Hot Air Balloon Cookies {bridal shower}

So the last few sets of pictures I've taken, I COULD NOT figure out why they were so out of focus and blurry. Well today while looking at my lens I realized some grimy little fingerprints were all over it! Two and three year old little rug-rats do not mix with nice cameras ;). Hopefully my lens isn't scratched, but I apologize in advance for the foggy pictures! 

Dinosaur Cookies {baby boy 1st birthday}

Ballet Cookies {tutus and slippers}

I took Ballet growing up for over 12 years. To this day I still miss it, and every time we visit family back in Utah I put on my old point shoes and spin around my old bedroom.. and then I remember that I'm really out of shape compared to back then and my toes aren't quite as strong (and then I shed a little tear, cause that's a wee bit depressing ;) jk). 

The woman who ordered these from me got them for her granddaughters dance recital. Is that not the cutest idea?! She said she got her a tap shoe last year and she loved it so much she wanted to do it again this year. 

By the way, the more I read my favorite cookie blogs the more I realize just what a terrible blogger I am. I really want to do tutorials and post more frequently but it just doesn't seem to happen! I do however have the excuse of a 3 and 2 year old, a husband in Law School, myself in school and pregnant with our third baby. That's got to count for something, right?

But I'll really shoot for the stars here and try to post at least 1 tutorial this summer. We'll see if it happens!

Mother's Day Cookies {roses and bird cages}

We have lived in Virginia now for almost 4 and a half years, and in that time I have never sent cookies to my mom or my mother-in-law. I have meant to so many times but somehow life (and many orders!) have gotten in the way. 

I finally decided I HAD to send them both a little surprise and Mother's Day was the perfect time for me to do that! 

I think I was more excited for them to get these cookies than any other order I have ever done. Seriously. I love being able to make something to show the people I love how much they mean to me. And what says 'I love you' more than a cookie? Nothing, I tell you.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there! Especially mine :)

Decorated Cookies for The Aba Agency

 These cookies were so fun to make. I only wish I would have had time to take more pictures but I took them 10 minutes before running out the door to deliver!

Thank you, Aba, again for another order! I have loved working with you.

and go check out The Aba Agency. They're pretty awesome!

Baby Shower Cookies {girl}

I may just possibly be the worst blogger on the planet. :) One day I'll be a good blogger, but for now it's whenever I have the extra time.

Here is a set I did for a baby shower order this past weekend. Hand painted roses, tiffany blue, baby pink and gold accents. Girly cookies are so fun!

* A little side note, I am expecting our third baby and with school and internships this summer and moving around and family vacations, I will not be taking orders until at least early november.

Lady Bug and Flower cookies {little girl birthday}

Spring cookies have been on my brain. It has been SOO cold, and usually once Christmas is over i'm ready for some warmer weather. We've got a ways to go though. 

Here are some spring-y cookies. With cute little lady bugs. For a very cute little lady who turned two. 

Thank you for the order, Chloe!

The Perfect Almond Vanilla Rollout Cookies

This recipe is one that I've created over the last few years while decorating cookies, and is now the only vanilla sugar cookie recipe I use. I love this cookie dough because it holds it's shape well and tastes SO good. Enjoy!!

1. 
   
   
   The Perfect Almond Vanilla Rollout Cookies
   
   Yield approximately 25-30 medium sized cookies
   
   Ingredients:
   
   
   • 2 c. butter (at room temp)
   • 2 c. sugar
   • 2 large eggs
   • 1 tsp. salt
   • 2 tsp vanilla
   • 1/4 tsp almond emulsion or 1/2 tsp. almond extract
   • 5 3/4 c. all purpose flour
   Instructions:
   1. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar for 7 minutes on medium speed with the paddle attachment. Beat in eggs just until combined.
   2. Add salt, vanilla and almond emulsion mixing for about 10 seconds on low.
   3. Add in flour and mix until dough is pulling clean from the sides of the bowl. In humid weather add up to 1/4 cup more flour if needed.
   4. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least thirty minutes.
   5. Remove dough from the fridge and preheat oven to 325 degrees.
   6. To roll out, put dough on top of parchment paper in between two 1/4" wooden dowels. Then roll out with a roller and cut desired shapes.
   7. Put shapes onto a greased cookie sheet and put in freezer for 10 minutes before baking to prevent spreading.
   8. Bake for 10-13 minutes. Let the cookies cool on a cooling rack.
   9. Decorate! You can find my royal icing recipe here.

Christmas Tree Cookies {personalized}

Can I just brag about myself for a second? So I have NEVER had good handwriting and whenever I get an order to put names or any lettering on cookies it gives me serious anxiety.. nightmares even. Most professional decorators have a kopykake projector that projects the image or LETTERS onto a cookie and all you have to do is trace! It's pretty sweet. 

But  I don't have one of those. I do absolutely everything free hand and sometimes it shows. Especially when it comes to letters. But these came out looking uniform and (here comes the bragging) pretty dang good if I do say so myself! Yay for me ;).... but really. I was pleasantly surprised to see I'm getting better with words. 

One day I'm sure I'll get my Kopykake, but for now I'll keep working on my free hand.  Hope everyone is having a wonderful winter!

Gingerbread House and Gingerbread Girl Cookies

I have so many Christmas cookies that I did weeks (even months) ago and STILL haven't posted. So here are some belated Gingerbread Girls and houses for a sweet little girls birthday party. 

Happy (extra-late) Christmas!