. . . . . Don't Mess With My Tutus! . . . . .

Kiss Me!

2012-02-07T22:57:00.001-06:00

This is a project I have been completing (in my head!!) since before Christmas. I saw something similar at a neighbors house over her kitchen door and immediately thought it would make a great alternative to mistletoe!! Buuuut, Christmas came and went (sniff) and no letters were made. Still, who doesn't want a surprise smooch any ol' time of year, and especially at Valentine's! And with the constant hustle and bustle in and out of our ~~mess~~ kitchen, what a great reminder to STOP and appreciate what it's all about in the first place!

Between craft store sales and coupons, this project came together for about 10 bucks and it can easily be completed during nap time. So let's get started!!

Supplies:

Large chipboard letters (Mine came from Hobby Lobby, but you can find them in lots of crafty places these days.)

Staple gun with small or medium staples

Hot glue

Red paint

1 can of Glitter Blast spray paint in Cherry Bomb (I love that name!)

Step 1:
Determine the configuration for your letters and staple/glue as needed. I needed to use staples to get the K and I to come together without using a strip of wood or molding below/behind. I decided to stack the S's for the same reason. And, I think they look cuter that way anyhoo :o)

Step 2:
Paint a base coat of red paint. I had some leftover spray paint from our art party but you could use regular acrylic paint as well. I just wanted to make sure none of the cardboard showed through the glitter paint.

Step 3: Glitter Blast!! 'Nuf said!

Voila my sweet friends! Or should I say, "Mmmwah!"

Start Your Own Conversation!

2012-02-06T11:31:00.006-06:00

There seems to be two types of people in this world: Those that like conversation hearts and those that don't! I am firmly in the DON'T camp. Not that I didn't like getting them in school for Valentine's Day - I just didn't like eating them!! They're gross!! But who wants to miss out on all the fun that comes with them? Certainly not me!

So I decided to take my aunt's recipe for butter mints (yum) and try making my own instead! And they are so stinkin' cute!! And the taste, well - just see for yourself!

Butter Mints are light and fluffy and so easy to make, even a girl scout daisy troop can do them - ha! With only three ingredients and NO cooking or candy thermometers required - they are my kind of candy!! Best of all, these mints (or just the dough) freezes beautifully, so you can make a BIG batch and then have fresh mints when you need them - perfect!

Big Andy's Butter Mints

1 stick butter, softened

2 Cups powdered sugar

1 tsp. peppermint extract (you can do more or less to taste)

several drops of food coloring

Small bowl of granulated sugar

Mix butter, extract and powdered sugar together. I just use the tools God gave me for this but you could try your stand mixer. The 'dough' will come together and be somewhat elastic. Separate into several balls and add food coloring as you wish! Add more powdered sugar if it gets sticky - this isn't rocket science so you don't have to be precise :o)

Choose your candy mold (I chose hearts for obvious reasons!)

Pinch a small piece of dough and form into a ball. Roll in granulated sugar and then press into mold. If you skip this step, your candy will stick inside the mold so don't forget!

Turn mold over and tap lightly to release candy. Embellish using food markers for the wording.

Store in an airtight container in the freezer until ready to use, adding wax paper between layers of candy to prevent them from freezing together. They will keep for months, but once you taste them, I guarantee they won't last that long!!!

Happy Valentine's Day Y'all!

Sassy Sunday Linky Party and Valentine's Giveaway

2012-02-05T20:24:00.002-06:00

WOOO HOOOO....the moment has arrived!! This is the 1st ~~Sleepy Sunday~~ SASSY Sunday linky party that we will be also having a GIVEAWAY!!!

This party is being co-hostessed by

(or should I say Twinkied?! Yes, me thinks I like the sound of THAT!)

Randee from

Randee's Organized Chaos

and Leanne from

Because I Think I Can!

This weeks giveaway is made by Twinkie RANDEE and I hope that yall get as excited as I am about it!!

Valentine Balloons

Can you say "Fabulous?!?!"

Randee will send you the balloons for you to fill with candy and then blow up and will make you 8 Valentine Cards with your child's picture and toothpick! You will have to email me your pic!!

Here is how we are going to do it!! We will enable the "LIKE" feature on Linky Tools and whoever has the most "LIKES" Thursday night at midnight will win! PLEASE only like a project once so we can keep this giveaway FAIR! Now we will be adding "LIKES" for the following things:

1. Link up a project

2. Follow Randee's Organized Chaos, Because I think I Can and Don't Mess With My Tutus . If you already follow them through Goggle Friends then sign up for emails...leave a comment telling me! You will get a "LIKE" for each one but need SEPARATE comments!

3. "LIKE" Randee's Organized Chaos FB page...leave a comment telling her!

4. "LIKE" Because I Think I Can FB page and leave a comment!

5. "LIKE" Sassy Pants Studio FB page and leave a comment!

I hope that everyone has fun and PLEASE tell all of your blog friends to come PARTY with us!!

A Little Pick-Me-Up

2012-02-02T11:12:00.002-06:00

Some weeks it just seems like there's too much to do, not enough time to do it, and TOO many ~~children~~ people pulling me in too many directions! This morning we (and by WE I mean Snacks) threw all the toothbrushes in the upstairs bathroom in toilet, came down stairs drinknig a cup of water from the toilet, used the stool in the kitchen to reach the bananas in the fruit bowl, pulled out all the bibs brom the drawer and replaced them with the bananas and somehow disassembled the bubble blower mower in the kitchen (it's usually outside) spilling bubbles all over the floor - all before breakfast! (Deep breaths) It's enough to make a girl want to just stay in bed . . . or go back to work!!

Thank heavens for my local radio station KSBJ, that allows me to tune in to the Lord and tune OUT all the headaches of the SAHM. I don't know about you, but I can really hear the voice of God in music and this morning He said to me (once again), "I know what you're going through. Hang in there!" It never fails to pick me up!

Listen! You might hear Him speaking to you too!

Valentine Chair Cover Tutorial

2012-01-30T14:11:00.007-06:00

I first came up with the idea for chair covers back at Halloween, when I was probably overwhelmed with laundry or trying to ~~find a moment alone~~ spend quality time with my children and didn't bother to check my e-mail for a couple of days, thereby missing the e-mail about the class party. For those of you with school age children, you know what I am talking about! Being the last to acknowledge the group e-mail about the upcoming class party can be disastrous!! Invariably all the good (easy) items to bring have already been taken and your stuck coming up with a brilliant game idea that 22 kids can play in 10 minutes that doesn't cost a whole bunch (because you're donating it) AND won't be too messy, too sugary or somehow politically incorrect - uugh! I could have simply ignored the e-mail altogether, but then I might be labelled as a slacker mom and how would this impact Sheep's future education/reputation/opportunity here in small town USA?!?!?!

