Noah's Ark

It seems as thought we have spent the majority of the last month in the rain. First it was Irene who rolled through and last week Lee absolutely pelted our area. It was so flooded here on Friday, schools in our area were closed. So it was only fitting that I made Noah's Ark cookies last week considering I was about a day away from needing an ark myself.

These cookies were made as favors for a baby shower. The hostess sent me this invitation:


And told me I could do whatever I wanted with them. So I decided to do my icing version of the ark and added in five different animal faces to mimic the animals on the invitation, keeping the backgrounds colorful and fun.


The sun is finally out and I'm hoping the party was a success.

Thank you Anna! Have a great week everyone.

10 Years Later - We Remember

I am sure the question “Where were you on 9/11?” will remain a prevalent question in our minds forever. I believe it is the question of my generation and certainly hope that there is not another similar question that has to be asked down the road.

On Tuesday, September 11, 2001 I was a senior in college on my way to a 9 a.m. appointment at the Career Center to finalize my resume for an upcoming job interview. I sat down with the woman assigned to help me who casually said, “Did you hear that a plane hit the World Trade Center?” I didn’t think much of it, assuming it was a propeller plane and having no idea it was a packed commercial flight. We continued our meeting with the radio playing next to us when we heard that a second plane hit. Next we heard that a bomb went off at the Pentagon (which we later learned was a plane.) Then I told the lady that I had to leave and promptly RAN back to my house to watch in horror alongside three friends on our living room floor as the World Trade Center towers crumbled to the ground. Dan Rather could not speak at that moment and quite frankly neither could we.

The phone lines were jammed for hours and I remember the uncertainty in my stomach of not being able to reach my family. Ironically the cable in our house went out, so I and a few friends walked across the street to a dorm to watch the TV in their common room as it was confirmed that another plane went down. With classes cancelled, the day went on watching the coverage. I finally reached my mom and asked her if I should come home, not knowing what to do or what was going to happen next. I remember her saying, “It is probably safer where you are. Stay there.” With my family living fifteen miles away from the White House, I was scared. Having family and friends living in New York City, I was scared. Having roommates who spent that entire day not being able to locate family near the tragedies, I was scared. All in all it was the most terrifying day I have had. I know my story is tame and extremely fortunate compared to the story of many others, however it is a story that I will carry with me always...just as we all will.

Another thing prominent in my memory about the days that followed 9/11/01 was the intense patriotism expressed throughout our country. Everywhere I looked on campus, I saw the American flag proudly flying. Whenever I turned on the news, I saw the same thing wherever they were broadcasting from. There seemed to be an overall awareness of remembering what truly mattered. Those of us who experienced the events of that tragic day together were forever bonded and always remembered when we told “our story” of where we were when we learned the news of 9/11. We would never forget.

While I typically keep things light on One Preppy Cookie, I felt that it was only appropriate to acknowledge those who lost their lives ten years ago today. And also to salute those who were courageous to help others in any way and demonstrated selflessness that many cannot even imagine.

So let’s celebrate those people along with our country as a whole today. We remember.

Pink or Blue?! Bows for Baby

Lately it seems like more and more people I know are not finding out if they will be bringing home a baby boy or baby girl from the hospital. While I know that I would never be able to keep that a surprise, I think it's exciting for them. I also think it lends itself to a classic baby shower with pink AND blue decor.

Recently I made these ribbon topiaries for a gender neutral baby shower (tutorial coming soon.) I thought they made for unique centerpieces in a room with high ceilings that could use a little pizazz.


They inspired matching pink and blue bow cookies.


Paired with the ribbon-trimmed diaper cakes the hostess made and a ribbon-themed baby shower was born!

So congratulations E&A and thank you to Jaylyn - diaper cake maker extraordinaire! ;)

Red Wagon Cookies

What could be more symbolic of childhood than a red wagon? Probably not many things that many generations can commonly think of. I had one growing up and they are certainly still all the rage. So when my friend contacted me about making cookies for her son's first birthday party with a red wagon theme, I was happy for the opportunity.

You know what I learned though? Making red wagon cookies with an attached handle is not all that easy. The handle would much prefer its independence rather than remaining attached to the wagon. ;) Since I was not willing to sacrifice the thickness of my cookies for a thinner cookie with an easily attached handle, the result was a few broken wagons passed along to friends. They didn't seem to mind the detached handle nearly as much as I did! What I learned in the end was patience was key when it came to giving the cookies enough time to completely cool prior to moving them.

