Pretty Pink Seahorses . . . and finding inspiration

Once you've been making cookies a while, finding inspiration is not a problem...

"Ooo...that lamppost would make a great cookie!  Gosh, I think I'll make doorknob cookies." 

But if you're looking for some really CUTE inspiration, look no further than a printable site, like that of Living Locurto.  Amy of Living Locurto has the *most fun* party printables that are sure to spark some awesome cookie decorating  ideas!

Take a peek at these:

• Tiffany-inspired birthday
• Lego birthday party
• Pink Owl birthday party

These seahorse cookies were made to go along with Amy's *darling* Mermaid Party printables.   Amy provided a template and the cookies were hand-cut around the design.  You can find the template on Amy's site, here.

{A note about using templates.  Hand-cutting designs is time-consuming.  One way to make it a bit faster is to use the template as a guide and then let your decorating define the shape.  You can see the difference above.  See how the one on the left has each little point and arch cut while the one on the right is just the general shape.}

To make the seahorse cookies, you'll need...

• Amy's template
• cookies....I made chocolate ones
• royal icing colored with AmeriColor Bright Pink and Light Pink
• disposable icing bag
• #3 decorating tip and coupler
• squeeze bottles
• toothpicks
• Americolor Gourmet Writer in black

With a #3 tip (a #3 will allow the outline to show more), pipe the outline of the seahorse in the darker pink icing.

Thin both the light and the darker pinks with water, a teaspoon at a time, stirring by hand until it is the consistency of thick syrup.  Cover with a damp dishtowel and let sit for several minutes.

Stir gently with a silicone spatula to pop and large air bubbles and transfer to squeeze bottles.

Working 6-8 cookies at a time, fill in the cookies with light pink icing.  Use a toothpick to guide into corners.
 
Going back over the same 6-8 cookies, add the cheek and stripe detail on top of the wet icing.  Also, fill in the "crown" and fin of the seahorse with the thinned dark pink.


Now add the light pink detail on top of the dark pink.

Let the cookies dry overnight.  The next day, add the eyelash detail with a food coloring pen.


 Want sand?  Crush up some graham crackers on a platter....you have sand.  (FYI...making sand takes A LOT of graham crackers.  Have a few boxes on hand. You can always spread the extras with Nutella....it's part of a balanced breakfast.)

Now, wouldn't your little mermaid like some pink seahorses?!?  
And, remember to check out Amy's Mermaid Party! 

*I'm linking these up to Cheryl's I'm Lovin' It party!*

It was an . . .

...itsy bitsy, teenie weenie, yellow polka dot bikini!

I thought we'd finish off Desserts for Dudes month by giving the guys a little eye candy cookie.

As Mr. E probably has guessed, this is as close to a bikini as I'm getting in this lifetime (or the next).  Enjoy, honey.

The bikini cookies are really simple  I outlined and filled in yellow royal icing; I used a combination of AmeriColor Lemon Yellow & Egg Yellow for this color.  The dots were dropped on while the yellow icing was still wet.  (A video of this technique is available here.)

To make the palm trees:

• Using #2 tips, outline the branches in green and the trunk in brown royal icing (AmeriColor Avocado and Leaf Green mixed, AmeriColor Chocolate Brown). 
• Thin the royal icing with water to the consistency of thick syrup.  Cover with a damp dish towel and let sit several minutes.
• Stir gently with a rubber spatula to break any air bubbles that have risen to the surface.  Transfer to squeeze bottles.

• Fill in the trunk of the tree in brown.
• Fill in the leaves in green.

• After 1 hour or so, add the details to the truck in piping consistency royal icing, using a #2 tip.
• Let dry overnight.

• Prepare a "sanding sugar station."  You'll need:

1. meringue powder mixed with an equal amount water
2. sanding sugar
3. small paint brush
4. coffee filter

• Paint the meringue powder/water mixture over the edge of the cookie.
• Holding the cookie over the coffee filter, sprinkle on the sanding sugar. Shake off excess onto the filter.  
• Use the filter as a funnel to refill container of sanding sugar.

So, what did you guys think of Desserts for Dudes month?  I'll tell you our favorites:

• beer and hot dog cookies
• mocha toffee-crunch terrine
• Darth Vader cookies
• zucchini spice cupcakes

Alrighty...Desserts for Dudes month is officially over.  Bring on the pink and sprinkles!

Celebrating Summer

I'm having a hard time believing we've already reached the last weekend in June. Every year, I make a mental note to take time to fully enjoy summer and all the things I love about it. To savor the season the way I did when I was little.

Evan Sklar

But, for some reason, time refuses to move as slowly as it did then. As much as I adore Fall and the sweaters, boots, and tights that come with it, I always find myself surprised by its arrival and slightly disappointed another summer has come and gone without feeling I've celebrated it to its fullest.

Randy Harris Photography

While my days don't promise to be leisurely this summer, I am trying to make sure I embrace as many of my favorite things about this time of year as I can; I am hoping this will help me feel I enjoyed the season as much as possible by the time cool air start to blow again.

Union Photography

I've made my most-loved gazpacho recipes and experimented with new additions. I've enjoyed Hawaiian Shaved Ice, gelato, frozen yogurt, and popsicles, foods I enjoy year-round, but are certainly required eating in hotter months. I've even been able to spend a couple hours lakeside.