Let's face it, the stakes are high!

Needless to say, I was dismayed to discover that the only item not taken was decorations. And have you looked in your child's classroom lately? It is generally so cluttered with posters, projects and other paraphernalia that it's hard to imagine what kind of 'decorations' would even be noticed!

Once again, Pinterest to the rescue!!

I saw these cute little ghost chair covers from Family Fun and the wheels started turning! I got so excited about the whole thing, I rushed right up to school, snagged a chair and got to work! And the square shape of the classroom chair lends itself to all kinds of fun holiday shapes that aren't possible on a full-sized chair!!! They were SO STINKIN' CUTE and Sheeps' classmates loved them so much that I knew I'd be doing these again for the other holidays as well!

Like the Halloween chair covers, these sweet little numbers don't cost much $$$ either, because they are made with felt! So let's get started!

Supplies:

Felt

Pinking shears

Sewing machine or hot glue

Ribbon

Step 1: Measure your chair. You will need three measurements: Width across the back (A), The length from the top of the back to the bottom of the back (B) and the length of the back support (C).

Step 2: Make your template. I made mine out of felt. transferring my measurements and drawing a rectangle so you know how wide your heart will need to be. Once you have your rectangle, you can freehand your heart, leaving a little for seam allowance, though you don't need to leave much because felt doesn't ravel - yay!!

Step 2.5: Once you have your template, you can use your mad math skills to calculate how many hearts you are making and how much felt you will need!

Step 3: Cut out your heart on felt that has been doubled so that you have a front and a back. I used my pinking shears to add some additional visual interest but you don't have to, it's up to you! Though I must say, the pinked felt looks SO CUTE!

Step 4: If you want to add any embellishments, now's the time to do it! Especially if you plan on sewing the chair cover together rather than hot gluing. I cut a simple XOXO design out of white felt and stitched it on. You could glue here as well, but I thought stitching might be more durable and once you've made 22 of these, you aren't going to want to be doing this again every year. Make them to last and you can reuse them yourself (if elementary school is in your future for the next 6 years like it is mine) or give them to your child's teacher - what a great teacher gift!!

Step 5: Sew (or glue) your hearts together, leaving plenty of room at the sides to get it over the chair back. You can sew one side down further than the other to keep it as snug as possible, but don't go too far - it's no fun to rip on felt!!

Step 6: You can simply cut a slit at the bottom to use as a button hole to clasp the two hearts together at the bottom, or you can actually make a button hole like I did - your choice! With this shape, I think the button hole is important, because kids are wiggly, squirmy and just generally don't sit still - and you don't want them slipping off and becoming a distraction rather than a decoration!

Step 7: Tack about 18 inches of ribbon to the inside back of your chair cover so that it can be threaded through the button hole and tied in a bow! A button would look cute too, but I liked the ribbon!

Step 8: Deliver to your child's classroom and prepare for lots of ooo's and ahhh's! Mine will hopefully be arriving February 1st so they have two weeks to enjoy them!!

I am also going to do some shaped like envelopes, so I'll be sure to post a pic or two of those as well! Happy Valentine's Yall!

br />

At the Hop!

2012-01-29T16:27:00.003-06:00

All you gals and chicks can get your kicks at 'The Hop.' A new blog hop that is!

I am very excited to announce an upcoming linky co-op with Randee @ Randee's Organized Chaos and Leanne @ Because I Think I Can! We will start 'officially' hosting the linky party next weekend, which will include super SASSY prizes, perhaps even something monogrammed by yours truly (!!), but I am too excited to wait and thought I would give it a little test drive today!

Just a couple of quick rules:
1. Have fun!!
2. Share some sass with some of your awesome fellow bloggers!!
3. Grab the link and post on your own page so everyone can dance!

So . . . . Let's go to the hop! Let's go to the hop! (Aww baby) Let's go to the hop!!

What To Do?!

2012-01-27T16:41:00.000-06:00

By some strange twist of fate, maybe the planets have aligned or something, but I am actually THROUGH my "To Do" list for the week AND we have nothing scheduled (no birthday parties, out-of-town trips, no house guests) for the weekend! I don't thik this has happened since before Thanksgiving and while I'll admit that I am largely responsible for our busy 'social calendar' because I LOVE parties, visitors and vacations, I could really use a weekend off!

Now that's not to say I don't have plenty that I could be doing (like finishing my Valentine's chair covers for Sheep's classroom - stay tuned!) and many things I should be doing (like grabbing an extra workout or two) but I have nothing that I HAVE to do and no place that I HAVE to be.

Lovely!

Rage Against the Machine

2012-01-26T23:11:00.002-06:00

My embroidery machine that is - ha!

Speed surprised me with a new sewing/embroidery machine two Christmases go and I was thrilled!! I had been ~~coveting~~ researching them for some time and desperately wanted to get my hands on one of my own before Sheep outgrew 'all things monogrammed,' if you know what I mean. This was the Christmas before Snacks came on the scene, so I was in nesting overdrive that Christmas anyway.

Long story short, I ultimately bought a Viking Topaz 20 embroidery machine, which I am sure is a very good machine, but is certainly not the most popular brand around these parts. In fact, I don't know anyone (other than the people at the Viking store in Joann's) that are embroidering on a Viking machine and when I purchased my machine, even the salesperson was learning about embroidering on them - grrr! Needless to say, it means I am usually on my own trying to figure things out!

I do love being able to machine applique and embroidery - but it is almost always a frustrating experience for me. It just seems like as soon as I solve one hiccup, a new one arrives to thwart me! Whether its which needles to use, how to adjust a design, which stabilizer works best, why my thread keeps breaking or fraying - it's always something! Sadly, I contribute to this frustration by always trying to create something that apparently either can't be done on my machine or with my current software. At least I can admit it, right?!

The names on the art aprons for Sheep's birthday party stitched out so easily (thank you Lord) and so beautifully (thanks again!) that I was lulled into thinking that I was FINALLY getting the hang of it - AFTER TWO YEARS!!! But my very next project, a baby shower gift, proved once again that I still have a lot to learn about the Viking Topaz 20 and 4D software - uugh!

Here are just a couple of today's problems AND my solutions, for those of you new to embroidery (I still consider myself new) or perhaps looking for tips to make your machine embroidery even better. It seems to me that there is a real information void about 'how to' machine applique out there (which is very surprising to me actually), particularly using a Viking machine. Thank goodness I have met some great gals that embroider who are always willing to share their experience with me. I mean, Speed, is always hopping on truck forums or motorcycle forums to find answers to his mechanical woes, but I haven't found a similar platform for my embroidery machine - so frustrating!

