Derby Day!

Maryland Therapeutic Riding asked me to make a Kentucky Derby cookie basket for their silent auction this weekend.  What a wonderful organization!  I was so excited to do some research and make fun cookies for this event.  I am not a big fan of horse racing-it makes me way too nervous to watch.  But, I LOVE the work that this organization does for children, wounded veterans, and people with both physical and emotional special needs.


I found some great ideas and wanted to make ALL of them, but I stuck had to stick with 3.  This is such a fun time of year, and such a whimsical and nostalgic event.  When I think of the Kentucky Derby, I think of HATS

mint juleps

and of course, the horses!

Best in Show: French Bulldogs

Look at these little sweeties.  I couldn't find a cookie cutter for these, so I traced a pattern and hand-cut them with a paring knife.  Extra work-but totally worth it.

They were so cute that I almost felt bad eating them (what can I say, I have to taste test my cookies before I give them-right?)...almost.  These were guest favors for a lady's birthday party.  She shows French Bulldogs!  I love a dog lover! 

To give them some sparkle (because every show dog needs to shine), I piped and flooded the crowns with tan royal frosting and then later painted them gold with gold luster dust and vodka (the vodka evaporates).  

Then they were bagged, bowed, and showed!  I couldn't think of a cuter breed for a cookie.  

  

little louis

A sweet lady asked me to make Louis Vuitton handbag cookies for her friend's surprise birthday party.  What a sweet friend!  We decided to go with the Greta multicolor monogram because they're pretty and festive for an April party.  They have some gold details for buckles, and I hand-drew the monogram with edible markers.  This was so fun!

Moms' Club and Nordstrom Cookies

What's more fun than a Nordstrom bag?  Why a Nordstrom Bag Cookie!  

The ladies of the Greater Severna Park Moms' Club will have their annual Nordstrom shopping event tonight.  I used their colors and anchor symbol and used a fun silver shimmer dust for the shopping bags.

hippity hoppity

We celebrated Kate's 1st birthday party this weekend and I did a bunny theme for this one.  It was cute and whimsical, but really easy considering it is Easter time!  I made little pink bunnies and carrots for favors.  This time I set them out for display with goodie bags next to them so people could take them but they were also part of our decorations.  They were pretty cute-and of course, they were pretty yummy too!

Happy Easter and Happy Birthday to my sweet Kate.

the crabby cookie

I love making crab cookies!  I think they are my favorite so far.  They are so fun to play with and the colors of the Maryland Blue Crab just POP!  I can't wait for crab season in a couple of months!  Brian and I usually hit up Cantler's, but I'm sure we'll also have a couple of crab feasts in the backyard this year.  To me, summers in Maryland really are the best.

autism speaks benefit

I had a great time at the Autism Speaks benefit at Nordstrom.  Alpha Xi Delta hosted the event, and a few friends and I had a great time going to eat and then doing a little shopping.  I made some cute cookies for the sorority to put out for desert.

I made puzzle pieces for Autism Speaks, roses for the sorority's flower, and simple circle cookies with the greek letters and colors for Alpha Xi Delta.