Katie Baum via 20x200

I intend to keep adding to my list over the coming months, and I am going to do some work towards reaching my goal right now as E and I head out to grab some of our favorite gelato! I hope whatever your plans, your weekend is full of simple delights of the season too. Have a great one!

A Day of Fun in the Sun

Please forgive my relative silence this week, but I've been busy enjoying the company of my youngest brother, truly one of my best friends, who has been here visiting us before he heads back to college for the school year.

His trip comes way too quickly to an end tomorrow, but before he heads home, I'm excited to be taking a day trip to the beach! I often forget just how close I am to some beaches now that we're here in Houston. While they might not be world-famous, for me, a sandy beach is a sandy beach, and I can't wait to feel the the hot sand between my toes, especially since it has been way too many years since I last planted myself on the beach for a day!

Catherine Ledner

Paul Cruz

Amanda Pratt

Amanda Pratt

Chloe Mallet

With that, I'm off to enjoy my last full day with my brother, and I hope, whatever your weekend holds, your days are full of happy moments with your family and friends too.

Summer Love

I'm having a bit of a love affair with this Max and Cleo dress; I've had its window open in my browser for weeks, and, almost daily, I've returned to stare and admire. I have a feeling, subconsciously, it even influenced my last post (note a striking similarity in the neutral color scheme...)


Adore the dress as I may, the paper-bag waist might not be quite so flattering on my body, nor likely would be the short bodice. Perhaps the dress knows this and is staying away in order to let me down gently, because I must admit, as of yet, this affair is a bit one-sided. Sweet dress, if I am wrong about you, however, please know I wouldn't mind should you show up unexpectedly at my door.

Inspiration Board {Seersucker Summer}

Nothing says summer quite like seersucker; along with linen, it is a quintessential fabric of the season, worn to help battle the heat and humidity of the warmest days. For a summer wedding, a color palette of blue, white, and yellow paired with seersucker elements is perfectly suited for staying cool in the hot, hot sun.

Row 1: L to R- Michael Norwood Photography, Carrie Patterson, Martha Stewart Weddings. Row 2: Whittaker Photography via Style Me Pretty, Anna Kuperberg, Adeline & Grace Photography via Style Me Pretty. Row 3: Custom Event Group via Style Me Pretty, Martha Stewart Weddings, Katie & Steven- Kate Murphy Photography via Once Wed. Row 4: Whitebox Weddings, A Charleston Bride via Style Me Pretty, Emma Mitchell.

Flip Flop, Flip Flop….the sounds of summer

You know summer is here when "flip flop, flip flop" is the sound you hear wherever you go.

{For the rest of this post and instructions on making flip flop cookies, please follow me over to Blissfully Delish...}

Summer Stillness

Life surely hasn't slowed down simply because the season changed and the temperatures rose, which leads me to wonder-- whatever happened to the lazy days of summer?

Thayer Allyson Gowdy

Michelle Holden

Ditte Isager

Whitebox Kids

Living Etc.

Monica Bach via Desire to Inspire

While the breakneck pace of life will continue this weekend, I am hoping to find moments of stillness and calm in the midst of the go-go-go. I hope your weekend holds those same quiet moments too.

Summer Getaway {Camping Les Ormes}

I've mentioned before that I like tents, and I've also shared how much I enjoy stealing away for a day in a fabric "fort," so, as you might imagine, when I spotted this image on Cote Maison I was completely smitten.

Cote Maison

After visiting the property's website, Camping Les Ormes, located in the French countryside, immediately joined the list of luxury camping (or perhaps I should say glamping,) locales I've bookmarked over the past couple years.

This and all remaining photos from Camping Les Ormes' website

Situated on 25 acres, Camping Les Ormes is open from late-April until mid-September. It offers 100 campsites, as well as a number of luxury "desert tents." The grounds, including open fields, forest, an animal farm, and a lake with a white sandy beach, allow for activities such as biking, hiking, and fishing.


For those who prefer more of the luxury side of the experience, a pool, tennis courts, a restaurant and bar, a small boutique, and on site masseuses are sure to please. While my family's luck with camping has never been the best, surely this is "camping" even my mom could get behind!


During high season, a breakfast of fresh bread and croissants is delivered directly to your tent, and during the rest of the season, you can enjoy the breakfast buffet served on the restaurant's terrace five days a week.


The food at Camping Les Ormes is not quite standard camping fare; consider this sample menu for a typical summer day--

*Bread with homemade hummus
*Gazpacho of watermelon and pineapple
*Duck breast with honey thyme sauce accompanied with a puff pastry tart with fresh tomatoes, goat cheese, and basil and a Roquette salad with fresh summer fruit, parmesan and pine-tree grains.
*Swiss nut cake with orange and maple syrup.

While I'd pass on the duck, to everything else I'd say, "Yes, please!!"


Beyond the activities available at on the grounds, nearby villages offer the opportunity for shopping local markets, antiquing, wine tasting, visiting historic chateaus, and playing a round of golf.


Gorgeous views. Activities aplenty. Gourmet food. Close proximity to historic villages. Sounds like a pretty perfect summer getaway to me. There is only one thing I am left wondering about Camping Les Ormes-- how soon can we go?