Roses for a Friend~A Lesson in Following Your Heart

Let me tell you about one of the neatest

ladies I know...my friend Nicole.

Beauty, huh?

She is an amazing mother of two

BEAUTIFUL little princesses.

And that's not all...

You can also add sensational actress, singer, choreographer, dancer and theatre

SUPERSTAR to her

growing list of attributes.

Plus, she is one of the most compassionate, kind hearted friends I have ever had.

We are neighbors and that

makes me pretty darn lucky.

Many of us can relate that as we start our families, raise our young children, hold down a job and try to make our significant others,

family and friends happy, we often lose sight of our own passions for the sake of others.

It is not bad, not good...just is.

Nicole recently took a leap of faith and rekindled her passion for theater by taking part

in a local production of Kiss Me Kate.

The performance was nothing short of AMAZING.

Of course she STOLE the show.

I am so proud of her!!

I felt like a gloating parent as I got

goose bumps and tears when she came on stage.

This is a good lesson in remembering that

we do not have to give up on our bliss.

We need to learn to strike a balance within our own minds and the guilt we place on ourselves as wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and friends

needs to be lifted...

Watching my friend follow her bliss lifted my spirits.

On a day when they needed some lifting.

Everyone Wins.

Following my bliss with:
Tablescape Thursday

I am Baking for a Cure - DIY Cupcake Kit!!

I am Baking Up a Cure!!

I love it when bloggers use their

talents and the power of social networking

to make a difference in the lives of others.

My very good friend Lark

from Lark's Country Heart

is hosting an online bake sale

to raise money for the Susan G Komen

3 day Race for the Cure.

I have donated the following DIY Cupcake Kit!

DIY Cupcake decoration kit.
This includes: 1 dozen cupcakes, buttercream or chocolate frosting, Wilton 1M decorating tip, 1 piping bag and 1 dozen Fondant Butterfly toppers.

*You choose either Vanilla or Chocolate Cupcakes & Frosting Flavor*

To check it out click HERE!

I am also excited to be guest posting at

Frosting for the Cause

on August 3rd!!

Come read my story and learn how to make the cutest PB&J cookies ever seen on planet Earth...EVER!

Sharing good baking cheer and charity with:

Pink Saturday

WEDNESDAY Whatever Goes Wednesday Wow Us Wednesday Look What I Made Wednesday What I Whipped Up Wednesday Let's Do Brunch Whatever You Want Wednesday Wow Me WednesdayTHURSDAY Sweet Treats Thursday Sweets This Week Thursday Show Your Stuff House of Hepworths Brambleberry Cottage FRIDAY: Tidy Mom Inspiration Friday Feathered Nest Friday Sweet Tooth Friday Show and Tell Friday It's a Hodgepodge Friday Weekend Wrap Up Flaunt it Friday Delicately Constructed Friday Sassy Sites Friday Fun Fridays Unfolded Food on Fridays Friday Flair

Peach Hat Pies ~ Tea Party Tuesday

Hi Tea Friends!

Hope everyone had a GREAT weekend.

I am continuing my "work"

through the most recent issue of

Tea Time Magazine!

YUM YUM!

I am most excited to share with you these

lovely, whimsical and EASY

Summer Peach Hat Pies!

TOO CUTE!

Unlike the divine but fussy Strawberry Chiffon from last week,

these mini pies where a BREEZE to make and

tasted so wonderful!

For a printable recipe click HERE!

There is also a link on my recipes page.

SUMMER HAT PEACH PIES (4 individual pies)

4 canned peach halves, drained and patted dry
2 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 T butter cut into 4 equal pats
1 (14.1 oz) package refrigerated piecrusts (2 sheets)
1 large egg
1 tsp water
4 small edible flowers to garnish

Preheat oven to 425

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Fill each peach cavity with1/2 tsp brown sugar, ¼ tsp cinnamon, and 1 butter pat.
Press firmly to pack filling. Set aside.

On a lightly floured surface, unroll pie dough sheets.

Using a 4 ½ inch round cutter, cut 8 circles from pie dough, reserving scraps.

Using rolling pin, roll 4 circles into 5 inch rounds. Set aside.

