tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88746926603019395542024-03-05T13:45:06.128-08:00Sugar Coated MommyAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526715001450245593noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874692660301939554.post-83014713295754546032011-08-17T09:48:00.000-07:002011-08-17T09:48:17.391-07:00Blogus InterruptusI realize that quite some time has passed since my last post. I have a really good reason for it.<br />
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A) I've been abducted by Aliens.<br />
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B) I've been brainwashed by watching Real Housewives and have been spending all my time striving to attain a perfect complexion, radiant hair, and a surgically-enhanced body.<br />
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C) My motivation to blog was abducted, by forces or spirits unknown to me.<br />
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If you guessed C, you are correct. I really don't have a good reason for the blog-break. It's not that I didn't have things to say or post, I just went through a time that I didn't feel like sharing it I guess...to be completely honest.<br />
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The next few months will be bring me many changes in the routine I have come to know. Tomorrow I send my 5-year old daughter off to Kindergarten (commence whimpering here). Sunday I turn 42 (commence sobbing here). After that, I am looking at weaning out of my current job, becoming a stay-at-home momma to our 2-1/2 year old, and remodeling garage space into a licensed kitchen so I can do what I love to do...legally.<br />
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When the day comes that I say goodbye to my outside job, I know that certain doors will close for me. I also know that doors to many possibilities await, and for that I am so excited. And nervous. And scared. But mostly piddle-in-my-pants excited. Although nowadays, after babies, it doesn't take excitement for that to happen...<br />
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So, I look forward to writing about the changes that will be happening...sharing my experiences and my thoughts good and bad.<br />
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P.S.<br />
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If you answered A)...you were not completely wrong. Aliens did abduct my chest and replace it with a droopy fit-for-National-Geographic one.<br />
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If you answered B)...it's true I can't stop watching that trainwreck of a show, but I assure you my attempts at physical perfection don't go much past wiping kid-goob off my hands, my shirt, my hair...etc. Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526715001450245593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874692660301939554.post-25731837848007904802010-11-03T21:20:00.000-07:002010-11-03T21:20:37.545-07:00Dum-dum-da-dummmmm....On one of my favorite cake sites, there's this saying when referring to someones ability to make and decorate (and get paid for) a cake (or cookie, or cake ball, etc. etc.). It goes something like "well, it is after all <em>only</em> flour and eggs and sugar...". It's kind of a running joke, when customers come into a cake shop to inquire about a cake for an event, want it completely custom tailored to said event...and then gasp at the cost stating to the price-quoter "but....it's only flour, eggs, sugar, etc!".<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In the age of Ace of Cakes, Cake Boss, Cake Challenges, Wedding Cake Shows, etc., custom cakes have become the big trend. With the media exposure, products have lined store shelves shouting "Buy me! YOU can decorate just.like.Duff!" </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">...and people do. Then they're shocked and frustrated at just how un-easy it really is. It really isn't just flour and eggs and sugar.</div><br />
My point? That's how my next set of cookies came about...<br />
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My dearest roommate from college emailed me awhile back and asked if I could share my recipes for my sugar cookies and icing. Her friend was getting married, lived in Tennessee, wedding was in Oregon (we're in Cali). So she was sending the friend a "shower in a box" since there really wasn't going to be a bridal shower, and wanted to include some cookies decorated in bridal/wedding/whathaveyou theme.<br />
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Now I wasn't sure about my old roomie's cookie experience. I know there was baking of chocolate chip cookies here and there in college...but decorating? Don't think there's much on the resume. In addition...she has twins. Four-year old twins. Enough said.<br />
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I told her why don't I just do the cookies for the occasion...I haven't really done much decorating to bridal/wedding themes, so it would be good practice for me. <br />
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With some basic info about the wedding and bride to be in hand, these came about...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My version of the "Something Old..."</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnDcHLMuI/AAAAAAAABGw/sG49fCbB-ns/s1600/STcollection.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnDcHLMuI/AAAAAAAABGw/sG49fCbB-ns/s400/STcollection.JPG" width="386" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnE6oVdxI/AAAAAAAABG4/mQF3RYq7c8M/s1600/STold.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnE6oVdxI/AAAAAAAABG4/mQF3RYq7c8M/s400/STold.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>geeeeeeezlouise I hate that some white got yellow splotches. UGH!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnEFG93zI/AAAAAAAABG0/MC7QpElhALo/s1600/STnew.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnEFG93zI/AAAAAAAABG0/MC7QpElhALo/s400/STnew.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnFoxEXwI/AAAAAAAABG8/VsroLcHyjnQ/s400/STborrowed.JPG" width="400" /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnGLYDXdI/AAAAAAAABHA/zEjsHDX58OE/s1600/STblue.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnGLYDXdI/AAAAAAAABHA/zEjsHDX58OE/s400/STblue.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Corsets...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnLgzFB0I/AAAAAAAABHc/sYxrquFpcJU/s1600/corsetpair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnLgzFB0I/AAAAAAAABHc/sYxrquFpcJU/s400/corsetpair.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Based off of her wedding dress design...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnNOTYINI/AAAAAAAABHk/govacl04H5E/s1600/weddress.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnNOTYINI/AAAAAAAABHk/govacl04H5E/s400/weddress.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Monogram...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnNaRT_FI/AAAAAAAABHs/zmXrbIKy6Ww/s1600/monogramS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnNaRT_FI/AAAAAAAABHs/zmXrbIKy6Ww/s400/monogramS.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Cake (duh...). Wedding colors are burgundy and copper.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Couldn't quite get the handle on a copper color</em></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnNx9Dw6I/AAAAAAAABHw/gpVoHBw4yXI/s1600/cakeburgundy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnNx9Dw6I/AAAAAAAABHw/gpVoHBw4yXI/s400/cakeburgundy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A ring. You can't see all the purty sparkles, but they're there...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnOG0c32I/AAAAAAAABH0/UQWBH5E_Q4g/s1600/goldring.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnOG0c32I/AAAAAAAABH0/UQWBH5E_Q4g/s400/goldring.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wedding date...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnPxHbh0I/AAAAAAAABII/lCa6UbPCloE/s1600/savedate2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnPxHbh0I/AAAAAAAABII/lCa6UbPCloE/s400/savedate2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">For funsies...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnQYx9pfI/AAAAAAAABIM/JkKp_UaWZIg/s1600/bride2b1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnQYx9pfI/AAAAAAAABIM/JkKp_UaWZIg/s400/bride2b1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Getting married at a winery...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnQkA72MI/AAAAAAAABIQ/J1uIGXeffkw/s1600/lvlaugh.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnQkA72MI/AAAAAAAABIQ/J1uIGXeffkw/s400/lvlaugh.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnRYkJS5I/AAAAAAAABIU/ooN29Qgea2s/s1600/grapevines.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnRYkJS5I/AAAAAAAABIU/ooN29Qgea2s/s400/grapevines.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">More for funsies...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnTjrCdOI/AAAAAAAABIs/YFGBGYix5rU/s1600/heartcollection2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnTjrCdOI/AAAAAAAABIs/YFGBGYix5rU/s400/heartcollection2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and for real funsies...</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">this is a warning to you.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">these are more appropriate for a bachelorette party.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">are you at least 18?</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">this is your last warning!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="center"></div><img height="64" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnFoxEXwI/AAAAAAAABG8/VsroLcHyjnQ/s400/STborrowed.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 731px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 249px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /> <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnFoxEXwI/AAAAAAAABG8/VsroLcHyjnQ/s1600/STborrowed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><img height="63" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnR61whdI/AAAAAAAABIY/NMNzAHFWsRo/s320/pen+assrtmt.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 700px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 227px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /> <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnR61whdI/AAAAAAAABIY/NMNzAHFWsRo/s1600/pen+assrtmt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TNGnR61whdI/AAAAAAAABIY/NMNzAHFWsRo/s400/pen+assrtmt.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">told you.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I had a blast making all of these! We decided that I should just send them up when they are together for the wedding in Washington. My friend has not seen these yet...she'll see them tomorrow. I really wish I could see their faces when they open these...because that truly is a big part of what this whole hobby/love/obsession is about for me.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Not the flour, the eggs, or even the sugar ;)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526715001450245593noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874692660301939554.post-85843940644843422112010-10-25T13:09:00.000-07:002010-10-25T13:09:50.128-07:00Birthday party...for four!October is great month around here...the weather is starting to cool off from the 100+ degree days, and the overall feeling of fall creeps in. The only problem is that the weather can still be unpredictable. A few days before this birthday party it was warm and sunny; perfect weather for an outdoor celebration at a park under nice big oak trees offering shade. Not so much when it's windy with grey clouds scattered around the sky above. Not so much when that wind is provoking the oak tree's branches, swaying above the celebration, hurling leaves, grit, and the occasional small branch at the unsuspecting party goers below.<br />
