There is never such a thing as a good deployment…click here for an updated version of this post!
Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
Last week I decided to try Royal icing again to make Thanksgiving cookies to bring to my friend’s house. I had the turkey cookie cutter and also wanted to use my square one. I planned to make turkeys and the squares would say “give thanks.”
I started with a yummy cookie recipe. I hear that is really important for these types of cookies. I went with this one.
It was then time to make the royal icing. I have worked with royal icing before and it seems to be something you have to work at. I understand the basics of it but then I make mistakes. I am going to keep trying because I want to get it right. I used this recipe and the Sweet Sugar Belle website because she explains it so well! Bake at 350 also has some good advice.
1) The first thing I did was make the batch of royal icing. I used my KitchenAid for this with the paddle attachment. You want stiff peaks and you don’t want the icing to be able to move very easily.
2) I then decided to color some of it brown for the turkeys. The color turned out to be more of an orange color but that was okay. I kept it the consistency you need for piping. I wanted to outline the turkeys and the squares.
I used these bags and tips from Wilton.
3) I then needed to make the icing the right consitancy for flooding. You do this by mixing in a little bit of water until it is the way that you want it to be. I was waiting until I stuck my spoon into it and the icing went back to where it was within a few seconds. With flooding I use bottles you can get at a craft store. They work well and make it a lot easier to flood the cookies. After I flooded the turkeys I wanted to do the same with the squares. I wanted white. This is where I messed up. I added too much water to the icing. I flooded it too much but didn’t realize that until it was too late.
This is what happens when you do that. I also mixed a little of the thicker icing thinking that would help which is while it is a mix of the colors. If the icing is too watery, it will go over the edge like that. Luckily that didn’t happen to all the cookies.
Luckily I had enough cookies turn out. I tried to write on one of them but I goofed on that type of icing so I went with sprinkles. Sprinkles make everything better, I am sure. Plus, kids always love sprinkles.
Have you ever made cookies with royal icing? Any tips?
Jamberry Holiday Giftset Giveaway
A little over a year ago I heard something about a company called Jamberry nails. I knew I had to try them so I ordered some cute Hawaiian print nails. I loved them. I am one of those people who sometimes paints her nails but then it chips and I get frustrated. Jamberry helps that issue and since my first order I have tried a few different designs which has been a lot of fun.
When my friend Brittany from Bohemian Transplant asked if I wanted to host a Jamberry giveaway on my blog, I had to say yes!
Jamberry Nails are vinyl, heat activated nail wraps that last up to two weeks on fingers and six on toes, and each wrap will get you 2-4 applications. They make amazing gifts and the best part is, you don’t have to know the recipients shoe size, dress size or ANYTHING! Whatever you buy will be a hit! Most of our wraps are buy 3 get 1 free. Pair them with a mini heater and application kit and you have a gift unlike anything else!
Jamberry also offers top of the line nail lacquers, application materials, hand care items and a one of a kind Biotin rich multivitamin that will keep your hair, skin, and nails looking and feeling beautiful.
One of my lucky readers will receive a Jamberry Holiday Gift Set!!!
About the Holiday Set: Celebrate Joy, Laughter, and Fashion with a limited edition Jamberry Holiday gift set. Set includes: 1 Holiday Gift Box, 1 Holiday Greeting Card, 3 EXCLUSIVE Nail Wraps (sparkle, glossy and tint) and 1 Application Kit
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win 🙂
My Marshmallow Fondant Cake
Marshmallow Fondant Cake
For my son’s birthday I had this plan of making a Captain America cake. Then I saw something on Pinterest about making your own marshmallow fondant. I had never made it or even worked with it before but I figured it would be a good chance to see if I would like it.
I decided to just make my cake from a box because it is easier…even though I feel like I am cheating a bit 😉
I was going to go with a white and pink inside. So that is how I did the layers.
After the cake was done and cooled I put some homemade icing on it. I got that recipe at Recipe Girl.
