Welcomed a college junior home for the summer Welcomed a grad student home twice for visits that were still too short Had a birthday and celebrated Father’s Day on the same day Received a new laptop Hosted two outdoor movie nights – “O Brother Where Art Thou” and “How To Murder Your Wife”, 1965, with Jack Lemmon (so funny and delightfully chauvinistic) Angel’s Game with “Big Bang Friday Fireworks” Hosted a 4th of July celebration and BBQ Saw my sons… [Read More]
This has been quite a busy collegiate cake pop month. I’ve just finished another order for USC Cake Pops and while I was decorating for the Spirit of Troy, my mind wandered to the 4th of July with patriotic fervor. I made these cake pops very simple – fondant stars sprinkled with Disco Dust and luster dust brushed over the dipped pop. I cannot get enough of using paper straws for the sticks. I love, love, love this look! I… [Read More]
Yesterday I was too pooped to (cake) pop because… … last Wednesday, I received an email asking if I could make 80 USC cake pops for a surprise 50th wedding anniversary this past weekend. The couple met while both attending USC where he was a Beta, and she, a Theta. Being a hopeless romantic and an alum myself, I said, “Fight On!”, which in USC-speak meant, “Yes”! I experimented with different cake batter recipes before totally delving in. I wanted… [Read More]
As my cookies dry today and I scramble to clean the house for unexpected company this weekend, I have a bizarre story to share with you. Whether you’re a believer in an after life or in just random unexplained happenings, you’ll probably find this odd. It happened as my husband, Rob, and I were driving up north a couple weeks ago for the parents weekend for our son’s fraternity (two posts ago). We were driving up the 405 freeway… [Read More]
Even a speeding ticket being clocked at 82 MPH, or so I was told, on Saturday morning couldn’t squelch my enthusiasm to go hear Matt Armendariz, world famous food photographer, author of MattBites.com and famously nice guy along with his partner, professionally and personally, Adam Pearson, who is one talented food stylist and nice guy in his own right. An intimate group met in a photography studio near Venice Beach and listened to Matt and Adam share their mercurial rise… [Read More]
Last weekend, we, along with other Theta Chi parents, had the pleasure of spending a special parents’ weekend with our sons. I made a few batches of chocolate chip cookies and Theta Chi cookies with Greek letters and the fraternity flower – the red carnation. The Greek letters are made from thinned royal icing that has been allowed to dry and harden. They peel off the waxed paper. I then placed them on top of the white wet royal icing…. [Read More]
In my previous post, I showed you how I was inspired to make decorated baby elephant cookie favors using a graphic of a baby elephant in a baby shower invitation I received. I just fell in love with that little blue guy so I thought I’d go one delicious step further – I baked some mini cupcakes just for fun and used the same graphic. I have a Canon printer solely designated for edible images that is filled with edible… [Read More]
You are cordially invited… …to take a peek inside… … party preparations with pachyderms. The inspiration. Creating a cookie pattern. A few precious baby pachyderms. An entire herd of sweetness. Getting dressed for the party. To make the tags, I used a 3” punch on card stock scrapbook paper topped with 2” printable edge-to-edge sticker labels. I also made a sticker to use to seal the tissue paper inside the gift box. Ready for the party. The packed baby pachyderms… [Read More]
I’m headed to a silent auction this weekend for my son’s fraternity. They’re hosting “Parent’s Weekend” (translation – fundraiser, where the parents bring the funds). It will be very nice. There’s a BBQ at “the house” on Friday (I saw photos of the house. Assorted bed sheets adorn the windows. I am choosing to avert my eyes and focus on the love). The boys have also organized winery tours via a chartered bus for Saturday followed by dinner at a… [Read More]
Dads-to-be need to feel special too. All tucked in as snug as a bug in a rug. Uh-oh… Time for binky and bottle. “Burp!” Ahhh. Just for fun for the wine connoisseur dad-to-be. This gift for the dad-to-be will accompany baby shower cookie favors tied with the baby blue polka dot ribbon and a mini cupcake tree, which I’ll post next week. The tag and pennant were very easy to make. I printed out what I wanted to say and… [Read More]
The Bookshelf
Baby Boomers Unite!
Make-Ahead Frozen Buttercream Cake Decorations
Carlo’s Bakery Cannolis and Lobster Tail Pastries
Colonial Williamsburg Sweet Potato Muffins
Gift Basket Ideas For A Silent Auction
Pretty Pink Petal Cake – A Wilton Cake Decorating Technique
A Holiday Cocktail ~ Carrot Cake Martinis