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Now, whenever I have an event to bake/decorate for I have this vision in my head what the end product will look like, setup and all. I think all bakers do actually. Especially for a first-timer, I want to take extra care in making things perfect...because, you know, there's that first impression thing and all. <br />
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A client of mine was having his 4th birthday party...along with his brother and two sisters. Yep, a set of quads. It was a fire truck theme, and while mom had a more extravagant idea in her head, I already had obligations to bake for my preschooler's fall festival at school. We settled on cupcakes, instead of a 2-tier party cake, with custom fire trucks on top of each for the birthday kids and chocolate flames for the rest of the guests.<br />
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When I got to the park, there was sprinkle of rain here and there, but the wind was sure swirling around. I asked the mom where she wanted me to set up....looking around she pointed to the end of a picnic table. <br />
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:cringe:<br />
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I had made a cupcake tower for all the treats to sit upon...and if it had been a flat tabletop...with no wind...it would have worked well and looked great! I knew right away it wasn't gonna happen. So, the tower was sectioned off into 3 bases...and carefully arranged on the picnic table area that had the least amount of board-tilt. Still, once I got everything arranged and in it's place, tree-droppings would come not-so-wafting-like-a-feather downward...and take an unwelcome place on top of some frosting. The crowd of onlookers smiled and and gave me a non-verbal "oh well, what're you gonna do?".<br />
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So I finished up, as best as I could, thought "oh well" and scurried away...hoping that things would stay put until it was time to eat them. Also hoping that people would search their cupcakes for fallen debris before taking a bite.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Display:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Not at all what I envisioned...but better than a tower of cupcakes crashing down!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkes385FYYGCYBgveHutCG5W5vEh7E0goA87WuV4InBxHriw9yMgbWKFcgLCYwkgodjobZv2muLCfVk0qoFTsvPUeMIOioJhcyRR07nMmBPaBnQ1ZfIVyJjAWH-jrmPp-tLQuwthc3CE/s1600/October+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkes385FYYGCYBgveHutCG5W5vEh7E0goA87WuV4InBxHriw9yMgbWKFcgLCYwkgodjobZv2muLCfVk0qoFTsvPUeMIOioJhcyRR07nMmBPaBnQ1ZfIVyJjAWH-jrmPp-tLQuwthc3CE/s640/October+044.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gumpaste Fire Trucks. Birthday kid's cupcakes are sitting on fire truck favor boxes I found at a party store.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ULDTRdS48N2X4yGaIQ-8BCYcHUxmFZLD1akYym5JBIRvzfHjaapLTJVtvSnVJ5AgZZ3-cHxjGgBzTioZE_ua1YG4BE0eA4YGGjrns9XVwfw8JWvVVki_Y4gkjBLl5f9XKLofxNd-0xE/s1600/October+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ULDTRdS48N2X4yGaIQ-8BCYcHUxmFZLD1akYym5JBIRvzfHjaapLTJVtvSnVJ5AgZZ3-cHxjGgBzTioZE_ua1YG4BE0eA4YGGjrns9XVwfw8JWvVVki_Y4gkjBLl5f9XKLofxNd-0xE/s640/October+045.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEV4Yz6dq64Tu4aGjTJteO2oUczksQUyUPuNwZZ2cTtZLznhYbp5uDAcZ3WpOZejQzrz3GU6pudfQMtmWOs6MeeVlg1oRMgFZrrSjQjLhRgo53hHZrAXFB1IIfrdcfdfGIVXN8NHu5gqE/s1600/October+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEV4Yz6dq64Tu4aGjTJteO2oUczksQUyUPuNwZZ2cTtZLznhYbp5uDAcZ3WpOZejQzrz3GU6pudfQMtmWOs6MeeVlg1oRMgFZrrSjQjLhRgo53hHZrAXFB1IIfrdcfdfGIVXN8NHu5gqE/s400/October+046.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I heard afterward that everything turned out great and everyone enjoyed the cupcakes very much...whew!</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526715001450245593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874692660301939554.post-78053597767511599542010-10-18T12:17:00.000-07:002010-10-18T12:17:50.214-07:00Lil BuckarooSorry for the lack in posting...projects have gotten the better of me, as well as playing with my new Silhouette!<br />
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Here's a "Lil Buckaroo" cake I did for a baby shower, to go along with the invitation. It was the first cake I did using my Silhouette cutter package from Linda McClure of <a href="http://www.deseretdesigns.com/">Deseret Designs</a>. Her instructional DVD is fabulous and it helped out so much in the process.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKv8hW-XpgwBI10yImf1lvEV7Ifp4ImT0V7ZhoBCpK5t67bHv8cwmEpXzYrj__i9Oyij2NzLMEv6oftAEmWk70qFp4K8nIVtZvfK80rPugn0Au5sGgLIZtWBFlpBFPn0OSY4Q6wM0i_Y/s1600/lil+buckaroo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKv8hW-XpgwBI10yImf1lvEV7Ifp4ImT0V7ZhoBCpK5t67bHv8cwmEpXzYrj__i9Oyij2NzLMEv6oftAEmWk70qFp4K8nIVtZvfK80rPugn0Au5sGgLIZtWBFlpBFPn0OSY4Q6wM0i_Y/s400/lil+buckaroo.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The cake is a 10" bottom and 8" top. Iced with buttercream and covered in homemade white chocolate fondant. One is filled with a cheesecake mousse and the other is a raspberry mousse. The paisley-bandana print is royal icing. The rope is gumpaste/fondant, as are the cow-prints. I made the rope tassels using <a href="http://www.globalsugarart.com/product.php?id=16721&name=Makin's%20Ultimate%20Clay%20Extruder">this</a> clay gun. Don't bother with a plastic-push extruder...they are a piece of you-know-what.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The cowboy is cut out using my Silhouette, with details added in with my edible ink pens. The writing is iced in royal.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The top cake, well, it almost didn't make the event. The cakes were loaded separately in the car, and when I got there the top had slid about halfway off of it's base...</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thankfully, it moved as one and I carefully just pushed it back into place. Sometimes buttercream "glue" just can't be trusted.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em> ::making mental note to always use melted chocolate::</em></span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>::and also to not forget my camera::</em></span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Also requested for the baby shower were bandana-print cookies:</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzaPRV6sjwv32UFY1fuSKYuFscARxaNG8EquWbu7QHk-y5Odo1bcRHOef0byPakgoPHTNy4s_CDbCkvZmwohDvx64D_bxSvkm0IoNzHKYOwutfDEEESST7pdR69KXp6092D2tnJBdKT4/s1600/bandana+print+cookie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzaPRV6sjwv32UFY1fuSKYuFscARxaNG8EquWbu7QHk-y5Odo1bcRHOef0byPakgoPHTNy4s_CDbCkvZmwohDvx64D_bxSvkm0IoNzHKYOwutfDEEESST7pdR69KXp6092D2tnJBdKT4/s400/bandana+print+cookie.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526715001450245593noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874692660301939554.post-45059984253725030992010-09-28T10:08:00.000-07:002010-09-28T10:08:56.715-07:00Evil WeevilsThis post has absolutely nothing to do with cakes. Or cookies. It has to do with kitchen reorganization. Although...it is nicer to bake and decorate cakes and cookies with a clean, organized kitchen, so given that, this post may be very related!<br />
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Have you ever been confronted with a pantry weevil? They are pesky little critters. They are usually brought into the house through an already infested grain product. Lovely, eh?<br />
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<strong>"Rice and granary weevils are harmless to people, houses, furniture, clothing and pets. They cannot bite or sting and they do not carry diseases. They will not feed on furniture, the house structure or other items. The harm they do is destruction of the seeds they infest and the annoyance of being in the wrong place."</strong><br />
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Annoyance is an understatement. Highly irritating...that's a bit more on track. Every time I see one I just want to squish it's little guts out. Fortunately, they're very teeny tiny, so the guts *really* don't squish...<br />
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I discovered weevils in our pantry probably about 2 years ago. Since then I've been on a non-stop mission to rid my house of them, every so often clearing and cleaning out the pantry, only to have them return time and time again. Or maybe they never ever really went away...they were just hiding in some crevice waiting for me to restock the grains and reproduce.<br />
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A couple months ago I hit my wall with them. I was so sick and tired of seeing them around. It was time for drastic measures!<br />
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I came across a site which I cannot for the life of me find anymore. This mom not only organized her pantry, but she painted and decorated it. It was beautiful. I was awestruck by how tidy it looked. Then and there I decided I was just going to bite the bullet and spend money on some good quality, air-tight containers. The ones I currently had *claimed* to be, but those little weevil suckers have always found their way inside.<br />
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Now. Before I show you the before picture of my pantry, allow me to put on extra neutral caked-on makeup. You know, to hide the blushing from embarrassment.<br />
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:Deeeeep Breathe:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here it goes....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Geez. I feel like I'm exposing myself in my bra and panties...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TJj1RKnjWlI/AAAAAAAAAo0/abuetc6cMPQ/s1600/September+2010+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TJj1RKnjWlI/AAAAAAAAAo0/abuetc6cMPQ/s640/September+2010+001.JPG" width="425" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Now, just my bra...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TJj1Rtq-pGI/AAAAAAAAAo4/poz4SWEle9I/s1600/pantry+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TJj1Rtq-pGI/AAAAAAAAAo4/poz4SWEle9I/s640/pantry+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Now, just my panties. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>If</em> I was wearing any.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(just kidding. really.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TJj1SUdg0GI/AAAAAAAAAo8/_1lmcBaGhgE/s1600/pantry+top.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TJj1SUdg0GI/AAAAAAAAAo8/_1lmcBaGhgE/s640/pantry+top.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Okay. Now I am totally naked. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are you happy?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have bared myself for the sake of blogging...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TJj1S2YW2tI/AAAAAAAAApA/ZMBzu4px0dg/s1600/pantry+bottom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TJj1S2YW2tI/AAAAAAAAApA/ZMBzu4px0dg/s640/pantry+bottom.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="left"><em>Whew. I'm glad that's over!</em></div><div align="left"><br />
