As promised...the Mitten Bakers Cookie Gathering!

Last Saturday was the Mitten Bakers Cookie Gathering.

The Mitten Bakers is an online group I belong to, made up of bakers from mostly Michigan, but also northern Ohio, northern Indiana, and a few from Canada.  The administrators of our group planned and put together this gathering within just a few short months and let me tell you...it was FABULOUS!  A full day of classes, contests, raffles, prizes, swag bags, food, and friendship!  The swag bags were FILLED with amazing baking items from awesome sponsors!  It was so awesome spending the day with others who share my love of all things sugar!  We had six classes/demos...everything from airbrushing, stenciling, royal icing transfers, hand-painting on cookies, stamping on cookies, and cake pops.  You can read my FULL post about the day on my baking blog:
Sweet Ivy Confections.

The flower cookie above was from our airbrushing class. 

 This super mom cookie was from our stenciling class.

 This cookie was my first attempt at painting on cookies.

Clearly, this isn't my strong point...yet.

Unfortunately my airbrushed cookie didn't make it home in one piece.

All of our airbrushed flowers.

We had a Super Hero themed contest & my friend entered this cookie w/ my photo as a little private joke between us.

This was my entry in the contest! Super Cookier!

 It was an amazing day learning new things and hanging out with some of the most talented women in the state and surrounding areas who share my love of sugar!  We all made so many new friends!  Don't forget to read the full post on my baking blog!

Below are a few things I've been working on since the gathering...practice makes perfect!

Thanks for reading!

TTFN!

Easter and beyond...

 We had a good Easter.

It doesn't matter how old we get...we always dye eggs.

It's just one of those holiday traditions that I don't think you need to "grow out of".

Kind of like carving jack-o-lanterns...everyone should do it...no matter your age.

 We did "glitter eggs" this year.  I had bought this kit on clearance last year after Easter.

It was a good concept, except the glitter didn't really adhere that well.

What did, was pretty.

 The boys didn't want their pictures taken...

And they were acting all goofy.

I promised I wouldn't post them on Facebook...

But...

 I didn't promise I wouldn't post them on the blog.

It's ok boys, no one major reads my blog anyway.

 So ham it up...

We went to church and out to Logan's for dinner on Easter.

It was a good day...and thankfully, no snow. :)

Kitty is doing well.

Making her usual blog appearance.

The other day, for the first time in the six months we've owned her, she discovered the washing machine..go figure.  She was completely intrigued.  Crazy girl.

In other news...

-I passed my science exam/class!  YAY!  I've finished my first whole year at WGU and am moving right along swiftly.  I am now 40% done with my degree.  Only a couple more general education classes and then I'll be moving on to all education classes, yes!

-Saturday I'm going to my cookie gathering/convention.  It will be a day filled with some of the most amazing bakers.  Fun, food, laughter, classes, raffles, prizes, contests, swag bags, and more.  I can't wait!

-It's finally getting warmer out.  I need to make some time to go out and weed the flower beds/landscape.  Pretty soon it will be time to plant the annuals!

I think that wraps things up for now.

Will be sure to give an update after the cookie gathering Saturday!

Hope you all are having a great spring!

MJ

Blogging has taken a backseat...as has everything else...

Easter mantle

 I used to think I wasn't a very good blogger...keeping up with what's going on in my life.

But now...

Now I think I'm a HORRIBLE blogger.

You see, since I started going back to school full time, not just blogging, but EVERYTHING seems to be taking a back seat with school.

School has kept me so busy (and work), it almost feels like anything else I do in life is almost a "treat".  Decorating my mantle for the holidays, doing new chalkboard art, making cookies...shoot, even folding laundry feels like a treat because I get to GET AWAY FROM SCHOOLWORK!  I've been horrible stressed with this science class.  It has been a science class nightmare.  Lord willing, (I'm trusting you God!), I will pass this course SOON!

I did manage to get my Easter mantle done (see pic above).  I framed some free printables, strung some bunnies in a banner, and added some of my old decor I keep stored away.

 My Easter chalkboard turned out really nice I think.

I love that song by Nicole C. Mullen, so when I saw the verse on this pattern, I had to have it.

 Nate had a band concert last week.

It was his last middle school concert.

 We still have some more parades, but this is it for the concerts!

Here he comes high school!

She thinks SHE is the baby of the family

 Katarina is doing well.

She had a small procedure at the vet and has made a perfect recovery.

She is our sweet little stinker.

We love her so much.

 I have a cookie convention I'm going to next month.

And I wanted a t-shirt with my logo on it to represent.

I decided to get some blank iron-on transfers and have a go at it myself.

I just played around on a photo editing site and then printed it on the blank transfer.

I am always fearful doing iron-ons.  Rightly so.  This one gave me some fits.  See how it's lighter in some areas and darker in other (in the pink areas).  Well, when I went to peel the paper backing off, it stuck. Yes, it stuck.  Ugh.  I did manage to get it off after much stress, borderline tears, and a phone call to the craft store where I bought it.  Thankfully, I don't think it looks that bad.  Hubby says it kind of looks "vintage"/"distressed"...LOL!

Yeah...yeah...that's right everyone...I did it on purpose.  I was going for the vintage/distressed look, hehe!

Well, I think that's all that's going on around here right now.

What are you doing for Easter?
I hope you have a very blessed Resurrection Sunday with your family!