Place remaining 4 circles on prepared baking sheet.
Carefully invert a peach half (so that filling does not fall out) on the center of each circle on baking sheets.

Using fingers lightly moisten edges of circles with water. Top each with 5 inch circle.

Press pie dough lightly to mold to the peach, and them press edges of pie dough together.

Using a chopstick, press dough together to create texture for the brim of the hat.

With a sharp paring knife, cut vertical and then horizontal slits across the rounded surface of the hat.

(This vents for steam to escape as the pie cooks as well as provides texture to look like a hat)

Using dough scraps, cut long strips to form band for the base of the brim of each hat

Trim excess dough where ends of band overlap

In small bowl, combine egg and water, beating well. Brush egg wash over surface of each hat

Bake until lightly browned, 8-10 minutes.

Remove to wire racks to cool

Garnish with edible flower where pie dough overlaps.

So sweet they are.......

Official Tea Time Taste Tester Sophia Rose says....

It's a winner Mom!

Do you see the little teacup in the photos above?

This little teacup is a sweetie...it recently caught my eye as I thought the delicate blue roses were so unique and I LOVE the pedestal!

But my favorite part of this cup is the handle....

I appreciate this handle for many reasons.

For one, it made me think of the phrase...

"Square peg, round hole"

Ya....I can relate little cup!!

I hope you try to make these easy little pies and if you do,
let me know how you liked them!

I plan to make these for a large tea I am hosting the end of August.

I will be sharing tea and peach hat pies with:

TEA, INSPIRATION & TABLESCAPES:

Rose Chintz Tea Time Tuesday

Martha's Favorite TeaCup Tuesday

Teacup Thursday

Tabletop Tuesday

TeaCup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations

Lady Katherine's Tea Time Tuesday

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

A Return to Loveliness

LACE Wednesdays

Tablescape Thursday

Pink Saturday

The Tablescaper ~ Seasonal Sundays

OTHER FUN SWEETS/FOOD and CRAFT LINK PARTIES YOU MIGHT LIKE:

Mouth Watering Mondays, Melt in Your Mouth Mondays, Mingle Monday, Made it on Monday Sumo's Sweet Stuff Made by You Mondays Making the World Cuter Mondays Motivate Me Monday Joy of Desserts Dittle Dattle Amaze Me MondayTUESDAY Delicious Dishes Cupcake Tuesday Let's Do Brunch Tempt my Tummy Tuesday Mandi's Tasty Tuesday Topsy Turvy Tuesday Handmade Tuesday Tasty Tuesday Tip Me Tuesday Time Out Tuesday Get Your Craft On WEDNESDAY Whatever Goes Wednesday Wow Us Wednesday Look What I Made Wednesday What I Whipped Up Wednesday Let's Do Brunch Whatever You Want Wednesday Wow Me Wednesday THURSDAY Sweet Treats Thursday Sweets This Week Thursday Show Your Stuff House of Hepworths Brambleberry Cottage FRIDAY: Tidy Mom Inspiration Friday Feathered Nest Friday Sweet Tooth Friday Show and Tell Friday It's a Hodgepodge Friday Weekend Wrap Up Flaunt it Friday Delicately Constructed Friday Sassy Sites Friday Fun Fridays Unfolded Food on Fridays Friday Flair WEEKEND The Girl Creative This Chick Cooks Sweets for a Saturday So Sweet Sundays Sundae Scoop

Now I am excited to see what YOU are bringing to Tea!

Watermelon Gazpacho - A Guest Post for Lark's Country Heart

Hi there!

I am guest posting over at

Lark's Country Heart

Friday with this amazing...

WATERMELON GAZPACHO!

Lark's blog is fantastic you have to check it out!

To visit me and say hello click HERE!

THANKS!!

Eating Gazpacho with:
Tidy Mom

Strawberry Chiffon Dessert for a Tea Party!!

Even at 35 years old I still want to

make my parents proud.

I really wanted to make something SPECTACULAR

and AMAZING for everyone in Nebraska.

When I found this recipe for

Strawberry Chiffon Dessert

in Southern Living March/April 2009 I thought...

aaaahhhh haaaaa, I have a WINNER!

Not so much........

Don't get me wrong, it tasted DIVINE and was

absolutely BEAUTIFUL, however there were a few

things that made it a ROYAL pain

and thus is not on my list to do again anytime soon.