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</div><div align="left">I got started by first buying air-tight containers. I pretty much stuck with 4 different kinds of containers:</div><div align="left"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Good Grips by OXO:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0Hh7FA_PkTnvvfSa8NG3QExYEiB15e4m6rnDpqBGnAD9ctBwXhsiS6QmjKUVdon5SN7NTAKWRjIC5qiPH18Q72mtEO9HIlw-Pjey4hUu61SOYm7iiELt1XbYTQ4LjLE3RP6kW-bKmgI/s1600/oxo+good+grips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0Hh7FA_PkTnvvfSa8NG3QExYEiB15e4m6rnDpqBGnAD9ctBwXhsiS6QmjKUVdon5SN7NTAKWRjIC5qiPH18Q72mtEO9HIlw-Pjey4hUu61SOYm7iiELt1XbYTQ4LjLE3RP6kW-bKmgI/s400/oxo+good+grips.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">POP Containers:</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbTMsl2Luw1ojzdYr2ca6dIBTjq461yxFvEUXINPDzyCf9IY5Puve9_aJuKFdY1XyDWH6yWaXhrTqNo1Oa9DebScnIMYms-HQqwQb3RtpCfwLn4ZQ-lpUpetfHXHQ6LKziIbsmwTEmJY/s1600/oxo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbTMsl2Luw1ojzdYr2ca6dIBTjq461yxFvEUXINPDzyCf9IY5Puve9_aJuKFdY1XyDWH6yWaXhrTqNo1Oa9DebScnIMYms-HQqwQb3RtpCfwLn4ZQ-lpUpetfHXHQ6LKziIbsmwTEmJY/s1600/oxo.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Acrylic Canisters:</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKCO4N9n0h0tTPEaoYLX-mA5Qreun70q0j39giibR_CsyxT4bVMGFHsCOyzcPzKM9nAXDTwl3oWvGY-Ox2h5JxjhlZYSLjOMCtH9BwxMVeKJ9eVd3Je5hswaIM7gQ2YehD92k6Nxy23E/s1600/canisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKCO4N9n0h0tTPEaoYLX-mA5Qreun70q0j39giibR_CsyxT4bVMGFHsCOyzcPzKM9nAXDTwl3oWvGY-Ox2h5JxjhlZYSLjOMCtH9BwxMVeKJ9eVd3Je5hswaIM7gQ2YehD92k6Nxy23E/s400/canisters.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Click-Clack Canisters. My personal favorite.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">No teeny tiny critter is getting past the seal of these suckers!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNbtyEVUckNcte0qKL1rJeS6Q-s35jQ0o6aDF4UAIysEZm0QaQX30AcQv-h2LUPPZ_qhvHSqLh_xCFErn-hGFDW4Gm9CEML-g1VjxP9sx_NlCUTSb_h15KS1wSL_kKfE0Jyd5ga3u2rY/s1600/clickclack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNbtyEVUckNcte0qKL1rJeS6Q-s35jQ0o6aDF4UAIysEZm0QaQX30AcQv-h2LUPPZ_qhvHSqLh_xCFErn-hGFDW4Gm9CEML-g1VjxP9sx_NlCUTSb_h15KS1wSL_kKfE0Jyd5ga3u2rY/s1600/clickclack.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">The next step was to empty out the ENTIRE cluster of the pantry. I was dreading this. I kept putting it off. For weeks after I bought the containers, literally. Finally one day I just grabbed a big garbage can and went to work. I threw out anything I haven't touched in awhile...or didn't think I wanted anymore. Anything that was expired of course was out. Then of course, anything that even had one teeny weeny critter in it. It was gone.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I took the trash out right after I was done...I didn't want to chance any of those things getting out. Next I got my shop vac and sucked every nook and cranny of that pantry. Lastly, the whole pantry got wiped down and cleaned.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Next came packaging up the containers. Every grain got a home, many packages got opened and dumped into a container. Cans were racked, and bottles were lazy-susaned. I really wanted to label, which my husband disagrees even needs to be done. I agree that some things are clear-cut, like pasta and rice...but whey powder? Cornmeal? Pancake mix? I would really not like a cornmeal shake, thank you very much.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So labeling is to come. I couldn't wait to just get everything back on the shelves, and off my counters.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Are you ready?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I give you...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Organized Pantry!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TJj1TG_tR1I/AAAAAAAAApE/_ugyPtK3jQ0/s1600/September+2010+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NCQWSBt4Jh0/TJj1TG_tR1I/AAAAAAAAApE/_ugyPtK3jQ0/s640/September+2010+009.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now, for some things I did leave them in their packaging and in bins vs. containers. Over the years I have noticed things like the mac n cheese and granola bars go undisturbed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I've kept a watchful eye on the shelves and walls since doing this, and although I've <strike>squished</strike> seen a few weevils here and there, they are for the most part...GONE! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I guess in the end, the little critters were a good thing, because I never would have done this. My pantry would have gone on looking like a big crumpled mess, and things would disappear and expire even before being used. Now, I have a clean, organized pantry that I am not ashamed to show...that I don't have to keep locked out of embarrassment! I've even showed it off! Heck, our fish-tank guy even took pictures to show his wife for inspiration!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So next comes the labeling. I want to keep things non-permanent (ie, no stickers that can't be peeled off), and I want them aesthetically pleasing to the eye, preferably clear. I think vinyl is the way to go, but I have no clue about it. Post-It has come out with new peel-off label-type of pads, but they're bright colors. I don't really want to order custom made ones, because I want to be able to whip a new one out if I put something else in the pantry. I do have a label maker...I will have to check the fonts on it and maybe succumb to that...but if anyone has any brilliant ideas, I would love to hear them!</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526715001450245593noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874692660301939554.post-20622952409215274692010-09-24T10:24:00.000-07:002010-09-24T12:13:32.061-07:00Recent Sweets~~~<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here's a few projects I've finished in the last couple of weeks...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ladybug cookie bites to go along with this flower pot I found at a local Hallmark...</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLFhKCiaRkGrIZzu5_fLsSePX-JXyhLhHrY6W-bZv7WVvYeaJAh48B9YSM2lB98i4_OnhN8O-a8s1FnIOd3Mkv2iH_PzkhP5Y5MVIz7Wi4TlPT2pm7tHU-hKrQCN2sM-qdLc23K8umQk/s1600/ladybugs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLFhKCiaRkGrIZzu5_fLsSePX-JXyhLhHrY6W-bZv7WVvYeaJAh48B9YSM2lB98i4_OnhN8O-a8s1FnIOd3Mkv2iH_PzkhP5Y5MVIz7Wi4TlPT2pm7tHU-hKrQCN2sM-qdLc23K8umQk/s400/ladybugs.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOn2FSzye6QSOEZBE_zHIdt7e_bAE96W2lckJ1nedu6oAn-XuY6grJaOVIdoUSyWEayMcuzkQDI2P2p3PzxzlWgaBUXeQK1oHlzhOf4oePkIbDV95XNS7s69B-5Uu-7S-2w8FdmfKvMo/s1600/ladybug+bites.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOn2FSzye6QSOEZBE_zHIdt7e_bAE96W2lckJ1nedu6oAn-XuY6grJaOVIdoUSyWEayMcuzkQDI2P2p3PzxzlWgaBUXeQK1oHlzhOf4oePkIbDV95XNS7s69B-5Uu-7S-2w8FdmfKvMo/s400/ladybug+bites.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hunting and golf themed for my FIL's birthday...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dinosaur train, cupcakes, and gumball machine for </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">my friend's 4-year old twin's birthday...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SBbhUt3zsmL7F8n9jN9g4Kf1pNjPvGgWtd-icXMo5gDhjNJBKLoMkzW97MX7EC2ZFMfMGZejUCjVzKpWHVyaqKD5KjtHgF8DVXAZsDUCyYpBf1yG4l0ufIhLHba_je46RIT9hM5x6wo/s1600/Clinic+2010+060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SBbhUt3zsmL7F8n9jN9g4Kf1pNjPvGgWtd-icXMo5gDhjNJBKLoMkzW97MX7EC2ZFMfMGZejUCjVzKpWHVyaqKD5KjtHgF8DVXAZsDUCyYpBf1yG4l0ufIhLHba_je46RIT9hM5x6wo/s400/Clinic+2010+060.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Close-up of "Buddy"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTted5Mxc0rWA3mMGUJLEkV2yIKr2gtQZOa7KuScC3P7L-FGHWmIOu8qNAAqH9foqereTxg0UrUtUvqawLJ3KY9wZ6K8O4bDgTkB6NbgTgwWZJL1pTAuSL9nQG0RKnJMuU68FPUwzM9Q/s1600/Clinic+2010+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTted5Mxc0rWA3mMGUJLEkV2yIKr2gtQZOa7KuScC3P7L-FGHWmIOu8qNAAqH9foqereTxg0UrUtUvqawLJ3KY9wZ6K8O4bDgTkB6NbgTgwWZJL1pTAuSL9nQG0RKnJMuU68FPUwzM9Q/s400/Clinic+2010+063.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9lbv1AmDlrvJHa1We9v0b6a7EP80ndW5_EKHi6YCV-8X-hAuKlxraUK8XAET9yYI_1SRNezzSxKHEbdc_KQcYKGnEvObzgxaTiUs4CXH7xQ2-Sw6u_U-XODF6SqQDbJfiVxhYgYmXBk/s1600/Clinic+2010+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9lbv1AmDlrvJHa1We9v0b6a7EP80ndW5_EKHi6YCV-8X-hAuKlxraUK8XAET9yYI_1SRNezzSxKHEbdc_KQcYKGnEvObzgxaTiUs4CXH7xQ2-Sw6u_U-XODF6SqQDbJfiVxhYgYmXBk/s400/Clinic+2010+066.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXent0wR664NoVMo-Big-kY6pAqdCKtQkBDGw6opdOfnExIGilDU2CrKxWcMz1u-txl-eTokEJLJxycTmwtlXEhEa0bHdYNG9b6usoh2EmRzN7diSP92wN-ayZzYtY6vFRx-t_92wxyA/s1600/Clinic+2010+074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXent0wR664NoVMo-Big-kY6pAqdCKtQkBDGw6opdOfnExIGilDU2CrKxWcMz1u-txl-eTokEJLJxycTmwtlXEhEa0bHdYNG9b6usoh2EmRzN7diSP92wN-ayZzYtY6vFRx-t_92wxyA/s400/Clinic+2010+074.JPG" width="380" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cupcake close up!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OrBuwDtReMpVfCIpzd1_p8aQi_-B1ScddfNF0YFfSWexL5B62z7PiR0DeY0GySmLs7XU-_4YyzybrAw6ZgK2HJecp1N1nbLGtgNVytISpkD9wVrFr6lZ4T42KT-KdbOpqmPWWBdlHMQ/s1600/Clinic+2010+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OrBuwDtReMpVfCIpzd1_p8aQi_-B1ScddfNF0YFfSWexL5B62z7PiR0DeY0GySmLs7XU-_4YyzybrAw6ZgK2HJecp1N1nbLGtgNVytISpkD9wVrFr6lZ4T42KT-KdbOpqmPWWBdlHMQ/s400/Clinic+2010+069.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the twin's personalized cookies...</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">the square is a peanut-butter cut out cookie; </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">the J's are cookie bites...</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZi8Uv_cG5AzG37wLrhe1S2y5JhLsWuCgOfnX5OyzsuSgtc-iizacwgtUG5wCTg1D92Mw0p9k4miaKAqQjOs7IOportXAbThycSHzQ2H_Zc5yoN89-Zzsw0F1mtw9h9Y2lIutZzShyphenhyphenxM/s1600/Clinic+2010+076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZi8Uv_cG5AzG37wLrhe1S2y5JhLsWuCgOfnX5OyzsuSgtc-iizacwgtUG5wCTg1D92Mw0p9k4miaKAqQjOs7IOportXAbThycSHzQ2H_Zc5yoN89-Zzsw0F1mtw9h9Y2lIutZzShyphenhyphenxM/s400/Clinic+2010+076.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A duck-themed cake for a 1-year old birthday girl...