Let It Snow!

Just a few snowflakes for the Inspire Youth Project's Volunteer Appreciation Party.

Mad Men

This weekend I attended a 'Mad Men' themed party/surprise wedding reception...yep, that's right.

After winning the '50's-style, super glamorous 'Mad Men Cocktail Hour' at the Detlef Schrempf Foundation Auction and then secretly getting married three weeks ago, Rick and Phil decided to this would be the perfect occasion to celebrate with all their friends.

Celebrate, we did!

I attempted to go with a kind of art deco look for the cookies....you know, kind of late 50's/early 60's like.

Here we have Rick, and Phil...the happy couple with their daughter and son-in-law.

Toasting the marriage announcement!

Here we all are in our Mad Men attire. I had planned on wearing a fabulous vintage dress Mandy loaned to me. 

After we were all done setting up, I put it on, noted how fabulously '50's I looked, and then promptly ripped it down the side...oops. 

Fortunately, I'm indecisive and had brought along this second option...a little less '50's, but it still worked. 

Mandy, of course, looked fabulous as Joan and apparently there's a character who wore really short shorts in some episode that inspired Kyle's outfit.

The party took place in the beautiful art studio of Steven Jensen. An amazing space with amazing art!

Lastly, I had to include this picture because it illustrates the wonderfulness that is the groom, Rick, to a tee.

And side-note again...this is only the second time in my life I've ever even held a cigarette. 

(The first being this summer when it was decided that we all needed prop cigarettes at my aunt's 50's themed birthday party.)

Of course, at a Mad Men party, it was obligatory that you hold your martini glass and a prop cigarette in the same hand.

The Wedding of All Weddings...

I still can't believe that my big brother got married last weekend!

It was a beautiful, beautiful weekend...and a beautiful, beautiful wedding!

Yes, it was a bit of a wet wedding (what do expect from the Northwest in May!)...

but I think that only added to the charm of the whole thing.

I made these cookies for the bridal brunch the day before the wedding. 

I'm not going to even go into the whole thing about how a heat wave in Seattle and cookie making do not make a good combo :)

Congratulations, John and Holly! 

Knitting Away

My friend, Jolie, hosted a delightful knitting party last weekend.

Most of us being novices, she taught us the basics and we all walked away with a lovely dishcloth. 

I'll admit, mine was not as square as it was supposed to be.

Although I've knit some, Jolie uses a entirely different technique...I had to do a whole hand-switch-around thing.

I think I like this new way of knitting better though...it seems quite a bit faster!

I brought some themed cookies...actually the first I've made since I've been back in the US.

Yes, yes...they're a bit sloppy, but I think I was distracted by this view out my apartment window.

(Don't be too jealous.)

Off to India

One of my friends here in Lesotho is off to India in a few days.

I made these henna-inspired cookies for her farewell dinner.

Good luck in India, Jenn! 

The babies can't wait for your return!

A 'Not-Quite-A-Gingerbread' House

Here ya go...my attempt at a gingerbread house.

Okay, it's actually a sugar cookie house...because we don't have all the ingredients to make gingerbread.

And somehow it turned out looking more like a church.

Okay, so...here's a 'sugar cookie church.'

I apologize for all the smooshed-fingerprint spots on it, by the way.

We also don't have cream of tartar - the good ol' stuff that makes royal icing harden quickly - so I spent quite of bit of time holding this thing together as it dried ever-so-slowly.

Oh and isn't it nice how I took the time to clear off the counter to take some nice photos?

I just thought you might enjoy seeing all our peanut butter and spices and cutting boards, etc. in the background?

Thanks to the Madre and Padre for sending me the wonderful package of Christmas sprinkles, which provided the inspiration for some fun Christmas baking! I love you guys!

Happy Birthday, Lyle!

While the rain may have thwarted our plans to have a birthday cookout, we, at least, had a whole variety of bake goods to console us.

Happy birthday, Lyle!

JOHN & HOLLY

Let me tell you what...I am very much looking forward to this coming May 12!

On that day, two people I love very much will be getting married.

Congratulations, John and Holly!

BROWNIE GOODNESS

For a while now I've been looking for the perfect chocolate cookie recipes.

Of course, it had to taste delicious and hold it's shape.

That last part is very important when decorating cookies - if the cookies have too much rising agent, they'll spread while baking and what should have been a cute elephant cookie will turn into a big shapeless blog.

I came across this 'brownie roll-out' recipes on Smitten Kitchen.

I can tell you this recipe has definite potential...the cookies came out with a great brownie-delicious taste.

Next time, I'll roll out the brownies a little thicker and I think they'll be that perfect combination of brownie-goodness and decorated-cookie-delight!

Once I give this recipe another go and add my own touches to it, I'll be sure to post it.

A FEW MORE FLOWERS