Happy Anniversary!

Congratulations to my nephew and his wife as they celebrate their 25th anniversary! 
 

Since my family is big on "traditions"--Lamb Cakes at Easter, Cheesy Potatoes (with onions and without),  Grandma O's Cheesecake. . . the vintage car cookie has become my anniversary cookie tradition.

The couple surprised their wedding guests when they arrived at the reception in an unusual way.  .  .

.  .  . so their cookie collection had golf carts, too.

                 Love, hugs and cookies to a special couple!

 

References:

Tutorial for the vintage car cookie can be found at https://www.lilaloa.com/2013/06/just-married-wedding-cookies.html

 

A Truck Load of Love

Great-nephew, Kyle, has been looking forward to earning his driver's license on his 16th birthday.  His Mom and Dad have told me that he has studied, practiced, and is prepared for this privilege.  No doubt he will be visiting the DMV on his birthday.

I'm not sure what he will be driving in the future.  Perhaps he will choose a vintage automobile. . .

or a jeep.  .  .

 or is a truck his choice of vehicle?

 Carrying on the family tradition of competing in the demolition derby might be in Kyle's future.

 

Or maybe he will start a new tradition with a monster truck.

Whatever choice he makes, I hope he will remember his driver's education classes, the rules of the road and the many hours of practice he clocked to become a safe driver.  If not, another car might be in his future.  YIKES!

Whatever way he celebrates this milestone birthday, I want him to know that. . .

Uncle Matt and I are sending a truck load of love 

for his special day.

 Happy 16th Birthday!

Happy 45th Anniversary

 Forty-five years ago today, my wonderful sister, Rita, married her high school sweetheart.  At a young age they endured the challenge of separation due to Bill's tour of duty in Vietnam, but love letters kept them connected and they married shortly after Bill's return.

It was a beautiful, sunny, day and the scent of Crabapple trees filled the air as Rita and her wedding party walked the short distance to the church. 

As I packaged the cookies, a leaf fell off the daisy on the wedding cake and it made me think of  the days when little girls sat and picked the petals off the daisies and recited, "he loves, me he loves me not."  

No doubt in this relationship, she loves and he loves.  From sweethearts .  .  . to parents.  .  . to grandparents.  .  . love endures.

 Love, hugs, and cookies  

on your special day!

O'er The Fields We Go

Cookies to send to friends in Iowa and Ohio are baked, decorated, packaged, and in the mail.

The Ho-Ho-Ho cutter is new this year.  I have made them before by piecing two cutters together, but this year I purchased a cutter designed by Mike at SemiSweetDesigns.  I was unable to manage the crisp clear lines that Mike had and my elf looks a bit tipsy, but I keep telling myself,  "it's just a cookie."

I had no intention of repeating the cars and trucks that I made last year for my family because it is time consuming to piece together the car and tree from two cutters.  However, when I found this tin and card with the same theme, I thought they would be a fun package to send to friends.

In addition, an internet search helped me find some inspiration for more realistic looking trees.

Finally, I had to purchase the new cutters designed by my favorite cookie mentor, SweetSugarBelle.  That reindeer just makes me smile.

To friends near and far,

love, hugs, cookies,

and

a very Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday Nolan

 

Little boys love their cars. . .'nuff said.

References:

Vintage car tutorial:  http://www.lilaloa.com/2013/06/just-married-wedding-cookies.html 

 

Celebrating a Silver Anniversary

 

My niece, Kelly, and her husband, Bucket (aka-- Scott), are celebrating their Silver Anniversary.  Since my family is big on "traditions"--Lamb Cakes at Easter, Grab Bags at Christmas, Cheesy Potatoes, Cheesecake. . . I have decided to make the vintage car cookie my "traditional" anniversary cookie.

In addition,  I hand cut Stargazer Lilly cookies, to represent the beautiful floral bouquets that Kelly's Mom made for the wedding party.

When I made the surprise cookie delivery, Kelly told me that the car reminded her of the figurine that she had on top of her cake.  Ooops--I had completely forgotten about it.  Big dresses and Precious Moments, so much a part of that era.

Love, Hugs and Cookies to a very special couple.

References:

Vintage Car Cooke   http://www.lilaloa.com/2013/06/just-married-wedding-cookies.html

Flower Cookies       http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/2015/05/twenty-decorated-flower-cookie-tutorials/

Lily Cookies           http://www.cloughd9cookies.com/home/cookie-lilies

Dad is 87 Today

Dad was a little nervous about taking his driver's test this year.  He passed and Mom convinced him it was time to buy a new car. Hope he enjoys his new wheels!

Happy 87th birthday to a wonderful man!

Thanks to:

LilaLoa for the rear view car cookie design. 

Mike of SemiSweetDesigns for the gas pump and front view cookie designs.

 

Elliot's 4th Birthday

While creating Lightening McQueen cookies for great-nephew Elliot's 4th birthday, I kept hearing Bette Midler singing, "You Got to Have Friends," because the designs for these cookies were totally inspired by my "cookie friends."

Last summer, I used LilaLoa's tutorial to create vintage car cookies for anniversaries and a wedding rehearsal.  Then, Donna, my "Sugar Sister," used Lila's tutorial to create Lightening for her grandson's 3rd birthday.

Thus, when Elliot asked for this design for his birthday, I did not have to do any brainstorming to create this set.  This is the fourth year in a row that character cookies have been requested for his birthday, and I am no longer intimidated by the idea!

After a week of multiple birthday celebrations, Elliot's Mom posted this comment on his CarePage:


Chuck E Cheese parties, barbecues, bowling, and ice cream cake are just some of the festivities this lucky boy gets in his honor. And a lucky boy he is. We looked at his Care Page pictures on his birthday eve. He looked right past the IVs , CPAPs, and jaundice and recognized the faces of the people who came to see him in the hospital and continue to be there for him today. The IVs, CPAPs, jaundice and then some were not lost on me. Our boy is so blessed to have made it through all of that to become the kid he is today.

Elliot with Mom

Elliot(r) with cousin, MaryGrace, and Great-Uncle Mat

t

Happy Birthday to 

my little buddy!

Christie and Roy's Rehearsal Dinner

 This wedding car design from LilaLoa has been my go to cookie since August.  I selected it for Mom and Dad's 65th Wedding Anniversary in August, recreated it in a different color for my sister's 25th Anniversary in September and jut shipped some to a cousin in Alabama for a rehearsal dinner.  I added  a tuxedo design which I've never made before and some simple pumpkins and  hearts covered in disco dust.

Hopefully, a few cookies will make the long trip in one piece.

Happy 25th Anniversary

Twenty-five years ago today, my lovely sister, Carol, married her wonderful husband, Marty.  They had an informal wedding in their beautiful backyard.  It was a perfect day filled with sunshine, blue skies, bright colorful flowers in the garden and a yard filled with family and friends.

Since that day, they have guided their blended family to adulthood, attended the weddings of their children and have become loving grandparents to another generation.  Then and now, family continues to be the center of their lives.

 Wishing you many more years of happiness in the future.

I'm not sure who took the photos, but Marty's head was cut off in almost all of them!

 Love and Hugs to both of you on your special day!

Instructions to make LilaLoa's vintage car design can be found here.

Happy 65th Anniversary to Mom and Dad

Simple hearts and flowers, a few cakes on a stand and vintage cars that were fun to make thanks to Lila Loa's fantastic tutorial.

Happy 65th Anniversary to my wonderful parents, I am truly blessed to have you in my life.