Year in Review: Favorite cookies of 2013

I've been sitting here staring at the pictures of cookies I haven't posted yet, trying to figure out if I could skew any of them to be "New Year's" cookies.  Then, it hit me to instead do a wrap-up of the year and post the favorite cookies of the year based on blog views and comments. 

If you missed any of the blog posts the first go-around, you can click on the link above each picture.  Let me know what you think and if you have a favorite from the year that didn't make it!

March 2013 - Easter Egg Cookies

 

 

 

April 2013 - One Big, Happy (Cookie) Family

 

 

 

May 2013 - Happy Birthday Hudson!: Sports Cookies

 

 

 

June 2013 - Baby Shower Cookies: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

 

 

 

July 2013 - Baby Shower Cookies: Gold Nest and Herringbone Cookies

 

 

 

August 2013 - Painted Cookies: Fanciful Peacock

 

 

 

September 2013 - Marching Band Cookies

 

 

 

October 2013 - Chalkboard Baby Shower Cookies

 

 

 

November 2013 - Happy Thanksgiving: Pilgrim Turkey Faces

 

 

 

December 2013 - Letters to Santa Cookies

A HUGE thank you to all my wonderful customers that made all the cookies above possible.  I started this adventure back in March and never dreamed that I would be where I'm at just 10 months later.  I am so excited to see what 2014 will bring!

Merry Christmas!: Christmas Present Cookies

Merry Christmas, everyone!  Christmas is by far my favorite holiday and, in my humble opinion, the most wonderful time of the year.  I made these Christmas gift cookies as a birthday gift for a very special lady turning 92.

 

 

I used "wet-on-wet" technique for all of the gift cookies, and the holly present ended up being my favorite.

 Enjoy the time with your friends and family this Christmas!

Christmas Cookie Bouquet

Well it has been an eventful weekend for us!  I headed to the ER Thursday with abdominal cramps and a fever and lo and behold, I had appendicitis.  At 11 pm, I was taken to surgery and had my appendix removed.  Now I'm in recovery mode and I'm just really disappointed because this is the time of year I was looking to crank cookies out and do several different ideas, but it's just not happening this year.  However, it's time like this that I am glad I have cookies saved up to post when I am in no condition to be working on cookies! 

I made this mini-Christmas bouquet as part of my display for the MOPS market last October.  I wanted to show some Christmas themed cookies for anyone interested in ordering.

I'm going to do my best to keep up during this busy season, but I'm not making any promises!

Letters to Santa Cookies

And now for the highly anticipated part two of the Letters to Santa cookies made for my dear friend Melanie. :)  If you missed part one, make sure and check it out here.

I truly think I saved the best for last with this one.  I love making cookies, but sometimes it gets monotonous.  Then, every so often I have a design that I get really excited about and it gives me back the spark.  These letters to Santa did the trick for me this time!

 

 

I tried to channel my inner child to not only come up with what gift ideas they would want, but also to give authentic, child-like handwriting.  Then, I included some Christmas-themed mailboxes for the kiddos to send off their letters.

 

 Thanks again for ordering, Melanie!  I had such a fun time making these cookies for you!

Santa Claus Cookies

I personally refused to do any Christmas cookies before Thanksgiving had passed, but the second it was over I dived into my first Christmas cookies.  I'd be lying if I didn't admit that ever since I first started this cookie venture back in March, I have been looking forward to Christmas cookie season.

My sweet friend Melanie, who you may remember from my housewarming cookies, hosts an annual Santa Christmas party and wanted cookies for the event.  The theme for the party was "Letters to Santa" so she asked me to design some Santa cookies and then some mail themed cookies that you'll see in my next post.

 

I was shocked to realize that I didn't actually own a Santa cookie cutter! I have since rectified that dilemma, but at the time when I needed to bake these James was already napping so I had to improvise.  I chose to mend together a scalloped oval and a Santa hat and I'm really happy with how it turned out.

 

 

 

I am so excited that it is officially the "most wonderful time of the year" and I am looking forward to sharing many, many Christmas cookies with you.  Don't forget to come back to see part two of my cookies for Melanie!