Problem # 1: The burp cloths I purchased for embroidery are very loosely woven. Yes, I am aware that I could purchase other burp cloths, but now I have these and want to use them up before buying/trying a different brand. Besides, they work fine as a burp cloth - they're just difficult to applique. Mostly because the loose weave makes it almost impossible not to cut some of the threads on the burp cloth itself when you are trimming your applique.

My Solution: I decided to lay down a layer of transparent, water-soluble film (buy it where you buy stabilizer. Comes on a roll.) before even beginning my design. Yes, it's now sandwiched between the burp cloth and the applique fabrics, but it should dissolve when washed and did keep me from accidentally snipping any of the fibers on the burp cloth itself - yay!

Problem #2: I don't like to see the underside of the applique on the wrong side of the burpie. In garments, I cover the underside with a thin, fusible mesh so that it's not scratchy for the wearer and it protects the stitching from accidentally being pulled or snagged. But I don't want that mesh being seen on the back side of the burpie either. Plus, it seems that when I grab for a burp cloth, I don't have time to figure out which side to use. Just sayin'.

My Solution: OK. So maybe I am a perfectionist, but still - I don't like exposed threads any more than I like raw edges or crooked seams - it's just how I was raised dammit :o) I blame my mother . . . and she will smile when she reads this! My solution for the last burp cloth I made was to actually 'line' it with a coordinating fabric, sewing three and a half sides with right sides together, then turning and top stitching over the opening. It looked great, but it also took a lot of extra fabric. I've also done a couple of burp cloths with fabric panels down the middle in the past, but I didn't embroider anything on them afterward for the same reason. Today I combined the two ideas and simply cut a fabric panel to fit slightly wider than the width of my applique and applied it to the backside of the burp cloth using a zigzag stitch. I used a coordinating thread for my bobbin so that you wouldn't really notice the stitching on the appliqued side. I think they are my best idea for burp cloths yet!

Endless Slobber . . . Sometimes I crack myself up!!

Do you machine applique/embroider? Do you own a Viking machine and/or have you used 4D software? Even if you don't, I would love to hear about your tips and tricks for a perfect applique. Maybe we'll start a forum ourveryownselves!

Sweetheart Cookies

2012-01-24T22:55:00.002-06:00

Nothin' says lovin' like homemade treats this Valentine's Day and these cookies are one of my family's favorites! They are a cross between a sugar cookie and a shortbread cookie and they are oh so yummy and PINK!!! I have never tasted another recipe the same as this one and believe me, I have looked! Last February my beloved Sweetheart Cookie recipe went missing and I spent hours trying to replicate them using other recipes I found on line - FAIL! Luckily I came across it over Christmas when I was hosting my 12 Days of Christmas Cookies . . .

Oh how I love thee Sweetheart Cookies!

2 packages strawberry Jello (3 oz. each)
3/4 butter
1 egg
2 C flour
1 tsp. baking powder

Beat Jello and butter until light and fluffy. Add egg and beat well. Stir in dry ingredients to make a stiff dough. Refrigerate 1-2 hours until dough is very stiff. Roll out onto well floured board and cut with heart-shaped cookie cutters. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

*Make sure you use regular Jello, NOT sugar-free because the Jello is substituting for the sugar in this recipe.

br />

Every Child is an Artist!

2012-01-22T22:36:00.008-06:00

Ho Hum.

Christmas is over and put away for another year. So what's a crafty girl to do - but plan a party?!!!

This weekend we hosted Sheep's birthday party . . . AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!! (Yes, that's me yelling about it in blog-speak!) Since she has many boy friends (NOT boyfriends mind you, let's be clear on THAT) and her favorite boy in the world (her cousin Max) to consider, we had to think of something to do that both girls and boys would enjoy. And since my little girl has obviously gotten her arts and crafts gene from ME (makes my heart leap) we couldn't think of anything more fun than an ART PARTY!!

And it was some serious fun!!

I'm tellin' you, if you are looking for an awesome party theme, and aren't afraid to get a little messy, this is THE party for you!

Sheep and I handmade invitations two weeks ago, but we've been ~~Pinteresting~~ collecting ideas since before Thanksgiving, so I will attempt to link our inspiration sites for you as much as possible. We used cardstock we had on hand, a circle punch and some pop dots to create the paint palette. Then added a small paint brush from our stash (I tend to buy arts and crafts supplies in bulk) to each of palettes. The information about the party was printed on cardstock and glued to the back side. Since we were running out of time, the finished invited were a bit bulky AND it was raining the day they were set to be mailed, I opted to hand deliver them instead so they wouldn't arrive a ruined, wet mess - but you could certainly mail these if you wanted to! I cut and Sheep glued and I think they came out GREAT!!!

And let me just say that this whole entire thing would not have been possible without the aid of my BFF and her daughter (a million thanks as usual), who helped us 'test drive' all the projects in advance and just generally save the day when my idea to completion ratio reaches unacceptable levels and I begin to panic!

We ultimately decided on 5 art stations, including:

In preparation for the ~~mess~~ party, I decided to make aprons for each of the kids to wear. I was lucky enough to grab them for half-off at Hobby Lobby during Christmas and grabbed a remnant of felt at Joann's for the applique. I simply cut down the paint palette template I used for the invitation to fit the bib of the apron and sewed it on the aprons. Then I used my embroidery machine to add each child's name in rainbow colors to look like paint on the palette! So stinkin' cute!! And they cost less than 3 dollars each for a party favor they will be able to keep and use for many moons!

To make Sheep's apron a little more special (she is the birthday girl after all), I found an apron with a ruffle and used pinking shears to cut out her paint palette. Doesn't she look adorable?!

She wasn't the only one decked out for the party either. All of my 'help' wore mustaches (oui, oui) that my sister had sent as a stocking stuffer this Christmas, so they were free!!

We didn't want the party-goes to feel left out though, so we drew mustaches on their fingers so we could all be french painters together - OUI! OUI!

Sheep and I had visions of a layered rainbow cake like the one seen here to continue the rainbow art theme of her party, but with so many kiddos and helpers and parents to feed, I was afraid that a layered round cake wouldn't easily cut into enough pieces.

Never fear! Pinterest is here!!

Instead of layers, we simply divided and colored the batter using paste food coloring and then poured it into our 9 X 13 pan for a marbled rainbow cake that looked like a piece of art itself!! A generous layer of buttercream frosting made it simple irresistible!