Once I got the hang of it, I had fun working through the design of the wagons. Keeping it simple and classic was all these cookies needed. The birthday boy's mom (and one of my most supportive fans) loved them which made the minor baking drama well worth it!


So HAPPY Birthday Chase...and congratulations H&K for making it through year one with flying colors (and no broken handles!)

TUTORIAL: Back to School Do It Yourself - Grosgrain Ribbon Notebooks

It's officially that time of year...back to school! Hard to believe. I always loved school and was one of those people that LOVED having new supplies each year. Fresh supplies, fresh start. (I'm STILL that way!)

My favorite "tween" is starting middle school today and I wanted to make her a little something fun in honor of this new chapter. I decided I was going to jazz up a simple notebook for her. I took a few photos along the way so I could put together an easy tutorial for you on how to make a preppy grosgrain ribbon notebook.


To make this notebook you will need:

-Ribbon cut into strips
-Notebook of your choice
-Scissors
-Hot glue gun

First cut ribbon into strips long enough to stretch the length of the notebook with about one inch extra ribbon on either side.


The hot glue the ribbon onto the inside of the top of the notebook.


Pull the ribbon across the front of the notebook.


And then hot glue it to the inside bottom.


Your edges do not have to all line up perfectly (as you can see) because you will cut 2 more strips of ribbon the width of the interior of your notebook to cover the edges. Hot glue that ribbon over your already glued edges.

Repeat this entire process for the back cover of your notebook.


This could easily be the finished project. Easy, inexpensive, cute...and preppy!


However my favorite middle school prepster also has a real thing for peace signs. So in a tribute to that, I decided to add a fabric iron-on.

I set the iron to the wool setting and quickly pressed on the applique.


Voila!


The thank you phone call I received after she opened her gift was so cute. This went over very well which of course made me happy. And if it's "cool" enough for a middle schooler, then I'd say it's about safe for any grade. ;)

You could do so many things with notebooks to make them fun for school. Cut your favorite wrapping paper to the size of the notebook cover and Mod Podge it on, cut fabric to the notebook's size and hot glue it to the inside cover, or even wrap them in contact paper. Such an easy way to put a personal spin on basic school supplies.

So here's to a happy, healthy, safe 2011-2012 school year. Enjoy!

Tailgating Time...Let's GO Hokies!

Well, as much as I hate to say goodbye to summer, my consolation prize is to say HELLO to college football season! I am definitely one of those girls who enjoys to cheer on her team. Going to football games is one of my husband and my "things" and being a dual alma mater household, we are already gearing up for a fall season of road trips.

When I was touring colleges nearly 15 years ago (yikes!) one of the major items on my checklist was school spirit. The second I stepped onto the campus at Virginia Tech, I knew it was "the one" for me. I just knew it...and I was right. Once a Hokie, always a Hokie.

VT gave me an amazing 4 years complete with friendships that will always be maintained. I have been back every single year for at least one game with those friends and hope that will remain the case. We're heading down to Blacksburg tomorrow for opening day and of course I had to make a few Virginia Tech cookies to share at tailgates.

Can't wait to hear "Enter Sandman" blare on the speakers in Lane Stadium. (Even my Penn State loving husband gets a huge kick out of that!)


We'll check out our team this year and hope that our QB can lead us all the way to New Orleans in January.


And if we're lucky, maybe we'll even get a tailgating picture with the Hokie Bird!


So LET'S GOOOOOO HOKIES!!!


Happy football season everyone!

Fabulous Forty!

I have convinced myself that 30 something is the new 20 something and hope to convince myself of the same when I celebrate my next decade. Thankfully these cookies only confirmed my theory. I recently received a request for some chic, girly cookies to be the centerpiece at a fortieth birthday party. The BFF throwing the party asked for shoes, dresses, cocktails and specifically a Prada purse in honor of the birthday girl. These cookies are right up my alley and always a favorite of mine to create.


I have to say that the Prada purse was especially fun to make...


And the chocolate jewel in the shoe is quickly becoming a signature of mine.

Thank you Meaghan - I hope they cookies were a hit!