I followed the recipe to a T, but when I was making the

top layer the egg whites just would not stiffen for me.

I had to beat those eggs FOREVER.....and EVER.

I even enlisted some help from James and

this was AFTER my Mom and sister pooped out!!!

Then, following the instructions where it says, freeze 4 hours to overnight, I placed the cake in the freezer and

boy oh boy did it FREEZE.....12 hours later we had

to use a JACK HAMMER to cut it apart.

So then I had a GREAT idea to just let it "thaw" a bit.

Nope.

Then you are left with the top layer melted into a mushy

pile and the bottom layer is still hard as a ROCK.

Maybe you have some ideas??

My Dad actually had a great one...
"precut" the slices before you freeze it.
Not sure if it would solve the problem, but worth a try.

Despite it's challenges, it was quite tasty and pretty.

For a printable recipe click HERE.

Want to see something else that is really PRETTY?

I was able to take some AMAZING
pictures of my Mom
and several of her teacups, that is,
when I wasn't trashing her kitchen
and breaking her knives cutting my rock cake.

How priceless!!!

Ya know...not everything works out PERFECTLY.

Sometimes you have ROCK HARD cake days.

But with kindness, compassion and SMILES

life can remain pretty SWEET!

If you haven't VOTED for my
Lilac Cupcake
that was picked to enter Sweetopia's
Sweet of the Week Contest...please click HERE.

THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!!!!

I link up to many great blogs and parties each week.

To find the links please click HERE!

I will be sharing Tea and Fussy Chiffon Dessert with:

TEA, INSPIRATION & TABLESCAPES:

Rose Chintz Tea Time Tuesday

Martha's Favorite TeaCup Tuesday

Teacup Thursday

Tabletop Tuesday

TeaCup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations

Lady Katherine's Tea Time Tuesday

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

A Return to Loveliness

LACE Wednesdays

Tablescape Thursday

Pink Saturday

The Tablescaper ~ Seasonal Sundays

FOOD AND CRAFT LINK PARTIES!

Mouth Watering Mondays, Melt in Your Mouth Mondays, Mingle Monday, Made it on Monday , Sumo's Sweet Stuff Made by You Mondays , Making the World Cuter Mondays , Motivate Me Monday, Joy of Desserts TUESDAY Delicious Dishes , Cupcake Tuesday , Let's Do Brunch , Tempt my Tummy Tuesday Mandi's Tasty Tuesday , Topsy Turvy Tuesday , Handmade Tuesday , Tasty Tuesday, Tip Me Tuesday Time Out Tuesday Get Your Craft On WEDNESDAY Whatever Goes Wednesday, Wow Us Wednesday, Look What I Made Wednesday , What I Whipped Up Wednesday , Let's Do Brunch , Whatever You Want Wednesday , Wow Me Wednesday THURSDAY Sweet Treats Thursday , Sweets This Week , Thursday Show Your Stuff, House of Hepworths , Brambleberry Cottage FRIDAY: Tidy Mom , Inspiration Friday Feathered Nest Friday, Sweet Tooth Friday, Show and Tell Friday , It's a Hodgepodge Friday , Weekend Wrap Up , Flaunt it Friday , Delicately Constructed Friday , Sassy Sites Friday Fun Fridays Unfolded , Food on Fridays , Friday Flair WEEKEND The Girl Creative , This Chick Cooks , Sweets for a Saturday So Sweet Sundays, Sundae Scoop

VOTE FOR ME!!

I woke up this morning

to a GREAT surprise!

The lovely and talented Marion over at

SWEETOPIA has included my Lilac Cupcake

in her Sweet of the Week Contest!!!

Click HERE to vote!!

This cupcake was made in honor of my mom for her retirement. To see the original post click HERE.

I absolutely ADORE Marion's creations and her

amazing blog. She is one of the BEST cookie and cupcake artists I have ever seen and it is quite

an honor to be included in this contest.

Thanks!!

See you tomorrow for Tea Party Tuesday!

Happy Bastille Day ~ A Fondant Macaron

I must confess that I wish I lived in Paris.

Inspiration and Tutorial on Edible Writing from The Decorated Cookie Blog ~ Click Here)

I am a closet "French-Anything" Junkie.