No. Seriously. It was irresistible. Just ask Katie, who once again managed to devour (thankfully only a portion of) the cake!! Ugh!! Not again!! Well, it was too late Friday night when I discovered it to much other than trim the corners and cover them with some leftover icing. But a quick trip to the store Saturday morning for Skittles to scatter around the cake distracted (almost) everyone from the now unusual shape and decoration. It's a good thing she has friends in low (short) places . . . .

It looked really amazing when it was cut, and tasted every bit as good, so if you're interested in trying yourself, I used the recipe here.

We 'decorated' the house by simply rolling up the rug and covering the furniture with canvas drop cloths we borrowed from our neighbors. We covered the floor and tables, both inside and out, with a roll of painter's paper that cost about 10 bucks at home depot and secured everything with blue painter's tape. We hung our samples up using leftover twine from another project and scattered some of Sheep's artwork on the mantle and around the house. Voila - instant art studio!! And super easy cleanup afterwards too!

When it comes to winter birthday parties around here, the weather is really anybody's guess. It could be 75 and sunny or 45 and raining - or any combination you can think of. This weekend, it was warm, but cloudy and soupy with probably 98% humidity. Scratch my original idea (seen here) to hang their art to dry out on the porch. Nothing was going to dry outdoors in this weather and I wanted them to be able to take their art home. Luckily, ~~panic~~ necessity is the mother of invention! Or inspiration at least! I was able to score some box lids from our local copy store (free) and used the tempera paint for the party to paint them in rainbow colors the night before. Of course I had to move them indoors overnight to dry ha! I printed out a quote I ran across while looking for something for the kids new bedroom and glued it to the inside of the box lids for a cheap and easy art display that they could take with them. Clever me! I think they came out pretty cute!

My BFF is a ~~hoarder~~ collector of 'things.' All kinds of neat and wonderful things just screaming to be refinished, repurposed or recrafted in some way. It is one of the 'things' I love most about her, even though it puts my craftaholic tendencies in overdrive when I visit!! Needless to say, she is an AMAZING resource when it comes to parties. And I think she may love my little Sheep almost as much as I do so she's not afraid to go all out for that girl!! She supplied us with oodles of paint, nail polish, Sharpies and two old frames that she painted and used to take pictures for the party!

FABULOUS!!

The kids AND their parents LOVED having pictures made with the frames! And the pics of Sheep with her friends will make great thank you cards as well. Oh, did I mention she's also a great photorapher? Like I said, this party would NOT have been possible without her!

The soupy mess of a morning started to clear off by the end of the party, so everyone joined in on the photo fun!

Happy Birthday (Party) Sheep! We love you!

Lost and Found

2012-01-20T10:21:00.000-06:00

A Prayer to St. Anthony

Tony, Tony come around.

Some thing's lost that must be found!

I'm hoping (and praying) that a public plea to the patron Saint of Lost Things will help because I have been MIA this week, with no good excuse, other than the fact that my new camera was recently added to the 'Missing Persons' list at our house! It now includes:

One set of car keys
One pair of Sheep's blue jeans
Sheep's hot pink bow (MAJOR problem (for mom anyway - ha!!)
An MP3 player and
Several green binkies (you know the kind, all rubber/no plastic so they bounce and roll when dropped)

Seriously - I have no idea where these things go! Now I will be the first to admit that my observational skills may be somewhat lacking, as are my organizational skills from time to time, but when Speed can't find things it's entirely possible that they are really just gone! Snacks is pretty good at finding things too, largely because he's usually responsible for misplacing them when your back is turned - but even he has been no help at all! And you'd think that a boy IN LOVE with his binky as much as Snacks would keep up with them a tad bit better than he does . . . .

Anyway, after the chaos of Christmas and Disney and back-to-school, I'm afraid that several of these items might have accidentally found their way into the trash somehow (gulp!) which is more than a little bit irritating!! My camera was last seen on Saturday, when I was taking pictures of a new shirt I embroidered for a friend, so it seemed like it should have been somewhere in the ~~crap~~ craft room, but I ~~tore~~ cleaned that place up and it wasn't there!

Over the weekend, we took down the crib and Sheep's bed and replaced them with bunk beds!! Yay!! Have so many ideas for their new shared space that I can't wait to get going on next week! But we've got a birthday party for Sheep on Saturday and I convinced her that it was time to go through her toys and give some to the kids who might not have had as wonderful a Christmas as she did. She did a GREAT job and 4 garbage bags of toys and stuffed animals went to Goodwill yesterday. She has such a generous spirit. It is one of the things I love most about her! Luckily, I hadn't bagged everything up until yesterday either, because it gave me one more chance to look for that stinkin' camera.

Found it!!!

Inside one of the toys that Snacks had drug out to play with earlier this week! That little stinker!!

WHEW!!

Just in time for our ART PARTY this weekend!! So stay tuned!!

That's One Tough Cookie!

2012-01-12T23:47:00.001-06:00

It's that time of year again!

You've probably already had them casing your neighborhood - knocking on doors and smiling while they wreak havoc on your new year's resolutions with their tasty temptations.

Yes folks, I'm afraid so . . . It's GIRL SCOUT COOKIE TIME!!

Last year, my very first year selling cookies as a girl scout MOM, I was terrified of the goals being laid before me. And there were plenty of phone calls and much wringing of hands while I tried to figure out if all this focus on funds was something I wanted my daughter (or myself) involved in. After all, isn't the purpose of selling cookies to teach our girls lessons about manners, financial responsibility, leadership, and blah,blah, blah . . . you get the idea. And I was worried!

Weeeeell, it is - but it's also about the money!

One year later and I now find myself in the position of co-leader for this fledgling troop and let me just say, "Helping Girls Grow Strong ain't necessarily cheap!" So this year I vowed to get off my soapbox, ignore my moral high road and take the road MOST travelled instead.

Uuugh!

Luckily, Sheep is one year older (and wiser) and has caught the cookie bug this year, so she's willing to help! Last year she set her sights on a journal that required selling 200 boxes of girl scout cookies. And she did it!!!! And when I say she did it - I mean SHE did it! I was not working (outside the home) last year and Speed was working from home, so mom and dad did not have offices. No break rooms tables to simply throw the form out on and wait for the orders to come rolling in over lunch. Instead, she had to go door-to-door and person-to-person. She made lots of phone calls as well. Speed is a salesman by day, so he helped her with her pitch and she got quite good at it if I do say so myself!

