Christmas in January

What's Christmas without cookies? Well, this year it was Christmas without cookies. Christmas Eve my daughter and I baked a few quick cookies but ran out of time to frost them. She actually got teary and cried that Santa wouldn't bring her anything good with crummy unfrosted cookies. Wow- That's not a happy mom moment! We had to have a discussion about the spirit of giving and how Santa can't be bribed with cookies, etc.

But now that things have calmed down a bit from the holidays we had time to bake yummy cookies and frost them. And since we didn't get to do it at Christmas, we made Christmas cookies in January! These are sweet and buttery, wonderful sugar cookies with homemade frosting. Why not, right?

By the way, if you have never had real frosting, you must try it at least once. That artificial stuff in a can doesn't hold a candle to my homemade frosting. Just let a stick of butter warm on the counter to room temperature. Don't let it melt or it will never be right. Then whip the butter with your mixer and add enough powdered sugar to get it a little stiffer than frosting should be (usually it's about 3 cups worth). Then add a few teaspoons of milk and a touch of vanilla and beat until smooth and frosting consistency.

Trust me- this is the best simple frosting you'll ever eat. Yes, I know there's cream cheese frosting to die for and a million other varieties of wonderful frosting, but if you have to choose between canned frosting and spending a little over 5 minutes making my simple butter cream- opt for the homemade. You won't regret it. The kids and I bargain over licking the bowl and the beaters. We separate it and add food coloring for frosting cookies and cupcakes.

Now, before you laugh at the results in my picture, I have to tell you that my daughter (7 years old) completed these almost entirely by herself. I simply supervised. They may not be right out of Rose Levy Beranbaum's cookie book (she's my favorite baking cook book author) but let me tell you they are absolutely delicious! My daughter hasn't got the rolling the dough out to the same thickness part yet, and she handles the dough a bit too much, but hey, she's seven!

I guess this is another talent you haven't heard about me yet. I love to bake. Shhhhhh. Don't tell. When people know you like to bake they start making requests and I need time for the San Fran right now. Let's keep the baking thing our little secret, OK? Good.

So as you wonder why I haven't posted about the San Fran, it's because I decided the time baking with my daughter was time very well spent. Santa brought her her own pink batter bowl and matching Mommy and Me aprons.

And now I have to go. 24 starts tonight and I have cookies to munch on while I spend the evening with Kiefer. See you soon!

I got an award!!! Twice even!

OK, so I'm a grown up and I only do this blog because I love writing and I love my crafts, but it's still exciting when someone recognizes that you do a nice job and on top of that, actually reads what you write!

Casey of Casey's Minis http://www.caseymini.blogspot.com/ (and my dear miniature friend) sent this to me a while back and then just a few days ago I got it from Kathy Calhoun at http://kathycalhoun.blogspot.com/. She's putting together an amazing Garfield.

Now I have to pass it along. I'm just going to send it to one person, although Casey and Kathy definitely deserve it, but I think it's annoying to keep getting it back from the people you sent it to.

I'm sending it along to Abby at A Feathered Nest: http://projectsforyournest.blogspot.com/ She always has the cutest ideas and fun things going on. I especially like her empahsis on family, since you all know how much my family means to me. I really like Abby's blog and I read it often for inspiration. As if I need more ideas for more things I don't have time for! But do take a look. She has an entry about a wedding she and some friends put together last Fall and it turned out so beautifully. It was quite creative.

Thanks for reading along. I always wonder if there is anyone out there reading what I write and I guess there actually is. If you all are reading I guess I'll keep writing.

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!!!

This was a family day for us and we went up to the mountains to our best friends' home and played in the snow.

Do you make resolutions? I'm not one to make them because I think you should set and stick to your goals all year long, not just because the calendar or clock dictates it.

But. . . my one big goal in miniatures this year is to finish my San Fran. The major bashes are done so it should go a little more quickly now, provided I can just find a bit more time. My "everyday" goal has always been to be more organized, and I'm making strides (really, I am!!) so if I can do a little more of that, I can do a little more miniaturing. New word- do you like it? It's the working on or creating of miniatures. Miniaturing. Word of the day.

At any rate, Happy 2009. Many mini hugs from mini mischief land.