 

Thanksgiving Pie Cookies

Happy Thanksgiving!

While Christmas has long over-taken our stores and we are even seeing some houses decorated already, I want to make sure and give Thanksgiving its deserved time in the spotlight.  To me, Thanksgiving is a time to slow down and spend time with the ones we love... that and a time to celebrate America's real favorite past-time: overeating!  Because of this, I made some cookies to look like pies, the iconic Thanksgiving dessert.

 

Making pie cookies isn't a new concept.  In fact, several cookie decorators have made adorable cookies to look like pies.  Just stroll over to Pinterest and you'll see what I'm talking about!  But, I wanted to change things up and use the cookie to create the crust in an attempt to create a more realistic looking pie.

I made pumpkin, cherry and chocolate pie- with a dollop of whipped cream of course!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Enjoy the time with your loved ones... and some yummy food, too!

ThankFALL for You Cookies

When I was a vendor at the MOPS market about a month ago, I knew I needed to prepare a LOT of cookies.  Since I stay home full-time with James, the only way this was going to be possible was with some help.  My wonderful friends watched him for me not one, but two mornings, so I would be able to work on cookies.  I knew I owed them a huge thank you, so I did it in the best way I know how- with cookies! 

 

I'm not usually one for puns, but I couldn't resist.  Then, I had these cute leaf sprinkles that are just perfect for fall and I threw in some minis covered in orange sanding sugar because they have to be one of my favorite cookies to eat.  I love the added crunch and sweetness.



Thank you again so much, Christina, Jessica, and Megan.  I couldn't have made it through the MOPS market without your help.  During this season of thanks, I am especially thankful to be blessed by your friendships!

Happy Thanksgiving: Pilgrim Turkey Faces

I wanted to wait until it was closer to Thanksgiving to post these, but I was so excited with how they turned out that I just couldn't!  Plus with Christmas taking over the stores already, I thought I would give Thanksgiving a chance!

Megan wanted to get cookies for her doctor as a thank you and wasn't picky with the specifics.  All she asked was for the cookies to be Thanksgiving-themed and have one cookie say "Thankful for you."  Sweet Sugarbelle, one of my biggest cookie icons, did a tutorial for these adorable turkey cookie faces.  I thought it was the cutest idea, but I wanted to take it even further and make them Pilgrim Turkeys.

 

 

 

 

Megan, I'm thankful for you!  Thank you so much for trusting me with your order and giving me the freedom to create!

Housewarming Cookies

I am a firm believer in "everything happens for a reason."  When we officially decided to move to San Antonio, we were given two realtors' names by Kevin's work.  After talking to Melanie on the phone, I immediately knew she was the right choice.  Fast forward to us living here almost two years, and I am so blessed that she is still a part of my life now as a friend. 

 

Melanie continues to work as a thriving realtor (she seriously is the best realtor so if you are in SA and need someone, definitely check her out!), and she wanted to give cookies to one of her clients after they purchased a lot to build their dream home.  Melanie had the idea for the "Coming Soon" cookies and then I just threw in some pattern cookies to complement the houses.  Melanie

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much, Melanie, not only for the order, but for being such a bright spot in our relocation to San Antonio!

Happy Veterans Day: Air Force Cookies

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

-John F. Kennedy

Today is Veterans Day, and although these cookies were made for an airman at the very start of his career, I thought it was only appropriate to have some military cookies on the blog.  You may recognize the design from when I made Air Force cookies on Memorial Day.  Jason just graduated from Pilot School and his girlfriend Annie thought they would be the perfect gift.

"On this Veterans Day, let us remember the service of our veterans, and let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred obligations to our veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much so that we can live free."

-Dan Lipinski

 

 

"While only one day of the year is dedicated solely to honoring our veterans, Americans must never forget the sacrifices that many of our fellow countrymen have made to defend our country and protect our freedoms."

-Randy Neugebauer

 

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave."

-Elmer Davis

Make sure you take the time to thank a Veteran today!