I guess I have my mom (a former girl scout leader herveryownself) for my insistence that she sell them herself. My mom always made us call up to her office to sell cookies or other school things rather than taking the forms to work. At the time I thought it was torture. Now I see it as a stroke of genius!! It is sooo much harder to say no to that tiny voice and that earnest little look!

This year, she has set her sites on the LARGE stuffed penguin plush toy that requires selling 650 boxes (what the . . .?)!! Can she do it? Probably not. Don't tell anyone, but girl scout leader/mom doesn't really want to deliver 650 boxes of girl scout cookies either. But I am LOVIN' the effort I am seeing from this girl!! And even though we've 'officially' gone cookie crazy this year with a troop goal of 2200 boxes, I am secretly smiling to see her using her math, HER MANNERS and making change like a pro! I'm also impressed with her practicality (which I have never been accused of having - ha!), because she has assessed her initial goal and revised it now that she's been pounding the pavement this week. So we'll see . . .

Either way, thanks to girl scouts she's already growing into ONE TOUGH COOKIE!!

P.S. If you need a connection, Sheep can hook you up!!

P.S.S. In additon to everything else, I also ~~fight with~~ own an embroidery machine. I put this design together using the varsity feltie font from Planet Applique and a donut design (I don't know about you, but that looks like a Samoa to me!) from Stitch on Time. Check these ladies out - they both have great ideas and products! This was my first try at a 'raggy' alphabet. Not too shabby - ha! Sometimes, I crack myself up!

Bippity-Boppity-Boo-Hoo-Hoo!

2012-01-09T09:16:00.000-06:00

I think all moms should be issued a fairy godmother along with the instruction manual for children that they give you at the hospital when you have a baby. I mean really, who needs her when your single and have only yourself to attend to? Ahhhh, those were the days . . . .

Well, the closest thing I've ever had is my BFF. Weekends with my bestie are full of fun, conversation, LOTS of laughter and typically lots of projects as well. Seriously, we used to get so much done when we got together. Nowdays though, we get a few things done but there doesn't seem to be much 'cleaning as we go!' THere's just too much on the list these days and NEVER enough time together in the first place.

And when Speed agrees to hang with the tiny tornado while we ~~escape~~ vacate the premises for some much needed girl time - things really get out of hand! Not unlike most dads during NFL playoff season (I presume), his idea of hanging out with Snacks generally means letting him roam free wearing only a diaper (that may or may not need changing) and toting a sippy cup while he and one or mre members of our varsity squad watch the games! Needless to say, our combined (ahem) relaxation this weekend means this place is a WRECK!!

I was going to show you with a few pics (as a cautionary tale), but I can't even locate my camera right now!

And on top of all the laundry, dishes, crafts and shopping bags that need to magically disappear, I've got birthday invitations to make and deliver today and somehow find a place for what remains of Christmas! You know what I'm talkin' about - all those tiny or big gifts that you don't seem to have an obvious place for so you just sort of pile them up and then move the pile around wondering 'Am I really going to use this stuff?' or 'Is it too soon to throw it out?' That stuff. Honestly, I don't think my house can digest even one more thing - and we've still got a 7-year-old's birthday party coming in two weeks - AACK!

I've also got a CCE lesson that needs planning, a doctor's appointment that needs attending and girl scout cookies that need selling. Oh, and I promised to tell y'all about Disney too! So where IS my fairy godmother?!?!?!

I could really use some bippity-boppity-boo about now.

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas Cookies

2012-01-06T17:35:00.000-06:00

OMG!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Y'all!!

I has been a fun-filled, whirlwind holiday for us and I am SOOOO sad to see it go - but I will fill you in on all the fun we had at home and at DISNEYWORLD soon - very soon!!

For now, I am going to complete my 12 Days of Christmas Cookies in an effort to keep my one and only New Year's Resolution, which is to finish what I start! I am already envisioning the spectacular projects adorning my house and my children and myself (oh my!) with this new resolve! Not to mention how adoringly THIN I will have become once I finish losing all that 'baby weight' this year!! This resolution promises to be truly transformative . . . but I digress (and that is the problem)!

Anyhoo . . . since I promised 12 days of cookies - here's what I wanted to post for you on Christmas Eve. Enjoy!

Amy's Sugar Cookies - Take 3!

After the Girl Scout Christmas party, where we decorated with buttercream frosting, and the Playgroup Cookie Party, where we painted them before baking, I still had a pan or two's worth of cookie dough left to bake. (Did I mention this dough freezes beautifully?!)

Perfect!

Because my brother, SIL and the kids were coming over, straight off the plane from the slopes, and Superman said he needed cookies for Santa! Oh dear!!

Once the big kids saw each other though, they were too busy to bake, so the bitties and the mommies took a short cut and simply formed the dough into a log and sliced them!! A quick glaze and some sprinkles, and all systems were go for SANTA!!

So simple!

So quick!

And every bit as tasty if I do say so myself!

I hope your holidays were just as merry as ours! And I hope you'll stay tuned for more sass in 2012!

Better late than never, right? (Work with me here people!)

All in the Name of Progress!

2011-12-23T21:15:00.001-06:00

We really have been in full swing party mode this week - with a neighborhood dinner party on Tuesday night and a Playgroup Cookie Party on Thursday - I am plum tuckered out! But boy howdy have we had fun!!

'The Girls' at House #1

I've mentioned the sheer fabulousness of my neighborhood before - it is an older (larger lots), smaller (especially by today's standards) subdivision in the middle of our small town with easy access to the freeway, shopping and the like. But none of this is what makes our neighborhood so sought after (It's true!) and such a great place to call home.

It's not the neighborhood - it's the neighbors!

And we consider ourselves blessed to call them friends.

To celebrate our collective awesomeness, several of us decided to have a party and since we ~~are all addicted to Pinterest~~ all wanted an excuse to decorate we decided to make it a PROGRESSIVE DINNER PARTY!

Now if you have not heard of this or participated in one yet, you are missing out! You basically divide up the party into stops - we went with cocktails and appetizers at one house, main course at another and dessert/after dinner festivities a third, but you can divide it up as many times as you like. Since we only extended an invitation to one non (but honorary!) neighbor, we skipped invitations and just decided on a time to start, but you might want to designate times for different courses/events if you are hosting for a larger group, who may not be able to make to all the stops! Best of all, when you host a progressive dinner party in a neighborhood with only three streets, nobody has to drive!!

Despite being in the midst of hosting a Christmas Cookie Exchange, my house was chosen for appetizers and I promised to share them with you, so here they are, in no particular order since they are ALL AWESOME!!

