Christmas Cookie Challenge

 Christmas Cookie Challenge 

This is SO exciting!  My friend Kima of Kima's Konfections  is competing in Food Network's Christmas Cookie Challenge.   I had no idea she was doing this until she announced it in November.  She had to keep things all hush-hush.  I don't know how she did it.  I would be bursting at the seams wanting to tell someone.  I was so excited for her that as soon as I found out I invited my friends to a viewing party. As I type this on Sunday night the episode my friend is in hasn't aired yet. It airs on Monday, when this post goes live in the morning.  So if you're reading this now, be sure to come back after Monday to get the update. 

In preparation for the viewing party I got out my Wilton Cookie Cutter set, seen below and available on Amazon.   I looked up a sugar cookie recipe and decided on Semisweet Mike's. The almond scent filled the air as the cookies baked and made the kitchen smell so good.  I of course had to try one once they were done baking to make sure they baked ok. I haven't baked sugar cookies since we got our new oven.  The almond comes through lightly in the baked cookies and tastes delicious even without frosting.  I also used Semisweet Mike's royal icing recipe.  It turned out just like the pictures on his site.
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My plan for these cookies was to pipe an outline and then flood the cookies.  After outlining all the cookies I decided not to flood them.  Cookies are not something that I make. I'm a cupcake baker so I didn't want to throw too many techniques at myself at once.  Shoot, it took me longer then expected just to pipe the cookies the way I did.  I decided I would just pipe the frosting on and smooth it out with a toothpick.  Oh my goodness, I have mad respect for cookie artists.  Piping cookies is not as easy as I thought it would be.  You can see I smudged Santa's hat there.

I did the candy canes first and you can tell because the icing isn't as smooth.  The candy canes were my learning cookies for sure.  The Santa hat's turned out so much better.  My smoothing with the toothpick technique definitely improved.  Next time I want to try flooding.

Be sure to come back to see if Kima's Konfections won and more viewing party pics. I'll be updating this post the day after the episode airs. 

Valentine's Round Up

Valentine's Party Round Up 

Valentine's Day is a great time to spend some time with your girlfriends and I'm bringing you a round up of fun ideas to help you treat your friends with a party. 

BellaGrey Designs has some adorable tags perfect to attach to party favors.  Pick up some baby aloe plants and attach the tag "You had me at aloe"  or get creative with the "Lets stick together" tags and attach them to some nail polish and a nail file. 

How stinkin cute would these lady bug marshmallow cookies be on your dessert table or put them in a cute little box and send them home as party favors.  Get the easy tutorial over at Party Pinching. 

I HAD to include these chocolate covered marshmallow caramel hearts from The Partiologist because hello, caramel and marshmallows!  As a guest I wouldn't be able to pass these up. 

I like Joy in the Commonplace easy Valentine's tea idea. This party shows you that a party doesn't have to be stressful for the host. You can make your own cookies, scones or cinnamon rolls or you can pick some up at the local bakery.  Tea and treats is cozy and makes for easy conversation flow. 

A crafturnoon with friends is my kind of Valentine's party and   Revel and Glitter  shows us just how much fun it is.  From creating cards to a temporary tattoo station you'll be laughing, having a fun afternoon and making deep connections with your friends. 

Show your girlfriends how much they mean to you by throwing them a brunch.  Jordan's Easy Entertaining  threw her friends a beautiful brunch and you can use some of these ideas to throw one of your own.  The story she tells of using her grandma's cake plate really touched me. Oh, and she has free printables for you too ;) 

Oh you know I have some ideas for you too.  A cookie decorating party brings out the creativity in your friends.   Don't forget the bubbles.  My friends had too much fun with them. 

A Galentine's Day brunch can be a really easy party to throw.  Pick up all the food from the store or have your friends bring some to contribute to the party.  

Will you be throwing a Valentine's party for your friends?

St. Patrick's Day- With a Twist

It all started with a cupcake pick seen on my friends page Suddenly Surrounded by Taxidermy,  a majestic Irish Elk print from artist D. Trudeau  and a party idea was born.  Let's put a twist on the traditional St. Patrick's Day party and celebrate with the Irish Elk. 

Funky Monkey Designs contacted the artist D. Trudeau and asked if we could use her stunning art as part of our invitation and she agreed. A big thank you to the artist.  Funky Monkey Designs captured just the look I wanted. 

Always ask an artist permission before using their work.

Once I had the vision for this party I knew the perfect location for it, my friend Bubble Off Plumb's property in beautiful Montana. A big thank you to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation  for loaning me the antlers and hides. They were the perfect addition to the party.

Sugar cookies by Auntie Bea's Bakery 

These Cowboy cupcakes were rich and delicious.  Recipe from Just a Pinch . The maple brown sugar candied bacon made the house smell amazing. 

 Mushroom cookies created by Creating Awesomenessity. 

A menu befitting the outdoor location. 

Lunch served among the tree's.

 And a view of the Sapphire Mountains. 

Favor bags for Auntie Bea's wonderful sugar cookies created by Fancy & Fold  

I have so many more photo's of this fabulous party to share with you so be sure to come back Thursday.

A big thank you to all the vendors who help make party visions come to life. 
Bubble Off Plumb for the idea behind this party.
D. Trudeau for allowing us to use her art work of the Irish Elk.
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for loaning me the antlers and hides. 
Funky Monkey Designs for specially creating the invitations and menu.
Auntie Bea's Bakery cookies for creating the sugar cookies from my vision. 
Creating Awesomenessity for the mushroom cookies.
Ten 23 Designs for the wood shamrocks.
Fancy & Fold for the perfect favor bags.

Honey Strawberry Sugar Scrub

Last year I didn't spend nearly enough time with my friends. I let the months slip by and before I knew it it was 2015.  So I decided to have more mini parties focused on crafting, baking and learning new things.  This last weekend 3 friends and I made honey strawberry sugar scrubs.  My friends really looked forward to this get together.  I got the recipe from Tried and True. 

As we made the scrubs everyone commented on how wonderful it smelled. 

No mini party is complete without food and I took the opportunity to try another new thing for me, making scones. I made strawberry scones from Baked by Nature to go along with the strawberry theme. 

I used a heart shaped cookie cutter to shape the scones. They turned out delicious. Warm them up in the oven or microwave and they're just as good the following morning. 

I love loft house style sugar cookies so when I saw a recipe for them from Two Peas and Their Pod, I had to try it. I found the dough was super sticky, which she tells you it's sticky but I didn't realize how sticky. I ended up using more flour on my surface then I thought and I think it caused the cookies to taste a little too floury. 

My friends thought these little cherubs were so cute!  I love little details at my parties. 

I served a wonderful tasting strawberry bubbly soda to tie in the theme. 

Tried and True doesn't tell you how many 8 oz Mason jars her recipe makes so I'll tell you :) It makes 5.  This scrub make your shower smell wonderful and leaves your skin so soft. 

My friends birthday is coming up and couldn't make it this weekend to create a scrub with us so I made her a little fun birthday box. 
Tried and True has a free printable on her site for this scrub but I wanted a different look, so I had Painting Paris Pink create this adorable printable. Painting Paris Pink is offering this printable for free, just click here.  

Have fun hosting your own mini sugar scrub making party. Your friends will love it!