Falling Happily into FALL!

Good-bye, sweet flowers!
Through bright Summer hours
You have filled our hearts with cheer.
We shall miss you so,
And yet you must go,
For this is the Fall of the year.
From "A Fall Song" by Ellen Robena Field

From new jackets to leaf piles, from fresh crunchy apples to Halloween candy, you know that Fall is here.  And there are a handful of things that I simply MUST do each Fall!  Let me just get out my checklist and red checking pen...

1)  Pick Apples...  Check!

2)  Visit the Pumpkin Tower in my town...  Check!

3)  Drive through the neighborhoods to admire Fall leaves...  Check!

4)  Pick Pumpkins...  Check!

5) Carve pumpkins (and use some for Fall decorations too)... Check!

6) Make or buy the children's Halloween costumes (and my own too!)...  Check!

Bonus points if you know EXACTLY who this character is!

7)  Host a Fall Party for friends...  Check!

Because of all the warm, delicious foods and exciting decorating ideas, Fall is a great time to have a party!  If you've ever peeked at my party blog (http://craftyparty.webs.com/) you know that I've had a lot of fun planning & hosting my children's birthday parties over the past five years.  But I haven't hosted a dinner party for adults since having my children...  So I'd say it's past time for that.

Woo hoo, where to begin!  With decorations made of pumpkins and pinecones (who are "sweeping in they wittle bed", as my 2 yr old daughter likes to say)...

With the cute & easy Fall place settings, complete with "napkin rings" made of fall mini-cookie cutters...

With the warm, delicious Fall foods...

Yes, that is custard baked into a pie pumpkin!  Got this recipe from Pinterest, and it was FANTASTIC!!

Or perhaps with the personalized Doodlekins goodie bags for each of my guests...

Those were what my book club guests noticed first at my dinner party, as these bags are so colorful.  "Oh, aren't these cute.  How nice that we each have one on our plates.  What's in them?"  Then they picked them up and started exclaiming, "Ohmygosh, RITA!  I am ON here!  How did you get ALL our heads on here!  I love my hair!  I have a headband!  I love my glasses!  So-and-so looks JUST like herself!  How did you make this?  You are so creative!!"

Well, I will take credit for the other ideas, but this one here is all Doodlekins!  You can find personalized cello bag kits at http://www.doodlekins.com/cartoon-family-cello-bag-kits/.  They come with personalized labels, choices of different label backgrounds and fonts, various colors of ribbons, and large or small cello bags (this is the small size).  

I am definitely going to order these cello bag kits again for my Mom's Group Cookie Exchange this December, as well as for my son's next classroom party!  They were such a hit, and my guests could even take them as "favors" to show off!  Made it a dinner party to remember...

Yes, I do love Fall.  The tastes, the smells, the sights, and sounds all delight me and my family.  It's always a season to remember!  (And a prelude to another exciting season that's peeking around the corner too!)

So here is my Fall Question of the Day for you...
(Those who have read my blog posts before knew this was coming, didn't you?!)

What is YOUR favorite Fall activity or recipe?  There are so many to choose from, but which is YOUR favorite?  I will reveal my fave at the end of the season, but first I want to hear from you!


Until then, I hope you are enjoying a colorful and wonderful Fall.  If nothing else, be sure to take a walk through the leaves while sipping on a pumpkin spice latte or crunching on a honeycrisp apple!  Ah, what's not to love about Fall?

Says the lady who doesn't have any big leafy trees in her yard...

First Day!

On Tuesday, my firstborn started Kindergarten. What. A. Day. 

I'm not going to lie. I was an emotional mess for the entire weekend leading up to the "big day." I cried packing her first lunch. I cried helping her pick out her first day of school outfit. I cried when I tucked her into bed and kissed her goodnight. I was not even sure WHY I was crying so much- I know it's normal to be a little sad when your kids go off to school (even though I heard rumors that in years to come I will be cheering when I drop them off on the first day... is this true?) but this was a bit much...