Just take a walk around my house and

gander at my pinterest boards.

I could NOT let French Independence day

go by without a nod to the culture that

makes me swoon and smile on a regular basis.

Not to mention provide the inspiration for

many sweet indulgences.

Say for instance the famous Macaron.

Photo Credit Here

I want to make these soooooo bad, but I am CHICKEN.

I compromised with my baking anxiety

and made one out of fondant

with a sweet little mold I found on etsy.

(Click Here to Go to Etsy Shop Where I got this Mold)

I love etsy....and paypal....and teacups and sweets...

and big fluffy pink Paris poodles

and saying "Oh La La"

Ask my husband and daughter, I say "Oh La La" a lot.

Photo Credit Here

~~ Oh La La ~~

Happy Bastille Day!

Eating Macarons with:

Pink Saturday

The Tablescaper

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum

Tablescape Thursday

Pink Friday

Tatertots and Jello

Tidy Mom
Sweet Treats Thursday at Something Swanky
Sweets this Week Thursday
Thursday Show Your Stuff!
Delicately Constructed Friday
Flaunt it Friday
Sassy Sites Friday Fun Party
It's a Hodgepodge Friday
Sweets for a Saturday
So Sweet Sundays
Sundae Scoop
Home Sweet Home
Alli-n-Sons ~ Sweet Tooth Friday
This Chick Cooks!
Inspiration Friday
Friday's Unfolded
Food on Fridays
Whatever You Want Wednesdays
House of Hepworths
Friday Flair
Wow Me Wednesday

The Bright Side

Guess what...life is not perfect.

(Edible writers on fondant inspired by a cartoon I saw HERE.)

But we always need to remember to look at the Bright Side.

We are teaching our daughter this important skill.

I think we are doing a GREAT job.

(She is gloating her win at The Tea Party Game)

Life is short, stay on the Bright Side!!

Enjoying the Bright Side with...
Hoosier Homemade ~ Cupcake Tuesday
Someday Crafts ~ Whatever Goes Wednesday

Tea Party Tuesday ~ Stuffed Dayliles

Good Day Tea and Baking Friends!!

I am getting the Tea Party started early again this week as we are driving back to Minnesota today and I go back to work on Tuesday.

I had a GREAT time in Nebraska!!

This week I would like to show a LOVELY and

unique way to serve your tea time spreads...

In Daylilies!!

This idea came from the May/June 2006 issue of Tea Time that
I dug out of my Mom's archives!

Isn't this just a delightful idea?

I whipped up some herbed cream cheese and an herbed butter and then used boursin cheese spread I bought at the store.

Of course my Mom's garden was happy to lend a few daylilies for this whimsical presentation!

The original TeaTime "recipe" actually indicated that you could EAT the daylily with the herbed cream cheese spread inside as a "sandwich" but I don't think I would be a fan of that approach, however, we served our afternoon tea time

spreads in these flowers and it was a

fabulous splash of color and worked fantastic!

I LOVE going through her old magazines...

it is like a wonderful treasure hunt!

I always find new and inspirational things to bake and

whimsical tea time information and tablescapes.

I bounced around my Mom's house snapping several photos of her amazing tea things this weekend.

I would like to share with you the teacup that started it all...

My Mom reminded me this weekend that this was the very FIRST teacup I bought her. I was still in graduate school and lived in a tiny apartment in Anoka, MN. My place was within walking distance from the Mad Hatter Tea Room and a bunch a

GREAT antique shops.

When she would come to visit we would meander through these stores and from there we began our collection of

tea things and priceless memories.

And finally a heartfelt CONGRATS to
Kathryn Ross from The Writers Reverie
who won the lovely covered pink teacup!!
Please go check out her lovely blog and say hello.

I am excited to see what YOU are bringing for Tea today!!

I am sharing Tea with these great blogs:

The Rose Chintz Cottage

Martha's Favorites

Teacup Thursday ~ Miss Spenser's Blog

StoneGable ~ On the Menu Monday

Table Top Tuesday

Artful Affirmations

Lady Katherine Tea Parlor

The Silken Purse

Blissful Rhythm Blog

Tuesday Tea at Comin' Home