</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The bottom cake is a "column" cake I tried out for the first time. It's 2 - 8" cakes stacked on top of each other (each on a cake board for support), the top is a 6", then covered in fondant. I really like the look of the added height!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCHm-evL7QZgiZo16-Z8VXaZ1t2-Qx19ipR_CON4BNAf2gouoEGs1rF0ON-NzcM71hnqMVG-0QlvEi0wBeppaSe4epikjwLv5oXp7h0Y2T0mZyspsB_VwHRQz2qzMYkIGD8sKDw20E4M/s1600/duck+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCHm-evL7QZgiZo16-Z8VXaZ1t2-Qx19ipR_CON4BNAf2gouoEGs1rF0ON-NzcM71hnqMVG-0QlvEi0wBeppaSe4epikjwLv5oXp7h0Y2T0mZyspsB_VwHRQz2qzMYkIGD8sKDw20E4M/s640/duck+cake.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some cookies I added for the duck-themed birthday...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrBQnLQ5tE-K2e_rVFvBxuuc5I9TOplrCD4sfgxfAV3MfXWb9bZ9qnbUozQW8HGUYXALUrdMXPSR_WEL27-JJE7UgHlrK-RpAkt44IxYdQdJ7EloIMB3n79JHmyj0vC9htTu-SB1kSSc/s1600/duck+cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrBQnLQ5tE-K2e_rVFvBxuuc5I9TOplrCD4sfgxfAV3MfXWb9bZ9qnbUozQW8HGUYXALUrdMXPSR_WEL27-JJE7UgHlrK-RpAkt44IxYdQdJ7EloIMB3n79JHmyj0vC9htTu-SB1kSSc/s400/duck+cookies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...and these are just for funsies...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAswAQMBe_IVJOl7qg6SwDTcyjtV0GIN4gBNyDkQg0X3q3bagWPb-P8x46ODeWrbD-4qDsnZD-APfO2s4pUPUt1O0EXCzPgJVOLBEYbIjBQ9BAZ-gLTQp7EyAW0CsA5EaB4ROP-7o1EE/s1600/August+2010+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAswAQMBe_IVJOl7qg6SwDTcyjtV0GIN4gBNyDkQg0X3q3bagWPb-P8x46ODeWrbD-4qDsnZD-APfO2s4pUPUt1O0EXCzPgJVOLBEYbIjBQ9BAZ-gLTQp7EyAW0CsA5EaB4ROP-7o1EE/s400/August+2010+058.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicF0STAX4PA77zlLGdPqt3Y9-O7zcdvzRyCogdq9XfwzimUNUxQ6L9m2L1nxoSBDKoDIaLmZPnNXQbto0bvx_xL0k6r8EE9G00-Bi5w1TfLSAs-lj7H0IzvUKq_BgzH86eARsn2e5rJhA/s1600/August+2010+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicF0STAX4PA77zlLGdPqt3Y9-O7zcdvzRyCogdq9XfwzimUNUxQ6L9m2L1nxoSBDKoDIaLmZPnNXQbto0bvx_xL0k6r8EE9G00-Bi5w1TfLSAs-lj7H0IzvUKq_BgzH86eARsn2e5rJhA/s400/August+2010+029.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Peek-a-boo" Baby cutter bought from </span><a href="http://ecrandal.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">ecrandal</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can't wait to play around more with this cutter!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526715001450245593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874692660301939554.post-50456102101176613242010-09-21T13:27:00.000-07:002010-09-21T13:31:24.206-07:00Spinning Leaf Molds & Chocolate Transfer SheetsFor awhile now I've wanted to try out chocolate transfer sheets. They look like a fun way to jazz up decorating projects and turn an otherwise ho-hum deliciscious treat into a oh-yum cute treat.<br />
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I found out about <a href="http://www.spinningleaf.com/">Spinning Leaf</a> cookie molds on my go-to site for ideas, Cake Central. Their company has molds for chocolate, soap and most importantly...cookies! After reading about them, I had to try them out right away. Ordering was a breeze...and can I just tell you about their customer service? They broke the mold (har har...pun intended) for how to do business. Quick to respond, and so, so nice!<br />
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Having a couple birthday cookie projects coming up, I thought it was a perfect time to experiment with the molds and transfer sheets!<br />
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I'm sorry I didn't start taking pics from the beginning, but I'll explain where I started...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let me introduce you to the cookie mold </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(and my nubby thumb)~~~~~~~</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaMH7J4CN8E8vP2tQlHetu475Rc1uolLUu2e2o2q2IVBtnCSgF6BcfcU34uAOZxbyR1Vdc8SIyEOSlWjKwdF-L6A1RcwbICKQl1nbJvjMs_7dcM64HMhJEtOBltNiIzLwa0y2KrsKjRk/s1600/SL1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaMH7J4CN8E8vP2tQlHetu475Rc1uolLUu2e2o2q2IVBtnCSgF6BcfcU34uAOZxbyR1Vdc8SIyEOSlWjKwdF-L6A1RcwbICKQl1nbJvjMs_7dcM64HMhJEtOBltNiIzLwa0y2KrsKjRk/s400/SL1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Six-pack design, sized perfectly for regular Oreo-sized cookies (but they make ones for Oreo minis too! How cute is that!). This is the standard cookie mold, but they have a whole bunch of other molds in their collection. Hearts, faces, Halloween-themed, Christmas-themed. You get the idea, endless possibilities...<a href="http://www.spinningleaf.com/cookie-molds/index.php">go and take a looksie for yourself!</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="left">Next comes the part without pictures...boo. I took my chocolate transfer sheets, which are about 11x14, and cut a strip width-wise the same as my cookie circles. Be careful handling them because the design can be rubbed off with your fingers. Place the strip, design side UP on wax paper. Melt some chocolate of choice (I used chocolate almond bark), and...</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: large;">Spread it thinly on top of the transfer sheet:</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUPoAJgtAMSqzqPWK6x3NoPtt2y4neqg1okDyqUzcXc0f0VfoEwnKXT_GEJoDT0Cj1q1UowRaeEOabQIwcPi1Ik8MEYE_pAUSSfXmdr4qYpfAOkGlA3DaSN1ZUD2bsvI24yipOUMRqeg/s1600/SP3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUPoAJgtAMSqzqPWK6x3NoPtt2y4neqg1okDyqUzcXc0f0VfoEwnKXT_GEJoDT0Cj1q1UowRaeEOabQIwcPi1Ik8MEYE_pAUSSfXmdr4qYpfAOkGlA3DaSN1ZUD2bsvI24yipOUMRqeg/s400/SP3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now, careful when you are spreading to not push the melted chocolate around too much. You basically want to smear it on, and leave what has already touched the design surface alone. Too much smearing will make the transfer sheet design rub/smear off. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know this, because of experience...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9430rJdh9mVio-RdpcC-Z39RjmisjgwvYtlz7tcfpGh_toC-hwxNf-h-fY5aJfuWvnH3Of2UtqnENFzZXNOzOvw6kteXRjKnm93IswCKpqelKALhLndcpDGuC5Ak3eDF7oKoTTvtAsPw/s1600/SP4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9430rJdh9mVio-RdpcC-Z39RjmisjgwvYtlz7tcfpGh_toC-hwxNf-h-fY5aJfuWvnH3Of2UtqnENFzZXNOzOvw6kteXRjKnm93IswCKpqelKALhLndcpDGuC5Ak3eDF7oKoTTvtAsPw/s400/SP4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">See how the lettering is a little rubbed off? Case.in.point.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(FYI, I did that on purpose just to prove how not to do it...mmmkay?)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let that harden up a bit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next, you get a circle cutter. I happen to have one that is *just about* the perfect size, and it has an added bonus I'll show in a minute. It's about 1-34/" diameter...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dpcltr5_TyBqpyftCfhg1v7fbkI7PVQqawFYaCYCXORd4PEm_FdW7EL-thwpamnUngg8rqRVBZrj57WFQMxasuulvtItNmhUHOd91ntjR4xGAzHa5AFOzF3mVyM1JhhTjAIore7RulM/s1600/SP5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dpcltr5_TyBqpyftCfhg1v7fbkI7PVQqawFYaCYCXORd4PEm_FdW7EL-thwpamnUngg8rqRVBZrj57WFQMxasuulvtItNmhUHOd91ntjR4xGAzHa5AFOzF3mVyM1JhhTjAIore7RulM/s400/SP5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Place it over your firm chocolate and press down to cut the circle out</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYfFG0WyAPIgmv79aTCTDsndgycDUy2b2z1ZG5GGgh6FwyT6yNxpBpPJPy1H__rK7jM7IrZl-JqSXi1hXqtwV5gnS_oVcFevmmiUU5nTAsDbOY-1dbxUUlDXl-B9PrwiMgyIyJbJQ6_E/s128/SP6.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYfFG0WyAPIgmv79aTCTDsndgycDUy2b2z1ZG5GGgh6FwyT6yNxpBpPJPy1H__rK7jM7IrZl-JqSXi1hXqtwV5gnS_oVcFevmmiUU5nTAsDbOY-1dbxUUlDXl-B9PrwiMgyIyJbJQ6_E/s1600/SP6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYfFG0WyAPIgmv79aTCTDsndgycDUy2b2z1ZG5GGgh6FwyT6yNxpBpPJPy1H__rK7jM7IrZl-JqSXi1hXqtwV5gnS_oVcFevmmiUU5nTAsDbOY-1dbxUUlDXl-B9PrwiMgyIyJbJQ6_E/s400/SP6.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There she is. Smudged letters and all.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUisTRlDBcovVlbv5AJCqz575CdS8rjCzWaMDAOS4xB7E-IDmqWBPquLnCQvWbC1iOfpLDPTz58xtCETHIZKMjIHOjrarjhgBEMLysDDehpsiDnPEuEBRckXRyRTkX80Y1KNI8ciHAHk/s1600/SP7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUisTRlDBcovVlbv5AJCqz575CdS8rjCzWaMDAOS4xB7E-IDmqWBPquLnCQvWbC1iOfpLDPTz58xtCETHIZKMjIHOjrarjhgBEMLysDDehpsiDnPEuEBRckXRyRTkX80Y1KNI8ciHAHk/s400/SP7.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, place it over the empty cookie mold cavity. The added bonus of my <em>special </em>circle cutter? It has an edge that allows it to sit down perfectly into my mold. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lovely. Just lovely.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjJhik4HzhbxqCvhkKGGvzsz0n8lott24pkzNmlPWWFN4w609hBkT7i96aM4NEH_RBlr6p-o506NcwSED1z7sgVYvai4OTjESqKnV7_1PAxjNzcbRPcWKicGA66fgI4G9FE7PikKD8bw/s1600/SP8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjJhik4HzhbxqCvhkKGGvzsz0n8lott24pkzNmlPWWFN4w609hBkT7i96aM4NEH_RBlr6p-o506NcwSED1z7sgVYvai4OTjESqKnV7_1PAxjNzcbRPcWKicGA66fgI4G9FE7PikKD8bw/s400/SP8.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next, take a sharp knife and gently push around the edges. It should just easily fall into the bottom of the mold. If it doesn't, then give it a little help with your finger. Don't worry...no one will see the fingerprint mark you leave on the chocolate; the evidence will be covered up!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeJm_wZVBmjTBSnl_OoX-TWV_E2c9QZkrwBS8rS8Pt00gLCUQNdP95VnFB-wO5Ydzo-oxcBb7gZ9dWNkryi1q7tke5WDoG6SR_FUR6cYBzcLaC7kKmOr2HkwLxFP2A1v0eRBTG6v_34Y/s1600/SP9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeJm_wZVBmjTBSnl_OoX-TWV_E2c9QZkrwBS8rS8Pt00gLCUQNdP95VnFB-wO5Ydzo-oxcBb7gZ9dWNkryi1q7tke5WDoG6SR_FUR6cYBzcLaC7kKmOr2HkwLxFP2A1v0eRBTG6v_34Y/s400/SP9.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ta-daa!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwn-brkXJVbl8jVzSfojVx4ozuC7XGdBL3WVzyZl1XnJgYRBBRZ0rbE9hvi9H8bvX9jbojEzlrlE4YdQmomDrGJ3LBZFBlVAltwMsvqkLqC8QOYpuwKwadIN89R13xzmG0Ws-mEzZrgbc/s1600/SP10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwn-brkXJVbl8jVzSfojVx4ozuC7XGdBL3WVzyZl1XnJgYRBBRZ0rbE9hvi9H8bvX9jbojEzlrlE4YdQmomDrGJ3LBZFBlVAltwMsvqkLqC8QOYpuwKwadIN89R13xzmG0Ws-mEzZrgbc/s400/SP10.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The underside:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisR3joWpuUaiRCXFrBZ54MNg8Tua8dxiQxks52AUARvLNBzQ7v7pbQcxM8vE70vwjFw6_bbjbZCw_RlJ6lsxmJEbj-GOiVc2AFDmiOLWcTBL8tcGJJKEvjuc7MHQnUDSZnivEIIimIPPw/s1600/SP11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisR3joWpuUaiRCXFrBZ54MNg8Tua8dxiQxks52AUARvLNBzQ7v7pbQcxM8vE70vwjFw6_bbjbZCw_RlJ6lsxmJEbj-GOiVc2AFDmiOLWcTBL8tcGJJKEvjuc7MHQnUDSZnivEIIimIPPw/s400/SP11.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>Letter smudges and all.</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now for the fill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Get your supplies. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Cookies.</strong> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I used Oreo Double Stuff (shown) and Oreo PEANUT BUTTER. Salivating yet?