I then needed to make the fondant. I decided to keep it white for the main part of the cake because I had never worked with it before. I went with this marshmallow recipe from How Does She. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. After about 10 minutes I was able to roll it out and then put it over the cake.
I then was going to get started on making it Captain America like but I couldn’t make a star. I have so many cookie cutters and not one star! So after a few failed attempts, Josh brought me an airplane cookie cutter and we decided to change the theme.
I made a few mistakes and ran out of the blue icing that I made for the trim but I think it was a success. I think my letters are too thick. It’s funny because I got those cookie cutters for our wedding and it was the first time I had ever used them 🙂
My little boy turned four and we had some yummy cake! Drew is asking for a Skylanders cake. We will see what I can come up with for his birthday next month 🙂
Have you ever worked with marshmallow fondant before?
If I Had To Do It All Over Again
I have been a mom now for over 10 years. 2004 was the year that changed everything. I first became pregnant in January and had a little boy the end of September. I was 25 and hand a handful of friends who already had kids. My sister-in-law already had three girls and my husband’s cousins all had children as well.
I also liked to read a lot about birth, pregnancy and parenting. I was on a few online forums and email lists where it came up. I felt like I was pretty prepared when my son was born. I was no expert but I had a general idea of how I wanted things to go.
Over the years I have changed my thinking on somethings and held strong to others. I realized that most of us moms are just trying to do the best we can, even if that looks different in each family. As I look back over the last 10 years I think about what I would do differently and what I would do if I was given the chance to do it all again.
1) Winter babies- I don’t like having winter babies. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a big deal if we lived in California or something but I don’t like having babies in the winter. When #2 came along in Germany, he got RSV. I decided I didn’t want to risk having another baby born around that time of the year. Then #3 was born in November. Luckily he did not get RSV. I don’t like that outside parties are just not an option for two of my three boys. So if I was doing it all over again, I would want them born in the spring or the summer.
2) Breastfeeding- I thought I would love breastfeeding and it would be easy. It wasn’t. I tried hard and was able to breastfeed my oldest until he was 17 months old. I wish I could have done that with my other two. It isn’t something I really feel guilt over. They were just fine on formula and I was able to breastfeed them 6 and 9 months. I just wish I had more support or found support when they were new. I think that really would have helped. Then I think, does it really matter? No, not really but it is something I wish I could have done differently.
3) No labels- Attachment parent, mainstream parent, crunchy parent, soggy parent, strict parent, etc etc. I hate that we have to put mothering in a check box. I just want to be who I am. If sometimes that looks like an attachment parent, that is cool. If other times I appear mainstream, that is cool too. I think what happens is that we want to find our tribe, a place to belong, a place where we will not be made fun of for making different choices. And that is a good thing. The problem is that for most people, your parenting doesn’t just fit in a box. Because I don’t CIO I only feed my child organic food? No, real life doesn’t work like that. At least that has been my experience. When we have all these labels it is easy to stop doing what is best for your child and trying to check all the boxes so that you can be included in the group. So doing it over again, I would have ignored all the labels and just focused on what my child needed. Even if that made me a hybrid.
4) Birthing Center– I had my oldest son at a birth center in California. It was such a great experience for us. I wish I could have had my other two that way. On the other hand, having them born in a German hospital and a Military hospital were interesting experiences. I am not sure I would want to change those.
What about you? What would you change about pregnancy, birth or parenting?
Five Toys For School Aged Boys
Christmas is coming and it is also birthday season in our house. We have one boy with the birthday the end of September, one in November and one about 10 days before Christmas. We get through all the birthdays, then have Christmas and then can rest a bit. So with all the birthdays and Christmas coming, the boys are talking about what they would really like. I thought I would share the top 5 gifts they are interested in this year. This is also the first year that LEGOS are not the main star. Sure, they have mentioned some sets but nothing like the last few years.
