We Ran A 5K!

Today was the big 5K. It was awesome! Over 600 girls participated from across our county. This event reminds me every year why we chose to live in West Michigan. We have a beautiful city, with people who really care about our overall well-being and the future of our children. I have never lived in such a family-friendly place, and am proud of the effort that every person in this city puts forth to keep it so family-oriented.

If you have never heard of this awesome program, please check it out! I can't even tell you how happy my girls were when they finished this race! A couple of years ago, the program founder, Molly Barker, came to speak at our annual event. She is awesome and very inspiring!

Sorry...I had to brag on my town. I love this place and the beauty that I am surrounded with living here. The people are great, too!

Cute Cuppie Papers!

How cute are these cuppies? They are from Etsy seller, Yummy Cuppy Crafts. Really reasonably priced at $6.00 per dozen, I think they give a great presentation to the plain cuppy! Where else can you find such cool cupcake designs, you ask?

Definitely try Fancy Flours. They have some really cool cuppies, as well as regular cupcake liners. And check out the price on some of their liners! Very reasonable!

Spring Flowers....

This is my latest creation...just for spring. I am trying out buttercream recipes and this was a tester. Also more practice with fondant. I just cannot bring myself to do a whole cake in fondant as my family and I do not enjoy eating fondant. I am really on the fence about fondant. The look is awesome, but eating it is a whole other issue for us. It was tough to make the scrolls I wanted here, but I believe it is because I make my own fondant. All in all, a great practice cake that my kids can't wait to get their hands on!

Silhouette Love

Are we all loving silhouettes, or what? I know I am and was inspired from My Sweet and Saucy to make some silhouette cookies. When I think of silhouettes, I think of the old days in school when our parents were provided with a silhouette of us kids. I have always wanted a silhouette of my own children, and even found an artist at a local art show that makes them. Instead of paying $75 per child, you could make them at home using these directions from Brooklyn Bride.

I did not have a cutter for these, so I made a template from Sweet and Saucy's picture and hand cut the dough. Whew! That was a long process and just writing about it I am reminded to never do that again. They are my first royal icing decorated cookies, and I had a great time making them, minus the cookie cutter. I am now on the hunt for a cute silhouette cookie cutter. If I find one, I will let you all know!!

It was Friday, with Dorie

While I figure out my &*$#! camera problems, I have to let you know I just scored this baking handbook for $7.99 at T.J.Maxx. Searching and searching their book section I knew there would be a dessert book that I was dying for. T.J.'s did not fail me, as usual!

I have been wanting this book for a long time but being the mother of four children, I do not pay full price for much of anything. Retail would have been $40.00, and Amazon would have been $26.40 plus shipping. Gotta love T.J.'s!

I am not a member of Tuesday's With Dorie....yet. I am just finally getting ready to beg for membership to the Daring Bakers. I think a once a month baking commitment is about all I could handle right now.

I devoured the "baking book" immediately. Beautiful photography, recipes that all seem to die for. Highly recommended, but see if you can snag the deal I did at T.J.'s!