Giving Thanks

Once again... I am lagging behind on my posts.  Staying on top of these blog posts may just have to be one of my many goals in 2013....But for now...let's take a look back at our Thanksgiving.  I saw so many amazing cookie posts from all my cookie blogging friends...but we went with these simple turkey cookies for our Thanksgiving treats this year inspired by Hey Cookie.

Baking is really just a hobby for me....something I enjoy....but my real joy comes from these three little people in my life!  

Some days I feel like pulling my hair out...but I wouldn't trade it for the world.  And after the heartbreaking events in Connecticut this past weekend....I feel especially fortunate that He chose me to be the Mommy to these very special little angels in my life.

My heart is saddened for the children who lost their lives too early, and for the families whose lives will never be the same.  I hope that if any lesson can be learned from this horrific tragedy....it is one of hope....a hope that we can all be reminded just how delicate life is...and how we can't take a single moment in time for granted.  

Halloween Fun

OH my goodness....where does the time go?  I am going to have to rewind yet again and go back to Halloween....so I can post my frightful Halloween cookies:)  Because my calendar just told me that Thanksgiving will be here in a little over ONE short week!!!

I got my inspiration from some of my favorite fellow cookiers....Linzy and Lilaloa just to name a few.

We only allow friendly monsters in our house.

Even Frankenstein can be a little bit cute..huh?

Hope Halloween was fun for all of you!  Better buckle up and get ready.... I have a feeling, with the holidays around the corner, the next few months might just be a blur!

Cookie Rewind...

I have been missing in cookie blogland lately.....and decided it was time to play catch-up:)  Somewhere between Angry Birds' Birthday Parties and school starting... I fell behind....  It seems like I just blinked and all of a sudden...the temperatures started getting colder...the leaves started falling....and now....even Halloween is sneaking up on me...

So before I get any further behind in my posts...I thought I would just share some of the cookies I have been working on....

Back to school teacher boxes....Head on over here for the tutorial to make these cookies.

And I always love this whale design (originally from Sugarbelle) for baby birthdays and showers.  And the sailboat design that I found here... I thought made the perfect accompaniment.  These cookies were for the sweetest family....celebrating their twin boys' one year birthday.

And Lizy always has FUN ideas for sports themed cookies.  Loved making these footballs and football fields:)

And the infamous New York Levain Bakery chocolate chip cookies (which are big enough for an entire MEAL) are always a FAVORITE at our house....

When I saw these cookies months ago....I pinned  them immediately and knew I had to make them for my Sister-in-Law's wedding. Katie's blog is out of this world amazing... she has incredible talent....I love all of the custom cake toppers she designs!
  Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Peterson!

And a cupcake (originally seen here)...always the perfect cookie for any occasion!

Whew... think I'm just about caught up...just in time for all the Halloween fun...
Be back soon:)

Angry Birds

It's time to play catch-up....I'm a bit behind on posting.... My oldest started THIRD grade last week....and we have all been adjusting to the "Back to School" schedule.  Thankfully...both littles have still been home with me to keep me company:)  J heads back to preschool in a few weeks and then we will have to get adjusted all over again...oh...I'm already missing our lazy days of summer!

Back to the birds....these little guys are all the rage right now.

 I'm not too familiar with the games and all the characters...but I will admit to downloading Angry Birds on my iphone for J to play if I needed to keep him busy in some sort of emergency situation....(like trying to have a conversation with the pediatrician without him chiming in with his own thoughts on all of my questions;)   When I looked at the game I wasn't too thrilled with the nature of it....(using a slingshot to get the birds to hit the green pigs) and I'm not sure J even understood it necessarily.  But...nonetheless...whenever the opportunity... he asked to play it.  And so, in a desperate attempt to keep all of our campers happy on our return trip home from Omaha this summer... I allowed him to play the game....

It worked like a charm....he was quiet, happy, and not arguing with his sister or teasing his brother....Until after about 30 minutes of play...when we heard the dreaded " I don't feel so good"....I won't go into any details after that...but it wasn't pretty.  A day or so later... when I checked out the game myself so I could get a good look at the birds before designing these cookies.... I kind of got dizzy myself watching those birds go  back and forth.  No wonder little J got carsick!!! So sadly....at our house...Angry Birds is now off limits during lengthy road trips...especially for our little J who gets motion sickness sooo easily!  Poor little guy!

