, the first day of fall feels like the first day of summer.  Hot.  But, it brings hope to Phoenicians.  Hope that, indeed, we don't live in hell.  That in just a few short weeks, we will be able to ride along without a/c.  Hope, that our utility bills will reach a reasonable amount and we will be able to wear our fall boots.

So to heck with 100 degree temps...we are moving forward with fall plans.  We were long overdue for a get together, so we grabbed lunch on the first day of fall and headed to Hobby Lobby.  Stacie had the itch to start a fall decorating project, and as usual, Dana needed a little help in this area.

Half the fun was the time we spent in the store...What do you do with a rose this size? 

"Stacie, will you accept this rose?"

And why, Oh Craft Stores, do you insist on rushing us through each holiday???  Notice the Christmas balls behind Dana?  We just want to concentrate on Fall.  

Stacie, in her high techie ways, impressed Dana with the Hobby Lobby App on her phone.  Saved herself 3 bucks at check out!  Total cost for this project 15$

Grab some Mesh and Pipe cleaners that coordinate. Add your favorite extras.

About Every 12 inches, gather the mesh and attach with a pipe cleaner.  

And when in doubt, "Put a bird on it!"

(Thanks to J, for this one!)

Little Betties and Bros: A Back-to-School Photo Shoot

The start of another school year!  We hope you have a good one!

-The Betties (and Bros)

 

Transforming curtains into valances!

Stacie has been looking for fabric to make new valances for her kitchen for months! She happened to be in her local Walmart looking for kids bedroom curtains when she stumbled on some great patterned curtains, but they didn't make them in a valance. They were what she had been looking for in color and style and the price was right! She decided to buy the curtains and transform them into window valances. With some sewing help from her mom, they created a new look for the kitchen!

This is what they started out like...pretty, but not fitting for a bay window!

So, with a little cutting, hemming and sewing they were able to finish the project in just a couple hours!

They decided to line the fabric with a thin cotton, so they could fold the fabric in half to make the measuring easier. The lining made it so you wouldn't see the pattern through it when the light came through. They turned out really nice and the ladies were pleased with their work! the whole project cost $60.00 for a total of 5 windows! Not bad! Here is the final result!

Thanks! Enjoy! 

What is Summer without a Lemonade Stand?

Stacie's youngest daughter loves having lemonade stands, so why not do it up right and take some pictures? She invited her best friend and cousin to join her and they had a lot of fun! The girls looked adorable and the Palo Verde trees were bloomimg beautifully! It was a little on the warm side, but it was worth it!

Enjoy! Happy Summer!

Summer Hair

We both have long hair, which we love most of the time.  However, with temps reaching 110 in Phoenix we are always looking for creative ways to get it out of our face.  We will be featuring some  ways to achieve that.  Dana's wearing the waterfall braid below...we could make another cheesy how-to video but youtube already has a million waterfall braid tutorials.

Here is a fun side-braid-twist.

A Fishtail Braid/Tuck below...simply done.  It doesn't have to be perfect.  In fact we do our own braids; so often times it's a messy look:)  

The below style is made with the top layers pulled into a small bun and fastened.   The lower section was french braided under the bun going sideways.  The end of the braid was wrapped around the bun and secured tightly with hair pins.

Now we need to see some ideas from the pretty brunette...what's next Stacie?

-The Betties