The "Now Famous" Cheese Ring

from 'Tea Time at The Masters'

1 pound sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 C chopped pecans
3/4 C mayonnaise
1 medium onion, grated or finely chopped
1 clove garlic, pressed
1/2 tsp. Tabasco sauce (or more to taste)
1 C raspberry preserves (I use strawberry - CANNOT stand raspberry myself)

Combine all ingredients except preserves and mix well. Chill overnight (Important not to skip this step, plus you'll have less to do the day of) Form into ring on platter (I tried a star since it IS Christmastime). Fill ring with preserves or spread on top of shaped cheese. Serve with crackers.

Aimee's Pinwheel Canapes

1 tube crescent rolls
prosciutto or smoked ham
basil pesto
Gruyere cheese

Roll dough out as a flat sheet. DO NOT separate! Spread with thin layer of pesto. Follow with thin layer of ham and grated cheese. Roll lengthwise into long tube. Cut into 1/2" slices (I use dental floss to help maintain shape) and place on greased or foil-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees 8-11 minutes or until browned!

And last, but not least, my very own appetizer! I wanted to simply use my sister-in-law's recipe, but i couldn't find it anywhere, didn't really find anything that sounded like what I remembered online and she was ~~having the time of her life skiing~~ not available for consultation, so I was forced to get creative! They came out very yummy though, so here ya go!

SassyAggie's Bleu Cheese Meatballs in Red Wine Cream Sauce

(Sounds harder than it was, believe me!)

1 pound extra lean ground beef
1/2 - 1 C bleu cheese rumbles
1 tablespoons bread crumbs
1 egg
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp. garlic
black pepper to taste
butter

1/2 C red wine
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 C heavy cream

Mix beef, egg, bread crumbs and seasonings together. Take small piece of ground beef and roll into ball. Flatten ball in palm of hand and place small amount of blue cheese in center of mini patty. Form patty around bleu cheese to cover completely and roll into ball. Finished meatball will be about 1 1/2" round. Heat several tablespoons of butter in pan over medium heat and place meatballs in pan to saute, stirring occasionally to brown on all sides. When cheese starts to ooze out of center and/or juices run clear, they are done. (I cooked and formed at the same time, so it took less time from start to finish.) Remove meatballs form pan as they are done. When all are done, reduce heat to low and deglaze pan with 1/2 C red wine. Stir in a tablespoon of butter. Slowly add cream, stirring constantly to form sauce. Place meatballs back in pan and allow to simmer on low to reduce liquid and thicken sauce. Makes 2-3 dozen depending on size of your meatballs.

In addition to appetizers, we had COCKTAILS! My favorite part!!

Lately I've been hooked on a drink called a Calimocho - half red wine and half Coke (or Diet Coke) over ice. Tastes like neither when you mix them together but the combination is really quite tasty!! Several of my neighbor-friends are converts now too, because you can get smooth (yay!!) from the wine but stay awake to play from the caffeine. I don't know about you, but for this ~~harried~~ dedicated mom-on-the-go, whose day usually starts between 5 and 5:30 AM, having an adult beverage and NOT going straight to sleep is something of a feat!

'The Girls' at House # 2

And speaking of staying up to play - after scrumptious appetizers, a DIVINE homemade lasagna and salad and an INCREDIBLE dessert bar - we divvied up and played a round of Charoodles. Haven't heard of it? Neither had I - and I come from a LOONG line of game players!!

I can't seem to find it anywhere, except online for some unreasonable price, but if you can find a copy of this game - SWIPE IT UP!! It is basically a twist on Charades and it is fun, fun, fun!! Luckily, I have great neighbors (I think I might have mentioned this before - wink wink) who are letting me borrow Charoodles for Christmas Eve with my family tomorrow night! Yippee!

You can't tell by looking I guess, but we did include the menfolk in our little soiree - see!

Great food. Great friends. Great fellowship.

Truly a blessing, this season and always!

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas Cookies

2011-12-23T14:23:00.000-06:00

THIS is where the ~~mess~~ magic happens!

Yesterday Sheep (and Snacks!) and I hosted the 6th Annual Playgroup Cookie Party (OMG!!) with our friends from playgroup! Such a great time with some truly great friends - how blessed I have been by them through the years! The 'original' group came together during birth classes at our local hospital and I was lucky enough to be asked to join by one of it's members when Sheep arrived about 9 months later. Being a first time mom AND having a younger child means I have been the beneficiary of all their mommy successes - and failures! What a gift!

While the 'origianl gang' has all grown up, and some have (sadly) moved away, we've still managed to stay connected and I am blessed to call this fine group of women my friends! And although we've morphed into mostly a girls' night out group now (Nothin' wrong with that!!), we have managed to get together at the holidays for our cookie party!

Christmas 2006

Look at those tiny little creatures!

Christmas 2011

Since Sheep and I have already decorated sugar cookies with icing TWICE this season, I decided to change it up a bit, and 'paint' our sugar cookies this year using egg yolk paint. It's fun, fast and a twist to our traditional cookies and icing free-for-all! I wish I could tell you it was neater than icing but either way, messy seems to be our MO at the cookie party! Hey, it's only once a year and . . .

WE LOVE IT!!

We always use the same sugar cookie recipe, which you can find here, so here is how you prepare your 'paint' - enjoy!

Egg Yolk Paint

Egg yolks (you can make approximately 2 colors per egg yolk)
1 tablespoon water per yolk
3-5 drops liquid food coloring

Beat yolks and water together.

Separate into small containers and add food coloring as desired.

Use small paint brushes to apply paint to UNBAKED, cutout cookies.

Sprinkle with sugar before baking in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.

Place on cookie racks to cool and try to fight the kids off - ha!

Actually, we skip that step and just let them gorge themselves on cookies all afternoon!! After all, we're indulging on mommy drinks and cookies ourselves - yippee!

I hope everyone has as wonderful a Christmas as we do each year - celebrating with our family - and our playgroup family as well.

Merry Christmas y'all!

On the Tenth Day of Christmas Cookies

2011-12-23T12:24:00.002-06:00

I always assumed that making candied nuts was complicated. Not so!! These are just about the easiest treats to make!! They make great gifts (if you can keep your hands off them!) and are great to have on hand during the holidays for guests! They are also a delicious way to use up your egg whites from recipes that require only yolks (like painted sugar cookies)!

Julie's Candied Pecans

1 egg white
1 T water
1 pound pecan halves
1 C sugar (can use white or brown depending on wht you like)
cinnamon (also optional - so up to you!)