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Chocolate for melting.</strong> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I used Merckens, but any will do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I melted my chocolate in a disposable icing bag. So handy for squeezing into the mold cavities, and clean up is easy peasy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_gq7gO4mGko0rKjWvU8RYB4WI9M2igRmRjML3yXNBbVw_G6ARrirdt6Na0viIMTjgysmrP1uMNuqj6XBuXP8CEgsbjV1Kmu21PA8Lh6HCaa5pxjP9nAPCpAjexAECmva_sPNxkm13Pk/s1600/SP2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_gq7gO4mGko0rKjWvU8RYB4WI9M2igRmRjML3yXNBbVw_G6ARrirdt6Na0viIMTjgysmrP1uMNuqj6XBuXP8CEgsbjV1Kmu21PA8Lh6HCaa5pxjP9nAPCpAjexAECmva_sPNxkm13Pk/s400/SP2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Snip off the end of the icing bag and squeeze the melted chocolate right into the cavities</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mxCpVSJNek71l1TRKnILVFKwEn5FPrizNiegx1jMmytWqFC6Cbwnhgt69ipoBeQhuUOTFHKiBuLjBP6i7naOuraBANqJNw-AIVE2-5A9zIkdemd5uFzn9O19GPCg1BkmT9lve29j_7s/s1600/SP13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mxCpVSJNek71l1TRKnILVFKwEn5FPrizNiegx1jMmytWqFC6Cbwnhgt69ipoBeQhuUOTFHKiBuLjBP6i7naOuraBANqJNw-AIVE2-5A9zIkdemd5uFzn9O19GPCg1BkmT9lve29j_7s/s400/SP13.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, I know what you are <strike>seeing</strike> thinking. I thought it too. So, quickly get that cookie and smush down any <strike>crappy</strike> visuals you may be having of that chocolate swirl.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_RCtBdQC-nesTdQ6fcmgeotTk80agU1UX-X6CZAJe9n_SPizzbAr9SX2OPbxKNQ-GeFvRtyMwzMvdEvMAo1VHLpoy5nrlU34S2h0Ec6QGaJsJc0fd3AQ3BOFXY1tmrvHWjvmSbQseiI/s1600/SP14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_RCtBdQC-nesTdQ6fcmgeotTk80agU1UX-X6CZAJe9n_SPizzbAr9SX2OPbxKNQ-GeFvRtyMwzMvdEvMAo1VHLpoy5nrlU34S2h0Ec6QGaJsJc0fd3AQ3BOFXY1tmrvHWjvmSbQseiI/s400/SP14.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Better.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Smoosh it down so that the top of the cookie is below, not flush, with the top of the cavity. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then top of each cavity with more melted chocolate</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSK7uFgxaKbOi-tlagY8RTJD4_aKMHhl-pzJLueb_ppRgRucSfwpoF0pNTtB8effmX_1PMZfXTD_ubh1EVlVl8Qjc82-hjwteoC90hqthbwifzXYa59ihyphenhyphencvF1jwX6gkILvVjebPyT8I/s1600/SP15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSK7uFgxaKbOi-tlagY8RTJD4_aKMHhl-pzJLueb_ppRgRucSfwpoF0pNTtB8effmX_1PMZfXTD_ubh1EVlVl8Qjc82-hjwteoC90hqthbwifzXYa59ihyphenhyphencvF1jwX6gkILvVjebPyT8I/s400/SP15.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pick up the entire mold and give it some taps on the counter to settle the cookie and allow any air bubbles to come to the surface.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If needed, add a little more melted chocolate. I did. You want enough on top to be able to scrape it flush. Kind of like you want a little extra on top when measuring flour or sugar in a cup.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvismSKiqX40XoeY0DSCodTk4iulkME2HJP8TDt-8ktXYD1lnS2AHoT9GGS8KKElT3Tv0-jJMxweElLFWyb-PjlqHEhcjCjOTK8gOa7gwvCeE49ttLVsjfHD0T237k-4v-vALgFU1GbQ/s1600/SP16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvismSKiqX40XoeY0DSCodTk4iulkME2HJP8TDt-8ktXYD1lnS2AHoT9GGS8KKElT3Tv0-jJMxweElLFWyb-PjlqHEhcjCjOTK8gOa7gwvCeE49ttLVsjfHD0T237k-4v-vALgFU1GbQ/s400/SP16.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Time to scrape. I use a small plastic bench scraper.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xy7ft8lkFUG0lrfH8KaBc7gyKzWzlTTiw9N6YInVhZ0VXKKh2Xv59Doce6bxLbCBE9vWiMPl51x6D_wTG_0ZZu7WQZd-4Lz7Z3_otIj9F2Wvo50GOYqymYklLq4WZJRY5sE-xiaDJh8/s1600/SP17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xy7ft8lkFUG0lrfH8KaBc7gyKzWzlTTiw9N6YInVhZ0VXKKh2Xv59Doce6bxLbCBE9vWiMPl51x6D_wTG_0ZZu7WQZd-4Lz7Z3_otIj9F2Wvo50GOYqymYklLq4WZJRY5sE-xiaDJh8/s400/SP17.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, when I scrape I like to do a couple passes, and I go in a square-pattern. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">1...along the length</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">2...along each bottom</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">3...along the other length</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Flushed and finished!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaAq9bhXd42ckokzVo1-L465-AM05fnghjrgz3BJgNqjMyWYyv3VzLd6E8TcHBLP_WgZK-UKfZzr4v6rLDyGZt_0TE0P_Lhuf1N_hPy_EAhsa72oerSBSCtG5tbMSO0LfJhzY67Xb5fM/s1600/SP19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaAq9bhXd42ckokzVo1-L465-AM05fnghjrgz3BJgNqjMyWYyv3VzLd6E8TcHBLP_WgZK-UKfZzr4v6rLDyGZt_0TE0P_Lhuf1N_hPy_EAhsa72oerSBSCtG5tbMSO0LfJhzY67Xb5fM/s400/SP19.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now it sits in the fridge to firm up. Doesn't take long. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I used the wait time to color some black royal icing. In doing so, had a little incident with the black coloring gel. The gel won.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">As evidenced in it under my fingernails. Really. It's not dirt.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So after messing up my kitchen more, I took a mold out, turned it over, gave a very easy press on the cookie, and out it came!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Without much pressure or convincing!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aA4Tw08fpzgHSyrsLQ-MKG_fz0W83APgH3hoxlTVsaiJjO2-iSdRzixpEg_GZRJCSrujmZOIrxmMIDJuk6VqypGzyJyqxQ9ZI0tj15OOYBd60tCWzGEaT8-wWFcP7kIMMRDm4JU4qqU/s1600/SP20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aA4Tw08fpzgHSyrsLQ-MKG_fz0W83APgH3hoxlTVsaiJjO2-iSdRzixpEg_GZRJCSrujmZOIrxmMIDJuk6VqypGzyJyqxQ9ZI0tj15OOYBd60tCWzGEaT8-wWFcP7kIMMRDm4JU4qqU/s400/SP20.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not too shabby!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglsuG_MQ2ZEX82f7mhFczjIOIpcC-8jaI8dH-7fetbNWQjTAzPx2PXZuKgFlA1__VrVdALbhec3OEu3AIkZ9CEFFN5P795Wnvd6k-Dlx1tlK8Kbid3hqBEMtwBHzafZ__LPZEw-KfzFw/s1600/SP21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglsuG_MQ2ZEX82f7mhFczjIOIpcC-8jaI8dH-7fetbNWQjTAzPx2PXZuKgFlA1__VrVdALbhec3OEu3AIkZ9CEFFN5P795Wnvd6k-Dlx1tlK8Kbid3hqBEMtwBHzafZ__LPZEw-KfzFw/s400/SP21.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of these pretty little numbers just had to be sacrificied.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OreYFtvpDIyTAYtG3XK13xnZ9_6brPwMM-PuoZj__qjvpbn2z6EmbfFgozZhfgvIwB5_d-k1_aVvNJj2eZXVrg4WT0G6cG-rvz97c_JK-F82fYO6WmYTAoqFTQIDc-c-DRgB-3j6pdU/s1600/SP22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OreYFtvpDIyTAYtG3XK13xnZ9_6brPwMM-PuoZj__qjvpbn2z6EmbfFgozZhfgvIwB5_d-k1_aVvNJj2eZXVrg4WT0G6cG-rvz97c_JK-F82fYO6WmYTAoqFTQIDc-c-DRgB-3j6pdU/s400/SP22.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Poor thing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course, I <em>had</em> to sample it. You know, to make sure it was edible for the recipients and all.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Double Stuff may or may not have been sampled as well.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you done cookie molds? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chocolate transfers? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let me know your experiences and tips!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526715001450245593noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874692660301939554.post-27649291714800153602010-09-14T13:05:00.000-07:002010-09-14T13:05:45.332-07:00Autumn Leaf Cookies or...Love is in the Air<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Recently I fulfilled a request for anniversary cookies...the theme was left up to me. It was for my friend Tricia who wanted to surprise her husband with some sweet treats. Trying to figure out which designs to go with, I decided to browse her wedding photographs. They were married in September and their theme was vintage with an autumn influence. I confiscated some of the pictures, and with the help of my projector...these were born:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOXxm3U3Aoj72x9cj-XtyZ_DPn7KdxzhoBULmAq8zMc1GF4z0ybaHDuScKOp1LnIJqedUuTgrig96F6pGshGTxpbkhF2LrAVfeysTt9e60VwnAzyD3nD23vjgkbx-m9H1GNtJ91_AnFw/s1600/August+2010+123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOXxm3U3Aoj72x9cj-XtyZ_DPn7KdxzhoBULmAq8zMc1GF4z0ybaHDuScKOp1LnIJqedUuTgrig96F6pGshGTxpbkhF2LrAVfeysTt9e60VwnAzyD3nD23vjgkbx-m9H1GNtJ91_AnFw/s400/August+2010+123.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">... I really must time my pictures for when it's daylight...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Their movie poster wedding program...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOfx18PHdc66ZMhTr7sBP2ecD9Xz5_XRefAYPYtZ7gsh2n756kNXgazOmbXWwfya-Ghue0wHm5GkzBy59hCUBKUyApRlTBw4WMO5iVvfC5H9RRnkcs9_VfMZyY_WU2YgTihymya852So/s1600/tricia+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOfx18PHdc66ZMhTr7sBP2ecD9Xz5_XRefAYPYtZ7gsh2n756kNXgazOmbXWwfya-Ghue0wHm5GkzBy59hCUBKUyApRlTBw4WMO5iVvfC5H9RRnkcs9_VfMZyY_WU2YgTihymya852So/s320/tricia+tree.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vcqxDW3f6sVtshUrdCv-NgDTrx6MRdMpuYW8D_8YENmDpygD1wjnENtNdVOPpgfH5TtB6rVb9MKAcmZtDOE9OZAK19a1VuUyvr13nkV2Ul3-T12CwCQgebQFZOnilog1PbuHXXQxMNk/s1600/August+2010+107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vcqxDW3f6sVtshUrdCv-NgDTrx6MRdMpuYW8D_8YENmDpygD1wjnENtNdVOPpgfH5TtB6rVb9MKAcmZtDOE9OZAK19a1VuUyvr13nkV2Ul3-T12CwCQgebQFZOnilog1PbuHXXQxMNk/s320/August+2010+107.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sunflowers (kinda)...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGnHh67WwtYLYRiO7k_sTYGz6p_fsDRWFZ-UWqdvvXZe8lsDDYHIaly-2MHrO9ESQjj5H5cQ2CzhSwX8prtBULchKWdFxhjY2zYZVThohjR0PNtb0fKKDL8uCTF6Z_EwpM-8xs8JPaJ0/s1600/August+2010+080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGnHh67WwtYLYRiO7k_sTYGz6p_fsDRWFZ-UWqdvvXZe8lsDDYHIaly-2MHrO9ESQjj5H5cQ2CzhSwX8prtBULchKWdFxhjY2zYZVThohjR0PNtb0fKKDL8uCTF6Z_EwpM-8xs8JPaJ0/s400/August+2010+080.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Autumn leaves...</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZN4EBT612j21fdcNd7KGewoXPGdGcqNkw9A1NpZWe4ITh_ih8znyBaMJIMQ_bqIQu8Ucb30AqUasNInPq0ygC7urqMHh_VGQbhnQ-Hm7NVA6xou-2w9KKWc_LXPrapaAX9q_BUopXkw/s1600/August+2010+120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZN4EBT612j21fdcNd7KGewoXPGdGcqNkw9A1NpZWe4ITh_ih8znyBaMJIMQ_bqIQu8Ucb30AqUasNInPq0ygC7urqMHh_VGQbhnQ-Hm7NVA6xou-2w9KKWc_LXPrapaAX9q_BUopXkw/s400/August+2010+120.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDjpZMeUvV2fCfEKVylDkHPoGXafn7dEd3a8b3PYQNx4Ikq-q0gpnLiOgmUaAdaA3rej65fbVSC6Ta94caEEjgAS4VtVCZaAF2kL4jBTTcWZ2s3IQ-qadEZofKL7Y_uZ7w4cicQObfKk/s1600/August+2010+076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDjpZMeUvV2fCfEKVylDkHPoGXafn7dEd3a8b3PYQNx4Ikq-q0gpnLiOgmUaAdaA3rej65fbVSC6Ta94caEEjgAS4VtVCZaAF2kL4jBTTcWZ2s3IQ-qadEZofKL7Y_uZ7w4cicQObfKk/s400/August+2010+076.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The getaway car...