Swole Mates

Oh no I didn’t.  Yes WHEY, I did! This order was for a newly married couple who met at the gym and were both into power lifting. The client gave me free rein with design and so I LUNGED into the puns.  Never been so dead (lift) serious in my life.

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GOURDgeous

Let’s talk about mistakes. I work incredibly hard not to make them. But I did. In my haste (4 different sets were on our dining room table that day) to get a friend her birthday cookies on time, I totally misspelled a play on words.  No pun pride that day.  Luckily, it was a dear friend and I gave them to her anyway.  She said she didn’t even notice (that’s how good a friend she is).  Despite my spelling fail, the gourds in the set turned out beautifully and the pun was perfect for the season.  And, here’s the most important part, the cookies are always tasty.

Bottom line, I just want to pass along a hug to those of you who like things just so, who strive for perfection.  It’s frustrating when things don’t go according to plan but mostly it’s US that care so deeply about perceived imperfection.  Others, not so much.  Here’s to continuing on. May the rest your day still be GOURDeous.

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Lil Pumpkin is Sweet as Pie

My niece was trying to decide on the theme for her November baby shower. She was wavering between “Lil Pumpkin” and “Sweet as Pie”; well, why not both? Orange streamers and little baby pumpkins were strewn like confetti around house. Pies from her favorite local pie baker, Mom’s Apple Pie (boy, were they scrumptious), were the centerpieces of the dessert table.  And, of course, there were as many MMB cookies as I could carry on the plane. (Seriously, the DIA security folks don’t even bat an eye at my copious amounts of cookies anymore.) Here are some of the cookies that were plated for the dessert table. (Kaleida Cuts for the win on the wonkie onesie cookie cutter).

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And these bad boys were bagged and tagged for the favors.  (yep, it’s a boy…)

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Tori and Byron’s Wedding

Tori’s gown was structured and classic with just a touch of bling.  Perfectly and incredibly appropriate. So, true to Tori and Byron, the wedding/reception was equally classy, with all of the fabulous (and I do mean fabulous) details taken care of. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!! The food was as plentiful as it was incredible and the dancing nonstop! I was pretty much blown away by the whole day/event. The photographer was Pat Robinson of Philly; can’t say enough positives about his work!

Our girls. The youngest, the maid of honor, and Tori, the BRIDE!!!

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MMB cookie favors were served as parting gifts.  A play on the Philly (“knot”) pretzel.

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The groom and bride each got a cookie box of their own.

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And the cookies that went into the Philly themed welcome bags…

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Day of the Dead 2016

Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated in Mexico on November 1 & 2. It was at one time celebrated during the summer. Long ago it was changed to coincide with the Catholic holiday called All Soul’s & All Saint’s Day, and the indigenous people of Mexico have combined this with their own ancient beliefs of honoring their deceased loved ones.

They believe that the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31, and the spirits of all deceased children (angelitos) are allowed to reunite with their families for 24 hours. On November 2, the spirits of the adults come down to enjoy the festivities that are prepared for them.

Sugar art was brought to the New World by Italian missionaries in the 17th century. The first Church mention of sugar art was from Palermo at Easter time when little sugar lambs and angels were made to adorn the side altars in the Catholic Church.

Clay molded sugar figures of angels, sheep and sugar skulls go back to the Colonial Period 18th century. Sugar skulls represented a departed soul, had the name written on the forehead and was placed on the home ofrenda or gravestone to honor the return of a particular spirit. Sugar skull art reflects the folk art style of big happy smiles, colorful icing and sparkly tin and glittery adornments. Sugar skulls are labor intensive and made in very small batches in the homes of sugar skull makers (although now production is becoming commercialized).

My “sugar skulls” for 2016:

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Happy MEOWoween

Oh my, all the PAWSibilities when it comes to black cats and halloween.  It’s a FURmiliar TAIL of word play and topic.  This one is LITTERally PURRfect.  Hope your Halloween is full of wonFURful treats and CLAWver treasures.

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Bone Dry

Maybe this isn’t Arizona but Colorado has been pretty, darned dry lately.  The only plants that seem to be thriving are the cacti.  Continuing in my skeleton groove, I thought it only fair to bring these bad-to-the-bone cactus to Halloween life.  Even the orange and black/terra cotta pots kept it hauntingly festive.  I can definitely say that the one on the right is a spiny cactus. Hope they tickle your funny bone…

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Cookie cutters were from BobbisCookieCutters, SheyBCookieCutters, and TrulyMadPlastics.

Skeleton Keys

Another play on words??? So shocking.  Let me know if you are getting tired of them. Apparently I never do.  And I am kinda pleased with the random mermaid skeleton.   Do I even have to say that my mind works in weird ways???

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Halloween GoBo 2016

Dear Halloween:  I get it.  You’re spooky. All that creaking and moaning is very expressive.  But I am just not that into the scary vibe.  I’d rather flaunt my haunt with a flavor of fun. Turning word play possibilities into probabilities. Hope we can still be friends.  My best, MMB

Here are the cookies that went out to the GoBoBakeSale this year (fundraiser for ALS).

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