Separate your egg and add water to the white. Mix with a fork until very frothy! Pour in pecans and coat thoroughly with egg white. Toss wet pecans in cinnamon sugar mixture. Spread into single layer on greased cookie pan and bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring occassionally.

On the Ninth Day of Christmas Cookies

2011-12-22T11:19:00.000-06:00

Well, if you were checking - there is no ninth day!!

After all the preparations for our neighborhood progressive dinner party (and I promise to share all the goodness!!), I needed a day with Sheep and Snacks just to hang out, have fun and relax! So, instead of making cookies yesterday, we made a fort, went to see the Muppets, grabbed some lunch at a restaurant with a playscape then all came home and napped!

But we've got cookies on tap for today (Day 10) and another super SIMPLE and SWEET treat as well.

In the mean time, don't forget to share your own Christmas favorite at my Christmas Cookie Exchange and check back tonight for today's ~~craziness~~ festivities!

On the Eighth Day of Christmas Cookies

2011-12-20T16:32:00.001-06:00

Our neighborhood progressive dinner party is TONIGHT!! I am so excited and can't wait to share all the fun with you tomorrow! Ironically, I was assigned to do appetizers rather than dessert - ha! I have decided to make a homemade cheese ball with strawberry preserves, bleu cheese meatballs in red wine cream sauce and prosciutto and pesto pinwheels - all super simple and super fabulous!! And I will share all of these recipes with you tomorrow as well - stay tuned!!

But - we're supposed to be talking cookies here!

While ~~frantically searching~~ looking for my sister-in-law's bleu cheese meatballs recipe upstairs in my ~~crap~~ craft room, I came across a box of recipes from my aunt's house and found these:

Orange Christmas Balls

1 package Nilla wafers, crushed
1/2 stick of butter , melted
1 C chopped pecans
1 box powdered sugar
6 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate, undiluted

Mix all ingredients together and form into balls. Roll in additional chopped pecans or coconut flakes. Refrigerate until serving.

These reminded me so much of the rum ball recipe, I knew I had to try them! I made them according to the recipe this time, but am already thinking I might try with Cointreau or other orange liqueur next time for a grown-up version of this delicious treat. The adult version will need a grown-up name as well, so I'm thinking Santa's Balls - HA!!

Don't forget to share your own Christmas favorites at my Christmas Cookie Exchange!

On the Seventh Day of Christmas Cookies

2011-12-19T21:34:00.002-06:00

OMG!!

Christmas is a mere 6 days away - actually FIVE at this hour - and I still have LOTS to do! Three stockings left to finish, a pair of Christmas pants for Sheep and appetizers for a progressive dinner to prepare by tomorrow night! Can't wait to tell you all about it (It's going to be so much fun!!), but no time to talk tonight! In the mean time, here's a great Christmas cookie for you to try. My dough is chillin' right now and I am desperately wishing that I could do the same! So, I will update you with a couple of pics tomorrow AND hopefully a stocking tutorial as well - they are soooo stinkin' cute!!

Holiday Thumbprint Cookies

3 sticks of butter
1 C sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3 1/2 C flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 egg beaten with 1 T water
7 ounces sweetened coconut flakes
Raspberry or strawberry jam

Cream butter and sugar in mixer until smooth. Add vanilla. Sift together dry ingredients. Add flour mixture and blend until dough starts to come together. Turn out onto floured board and roll together into a flat disc. Wrap in plastic and chill for 1 hour. Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Dip each ball in egg wash and roll in coconut. Place on cookie sheet and press indention into cookie with your finger. Drop 1/4 tsp. jam into the center of each cookie. Bake 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees or until coconut is golden brown. Makes 3 dozen cookies.

P.S. It is apparently important to cook these while still very cold. After getting them ready, I had to go take care of a minor kid crisis (SO unusual around here - ha!) and forgot about them for ~~an hour~~ a wee bit - and when they went into the oven at room temperature - well, see for yourself!!

They still tasted FABULOUS - and we ate every last one of 'em too - but certainly not the pretty presentation I usually get from these cookies. Note to self - next time save the cookies, not the kids :o)

Don't forget to share your own Christmas favorites at my Christmas Cookie Exchange!

On the Sixth Day of Christmas Cookies

2011-12-19T00:27:00.003-06:00

Helen's Forgotten Cookies

I know it's a tradition in our family to call cookies by the person's name that gave the recipe to us, but in this case it just doesn't make sense. Because it's hard to imagine ANYONE ever forgetting about Helen. I know I sure won't! She was a BIG lady (or at least she seemed that way when I was small) with a BIG personality and an even BIGGER heart - and she was one of my mom's dearest friends. She also had a daughter my age more or less, so our families spent a fair amount of time together when I was growing up and we all just loved her! Plus, she was from Canada, which made her very exotic in my mind back then!

Without a doubt, Helen was one of the luckiest people I have ever known. And I'm talkin' winning cars, money, gadgets and boo-coos of movie tickets kind of lucky, most of which she gave away to her friends and family. And for a single mom raising three kids, even something as small as free movie tickets meant A LOT - to all of us! She was SO lucky that sometimes I attempt to channel her while entering contests by writing her name in very small print somewhere on the entry form. It hasn't worked yet, but I'm telling you it will! That's also why I'm NOT gonna tell you her last name!

Baking these cookies always puts a smile on my face because they remind me of a wonderful lady whose smile and laughter are sorely missed! It's one of the things I love about collecting recipes - they're a great way to recall fond memories and keep our loved ones in our hearts through the years. And isn't that what the Christmas season is all about?

So I guess that makes me (and now you) lucky too!

Helen's (Gone But Not) Forgotten Cookies

There. That's more like it!

2/3 C sugar
2 egg whites
1 C chopped pecans
1 C chocolate chips
1 tsp. vanilla
pinch of salt

They will no longer be shiny and may have slight cracks in the surface when ready.

Preheat oven to 305 degrees while preparing cookies. Beat sugar and egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold in remaining ingredients. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or foil. Drop by spoonfuls onto trays. Turn oven OFF! Place cookies in oven and leave overnight. When completely cooled, remove from tin foil and store in an airtight container. Makes 2-3 dozen.

They should peel off easily (as you can see here) when ready!

Baking tip: These are basically a meringue cookie, so be sure to make these on a dry, sunny day so they will set up properly!

On the Fifth Day of Christmas Cookies

2011-12-17T08:20:00.000-06:00

I don't know who i ma going to kill first!!

It happened again!!

An ENTIRE batch of cookies eaten by THAT DAWG!!