As I was getting ready for work on Tuesday, I overheard the radio DJs mention a little poem they read each year on the first day of school. As the DJ began, her voice cracked a bit. As she read, I cried...a bit. :)  

(Here's a link if you'd like to read it for yourself! Have tissues ready!) http://www.scrapbook.com/poems/doc/9119/36.html 

Listening to this, it hit me. This is the start of something HUGE. From this day forward, she was no longer going to be a carefree little girl. Her world to this point, consisted of dolls, cookie baking, and playing with her little sisters. Slowly, but surely, other "things" would start to creep into her life- some good. Some not so good. Friends. Homework. Bullies. Deadlines. Smiles. Learning. Disappointment. Boyfriends. Heartbreak. 

This, I think, is the most difficult part of parenting. Having faith that you have done a "good enough" job to let go when it's time to let go. To walk away and trust that you have done your best to prepare your baby for what lies ahead. To send them out into a world where you KNOW they will get hurt, with the painful realization that you can't keep them safe and sheltered forever... but in the end, it's these experiences and journeys that will make them into the special, unique, amazing people they are meant to be. 

With that, I leave you with a picture of my girl... on her first day of Kindergarten. :)

Live simply. Love generously.

Care deeply. Speak kindly. 

C is for COOKIE

"C" is for cookie, that's good enough for me
"C" is for cookie, that's good enough for me
"C" is for cookie, that's good enough for me
Oh! Cookie, cookie, cookie starts with "C"!

And what could be even better than a cookie?  (No, BESIDES cheesecake...)  A cookie with your picture on it!  Or your friend's picture!  Or your family's picture!  Or your boss's picture!  Or a bride's picture or baby's picture for their shower!  Or, or, or...  You get the idea.  

Doodlekins has branched out to make CookieKins, which are literally "Your KIN, On a COOKIE"!  Oh my, what a fun gift or unforgettable addition to a party!  And lucky, lucky Doodlekins blogger that I am, I get to test out the CookieKins edible transfers in my own kitchen to tell all of you how easy (or difficult) it really is to use them.

So, hmmm, for whom should I create my CookieKins?  I know!  The hardworking staff at my school!  And who better to put on their CookieKins than our fearless leader (the principal), along with our beloved mascot (a dolphin).  Oops, I don't see those decorative options on the CookieKins order page...  No problem!  The folks at Doodlekins are geniuses at custom creating your own CookieKin!  So let's get started.  :)

Teacha Rita the Baker!
Actually, I was baking a "Bun in the Oven" for this Halloween costume a few years ago.
Today I am just baking cookies- nothing else!!!

NOTE: Before you start to make your cookies, pop your CookieKin transfer sheets onto a baking sheet into the freezer. You'll see why...

I decided to make sugar cookies for my CookieKins because I thought they'd look like a delicious, simple frame around the colorful picture.  But you can put the CookieKin transfers on any kind of cookie!  It just has to be the right sized circle and have white frosting on it. 

Are you wondering what sugar cookie recipe I used?  Well, never one to hold back a great recipe, here is how I make my sugar cookies...
    1. Go to the grocery store.

    2. Buy several rolls of sugar cookie dough.  (I splurged on a name brand here, with double box tops!  Oh yeah... nothing but the best for my friends- and my school.)

    3. Slice each roll of cookie dough into 16 equal circles.  You know- half, half, half, and half again...

    4.  Bake cookies according to directions, and enjoy!


CookieKin Transfers are 2.25" wide, so here is a BIG TIP FOR ALL CUT-OUT COOKIES:  If you are getting frustrated by misshapen cookies that come out of the oven, don't throw them all away (or eat them all to hide the evidence!)  Just grab a 3 inch cookie cutter (like a kids cup), and you can re-cut cookies again while they're still warm. Then they are perfectly shaped and sized for your CookieKins!

There you go.  My "secret family recipe" for sugar cookies!  Though I always make chocolate chip cookies from scratch, this is how I always make sugar cookies.  Don't laugh.  I know someone else out there does this too!  Gives me more time for the really fun part- the decorating!  (And the eating...)