</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBkN_1imSculn7WxR3S6JAVT7uCHrHNJ9DTHbOYxzVm-LfapvOQggaOxGCRH1qXfBXMCVjyZVl1lBYb-EPbBo_jyIfq78LCjYLhyphenhyphenK4gdMxahE6_Z4oIzN4M2EoqCA0h48xoE_ArjrYjU/s1600/August+2010+115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBkN_1imSculn7WxR3S6JAVT7uCHrHNJ9DTHbOYxzVm-LfapvOQggaOxGCRH1qXfBXMCVjyZVl1lBYb-EPbBo_jyIfq78LCjYLhyphenhyphenK4gdMxahE6_Z4oIzN4M2EoqCA0h48xoE_ArjrYjU/s400/August+2010+115.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and misc...</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBFg5G1iEIVsYgoQVVYkbWcKjg4M99Kmz6DbhucysfAyJMGp-gp1T14tXUmekL74mKz3Dynqby8Sy5txqrm01VvUQ1SjASy6pVCik9MytvjBmJ63uE1r-6BcOBfBVrpq1o4P1YPU6D5k/s1600/August+2010+119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBFg5G1iEIVsYgoQVVYkbWcKjg4M99Kmz6DbhucysfAyJMGp-gp1T14tXUmekL74mKz3Dynqby8Sy5txqrm01VvUQ1SjASy6pVCik9MytvjBmJ63uE1r-6BcOBfBVrpq1o4P1YPU6D5k/s400/August+2010+119.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEad-S0xBiHCPIszcz5j8T657EGHd7mVPzb6roxrQjnDTArA-jME2gLqyxGu4wrL8NMB3aJlfnyHlCi-bzst5oxZWs5G-zBfNN5Xotv-2_UvemEfTLDYdMzJnT_kHkSuTwnysCtXgCu60/s1600/August+2010+099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEad-S0xBiHCPIszcz5j8T657EGHd7mVPzb6roxrQjnDTArA-jME2gLqyxGu4wrL8NMB3aJlfnyHlCi-bzst5oxZWs5G-zBfNN5Xotv-2_UvemEfTLDYdMzJnT_kHkSuTwnysCtXgCu60/s400/August+2010+099.JPG" width="400" /></a><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXAtFYk2RlkspxCLGFr7O7DO6uJKUbfP37qCvRnXCYy5g2kwdyaFPn-NEpdD4ouJYLlDHb2Vku_EmKL8_1-sQjqGiUSf7mDCGz8hgjvYlegDHqZ7pBvAado0CYsqvuOU-YG6KsXOCifw/s400/August+2010+100.JPG" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Autumn leaf cookies were my first try at coloring sugar cookie dough for a multi-colored effect. Here's how I did it...</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">First I started off with a recipe for </span><a href="http://www.karenscookies.net/Cookie-Decorating-Recipes_ep_68-1.html#recipe06"><span style="font-size: large;">Cinnamon Spice Roll Out Cookies</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> I found on the </span><a href="http://www.karenscookies.net/"><span style="font-size: large;">Karen's Cookies</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> site. After making the dough, I divided equal parts into 5 sections. Leaving one section the original dough color, I then colored the other 4 the Fall colors I wanted:</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEMuKGbLZs5IRyxDK7sASwuK69GtFIL3IMAguTVXr6ra1xY4szbKZjkkLia88k_wjRUeCgw0k_nBNr9QDcMxcv7EA7v-QTGpizYm46CX47h4cOJE8fm3Yloe89JnO6_OojaoojumDomQ/s1600/colored+dough.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEMuKGbLZs5IRyxDK7sASwuK69GtFIL3IMAguTVXr6ra1xY4szbKZjkkLia88k_wjRUeCgw0k_nBNr9QDcMxcv7EA7v-QTGpizYm46CX47h4cOJE8fm3Yloe89JnO6_OojaoojumDomQ/s400/colored+dough.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then I pinched off a part of each section and layered them on top of each other:</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjile1RircDUg0DLZeF3Ls5fjl1LI4QrWGB24wC0rUV1nFc7ItHuVe5AZkQdJfNWhROgkFP5_NFROp-gmXtM9G8hrn00tEODZ78rUhKvFMVkELXgxcZ6jrDQ80-qcMl_EGMIpfqR7ZXpFY/s1600/August+2010+053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjile1RircDUg0DLZeF3Ls5fjl1LI4QrWGB24wC0rUV1nFc7ItHuVe5AZkQdJfNWhROgkFP5_NFROp-gmXtM9G8hrn00tEODZ78rUhKvFMVkELXgxcZ6jrDQ80-qcMl_EGMIpfqR7ZXpFY/s400/August+2010+053.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next I pinched the dough together all around:</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj269O0u-ODHxeaQdveeHEKwVK4CrZMk3xKalehnBSkhcHOe4ckmXph7mlwzWcN36Z_x7UCxtPPv49jUiSI9nf3K95gaIm6jKL3QdfGped4XV4ywrFAnC9VfPB9chn1sXuJm3AlWJGlHD0/s1600/August+2010+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj269O0u-ODHxeaQdveeHEKwVK4CrZMk3xKalehnBSkhcHOe4ckmXph7mlwzWcN36Z_x7UCxtPPv49jUiSI9nf3K95gaIm6jKL3QdfGped4XV4ywrFAnC9VfPB9chn1sXuJm3AlWJGlHD0/s400/August+2010+055.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Flattened and rolled it out:</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMEkqNKUXERN_G2f6AeAhVRej5kGx_FYf4J5DwUM9soAhBzsEXJvVVsgbcWfaJbuEsEg230KY2AsqsjO7WiLzJTm-ppTP9qhBc9JN4rDMTiy-upImlU0PiySsJf1bRPd9DaiUkmaxqQA/s1600/August+2010+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMEkqNKUXERN_G2f6AeAhVRej5kGx_FYf4J5DwUM9soAhBzsEXJvVVsgbcWfaJbuEsEg230KY2AsqsjO7WiLzJTm-ppTP9qhBc9JN4rDMTiy-upImlU0PiySsJf1bRPd9DaiUkmaxqQA/s400/August+2010+056.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I chilled it for a few minutes in the freezer before cutting it out with my leaf cookie cutters.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMr4rSpJa78rms9mr-XMdQr-zMHkLDpjKpZyotcdpZRHarw7bSH-YhPG0gjRIMU9ljsR8JMpv1TzVjQe_PCaBL4fiploLrDgGcfPAK1xbl3jusJidpEK3hAXLeP_6xk0NxMYbhuEvAF0/s1600/August+2010+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMr4rSpJa78rms9mr-XMdQr-zMHkLDpjKpZyotcdpZRHarw7bSH-YhPG0gjRIMU9ljsR8JMpv1TzVjQe_PCaBL4fiploLrDgGcfPAK1xbl3jusJidpEK3hAXLeP_6xk0NxMYbhuEvAF0/s400/August+2010+001.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Baked it at 350, for approximately 10-12 minutes...</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_o4o5UQ82hWpZ7ZZl_GsmlcEL0DC3w9Qlwz93MUzNclyBOYHfr0X20n5asDaDeAM1DdLAvPUbiolzna7ld7PjhU3qJpcZOvp9gOIoj1r5aQCf2z3ETxtZOyugEbouzSHn4elKTupwHbs/s1600/August+2010+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_o4o5UQ82hWpZ7ZZl_GsmlcEL0DC3w9Qlwz93MUzNclyBOYHfr0X20n5asDaDeAM1DdLAvPUbiolzna7ld7PjhU3qJpcZOvp9gOIoj1r5aQCf2z3ETxtZOyugEbouzSHn4elKTupwHbs/s400/August+2010+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I wasn't quite sure how I wanted to decorate them. I really didn't want to ice them and cover up the colors. So, after cooling, I brushed them very lightly with light corn syrup and sprinkled on gold sparkle dust...voila!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEckvqsvhp45Xtke8ACI_uE0QMIEo0U2z6OCvd5-E_wa3mp1uC4k5vHptkw_NAQOqfaaaZxnb50IqW8jClN0xkocLeh1PLRLZCRHAM2FSu74jKUDL_2FXtJzAEBF8Lx3SsWgIO0SO2Uyk/s1600/August+2010+077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEckvqsvhp45Xtke8ACI_uE0QMIEo0U2z6OCvd5-E_wa3mp1uC4k5vHptkw_NAQOqfaaaZxnb50IqW8jClN0xkocLeh1PLRLZCRHAM2FSu74jKUDL_2FXtJzAEBF8Lx3SsWgIO0SO2Uyk/s400/August+2010+077.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I just love how they shimmered!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSlCTHsXK8Y8L-_LqYTHyorMBFWrRP2sCsVznxLAl3JNiAlGMOxJZvPaEuZpVdLl1OFWzbcA07EjcAKKsmfiL5wNQ3bsSqxuKrwGho1kgvM-E77ieb57M8TWGl1I3zJVpnbIJr22NZgg/s1600/August+2010+078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSlCTHsXK8Y8L-_LqYTHyorMBFWrRP2sCsVznxLAl3JNiAlGMOxJZvPaEuZpVdLl1OFWzbcA07EjcAKKsmfiL5wNQ3bsSqxuKrwGho1kgvM-E77ieb57M8TWGl1I3zJVpnbIJr22NZgg/s640/August+2010+078.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Anniversary Tricia!</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526715001450245593noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874692660301939554.post-1928097515084196012010-09-13T09:21:00.000-07:002010-09-13T09:21:19.948-07:00I'm A Winner!!!Yay!! I've been chosen as an <a href="http://ecrandal.blogspot.com/2010/09/august-give-away-winners.html">August winner</a>! They have soooo many cute cookie cutters to choose from...so hard to decide! Maybe with the holidays coming up, I'll pick something seasonal. Or maybe something for birthdays...maybe a cute animal. I DON'T KNOW!! AAAACK!<br />
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Do you want to be faced with indecisiveness? Then go <a href="http://ecrandal.blogspot.com/">read the giveaway details on the right</a> for details on how you can be a winner too! (There is usually a giveaway every month).Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526715001450245593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874692660301939554.post-61215902771117041492010-09-07T12:16:00.000-07:002010-09-07T12:16:35.779-07:00Football Season is here!!It hasn't quite felt like Fall yet around here. In Central California, we don't quite get that season-changing feeling like other states do. No nice warm weather inching into cooler tones...nope...we go from hot, to cool, with maybe a few days here and there of perfect warmth. We know the seasons are changing when the corn crops get cut, the cotton starts blooming, and when football takes over the high schools and Monday night programming.<br />
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A local high school had their first game last Friday night, and I got a request for a football-themed cookie platter to wish the head coach good luck. Having just received <a href="http://www.kopykake.com/ac_projector_300xk.html">my new toy</a>, I wanted to try out a few of the cookies custom to the school mascot. I think they turned out great!<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">HS mascot picture...and the image piped onto the cookie</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiI_PZFyuLgnoVthgB9HOJC27edQbdH1d8r7eZtnNPh9o3z1fE8bWPbRt7kdX5hLQRmkEZpRg2azdrlv82AdqQLC14eSGa5RHhXGHSZ23jurf_W_ndMW-tk2nYJ-REqQ9E0ii4fW8mNnk/s1600/HHS+mascot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiI_PZFyuLgnoVthgB9HOJC27edQbdH1d8r7eZtnNPh9o3z1fE8bWPbRt7kdX5hLQRmkEZpRg2azdrlv82AdqQLC14eSGa5RHhXGHSZ23jurf_W_ndMW-tk2nYJ-REqQ9E0ii4fW8mNnk/s320/HHS+mascot.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NYZSoBxU0lDcEr9x2jbbG4CrBR2ofPtVC2BJxK-SQ2OZj7zw4d7u9bm6b13yr2FIfleGOREF7a4gxfYMgNrxRz-87VyxaSjyjseJaLfSLrGzqZeGvtx0AaAYJO1HAHNilTuYM9O6iV0/s1600/bullpup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NYZSoBxU0lDcEr9x2jbbG4CrBR2ofPtVC2BJxK-SQ2OZj7zw4d7u9bm6b13yr2FIfleGOREF7a4gxfYMgNrxRz-87VyxaSjyjseJaLfSLrGzqZeGvtx0AaAYJO1HAHNilTuYM9O6iV0/s320/bullpup.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another one, done as a transfer and "glued" onto a helmet</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxvvHqT4tIKVGM8hcYUPALnLNWmVwZLgGGk-aKms803wCC0wpEF4wFQ-Mv1UF9T8yDdYygC-7XHfxHTOgPt5CvrZuzrzlZqfVXKI4Vn5vJI3dMEbd60c3covNKtTSf-ymnzxh0o7L-O0/s1600/football+helmet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxvvHqT4tIKVGM8hcYUPALnLNWmVwZLgGGk-aKms803wCC0wpEF4wFQ-Mv1UF9T8yDdYygC-7XHfxHTOgPt5CvrZuzrzlZqfVXKI4Vn5vJI3dMEbd60c3covNKtTSf-ymnzxh0o7L-O0/s400/football+helmet.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Footballs...</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_AHDFcgCPJ-3J__vi_u55BpABx4IG3b43AmhNzYPzQP0Dz3ahDjk9GkU_znvwitE90ih28-CzdWi2Pu5HodsxVPm-BjcZvI1vC6OSgX2dQ-juH6oh89zxrkOkEJQWq5VLK6MBLcJg1Q/s1600/August+2010+074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_AHDFcgCPJ-3J__vi_u55BpABx4IG3b43AmhNzYPzQP0Dz3ahDjk9GkU_znvwitE90ih28-CzdWi2Pu5HodsxVPm-BjcZvI1vC6OSgX2dQ-juH6oh89zxrkOkEJQWq5VLK6MBLcJg1Q/s320/August+2010+074.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Goal Post...Score!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7L8e43F5dz5BK24pHaene3wi8lpBb1bzqfUGA82j64sVA5RKX79XpcZhsyUR6KseqkGbDHoLOOpLWq5EWUrfSBFrAXYo2dI3Qitn7oXInVapl6NHcsxsOukfTHUGMLkigye4fNQQ_0w/s1600/goalpost.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7L8e43F5dz5BK24pHaene3wi8lpBb1bzqfUGA82j64sVA5RKX79XpcZhsyUR6KseqkGbDHoLOOpLWq5EWUrfSBFrAXYo2dI3Qitn7oXInVapl6NHcsxsOukfTHUGMLkigye4fNQQ_0w/s320/goalpost.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...and the platter as a whole.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The football player was pretty plump</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> as a gingerbread man cut-out, </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">but I tried to trim him down some with </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">cosmetic airbrushing a-la-icing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfd79Rj3Aj-I281-ekQsxqNSN1UQIbIw-wKtDvvYyJ8PYa-o9cORjtsFVmdzgZpaHx-B2KXci0oB4XsXeE3wqc8VAd2Mg0vT4-YAnY1YnAlg5696KTgrJwL-R0v5oXQsoQ_vsJIyvXrFs/s1600/football+platter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfd79Rj3Aj-I281-ekQsxqNSN1UQIbIw-wKtDvvYyJ8PYa-o9cORjtsFVmdzgZpaHx-B2KXci0oB4XsXeE3wqc8VAd2Mg0vT4-YAnY1YnAlg5696KTgrJwL-R0v5oXQsoQ_vsJIyvXrFs/s320/football+platter.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Icing seems to have the opposite affect on me...but that's another story!</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526715001450245593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874692660301939554.post-92214762476157873512010-08-25T10:17:00.000-07:002010-08-25T10:17:42.095-07:00Pigs, Chocolate, and TeachersNot necessarily all together...just a few projects I've worked on in this past week...<br />