I left them cooling on the plate to run Sheep up to a birthday party. Snacks was home with MIL at the time and Speed was due home any minute. Friday nights are usually pizza night around here, so I knew we'd be going out - yay!! Dinner solved! What I didn't know was that 'the perfect storm' was brewing - Speed has spoken to Sissy earlier and invited her to join us for dinner (She's 23, a college graduate AND unfortunately between jobs . . . but that's a story for another day). My MIL had coupon for our favorite pizza place that was only good at the location near our house, NOT Sissy's. In addition to being between jobs, Sissy also happened to be without wheels right now, so Speed decided to go pick her up (unbeknowst to me). Now Sheep and I were about to be on our way back from the birthday party but in the post-yogurt and birthday cake frenzy, I did not hear that text. Nor did I know that he would be taking MIL and Snacks with him to pick up Sissy. All this to say that the cookies were left UNATTENDED. AGAIN!

Sheep and I arrived home to a dark house (Were we supposed to meet them there?) . . . and an empty plate of Tea Time Tassies! Even better, the coupon that prompted the exodus was only good M-Th!!

Nothin' but crumbs :o(

AAAAAArrrgh!

Maybe I will start with myself . . . .

Tea Time Tassies

Crust:
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 C butter, softened
1 C flour
Combine Ingredients and chill for 1 hour (I never have time for this and it works fine BTW). Roll into long rope and divide into 24 sections. Flatten into circles and place in min-muffin cups. Pres into bottom and sides of cups, being careful NOT to push any holes in the crust. No need to grease tins!

Filling:
1 egg, beaten
2/3 C chopped pecans
3/4 C brown sugar
1 Tablespoon butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
dash of salt

Combine all ingredients. Spoon filling into unbaked crusts. Bake in 325 degree oven for 25 minutes or until filling sets and crust is a delicate brown. ~~Leave out for your dog~~. Enjoy!

Don't forget to link up your own family's Christmas favorites at The Cookie Exchange!

On the Fourth Day of Christmas Cookies

2011-12-16T14:54:00.002-06:00

Some family traditions are really silly. For example, I don't know why we only make these chocolaty, sugary bites of Heaven at Christmastime in our family, but for some reason it's the only time we do. Especially since literally EVERYONE loves these cookies!! And with a household that swells from 4 to 8 at Christmas, that's really sayin' something!!

But I have a confession to make - this is not the recipe my mom uses (gasp!)

Sorry mom!

Our "family's" recipe always seems to get crumbly or stale or whatever you want to call it quite quickly, even though they don't stick around very long. Frustrating!! Then I tasted this version at a baby shower many moons ago and had to admit - they were definitely better - so I switched!! Either way, Chocolate Crinkles remain one of my all-time favorite holiday treats. But don't take my word for it. See for yourself!

Chocolate Crinkles

1 ½ sticks butter, melted

½ C cocoa powder

1 C sugar

2 large eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

2 C flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

1 6 oz. Bag chocolate chips

¾ C powdered sugar

In a large bowl, mix melted butter, cocoa and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients, except chocolate chips and powdered sugar. Slowly add wet mixture to dry ingredients, then stir in chocolate chips. Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight (best overnight). Form dough into 1 inch balls and roll in powdered sugar. (I like to roll them twice so there's plenty of powdered sugar on the cookies when baked.) Bake 12 minutes at 350°. Makes 2-3 dozen cookies.

~~Mine are in the fridge right now - so I will update ya with a couple of pics tomorrow!~~

Not the best pic - so much for artistic food photography!

Don't forget to link up your own holiday favorites at the Christmas Cookie Exchange!

On the Third Day of Christmas Cookies

2011-12-15T22:00:00.001-06:00

My Gingerbread Girl SCOUT - hee hee!

I've been up to my eyeballs in Christmas Cookie Decorating for the past two days. It has been fun but EXHAUSTING to say the least. Especially when you have to make them twice!! If they weren't so maddeningly delicious, I would wonder why I bother - but I'm telling you, these are THE BEST cut out sugar cookies you will ever taste!! EVER!!

And a shout out to my BFF for the recipe - and the great tradition it has become at our house!! I promise, these cookies will make you a STAR!

Amy's Sugar Cookies

1 C butter
1 1/2 C sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
3 3/4 C flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt (must have salt)

Cream butter and sugar in mixer. Add eggs. Sift dry ingredients together and add to mixture. Add vanilla and mix until smooth. This dough will be very sticky! Refrigerate overnight. Roll out onto well floured surface and cut into shapes. Do not overwork dough - it becomes very elastic!! Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes. Cool completely and decorate with Buttercream Frosting.

Cut out Cookies may seem like A LOT of work but these are definitely worth the effort!!

Buttercream Frosting

1 stick of butter
1 bag or 2 boxes of powdered sugar
1 tap. vanilla
milk or water to desired thickness

Combine all ingredients. Separate and add food colors. Place in pastry bags or Ziplock freezer bags to decorate. If it gets too runny with handling, simply put back in the fridge to cool for a few minutes. Will make 5-6 bags of different colors. When using on sugar cookies, let iced cookies sit out overnight (if you don't eat them all first!!) to allow icing to harden.

Don't forget to add your own Christmas favorites to my Christmas Cookie Exchange!

The Dog Ate My Homework!!

2011-12-14T23:32:00.000-06:00

OMG!!!

Remember that new Animal Shelter the Daisies have been working so hard for all semester?

Well they're about to get their first visitor!!!

I ~~crazily~~ happily agreed to bake cookies for Sheep and her classmates to decorate at their X-mas party. Yes, you heard me right. I said X-mas Party - which is what it apparently should be called since it's public school and I guess we're not supposed to acknowledge that it's a Christmas Party. "We" call it a "Winter Party" instead - but that's a topic for another day :o)

I was patting myself on the back and generally feeling like 'clever and efficient mom' upon agreeing to bring cookies for the class, because I was already supposed to be baking cookies for decorating at the Girl Scout Christmas Party (Yes! We called it a Christmas Party!!) tonight! So today I spent the whole, entire afternoon baking 5 DOZEN(!!!) cut out sugar cookies and whipping up 2 batches of homemade frosting. Which happened to be JUST ENOUGH for the two parties!!

Only 1 dozen of said cookies went with us to Girl Scouts while the other 4 dozen stayed behind with our only surviving dog - for now!!!

HERE is what was left when I got home!

Does this look like 4 dozen cookies to you?!?!?!

ME NEITHER!!!

So, while Katie is 'sleeping it off'' on the sofa, I'm back in kitchen at, let's see here, 11:05 PM, to make another batch of cookie dough to roll out and bake bright and early in the morning!! Uuugh!

Good heavens, where IS my wine . . . . .!