I'm a Little Teapot

These cookies were for a bridal shower last weekend. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that they stressed me out a little. The client asked for teapots and teacups. No problem there. Then she said that the wedding colors were purple and peach. Not a problem, but I knew the colors would clash if I didn't get the them right. I'm a pretty anal, so the colors had to be just right. Thankfully, the client was happy with the cookies and their colors. Phew!

This was my first time making using fondant. Normally, I steer clear from all things cake related. I'm in awe of cake bakers. Check out Haniela and LilaLoa if you want to see amazing cake artists. However I don't have a strong desire to try to do it myself. It's probably because I don't really care for the taste cake (I'm weird, I know) and my husband isn't a big fan either. With cookies, I can easily find homes for my creations, but I think it would be a little harder with cakes. Not having made many cakes in my life, I was new to the fondant arena. If you don't know what fondant is, it's that smooth stuff you see on any Martha Stewart cake. I've always heard that fondant tasted awful so I never bothered trying it out. Then a few months ago, I read about marshmallow fondant that was pretty tasty from the blog Bake 350. Not only tasty, it's easy and cheap to make yourself. Score! In the midst of baking teacups and teapots, I made fondant. Bridget of Bake 350 was right, it's pretty easy to make. The tip about keeping Crisco close by was very helpful. Also if you're planning to color your fondant be sure to have disposable gloves, especially if you're using Wilton gel paste. Coloring the fondant took a little time, patience and muscle. I swear cake bakers must have monster muscles. I used little fondant/cookie cutters to make the dainty purple, peach and white flowers. Full disclosure, I love caffeine. No really, you don't understand how much I love it. Hot tea, iced tea, hot coffee, iced coffee, I'm an equal opportunity drinker. I could drink it all day. I also love very sweet tea with a ridiculous amount of lemon (that's a topic for another day). If I used real sugar in my beverages, my bathroom scale would be unhappy. Plus I wouldn't have sugar on hand for more important things like cookies. Hence there's blue and pink sugar in my sugar bowl. Over the years, I've tweeked the amount of blue and pink sugar I use in drinks. It takes 3 blue packets and 1 pink packet for the perfect glass/cup of tea.

Isn't this china pretty? It was a gift from a dear family friend and it's china with Chinese images.

Thanks to LilaLoa for inspiring me to make these little fondant flowers.

Emotions of a Leprechaun

It's a rough ride to the end of the rainbow.

You might even say it's an emotional roller coaster.

First there's nervousness and anxiety

Then frustration

Followed by anger

Next comes relief that you may see the light at the end of the tunnel

And finally pure joy that you have found that lovely pot of gold

Look Whooo's Turning One!

A very special baby turned a year old a few days ago. Baby P's birthday party had an owl theme and her mom, Tracy put in her request well in advance for owl cookies. I didn't have a big enough owl cookie cutter so I ordered one from Copper Gifts. Initially, I thought about cutting the owls by hand, but I'm so glad I bit the bullet and ordered the cutter. Their cutters are a little pricey, but the quality is fantastic. I have a 0% chance of winning the lottery, because I never play, but if I did win, you can be rest assured that a sizable portion of the winnings would be going to Copper Gifts.

Okay enough lusting over cookie cutters and back to Baby P and her party. I actually got to attend both of her first birthday parties. Truth be told, I sort of invited myself to one of them. Her first party was a week before her actual birthday at Tracy's mom's house, which isn't too far from my home. Her second party was last Sunday in Cleveland where Baby P's other grandparents live. Like all grandbabies, she is well loved. Her grandmas love cuddling her and her grandpa sings songs to her. Great Aunt Mary makes wedding soup especially for Baby P. Suffice to say, we're all wrapped around Baby P's finger.

March Madness

Awhile back Dave, from the local YMCA and I were chit chatting about we met our spouses. I shared that my husband and I met on a blind date (set up by family no less) at a nearby Barnes and Noble. My husband later admitted that he'd googled me before the date, which I've since labeled Date 0.5.

Anyway, Dave told me a very cute story about meeting his wife that involved basketball. A few weeks ago, I shared that I baked cutout cookies and he asked for my card. I'm going to drop these cookies off along with the card.

Oh if you're wondering about the number on the jerseys, no I don't have a love for prime numbers. I wasn't paying attention and forget to make a number "2" jersey. Oops. My husband offered to take the blame and said I could tell people that he ate it, but I figured I'd fess up.

All things green

Green beer or Shamrock shake? You decide.

Little derbys

Little leprechauns
(inspired by Sweet Sugarbelle's leprechauns)

Kiss Me, I'm Scorish

No, that's not a typo. I meant to type "Scorish". You see there's some debate about ancestry on my father's side of the family. My grandfather was always very adament that we were Scottish. A funny aside, my birthday is the day after St. Patrick's Day. The night before I was born, my grandfather paced the hospital floors anxious that his first grandchild might have a St. Patrick's Day birthday. Me being the people pleaser that I am, waited until the next day to make an arrival.

A few years back, my Uncle B was stationed in Scotland and did some geneolgy on the family. Much to my dismay, as I've been on the "We are Scottish" band wagon since birth, my Uncle B found the grave markers of some of our ancestors in none other than... Ireland.



I made chocolate chip cutouts this time. I figured I'd mix it up a little bit. They were pretty good, but I think I'd use less chocolate chips the next time around.

No I didn't run out of green icing.

Protestant Irish wore orange while the Catholic Irish wore green.

The white in the Irish flag is supposed to represent the peace between the two.

Little bit of St. Patrick's Day trivia.