Once those cookies are all cooled, you're ready to frost them.  CookieKins cookies turn out best when frosted with royal icing.  (*Or you could also make cupcakes for the CookieKin transfers, and frost those with buttercream frosting!*)  

So all righty, it's time to pull out my favorite royal icing recipe now...
    1.  Go to the craft store.

    2.  Buy a box of Wilton royal icing mix.  (1 box frosts about three dozen 3" cookies)   

    3.  Mix the powdered icing and tablespoons of water according to the directions.

Are you seeing a pattern here?  Mmm hmm...  I am all about the "Semi-Homemade" whenever possible!  Besides, using the box mix costs less than buying all that powered sugar AND meringue powder AND oil-free flavorings you would need to make royal icing from scratch.  And it was much easier.  :)

* Leave the icing white!  The CookieKin transfers are so colorful as it is, and the colors will not show up as vibrant and true if the icing is colored.  Colored cookies underneath the icing are fine!  But white icing is best here.

Once your cookies are completely cooled and your royal icing is mixed, spread the icing onto the cookies.  Don't be stingy!  Spread that icing thick and smooth, and go slightly beyond where the transfers will reach.  The CookieKin transfers won't be able to lay on the cookie by itself, or they'll just flake right off. Just frost a couple of cookies at a time, as the royal icing hardens pretty quickly.  Then put the edible transfers on as you go...

* Royal Icing can be tough to frost with!  Here is a helpful link which will help your frosted cookies look more polished and professional.  http://sweetopia.net/2011/12/video-how-to-pipe-lines-with-royal-icing/

So it's time to pull the CookieKin transfers out of your freezer!  They can just get peeled off with your fingers and placed onto the icing. (If you have trouble pulling the transfers off, just pop them back into the freezer for a minute to get hard again.  Slide your fingernail carefully along the edge, and then they'll begin to pull off.)  

You'll want to adjust the transfers immediately on the icing if they're not centered when you first touch them down onto the cookie.  Once in place, press them down lightly to make sure they're smooth and stuck.  Let the icing harden completely before moving the cookies to a tray.  Royal icing hardens quickly, so it won't take long!

And that's it!  Prepare for the compliments to roll in, and get your camera ready to take pictures of the "Cookie" with your "Kin"!  With so many choices, you'll be able to create the perfect CookieKin to match your person and theme.  

* If you will be bagging up your cookies or layering them on waxed paper, make sure to give them at least 24 hours drying time.  Otherwise the transfers will stick to the bags or waxed paper, and will pull right off.  Plan ahead, and you'll be quite happy with the results!


I have to say- the good folks at Doodlekins were so patient with adjusting my CookieKins picture to my individuality and requests.  I wanted to make sure that my school staff had CookieKins that incorporated both my school mascot and my principal, so I sent Doodlekins the pictures below.  I asked for a similar school font, and made sure to even point out the little earring in my principal's left ear.

Look at the font!  The matching shades and colors!  My principal's goatee, and his tiny customized EARRING, for crying out loud!  CookieKins and Doodlekins certainly rose to my challenge, and my school staff got a big kick out of eating these amazing cookies as a Welcome Back to School gift.  (And one coworker pointed out that this gave a whole new meaning to "biting someone's head off!")

Homebaked CookieKins Mission: Success.

They were easy to make and a big hit with everyone!
A+ from Teacha Rita

So now it's time for...

Who would YOU like to make your CookieKins for?

And would you use sugar cookie dough like I did, or a different kind of cookie?
 
(I just realized- a colored cookie would be stunning under the white icing and the CookieKin picture!  That will be my next batch...)

Your own personalized CookieKins are available straight from their shop as well.
Professionally decorated just for you- in case you want someone else to do all the cookie work this time!

Visit http://www.cookiekins.com/ to personalize your own edible transfers or pre-made CookieKins.
I had so much FUN designing and creating these cookies for my staff!  It was definitely the best "homework" this teacha ever received...  And so exciting to see the reactions!

Now that's a delicious treat you can eat!