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A friend of mine who I hadn't heard from in awhile came to have some interesting Facebook status posts lately. Something along the lines of "starting a new life", "exciting adventures", etc. It puzzled me, because she has 2 lovely young boys, and life was stable as far as I knew. Well, little did I know!<br />
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A few emailings back and forth revealed the twist her life had taken. Or should I say...the tryst her life had taken. Sadly, she is divorcing her husband and starting a new life with her beautiful boys. While she is in a good place right now and at peace with her decision, what better way to say "I'm thinking of you and the chaos your life has been in since you caught your husband cheating on you" than some pig cookies?<br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">Got this idea when I browsed something similar over at </span><a href="http://adozeneggs.com/wordpress/?attachment_id=4069"><span style="font-size: large;">Cookie Crumbs</span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zlIHTmpDl0gu7Ha5jWj8SyHqMUalX7oGniDCdLetnUEW-MqJLdYo1MOY_ijUJ4ZqEWznK0QMecR_tY15TDZ6ueeeHFD5nV72axD5Hz2u8ee1ZCwxckANcslSso35sn8SKjFioQuLzQE/s1600/July+2010+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zlIHTmpDl0gu7Ha5jWj8SyHqMUalX7oGniDCdLetnUEW-MqJLdYo1MOY_ijUJ4ZqEWznK0QMecR_tY15TDZ6ueeeHFD5nV72axD5Hz2u8ee1ZCwxckANcslSso35sn8SKjFioQuLzQE/s400/July+2010+042.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQHZqjVRYk-HoyQx9G64bdaZdiSflwAs9O3R8j4bqbSQFwiIs0jGwpi4s-lL4hJTyu0xmPSIlORuvEhOKryRqn31kLa_lkg7YAywUwCamxqCQ3r5Q3fg0AcMtWA7McvXzrO1e3rtkC-E/s1600/July+2010+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQHZqjVRYk-HoyQx9G64bdaZdiSflwAs9O3R8j4bqbSQFwiIs0jGwpi4s-lL4hJTyu0xmPSIlORuvEhOKryRqn31kLa_lkg7YAywUwCamxqCQ3r5Q3fg0AcMtWA7McvXzrO1e3rtkC-E/s400/July+2010+050.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7aojh7IHLZ5uamlmLsWRmCJ_dBBIMHMjvasQv08uuqOPcXHQqEwKe0YKNZhdJUFsWRHY0-aCzeQ-slfkJ4sa0dDBGyadlWkJ77dt2YmCMM_VmmG6EKLZx94jFna5N1ydscBruuaTzf0/s1600/July+2010+054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7aojh7IHLZ5uamlmLsWRmCJ_dBBIMHMjvasQv08uuqOPcXHQqEwKe0YKNZhdJUFsWRHY0-aCzeQ-slfkJ4sa0dDBGyadlWkJ77dt2YmCMM_VmmG6EKLZx94jFna5N1ydscBruuaTzf0/s400/July+2010+054.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQcNjUiwRKoQ0MQvkZ_o5P60nm5tmSiCN8CaKrYSHbWQqGd2oH05URlc2DqQzbmg5EkqVatyqTY_I-23PUSTUxMV4zdvTYR79TqOsf1pNCTPl46UAqg2acuPeCf2iBb1YeLkF-15lXnk/s1600/July+2010+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQcNjUiwRKoQ0MQvkZ_o5P60nm5tmSiCN8CaKrYSHbWQqGd2oH05URlc2DqQzbmg5EkqVatyqTY_I-23PUSTUxMV4zdvTYR79TqOsf1pNCTPl46UAqg2acuPeCf2iBb1YeLkF-15lXnk/s400/July+2010+058.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">She should be receiving them today!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">On to the chocolate...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I wanted to dabble in some chocolate cut-out cookies, you know, to expand the cut-out options...and when is chocolate never a good idea?</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I found a few recipes. The first one I nabbed from <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Best-Ever-Chocolate-Cutout-Cookies/Detail.aspx?prop31=7">AllRecipes</a>, read the various comments and decided to just go with the recipe as-is. I did some basic shapes using a crinkled square cutter and a flower. Followed the recipe, cut them out and made sure they were very chilled before going into the oven. They spread (sorry no pictures). They spread enough so that you could still make out the shape, but too much so that my nice thick 3/8" cookie was at least half it's size. Oh don't get me wrong...the taste was so chocolately good...like a brownie-cookie. Nice and soft, but too soft to hold up to decorating and packaging. I think the softness would be fine if it was thicker.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">So, next on my chocolate cut-out journey is trying the same recipe, but with some modifications to hopefully produce a cookie with more staying power and less spread...and I love less spread. In my cookies and on my hips. I promise to take pics this next round.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Lastly, more teacher cookies, as requested from a friend that saw my previous teacher cookies that I made for Avery's preschool...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This one was for a 2nd grade class, so I changed up some of the cookies for academic-appropriateness...</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-ny-1JaqzZSvZVvoBEhI4TBFLzcuJjdfYi7hCafK3tKEo2X7C4u_og_ju0YNJrxR7bClFULzeu_P-1PuHMGoN93hETt8azt-9XeJMwByj65L786ShuZ8mEeCQoDD6CjZi4ZscpQuP48/s1600/teacher+blanked+out.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-ny-1JaqzZSvZVvoBEhI4TBFLzcuJjdfYi7hCafK3tKEo2X7C4u_og_ju0YNJrxR7bClFULzeu_P-1PuHMGoN93hETt8azt-9XeJMwByj65L786ShuZ8mEeCQoDD6CjZi4ZscpQuP48/s400/teacher+blanked+out.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">All bagged up and ready to go!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rE8O_iaYM6YEq0r9NvExaOAf4CsISednTizwK38bKIZYAe-owOWAdCkJAL_yJw0hJ7sF_aEF9Cf9v05hZW82lpgfsXUQm8Kd8V4s9pRvWbyVwbTocMioOBFpEDweAAqTsZy39oGlhRE/s1600/teacher+basket+xout.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rE8O_iaYM6YEq0r9NvExaOAf4CsISednTizwK38bKIZYAe-owOWAdCkJAL_yJw0hJ7sF_aEF9Cf9v05hZW82lpgfsXUQm8Kd8V4s9pRvWbyVwbTocMioOBFpEDweAAqTsZy39oGlhRE/s400/teacher+basket+xout.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526715001450245593noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874692660301939554.post-6623885570271108432010-08-17T12:45:00.000-07:002010-08-17T12:45:49.981-07:00New recipe revelationsOn a constant quest to find THE perfect chocolate chip recipe, the kind that isn't too flat or too puffy, not too crispy or so soft that it falls apart...I came across this beauty browsing blog world. Heaven...perfection. Chewy, just the right amount of roundness...the kind that keeps you coming back for more. The kind that you make and quickly give away because you will eat every.single.one.<br />
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I found <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2008/06/21/thick-and-chewy-chocolate-chip-cookies/">this recipe</a> while browsing <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/">The Brown Eyed Baker</a>, a site I highly recommend browsing.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Perfect puff...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSB7GvejG5a2T7ibXxQdVrxzpNl_XOj5_xRjjnLjnbGjhDPTISXAmIAZzRRYGAtf-XN09TPwih6xjtH37M32zesncfm27G82NxhbjoSDorP14lv00JvGa-oVLqZQdPmqdOzAVEw84naCU/s1600/July+2010+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSB7GvejG5a2T7ibXxQdVrxzpNl_XOj5_xRjjnLjnbGjhDPTISXAmIAZzRRYGAtf-XN09TPwih6xjtH37M32zesncfm27G82NxhbjoSDorP14lv00JvGa-oVLqZQdPmqdOzAVEw84naCU/s640/July+2010+013.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Perfect spread...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKD7T1LgO915zlBJ9YVtqqDT2WBuon61UBaYdFvabgMABX6iUtDwhW3yuCCTZOOobWIdlHeXvRI3UIMAT-G-vdDeD2YWkkfSEgobciwFEyd7iiFEREVxOl-7t7VfYDba9e0l_30OJ15Y/s1600/July+2010+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKD7T1LgO915zlBJ9YVtqqDT2WBuon61UBaYdFvabgMABX6iUtDwhW3yuCCTZOOobWIdlHeXvRI3UIMAT-G-vdDeD2YWkkfSEgobciwFEyd7iiFEREVxOl-7t7VfYDba9e0l_30OJ15Y/s640/July+2010+022.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Perfect center of chewy goodness...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRb501XgCVAibiXYtWZBL_Xhkis5Cgqg_KICb7eceUqcWWk-wx-JQujfje59H0uKUnVM1eCl4l6H1ZK5mrfS1dsaiIpITThxDNUM0-3L1MJ7Aat6uFfIuXqvkocgf2CX0GcXzgKtw3u4/s1600/July+2010+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRb501XgCVAibiXYtWZBL_Xhkis5Cgqg_KICb7eceUqcWWk-wx-JQujfje59H0uKUnVM1eCl4l6H1ZK5mrfS1dsaiIpITThxDNUM0-3L1MJ7Aat6uFfIuXqvkocgf2CX0GcXzgKtw3u4/s640/July+2010+025.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*sigh*</span><br />
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<br />
...but that isn't all...<br />
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As if baking and decorating sugar cookies, and baking up several dozen chocolate chip cookies wasn't enough...I pushed my limits and explored another new recipe.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">With some interruptions.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8TRngPx2ZmgO-JXon1kBJfPtnEWdFDBYRiWN0GjuK71ZTy-LCsd0MfhQA_NaNtQZfJinZrlljYhigfRciND6N-2U7brME4XN6oPUKsaWGNULsDvoakAKMvRGuOxV1-GLWKB6NMCFFlQ/s1600/July+2010+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8TRngPx2ZmgO-JXon1kBJfPtnEWdFDBYRiWN0GjuK71ZTy-LCsd0MfhQA_NaNtQZfJinZrlljYhigfRciND6N-2U7brME4XN6oPUKsaWGNULsDvoakAKMvRGuOxV1-GLWKB6NMCFFlQ/s400/July+2010+005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This is Logan...trying to get between mommy and the counter. Someone needed attention...time for a break.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then it was time to pucker up.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAehJeBpvsmUM68gUuJBE7BY9Nva0CIk7ZMzmKHgPEdMceGJBObWusXu4u3GMu5lViwURbfdi6V48pf7s_r13UaBTb7RxwtChfTcUPB0458j9N6S8rh8FQ76g75zGWEwNA5lO0jnkLz-8/s1600/July+2010+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAehJeBpvsmUM68gUuJBE7BY9Nva0CIk7ZMzmKHgPEdMceGJBObWusXu4u3GMu5lViwURbfdi6V48pf7s_r13UaBTb7RxwtChfTcUPB0458j9N6S8rh8FQ76g75zGWEwNA5lO0jnkLz-8/s640/July+2010+028.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lemon-y. Chewy. Melts-in-your-mouth-y.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOEhqZr4uKh_0XV4nrVxFxN6zRdTDIHZhVCSaJX88hgby15BtblXvljtC26wiyzb5tLhb9SNCmebvGNocGZLS0NNOyBAnpFyWJ6BrWaYDIv-rH3n8NevMN8EkkmLlGhbx-qK0JpbmMWQ/s1600/July+2010+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOEhqZr4uKh_0XV4nrVxFxN6zRdTDIHZhVCSaJX88hgby15BtblXvljtC26wiyzb5tLhb9SNCmebvGNocGZLS0NNOyBAnpFyWJ6BrWaYDIv-rH3n8NevMN8EkkmLlGhbx-qK0JpbmMWQ/s640/July+2010+031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Also <strike>borrowed</strike> <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2009/10/12/lemon-burst-cookies/">taken</a> from <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/">Miss Brown Eye</a>. Seriously. Go there. Go now, save and print...and make! You won't be disappointed. Well, only if you don't like lemon deliciousness <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(and you're a crazy person)</span><span style="font-size: small;">. </span><br />
