So Cute Sisters

Biedronka

Family

Madison Turns 3!

Dessert of the Week: Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ingredients

Crust:
30 squares gingersnap cookies
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Filling:
1 1/2 lbs cream cheese
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
4 large eggs at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Directions

Crust:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Add the gingersnaps to the bowl of a food processor, and pulse until crumbly. Transfer to a large bowl and add the melted butter. Stir until evenly mixed. Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with 3-inch sides. Bake the crust until golden brown, about 10 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool completely while preparing the filling.

Filling:

Lower oven to 325 degrees F.

In a standing mixer with a paddle attachment, mix the cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually mix in the sweetened condensed milk until smooth. With the mixer on medium, add the pumpkin, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, vanilla and flour. Mix well and pour into the springform pan.

Bake until the center appears nearly set, but jiggles a little when shaken, 1 hour and 20 minutes. Cool for 1 hour. Cover and chill overnight, or for at least 4 hours.

SUPPORT MOVEMBER!!

Hi,

This Movember MY HUSBAND has decided to donate his face to raising awareness about cancers that affect men. His commitment is the growth of a moustache for the entire month of Movember, which I know will generate conversation, controversy and laughter.

He's doing this because:

1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in his lifetime.

1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.

This is a cause that we feel passionately about and I’m asking you to support his efforts by making a donation to support the great work of the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG.

To help, you can either:

Click this link http://us.movember.com/mospace/1025446/ and donate online using your credit card or PayPal account.

Write a check payable to Movember, referencing my name or Registration Number 1025446 and mailing it to: Movember, PO Box 2726, Venice, CA 90294-2726.

The money raised will help make a tangible difference to the lives of others, through the world’s most promising prostate cancer research and LIVESTRONG’s programs that support young adults and their families battling and surviving cancer. For more details on how the funds raised from previous campaigns have been used and the impact Movember is having please visit http://us.movemberfoundation.com/research-and-programs/.

Thank you.

Sisters!

Cooking Measure Equivalents

Trick or Treat

"Original" all dolled up!

Invitations Done!

Thanks to Lotus' mom, Jen, I found some easy DIY Yo Gabba Gabba invites that I could personalize. They turned out pretty cute, don't you think??

Announcing Morgan!!

Appetizer of the Week: Macaroni & Cheese Cupcakes

Ingredients

12 ounces Tri-Color Rotini (I like Barilla)
4 tablespoons butter
3 eggs
8 ounces whole milk
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon fresh black pepper
3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
2 cups sharp cheddar, shredded
4 slices of colby jack cheese

Directions

In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente and drain. Return to the pot and melt in the butter. Toss to coat. Preheat oven to 400.

Whisk together the eggs, milk, hot sauce, salt, pepper, and mustard. Stir into the pasta and add the cheese. Over low heat continue to stir for 3 minutes or until creamy.

Ladle macaroni mixture into muffins tins, cover with quartered up colby jack cheese and bake for 20 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

Countdown to Baby

Seriously! She's due October 8. I've been in the hospital 3 times this pregnancy. The latest today for a NST Scan and U/S. Thank goodness everything is fine, but the Bug got me all nervous with no movement today. I'm sure part of it has to do with the killer heat wave we've been having in So Cal...but really?!

I've been pretty nervous about mothering another child. How will I share the love? And my heart? And brain? How will the Monkey take to the Bug breastfeeding? How will I got my Claudia Schiffer body back? ;-P Can I handle two girls? Can I handle two girls and a husband? But ever since the U/S this morning I'm getting excited. Can't wait to meet my new baby girl.

Glamour Kitten Designs

Can we say super gorgeous!! Glamour Kitten Designs is launching their bridal line this week!

At the very least you must go ooh and aah at the beautiful hair accessories that Nicole makes. Not only is she talented, but an awesome friend!

Love.

My "original" baby cuddling to the new baby (in utero).

The Simple Entertainer

So I've been obssessing over the book "Entertaining Simple" by Matthew Mead that Crate & Barrel carries. Well, I bought it today, and low and behold that there are free downloads that go with it!!

DaFont.com Help!

Q: Has anyone used dafont.com with Vista?! I am unable to install any fonts per their directions for Vista (right click>Install). Any other suggestions? I've tried putting the font files into C:\Windows\Fonts, and that doesn't work either. Thanks!

A: First, unzip the file. Then go to Control Panel>Fonts>and right click anywhere on the screen so the little menu pops up, click "install fonts", find the files, and install :o)

Have you been shot?

Have you gotten your DTaP shot recently? If you don't know, don't remember, or haven't done it in the last 10 years...please do it.

The P in DTaP stands for PERTUSSIS (Whooping Cough) which causes coughing spells so bad that it is hard for infants to eat, drink, or breathe. These spells can last for weeks. It can lead to pneumonia, seizures (jerking and staring spells), brain damage, and death.

Whooping cough is highly contagious and nine infants in California have died of this. Being pregnant, I did the shot about a month ago, because the Baby won't get her first DTaP shot until 2 months old. This way, she gets the immunization from me.

Click here to HEAR what whooping cough sounds like in an infant!

I'm not a doctor! Just a concerned parent. Please take into consideration your health, and the health of others around you.

Yo Gabba Gabba Inspirations

Earlier this year we received a catalog to Celebrate Express. When Madison saw the YGG party get-up she told me that's the kind of birthday party she wants. That was 6 months ago (or more), and she still wants that kind of party. Her birthday falls on Thanksgiving this year, and we're inviting just a couple of friends over after Thanksgiving dinners have been eaten, for a dessert party. Yumminess! Cupcakes, cookies, pies, and ice cream. With baby #2 just days away, I don't want to spend a ton of money and time on everything, so I'm gathering my inspiration. The invitations are already done, just need to print. To top off this huge birthday, on the 26th we're going to Yo Gabba Gabba Live at Nokia Center. Whoo hoo!

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