So here are the top five toys that my 4, 7 and 10 year old boys have talked about wanting this year…
1) Disney INFINITY
2) LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham 
3) Lego Minecraft sets- Like I said before, it isn’t 100% Lego this year but they have expressed interested in the Minecraft sets. These look like a lot of fun and I am glad they came out with some new ones. You can also get the game Minecraft
4) Power Ranger Keys
5) Skylanders Trap Team 
Have you decided what your kids are getting for Christmas or Hanukkah this year?
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Buck Denver’s Why Do We Call It Christmas DVD Review and Giveaway
Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
This post contains affiliate links!
Are you a Veggie Tales fan? My boys love them and when I saw this opportunity to review a DVD by the same people I knew we had to do it.
Buck Denver’s, Why Do We Call It Christmas DVD is all about Christmas!!!
Cutting down trees? Hanging stockings? Santa Claus? What do any of these have to do with Jesus’ birthday? More than you’d think!
Join VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer along with intrepid newsman Buck Denver and all his friends on an amazing journey into the world’s most popular holiday! Sure, you know the Christmas story. But do you know the story of Christmas?
Don’t miss the whimsical, educational, Christmical party to end all Christmas parties as Buck Denver Asks … Why Do We Call It Christmas?
The movie is also 60 minutes long.
The DVD contains the following topics:
-Where do we get the word Christmas?
-When was Jesus born?
-What do Christmas trees have to do with Jesus?
-Who is St. Nicholas?
-What is Hanukkah?
-Who is Emmanuel?
-Luke 2 Story
HERE is the official website!!!
My son came home from school and saw the DVD and wanted to watch it right away. He loved it! He said it was “Funny and full of Christmas stuff.” I asked him what his favorite part was and he said he loved the puppets and hearing about Jesus being born.
This is a fun video that your kids will enjoy this Christmas. Would you like to win a copy of the DVD? Just enter below.
Pink Buttercream Chocolate Cupcakes
Pink Buttercream Chocolate Cupcakes
I love to bake. I haven’t done it for a while but I love it. Hate to cook, love to bake. I always have. My Grandma used to make cookies and cakes with me all the time. A few years ago I started to get back into it. I made some homemade cakes and cookies. Then life just got in the way. Last Christmas I finally got a good mixer with a KitchenAid mixer deal. I was using a hand mixer my roommates in college gave me that their parents bought when they first got married in the 70s so it was time for an upgrade.
I am hoping to work on a few things. I would really like to find a good Royal Icing recipe and get better at decorating cookies. I would also like to learn more about making cakes and cupcakes as well as decorating them. I think it is a lot of fun and you can make them however you want to.
So this past week I decided to make some cupcakes for Bunco. I also wanted to make some bigger ones as well. I really wanted to make chocolate ones. I get these ideas in my head and can’t get rid of them. So what does a novice baker do to find a good recipe? Pinterest of course!
So I made these chocolate cupcakes. I think they turned out good but I think if I made them again I would add chocolate chips to them or something. I liked how light they felt. I didn’t feel like I was eating a heavy dessert which was nice.
Now for the frosting. I knew I wanted a buttercream one. I decided pink would be a good choice too. I used the Wilton Icing Colors
I decided to go with this buttercream recipe and ended up using 1/2 butter and 1/2 Crisco because it would be firmer that way. After I was finished and gave it to my taste tester, he said he could taste the Crisco. So I added some milk and some Almond flavoring and it ended up tasting a lot better that way.
I made the frosting and then went to look for my icing tips. I am not sure what happened but I could only find one of them! I had the 104 and it is the petal one. So I couldn’t do what I was planning to do. I decided to look online for some ideas. I played around with it and this is what I got.
I was really happy with everything and my friends seemed to enjoy the cupcakes as well.
Now I need to work on making some blue ones for Josh’s school and then a birthday cake for him.
What do you like to bake?
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