When you turn 50, all bets are off. You can ‘whine a little, WINE a lot!’ Milestone birthdays often bring around self medication in this socially acceptable form. Um. Maybe any birthday??? So, here is my ode to said alcoholic category; they may not all be considered “spirits” but they are all libations of a sort. Happy 50th Akemi! May your second half of the century be even better.
This cookie set was made for a particularly helpful financial planner. I really think that my friend (who asked for this theme) should have given the cookies to them first and then “dangled the carrot” of more cookies if the return was LARGE! Yes, I am saying that these cookies taste that good! Not trying to brag but the actual cookie recipe is mighty delicious. *making smacking lips sounds*
If you are polish, live near a large polish population, or just generally live in Buffalo, NY, you’re ready for Dyngus Day. Smigus-Dyngus (“wet Monday”) is a celebration held on the Monday following Easter in Poland; Polish Americans call it Dyngus Day. Traditionally, boys throw water on girls they like -as well as spank/poke them with pussy willow branches (Monday for the boys and girls do the same on Tuesday). Here in Buffalo, we are equipped with water guns (no super-soakers please) and buy our branches down at the Broadway Market. Um. Along with some delicious pierogies and kielbasa. The parade/celebration starts at Central Terminal and winds it way through our ethnic Polonia. …And maybe the after hours include a few pub crawls. Sometimes it’s through rain, sometimes snow, but today it is 70 and sunny! It’s finally looking like spring and Buffalo will celebrate with “fests” continuously throughout the spring, summer, and fall. When the nice weather comes, WE ARE READY!
Puns, play on words, letter rearrangements… I have serious issues.
2 shakes of a lamb’s tail
Hare today, (hair) gone tomorrow
Eggplant
Something in the water. Lots and lots of baby boys lately. For this 20 cookie order, I was given some wonderful details with which to work. Like the fact that Caelan had arrived on his actual due date. I cannot remember that last time I heard of that happening. Thus, the cookie in the back (sorry, forgot to take an individual pic) had 3 speech bubbles: due date: Apr 7 arrival date: Apr 7 ‘this boy already has his act together’. You know how I love a good play on words. This resulted in the SONshine cookie. I wanted to use springlike colors so I used a nice robin egg blue with a happy Easter egg yellow as the color theme. Cute, eh?
This was a quick, last minute addition to the baking schedule. Friend at work asked for a box of cookies for a new baby boy. Such a happy time, the arrival of a new little one. Onesies are a go-to shape for new baby cookies and I must admit that I have a ‘thing’ for argyle. I also was happy to try a design that had been sleeping in the recesses of my mind: mommy loves daddy loves baby loves mommy…. a little more work to make that just right but you get the gist.
What else would one do after successfully getting your real estate license but celebrate with cookies? This particular cookie grouping was “commissioned” by a student (turned licensed real estate agent) grateful for his teacher’s humor and guidance. The idea was to do a study of home styles. Hopefully you can pick out which is which among the victorian, craftsman, salt box, colonial, tudor, White House, etc… Professor’s favorite architect is Frank Lloyd Wright so I included a pseudo.Falling Waters. Also included was the building where the class was conducted: the Williamsville (NY) Executive Center. All cookies were hand painted on royal icing.
What’s not to like when combining cookies and a trip to Hawaii? My marching orders were 12 Hawaiian themed cookies each for 2 couples heading to Oahu. And I had creative control of the com! I included sweets relating back to some of my fondest memories of our visits to the fair islands.
Heather Brown is this incredible artist that captures the brilliant color, motion and culture associated with the Hawaiian surf. So captivated by her style was I that I had an original piece shipped home to Buffalo; now I can stare at it and be transported back … This cookie was made in honor of her aesthetic and talent.
Um. The pineapples. Oh, those juicy, fresh, ridiculously sweet pineapples! If I remember correctly, the plant was not native to Hawaii but took quite nicely to the volcanic soil. Definitely quite nicely.
What would a tourist trip to Hawaii be without a luau? Here is my coconut bra and grass skirt ode to said celebration.
Lots of carvings and Polynesian culture on the islands. Or, you could just have a drink at the Tiki Hut…
Including sea turtles was the only request from my customer. Although I have only seen turtles on Hilton Head Island or in zoos, I hope this replica was close enough.
So the laid back culture is really, really true. Some flip flops, a little shaka, and you’ll be taking time to smell the hibiscus.
Boxed and ready to go! Wish I was “ready to go!”
So Jack goes nuts over all sorts of sports. His birthday invite showcased several balls so, of course, the favors followed suit (follow the bouncing ball?)! His thoughtful, loving mom even had a T-shirt embroidered specifically for the occasion. The last picture is a photo of the design from the embroiderer and the matching cookie made for the birthday guy.
Something old, new, borrowed, blue; and now I need you! The trend is to ask your bridesmaids to be in the wedding party with a cute card or with something clever. A cookie is the sweetest way I know to get across any message. Bagged and tagged adorable. OR… you can use these cute dress cookies as place cards at a bridal shower or some such celebration!
Mama Mayer Bakery 