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The hubby could not stop eating these. Time to plate them up...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A few for a little "thank you" for someone...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9W-PjKCcQAbQR-auwep1CNb_2RSx3EqDgXFaCy0dcx6qqScAAcojQcO5Sh8W2qO48-Z_pzgw9gw1jKi8tQSqHBG7hBXapl1VuINFtZ80n69wGptKdBHTKs6yIDhj856Gz5g-lCgKSOZ4/s1600/July+2010+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9W-PjKCcQAbQR-auwep1CNb_2RSx3EqDgXFaCy0dcx6qqScAAcojQcO5Sh8W2qO48-Z_pzgw9gw1jKi8tQSqHBG7hBXapl1VuINFtZ80n69wGptKdBHTKs6yIDhj856Gz5g-lCgKSOZ4/s400/July+2010+037.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...and a bunch for the staff at the school I work at.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvXyb860g41AINMh89MvmB8JP9fVeH1jSae43hhd7J5n_TXocaNpK3IVCIxRnJmQS7FJ8cTiSzPskcdSc_UW40o2k7mfuD1Xp8Jt5lBRRlgpTuZFQLWO26F_21jTnNNq0LhLBKQi292A/s1600/July+2010+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvXyb860g41AINMh89MvmB8JP9fVeH1jSae43hhd7J5n_TXocaNpK3IVCIxRnJmQS7FJ8cTiSzPskcdSc_UW40o2k7mfuD1Xp8Jt5lBRRlgpTuZFQLWO26F_21jTnNNq0LhLBKQi292A/s400/July+2010+036.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526715001450245593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874692660301939554.post-86210415281389464492010-08-16T12:46:00.000-07:002010-08-16T12:46:32.243-07:00Firsts<div align="left" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In life, there are a lot of firsts. Take for example, my daughter. </div><div align="left" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here she is, almost a month old, I captured one of her first smiles. </div><div align="left" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Precious, no?</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFYbMVSd68AYQXqYkD5zVnN5eg9HognuKV0dP8G8_oY-Ze8GjfqhTcllkZKgQRAQC_zBpRPm-hSK3CxEfnNdXyT7DDuud0WGCDEUSzV7m_rBLKYsIoR_cudj5D86fVl1VQ4LuTP0Nu7w/s1600/101_0428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFYbMVSd68AYQXqYkD5zVnN5eg9HognuKV0dP8G8_oY-Ze8GjfqhTcllkZKgQRAQC_zBpRPm-hSK3CxEfnNdXyT7DDuud0WGCDEUSzV7m_rBLKYsIoR_cudj5D86fVl1VQ4LuTP0Nu7w/s320/101_0428.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course, there's the holidays....</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PoIFviU0SwDAmqdY256n4u8HGTqdxOKFa28E0kBqFcCS9Lu6UyovXAXHUEW0ZE6sgMiFqG7nG9_iIVd0eA3sgENIQfA4qknc_f3TYxKvpoO-kNJKY3vwlSqHuZcU8T202s3HlAJsX7k/s1600/HappyHalloween!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PoIFviU0SwDAmqdY256n4u8HGTqdxOKFa28E0kBqFcCS9Lu6UyovXAXHUEW0ZE6sgMiFqG7nG9_iIVd0eA3sgENIQfA4qknc_f3TYxKvpoO-kNJKY3vwlSqHuZcU8T202s3HlAJsX7k/s320/HappyHalloween!.jpg" /></a>First Halloween...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUBVOu2374ZYri266pXxPmEbKo2gDapGS5Ad4Aqj281NUNURO_mOPY61unftST3jRwpoBs7MFKMg0P4tV9DL595T5RcghN5zstKnA3oe2CKCg2IEStpXcPhTe9J25x7hp9_tRqZorBDQ/s1600/pg+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUBVOu2374ZYri266pXxPmEbKo2gDapGS5Ad4Aqj281NUNURO_mOPY61unftST3jRwpoBs7MFKMg0P4tV9DL595T5RcghN5zstKnA3oe2CKCg2IEStpXcPhTe9J25x7hp9_tRqZorBDQ/s320/pg+011.jpg" /></a>First electrocution... <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(just kidding, no babies were harmed in the taking of the photo)</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0zRj4yEcCx1x5bw0mfEgF-SI10mXLzf5BGvpAhTczO2yuCbYWZGRFnUZeUKUH2FQM8EfLPQqmzgtouJy9lS3WxSODw1ns3WuqsoURPJ469F7cDZVjCrLKfQfPkkiv6jcdirld5urdas/s1600/100_1402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0zRj4yEcCx1x5bw0mfEgF-SI10mXLzf5BGvpAhTczO2yuCbYWZGRFnUZeUKUH2FQM8EfLPQqmzgtouJy9lS3WxSODw1ns3WuqsoURPJ469F7cDZVjCrLKfQfPkkiv6jcdirld5urdas/s320/100_1402.JPG" /></a>First taste of dog food...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Ah, the memories. All behind me now. She's a big girl now...in fact...a big PRESCHOOL girl. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">As of Thursday. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHA2JwB2b9BVcY0-nX-9TB-wJ-4WtvSUGkcyyToBRVlEL8uJNWZ6R3tS99Npsr0_j7ytVSnvScysK3oFpgNjc5NDVU32ko2J9LewxLsjVWGEQYus3ufjFb2AJqIzHtNUCtUIutwoLBenU/s1600/IMG_4928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHA2JwB2b9BVcY0-nX-9TB-wJ-4WtvSUGkcyyToBRVlEL8uJNWZ6R3tS99Npsr0_j7ytVSnvScysK3oFpgNjc5NDVU32ko2J9LewxLsjVWGEQYus3ufjFb2AJqIzHtNUCtUIutwoLBenU/s400/IMG_4928.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">For her first day of school, I suggested that we take her new teachers some cookies to <strike>royally suck up</strike> welcome them back to school.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Cut-out sugar cookies using a tried and true <a href="http://sugarcoatedmommy.blogspot.com/p/recipes.html">recipe</a>...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">They were a hit. I even got a very nice thank you note. Okay, well...it was for Avery, but I did get some talent recognition.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">So...first day of preschool...check.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Next it will be Kindergarten, then First grade...and then before I know it...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Nevermind. I don't even want to think about it!</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526715001450245593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874692660301939554.post-23753204525032493832010-08-12T14:37:00.000-07:002010-08-14T07:55:15.827-07:00A little about me...Hi there! You've stumbled upon Sugar Coated Mommy! So who am I...and why am I starting a blog? First of all...what I am not...I am not a writer. If you you've come here to read flowing, eloquent thoughts or witty, humorous takes on life...you are in the wrong place! Expect run-on sentences with some grammatical incorrectness, and failing attempts at wit.<br />
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I am, above all, a mommy to two: Avery is my precious daughter, eyes of blue, golden hair and a bit of curly locks. She is just over 4 and today marks her first day of preschool. There was no whining, no clinging, and no crying! Oh, and Avery did good too! Avery has a little brother, Logan, who is just over a year and a half. Thankfully, he follows suit with the blue eyes and golden hair but not the curly locks. He is every way different from how Avery was, even from the very start during pregnancy. He is my active one, my get-into-everything-kid...my test-mommy's-sanity-kid...and I wouldn't change a thing. I am blessed that they love each other so much and get along well...for the time being!<br />
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I am also...<br />
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A wife to Ryan. We've been married for six years now. He is a hard worker, a great father, and cooks great BBQ!<br />
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I am also...<br />
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A pediatric Occupational Therapist. I am fortunate to be able to work 5 hours a day at a good, stable job that is flexible for a family life. I consider work my social time as I really enjoy the people I work with.<br />
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Then there's me, the baker...<br />
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I started doing "creative" baking in my 20's. It started mostly with sugar cookies and doing cookie bouquets before they became popular...about 15-18 years ago. Now that makes me feel old! Soon after I got married in 2004, a Michael's opened up in our town, and I signed up for the cake decorating classes. Finished all three, and the current instructor encouraged me to become an instructor as well. At the time I was doing more cakes for friends and family, and really enjoying my new-found obsession, so I did. I really enjoyed teaching, but at the same time felt limited as we were only supposed to teach the "Wilton Method" of cake decorating. I had so much more that I wanted to share! I was learning so much from <a href="http://www.cakecentral.com/">Cake Central</a>, and really applying them to the cakes I was making for others.<br />
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I continued teaching until I was nearing the end of my pregnancy with Avery, which was also in the midst of our house building project being completed. Now in the past 4-ish years, I've continued to make cakes but on a slower, more spaced out basis. I haven't lost my obsession for baking or decorating anything, but somehow the time to spend on it became less as the demands of motherhood/worker/homemaker became more.<br />
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At this point...I'm at a crossroads of needing to do something more for me, for my time. I just don't get many requests from friends to do cakes like I once did...and it's hard to do cakes just for the fun of it, and reap the caloric consequences of having them around the house. I have been trying to figure out a way to practice more techniques, get more experience, and just spend time enjoying doing what I want to do. So my thoughts ran to....cookies. Cookies are easy to freeze, to pull out anytime the need strikes. Cookies can be packaged and mailed easily...unlike cakes. Cookies can be gifted easily for any occasion...babies, birthdays, teacher gifts, congratulations, etc...unlike cakes. I mean, how would it look showing up at your child's school, handing the teacher a two-tier cake and saying, "Hey! Thanks for being my child's teacher!" Cookies fit the bill for stuff like that perfectly, so cookies it is for the channeling of my creative juices on a regular basis.<br />
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I'm also having a need to do some experimental baking. Trying out new recipes, tweaking old ones...but again I don't necessarily want to have the aftermath left in my kitchen and on my thighs. So my plan is to just do it, take on a baking project once every 1-2 weeks and bring in the offending calories to work the next day. I work at a school, so, yeah...sweets and treats get devoured if left in the staff lounge!<br />
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The blog is simply to write about it. Record my thoughts, my experiments...the triumphs and defeats. Hopefully with photographs that get better and more improved as time goes on.<br />
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So that is me...in a nutshell. I may not have an exciting life, but it's a sweet one!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526715001450245593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874692660301939554.post-75817590362603897232010-08-09T10:42:00.000-07:002010-08-09T10:42:00.440-07:00Working on the blog!...for now...<br />
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head on over to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugarcoatedmommy/">Pics of My Sweets</a> to see some of my stuff!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526715001450245593noreply@blogger.com0