Cookie for Breakfast?

Oh wait...that's just me with the bad habits on the morning after our Annual Treat Exchange. =) This was year four! Since MrP and I won't be around for Christmas, we opted to forgo the large Christmas tree and instead went with our apartment sized 3 footer - in part so I can continue to use the fireplace in December! 

Mantle

Petite Tree

Copycat Levain Bakery Cookies I made for the treat exchange

Chelsey's delish shortbread

Chelsey making punch

Shelly's outstanding coconut macaroons

They're more like what I've always known as a meringue cookie, but oh my are they tasty. She brought an extra bundle for MrP but he hates coconut, so I got them....and I've eaten two of them for breakfast!

And then the babe arrived. This is my newest nephew, Matthew....

I told his mom to get out of my house for forcing him to wear this horrible Mariners toque
(nobody likes the Mariners", I told her) until I saw the cute baseball pom on top and then I allowed it. They just came back from a weekend trip to Seattle the day before where Matt was a complete saint.

Shelly & Mandi

I LOVED Mandi's awesome basket - I felt like Red Riding Hood when I was unloading it, then it was the first basket to repack since I was enjoying carrying it around!

Chelsey, Querida & Julie
Q & J have worse halves that work with MrP and we've all become friends from having to drag their sorry butts around. Convenient that J lives close by, too!

3/5 of the PCL Homegirls as I've decided to call us!

Birds Eye view of treats (post analysis)

and by post analysis, I mean having sneak tastes of a bunch of stuff by yours truly,
then detailed analysis (read: tasting) by MrP.

Good eats!

And a bunch of goodies for the Humane Society!

On Saturday, I created what might just be my favorite Christmas card I've created yet, but I have to wait a few days for it to arrive at it's destination...just in case it's recipient checks over here before it gets there! I used the fabulous color combination from Stacy's Curtain Call Color Challenge 58. I'm late to the punch, but it sure did make a fun non-traditional Christmas card!

A Cardmaker's Challenge...

You know what can be even more fun than a sketch, color combo, recipe or any other type of challenge for someone who loves making cards? "Anything But a Card"! That's right - our challenge over at the Digital-Ink Co Challenge Blog is to create anything but a card with an image from Sewn Together.

So this week, I decided to make my belly happy...and I used Jaden Licking Cupcake to make the sweetest cake. Wouldn't this be perfect for a baby shower? I wish I had one to take this to...but I didn't, so MrP and I had to go it alone =) HAHAHA!  Well, his coworkers helped.


Here's the process:

I took this image and printed it out fairly large on an 8.5x11 paper. (Note: If you want the image facing the same direction as the original image, you have to flip it in reverse before printing)

I know that my co-designers have been busy this week, so be sure to check them out! 

Boni, Darlene, Diane, Jackie, Micki, Raquel, Teri, Jennifer & Kim


I've included step by step pictures this week on how I did my cake, but basically, piping gel is your best friend for image transferring like this. Trace over the image on wax paper with a bag o' piping gel, then gently place the paper over your cake.  After that, it's simply piping the black outline, followed by "stars" for each different icing color! If you're really lucky, you have the most wonderful husband who makes your icing and colors it perfectly for you....because I'm that lucky! Yes...that's why we're coming up on another anniversary. LOL

Run (don't walk!) to the Challenge Blog, get your entry in for your chance to win this week. Remember to use DIC006 if you're uploading to SCS or another online gallery and be sure to use Mr. Linky so we can check out your creations - and you've got a chance to win!


Next week's my anniversary, so I'll be in Banff enjoying some relaxing times with MrP, but be sure to check back since I'll get my next creation scheduled to post!

Desserts & Gifts

Last night we had some friends over for supper, drinks & games. What a fantastic time! MrP had been under the weather during the day, but managed to still whip up some supper for the six of us that was a real treat.

Speaking of treats, I used PW's Springy Flower Pot Desserts as our delicious end to the meal - and was it ever a hit! For the one friend who suffers from Celiac's Disease, I found some gluten free chocolate sandwich cookies (a bargain at only twice the price of a box of oreos!) and while hers was slightly modified, it was apparently tasty nonetheless. So cute - they thought we were sending them home with flower pots!

Our friends are always great at showing their appreciation for hosting, so we had a bottle of Vampire Cabernet Sauvignon and this beautiful calla lilly pot (Some of my favorite flowers, Callas were our wedding flower!)

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend! We're off to see The Lion King tonight!