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!)

A Very Betty Valenetine's Day/Gilbert Photographers

Stacie painted this masonite board with chalkboard paint for just a few dollars.   A heck of lot cheaper than looking for a large chalkboard!

She also made Tuck's shirt by using a plain white T, a bit of fabric cut in the shape of a tie and some "wonder under" to apply the fabric to the t-shirt.

S's cute suspenders were made with ribbon and suspender hooks.

Other signs and props were found at Home Goods and Etsy

It was fun coordinating the kids and seeing what everyone would show up in.  The only rules were red, grey, black, white and denim.

Celebrating friendship on Valentine's Day.

Nothing says Valentine's Day like Strawberry Crush in a bottle.

Some funny out-takes as we experimented with some different settings on our cameras. We love to talk shop when we are together! This session's topic... back-focus. Too silly to leave out.

  A loading dock was an ideal place to photograph...       it gave us great filtered light from the overhang above and plenty of space to spread out.  

Props from our bag of tricks!  "I mustache you a question.  Will you be Mine?"

This picture reminds us of one of our FAV Bible verses. 

He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27 (NIV)

A great Valentine's Day reminder.

-Love, The Betties-

Halloween Costumes!

As you might be able to guess from the pictures below...we LoVe Halloween. We have celebrated together with our families over the years at Stacie's (she hosts an amazing party every year). Although, the first picture is from 1995 at Dana's.  Enjoy a trip down memory lane with us and hopefully you will be inspired to come up with some fun costumes this Halloween!

-The Betties