BUT...on a happier note... I made these cookies for a friend's nephew who was celebrating his EIGHTH birthday.  They were sure fun to create.... but definitely challenging to get all the little details just right.  A HUGE thank you goes out to Callye for her tutorial on angry bird cookies. I found it really helpful in creating some of these guys!  Here's how I made mine:   I used my balloon cutter for the red bird and the blue bird, hand cut the green pig using a bunny cutter, bent a candy corn cutter to achieve the yellow bird, and used an ornament cutter for the black bird.

I sure hope the birthday boy had as much fun eating these crazy birds as I had making them:)

Polka Dots and Paisley

I think baby cookies have to be my most favorite to make...I always love the colors and the sweet designs....but this order was extra special to me.  The wife of one of my DEAREST friends from grad school was throwing a baby shower for a friend.  I have never met Miss L in person....but let's just say... through our brief emails and letters....I feel like we are already fast friends.  

I think her husband is a bit on edge about our impending friendship because as he says we are kinda like "two peas in a pod" and someday when we meet in person....I can't imagine the hours we will spend talking crafts, photography, baking, scrapbooking, etc.

The sad thing about all this... is that these dear friends live all the way in Texas now.  BUT a trip to see them and meet the rest of their sweet family is already in the works.  I am positive that Miss L threw an "out of this world" baby shower for her friend...and did I mention she is also pregnant with their FOURTH...She is definitely nothing short of amazing!

We can't wait to meet the newest member of their family... and I have no doubts that her adorable brother and sisters will take good care of her!!

For this particular shower...Miss L asked for aqua, lime and brown colored cookies to match her friend's nursery decor.  She suggested a paisley print and baby rattles.   Of course I turned to Callye for some inspiration behind the design I chose on the paisley.

I was happy with the way the colors turned out....

and thrilled to be able to use this cutter again (I used this same one here...)

I went a little crazy taking pictures of these because I loved all the colors together.  I took these last pictures right after I finished icing...I always love to see the fresh shine before they dry completely.

And once dried.... I CAREFULLY packaged them so they would SAFELY arrive in Texas.  I was sure to make a few extras...and thank goodness because a few did break during the shipping:(

The best part of this order (besides all the fun I had designing and decorating) came in the mail last week...

The sweetest HAND-MADE thank-you card.  I had to take a picture of it so you all could see it for yourselves.  I wasn't kidding when I said Miss L was amazing!  Wow...all the time it took to make that sweet card....simply made my day!  I can.not.wait. to schedule our trip to Texas.... we may just want to move in next door!

Splash of COLOR!

I have no excuse as to why I haven't posted these happy little cookies until now... They were actually for two sweet sisters who celebrated their birthdays about a month ago.  I will just blame my lack of posting on Summer getting in the way.  Summer can do that you know...

At our house Summer means sleeping in a bit later....lots of playing outside, swimming in our backyard inflatable pool, lemonade-making, crazy eight card game tournaments over lunch, lots of paper plates, paper napkins, and paper cups, a few band-aids here and there,  backyard grilling, and bike rides.

For being a laid back season...Summer can sure keep us busy:) But I wouldn't trade it...Nope...not even when the temperatures soared above the 100 degree mark for well over a week.

I think I could take a hundred pictures of these rainbows and still not be bored.  The colors just scream HaPpY!

I found the original idea for these on this AMAZING woman's blog.  Can't even put her talent into words because it wouldn't do her justice.

But... when I originally saw these... my soon to be 8-year old at the time was dwelling on the thought of a rainbow themed birthday party.  I was tickled to say the least... I had found the perfect cookie to go along with her chosen theme.

But then....as most kids do....she changed her mind....and a sweet fairy party it became.

But I didn't forget these cookies.  I tucked the thought of them away....and they were the first that came to mind for these two sweet little birthday girls last month!

The ruffle technique was pretty painless ( I used a Wilton 101 tip)....and actually kind of a dreamy break from the usual piping and flooding:)

See...

I told you I wouldn't be able to stop taking pictures....

Hope your summer days have been filled with color too!

Happy Birthday America

It definitely feels like Fourth of July weather here in the Midwest.  June was quite the scorcher....and we have seen temperatures in the 100s all week already!  My 8-year old has been excited about this holiday since her birthday in April when she got a red, white, and blue dress that she deemed perfect for the Fourth!

I really wanted to make some cookies that the KIDS, especially, would enjoy on this holiday.  A few months ago I saw these from The Last Course Bakery...and absolutely adored how they dreamed up an Uncle Sam out of a teddy bear cookie cutter...just brilliant!

I made just a few changes to the original version....

and had so much fun adding all the details to these little Uncle Sam's.

I guess I am partial to "Sams"....aren't I?

Have a SAFE and fun Fourth!