Day 4: I lied.

OK, so remember when I said that the best things are full fat and never sugar free? Weeellllll, I lied. I made a cheesecake in a cup for my moms birthday, and she is one of those crazies that actually can have sugar, but she just chooses not too. I know right? I'm still in stunned silence and it's been close to 10 years I think since she's had sugar. She also doesn't do flour. . . Yeah. She's not the easiest person to bake dessert for, not that she wants it, but it's special for her to get a nice surprise.

And here we are at day four, with Sugar-Free Strawberry Cheesecake in a Cup. 

1 8oz brick of cream cheese (full fat if you're my mom)

1 pint of strawberries

3 strawberry jam

2 tablespoons of lemon or lime juice

4 tablespoons of whipping cream (you can add up to 1/4 cup depending on how fluffy you want the cream cheese)

2 tablespoons of splenda 

2 cups of graham cracker crumbs, but if you're a carb-free freak, then you can grind up some cashews and use that instead, very protein-y.

My beauty Salvation Army find. A complete set of 8, can you believe it?!

This is a piping bag tip that my friend Stacey taught me. She's a genius!

Here's what you do!

Hull and chop up your berries and mix them with the jam, then set aside.

In a mixing bowl combine cream cheese, lemon or lime juice, cream and splenda.

Whip until smooth.

Spoon  2 tablespoons of your graham crumbs or crushed cashews into the bottom of your glass, then layer cream cheese and then strawberries, repeat ending with a dollop of the cream cheese. 

I piped the cream cheese mixture in to the cups to keep the inside of the glass tidy.

I have to tell you a little story about a girl who didn't want to wake her sleeping baby with starting up the food processor. She was being a good mom, being soooooo quiet in the kitchen and pulling out all the pans in the cupboard to get out the manual (this means you actually have to crank the handle to turn the chopping blade, for those of you born after 1985)  food processor. She wrastled with that mixer like it was a baby gator! She now has a small blister from all that manual labor. She then also realized that she had to turn on her kitchen aid mixer for the cream cheese because there was NO WAY she was mixing that mother up by hand. The girl has now learned her lesson, as the baby slept through the mixer. She will always use electronics when available.

10 days left people!!

And a Happy Birthday to my Mamma!

Yay for sparklers!

Trick or Treat!

So this years Halloween was pretty laid back for me. I didn't do a party, the girls costumes were store bought (GASP!) and we didn't hand out candy. I know, I know, we're the loser house on the block that set out the box of candy with the 'Take one please' sign on the front step. 

I guess now with two busy kids, gone are the days of making up perfect little baggies of treats, counting how many trick or treaters we get and oohing and aahing over everyone's costumes. Soon we'll be where my parents are, hiding in the basement with all the lights off, afraid to get a snack from the fridge in case the light can be seen from the street.

But on a funner note ( I know that's not really a word, I just like the way it sounds), we did get invited to one of our couple friends' party and it was a blast!

This was only about half of the group, the later it got, the more people showed up.

I just loved the girl on the far rights costume. Medusa, snakes in her hair and everything!

Sleazy pilot Ben (mustache was removed the following morning, thank you very much) and myself as a well...I have a few choice adjectives, but lets stick with just stewardess.

And yes, those are gold spray painted boots.

Our friends, Cat & Mad Hatter with Soldier & Flapper Girl

(actually Ang & Ky, with my brother-in-law Aaron & his wife, Stephanie)

 

 Coffee, Tea..Do you like my serving tray? The cups and napkins were glued on:)

The Host, Pharoh Eugene.

I just have to point out that my friend Ang actually MADE this hat! 

It was a great night filled with lots of laughs and good times and great people. There's almost nothing better than everyone getting dressed up and out of their comfort zones to make a party.

I can't wait until next year!

Trick or Treat!! 

I did Venice's make up for her costume while Giselle was napping and decided that if I could do anything completely for fun for a living it would be make-up. It is SO much fun to play around with!

This was her face when she got to see it.

EEEEEEKK!

My little Marie Antoinette.

What an actress!

My little strawberry, Giselle.

Aaaarrrrrr! Pirate Lexie came over with a big bucket of treats for Venice and for a photo op.

(I just love the hoop earrings!)

This face cracks me up every time I see this picture!

First stop, the neighbours house!

An hour later and 2 bags full! What a haul! I love it when people give candy for Giselle even though she's only 8 months old. MINE!

And at the end of the night we had a visit from Kache the Dragon, grrrrrrr!

So cute!

We missed out on a few of our friends' kids, but hopefully we'll see pics on facebook, hint hint!