U of M Cookies...

U of M cookies...

Well, that's what they were "suppposed" to be, LOL!

I was going to send these along with my sister for her bake sale...

But...

I wasn't happy with the end result.

They were a lot harder than I anticipated.

So they didn't make the trek with the others to the bake sale.

Sports themes just haven't been my "thing" since I started baking, LOL!

My Detroit Lions cake was high stress and a lot of catasrophes along the way...

As were these U of M helmets.

Hmmm...

What shall I attempt next?

Hubby might like something for his beloved Tigers...

Maybe an Old English "D"?

We shall see...

First Go At Camo Cookies...

If you are not familiar with Wonderland Cookie Company...

FAMILIARIZE yourself with them!

She makes beautiful cookies.

You can find her page HERE.

Wonderland Cookie Company is where I first saw camo cookies.

It's ok...you can laugh.

I know.

Mine look like little turtles...hahaha!

The ones I saw were done in heart shapes.

Simply beautiful and adorable.

But hey...I tried.

At least I can laugh at myself and my silly little turles, LOL!

Age Is Just A Number Baby!...A VERY Special Birthday Cake...MINE!

FORTY IS FABULOUS!

Age is just a number baby!

You're only as old as you feel!

Yes, I do tend to have a little of my Grandma M. in me...getting older doesn't settle well with me.

And although I'm not "happy" about it...I'm not going to go into depression mode either.

Yes, I intend to fight it (gracefully) every step of the way with hair color, wrinkle cream, and anything else I can find to cover up, lift up, unwrinkle, or make me look younger...I refuse to be depressed about it!

I am celebrating!

A wiser me!

A me that is more comfortable with myself and others!

A me that doesn't care what others think!

Ok, maybe just a little.

But with age comes wisdom!

And I'm feeling good!

I am HAPPY about this stage of life!

And to celebrate...I made myself a cake!

A plain white cake (for this simple girl).

With classic buttercream icing...in, what color?

PINK!

In a house full of blue...three guys...

This is one girly girl who loves all things pink, frilly, and feminine!

A friend even told me when she saw my cake, "I would expect no less!"

LOL!

I bought a new ruffle tip that I had been wanting to try out.

I haven't mastered it.

But, for a first attempt I thought it was cute enough.

I placed the fondant rosette that I posted about earlier right on top of my "frilly-girly" cake!

And so...

Here's to another year!

May it be filled with health and happiness!

(And lots of baking!)

My Momsie's Birthday Cake...

This was the final product of my quilling experiment!

My momsie's birthday cake!

My mom's birthday is February 1 and mine is February 6, so we usually have a celebration together.

There were two new techniques I had been wanting to try...so the first, being quilling went on my mom's cake!

I thought it turned out halfway decent for a first attempt!

I did the petal effect on the sides.

I'm not quite sure WHY this cake turned out so flat!  LOL!

I did just use a box mix on this one, and after talking with another baking friend, she said she had been noticing the same thing on some of her cakes!

We're wondering if they're putting less mix in cake mixes now!

It tastes great, none the less.

It was very moist, light, and fluffy.

And I think mom enjoyed it...and end the end, as I always say...

That's all that matters!

Quilling And Rosettes...A New Adventure

I saw this technique on "My Cake School", an online blog I follow and knew immediately that I just had to try it.

The gal who did the tutorial, her rosette was pink...and dainty...and frilly...and everything this girly girl loves!

Well...turns out...it wasn't all that hard!

I thought I would never be able to do it.  And let's face it, it's not perfect.

But for a first attempt, I was very happy with it!

I didn't have all of the proper "decorating tools"...so as usual, I just improvised with gadgets I had in my kitchen.  You never know what odds and ends will work in a pinch!  LOL!

After I finished it, I also tried luster dust for the first time.  There isn't any on it in these pictures.  I still haven't quite figured that out.  But I had a blast making this flower and was very pleased with the outcome.  It went on a very special birthday cake...

MINE!

Teehee!

Another technique that I tried for the first time was quilling.

I found that on "My Cake School" as well.

Everyone keeps asking me if it was hard.

NOPE!

It was FUN!

I felt like a kid again...playing with playdough!

These also went on a very special cake as well...

My momsie's!

We usually celebrate our birthdays together as hers' is February 1 and mine is February 6.

Photos of the finished products to come!

Hang in there!

Lace, Conversation, and Florals...

Ever since I saw the lace tutorial by "My Little Bakery" I was obsessed with learning how to do it.  Nadia was kind enough to show us her techniques and I was absolutely intrigued after I saw all of her beautiful cookies and handiwork.

I have by no means perfected it...but I am learning a lot as I practice...for example icing consistency, how far to pipe lines apart, and more.

I did this technique on some more of the famous "SugarBelle's" Brown Sugar Cut Out Cookies.

It's a really tasty recipe.

I also did some Conversation Hearts.

Or...at least, that's what they were supposed to be...teeheehee!

I also attempted some floral bouquets...thinking they'd be cute for Valentine's Day.

But I have to say...I have been working to perfect this particular cutter/cookie style for nine months now, and it just isn't happenin'!  LOL!

I don't know what it is...I've seen come cookiers do some beautiful bouquets of this style...and this is one I just can't seem to master.

Oh well.

Guess everyone has their specialty, LOL!

I have to say, as much of a romantic as I am...loving hearts and all things pink...I think I'm tiring of Valentine cookies...teehee!

Who's ready for St. Patty's Day?

"Lace" Cookies...

I had been wanting to try these ever since I started following "My Little Bakery" on Facebook.

If you have never seen her cookies or heard of her...Nadia is an amazingly talented cookie artist with exquisite handiwork!

I would have never attempted these, had she not put out a wonderful video tutorial.

After watching the tutorial several times (and marveling at her steady hand and amazing talent), I decided I had to give it a go.

Well...let's just say, I don't think my "lace" will ever match up to the talent of "My Little Bakery".  But it was a lot of fun and wasn't as disasterous as it could've been, LOL!

I enjoyed doing these and it could've been much worse, LOL!

If you've never seen her work, check out her blog here.