Girls Day Out 2013

 We girls have a tradition in our family.

Girls Day Out.

It started about four years ago, I think.

My mom, my sister, and I all went out for a special day.

The first year we did pedicures.

The second year we did manicures AND pedicures.

But by the third year, it had turned into a shopping extravaganza. 

 We now spend the entire day shopping, having lunch out, and grabbing a special coffee treat together.  This year, my niece joined the ranks of Girls Day Out.  She is 13 years old, and so much fun!  I was so excited she was joining us this year!

And what better way to commemorate a special event?

With cookies, of course!

I made a little gift box of cookies for my niece Raegan.

A simple cookie with her name and "Girls Day Out 2013" and then a few minis to go along with it.

We had such a great time...chatting, eating, and shopping!

I hope this tradition continues for many  years to come!

Mother's Day 2013

 I have never been...and probably never will be one of those bloggers who gets my holiday cookies blogged about "before" or "during" the season.

Between working 55+ hours a week, AND baking on the side...I'm lucky to get the blogging done at all.  Soooo...I'm going to use the excuse that I don't post "on time" because I don't want the recipients to see their creations online before they get them in person...yeah, that works!  Hehe!  These are some Mother's Day cookies that I did and gave to my mom for Mother's Day.

I used sanding sugar on the edges of most of them.  I absolutely LOVE the crunch and sweetness that sanding sugar adds to sugar cookies!  It also gives it that extra little "sparkle", I think.

 I have finally found the method/medium/means that I am sticking with.

I now flood all of my cookies with "glaze".  I like the taste of glaze MUCH better than royal icing.  I've had royal icing from many different bakers, I've tried a variety of recipes on my own...and I just don't care for the taste of it.  By flooding the cookies with glaze, I get the yummy taste that it brings, PLUS I like the smoothness of glaze.  I never end up with air bubbles, cracking, separating, or any of the other issues that royal icing can bring on any given day.  Glaze also brings a nice sheen to it when dry.  Royal icing always dries so matte and dull.  Weather doesn't seem to play into glaze as much as it does with royal icing either.  We all know how humidity just KILLS royal icing!

I just LOVE these "petals" above.  They are actually paisley fondant cutters, but I thought with the floral theme I was working on, I'd call them petals!

I mentioned that I'm now flooding with glaze...HOWEVER...I'm not giving up royal icing all together.  Glaze is VERY difficult to work with for the intricate piping details on many cookies.  It just doesn't hold shape like a stiff royal does.  So I'm still using royal for all of my intricate details.  This way we get the yummy taste of glaze and the great details with royal.

These squares I did with some fondant cutters I purchased a while back as well.

Fondant cutters make excellent cookie cutters as well!

 The whole collection.

I added some springtime flowers to the Mother's Day mix as well.

I LOVE doing flowers.

 I have to say, flowers are one of my favorite cookies to decorate.

The whole collection!

I hope all you moms had a very Happy Mother's Day and those who aren't mothers, I hope you were able to spend time with the special ladies in your life!

May The 4th Be With You...

May 4th was Star Wars Day.

Anyone who is a Star Wars fan probably already knew this.

My boys have always been HUGE Star Wars fans.

From the time they were able to sit still, they started watching Star Wars movies.

The actual feature films, the cartoon series, the books, the toys, birthday party themes, bedroom decor...you name it, they've had it.

As they've gotten older, they've developed other interests too...but we have a huge tote in the basement full of their old Star Wars Legos, action figures, light sabers, and blasters!

I don't think those will ever be going anywhere.

I'm assuming we'll probably be waiting to see if their children will enjoy them someday.

So for Star Wars Day, I decided to try my hand at some cookies.

I had some cookies in the freezer and some leftover icing that needed using and I "played".

They didn't come out perfect.

But they were fun to attempt and play with.

I'm not sure the "Force" was with me as I decorated these cookies, LOL!

It didn't help that my icing was a bit runny either.

But I had fun...and they were tasty!

May The 4th Be With You...ALWAYS.