Saturday, December 13, 2014

Who Needs Presents When You've Got Cheesecake?

Our first Christmas party this year is in a few hours (as soon as my little one wakes up from his nap we'll be heading out). Instead of buying a gift for each of my 6 nieces and nephews (on my side) because we don't have the money for and sort of decent gifts I took $15 to the dollar store and bought 15 toys. I told my siblings ahead of time so they wouldn't be offended at our "little" gifts. I'm going to hand the 5 oldest three numbers each 1 thru 15 and they will get to choose gifts from the pile and open them one at a time in order of the numbers they get. I think it sounds like a fun game. They can trade off after it's done. I'm really amazed at some of the fun stuff dollars stores carry too.

My mom put me in charge of the desserts for the party. Very fortunately she paid for all the supplies I just had to shop and do the baking. I've got almost $9 worth of chocolate in that triple chocolate Ghirardelli cheesecake right there! I CANNOT wait to cut it up. I've also taken a second attempt at lemon meringue pie. I hope it turned out as good as the first one I made. There's some Russian tea cake cookies too because my parents LOVE them. But who doesn't love a cookie that's covered in powdered sugar?

This party should be wonderful. Mostly because I love spending time with my entire family and we really don't get together much more often than at Christmas. My kid is SUPER excited too so I'm looking forward to the event due to his excitement as well. I suppose I'd better get everything else ready and be off!

8 comments:

  1. Have a great time!
    And your confections look scrumptious......I think I gained 5 lbs. just looking at the photo! lolz

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    1. ah haha, I feel like I gained weight just looking at them too.
      thank-you

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  2. I love your gift idea for your nieces and nephews - smart and they still get a little something. I can see why your Mom put you in charge of dessert - you look like an amazing baker!

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    1. It worked out pretty well. M Ripples commented on a previous post that her step-dad took her kids on a dollar store shopping for their birthdays and it gave me the idea for the gift game. Some of the gifts the kids thought were really cool too.

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  3. !! Wow!! :) That's a lot of baking accomplished! I hope you enjoy everything! :)

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    1. The party was fun. I was so busy cutting up desserts come dessert time that I didn't even get to eat any. Oh my goodness the cheesecake lived up to expectations though, hooray!

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  4. Your desserts look absolutely amazing! And, love your gift ideas for the kids. Each year, my sister & I scale back a bit more at the holidays. We only buy for the kids, and we each have the two, so she's my partner in crime in keeping things under control & affordable. Our biggest goal for the holidays is to spend time together, & I love that you make that your priority with your family. Hugs!

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    1. Thanks! For the record NEVER put a lemon meringue pie in the freezer to get it to cool down a bit faster... But the party was so much fun and the desserts turned out pretty great.

      This year even though funds are extra tight I'm trying really hard to focus my little guy on the real reason for Christmas and to make very light of the gift part of it. So far he's enjoying Christmas SOOO much and not just getting gifts. It's been a really great Christmas season!

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