TTFN!

This and that...early October happenings...

 We are just plugging right along.  Life seems to just move more swiftly along the older you get.

We are so blessed.  One of our more recent blessings has been the addition to our family of sweet Katarina Blue...our part Russian Blue kitty.

 For those that follow my blog, you probably remember that our former fur-baby Oreo always slept in this little box-bed that Nate made seven years ago.  Sweet Oreo slept in that bed for the full seven years he was with us.

 When he passed on, the box went to the basement.  However, when we adopted Katarina, Nate brought the box back up.  I really didn't think she'd go into it.  But look where sweet Katarina is sleeping!

 Yep!  Nate is thrilled that she has reclaimed the box-bed!  Sweet girl.

 This kitty-girl has brought so much joy to us.  Our home was so empty after sweet Oreo passed.  And now it's filled with kitty love (and kitty fur) again.  I snapped this picture as she was climbing on me and I called her name and as she looked at me, she must've blinked as the flash went off.  Isn't it adorable?!?!

 Most of you know I decorate custom cookies.  And not much makes me more happy then new cutters!  My momma scored these vintage cutters for me and brought them up to me today.  What a great surprise!

 I haven't posted any hair updates like I had been.  It's been 14 (very long) months since I started growing out my pixie.  Here is a side-by-side of where I was 14 months ago...and where I am today.  I think it could have been a little longer, except I had a few scissor-happy gals who trimmed it a couple times.  But we're getting there.  It's progress!

 I've been working on a big cookie order for some special people.

For those who don't follow my blog, check out my Sweet Ivy Confections blog:

http://sweetivyconfections.blogspot.com/

Or look me up on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweet-Ivy-Confections/247776648584544

I'm also on Twitter:

@Sweet_Ivy_Conf

And Instagram:

sweetivyconfections

 These are just a few sneak peaks of what I've been doing.

I can't share the full pictures yet because the folks who are getting the cookies, don't know they're getting the cookies!

 Today, my mom, sister, and I went thrifting.

It...is...a...thrill.

We go crazy thrifting.  It's like finding treasure.  We have a lot of great thrift stores around here.

I ended up with:

5 sweaters

2 dresses

2 blouses

3 scarves

1 headband

1 necklace

1 make-up bag

1 pair of shoes

1 coffee cup

2 vintage coffee mugs

2 vintage cookbooks

1 vintage ice cream scoop

ALL THIS...FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF...are you ready for this?

Drum-roll...
Less than $30.00!!!

Can you believe it?

Neither can I!!!

 Here we are making our, "Can you believe how much stuff we bought?" faces.

LOL!

 Our haul in the trunk...

 Our, "Our husbands are going to freak out" looks.

LOL!

 Selfie!

Or is it a "groupie"?

Hehehe!

 Well, now that my hair's finally growing...I can finally get it in rollers!

Yay!

I was able to fit it in my hot rollers today.

It was SO NICE to rock a different look!

I love curls!

 ...and a few edits for fun...

Well, I think that's about it for now.

Between working full time, going to school full time, baking, and keeping up with the family...I don't blog as much as I used to.  I do try to fit in at least a few a month though.

I hope this finds all of you happy and healthy!

Have a blessed autumn!

Our Springtime...

 Well, we are all happy to report that kitty made a full recovery from his UTI and is back to his usual frisky, stinker-of-a-self.  He is back to playing, lounging in the sun, getting into mischief, hanging out with the boys, and sleeping...a lot. 

He also has a new habit (as do I)...Candy Crush.

I have become quite addicted to this new game on Facebook, LOL!

And it never fails...as I sit down to play...kitty is on my lap.

(I secretly think he enjoys playing too, hehe!)

 And then he usually konks out fast asleep on my arm...

 In other news...

We got rid of our sectional.  It took up so much room in the living room/daycare room.

And we never used the sleeper sofa in it.

And so...we sold it on Craig's List...and bought these two new recliners!

I love them!

 I did some cleaning, rearranging, and organizing in the daycare as well.

I can't wait until it's warm out and I can haul everything outside for my annual spring cleaning.  Everything needs to be deep cleaned and aired out in the sun!

 The weather has been completely unpredictable.

One day it will be sunny and in the 60s...the next day will be pouring rain...

(or even SNOW!)

Yes...we're still getting snow flurries here and there.

Kitty enjoys the nice days that he can get in the window and get some fresh air!

 I can never resist snapping a picture when kitty is relaxing/sleeping in his bed that Nate made him all those years ago.  It still amazes me that he sleeps here after all these years!

 In other news...

I have been consumed by a large baking order.

I have baked, decorated, bagged, heat-sealed, tied ribbons, and added thank-you tags to...

Wait for it...

1400 mini cookies!

 A bride contacted me and asked if I'd be willing to make favors for her wedding.

I was hesitant at first...I had never taken on an order this size.

But I agreed to do it.

It has been a massive project.

And you are getting a sneak-peak at the finished project...even before my baking customers!

I haven't even posted it on my baking blog yet!

I will be sharing the whole process/journey on my:  
Sweet Ivy Confections blog 
in an upcoming post.  I will let you know as soon as it's ready.  I think those of you who enjoy special desserts, creations, or baking will enjoy the post.

Well that about wraps up what we've been up to this spring.

Until next time...

Melody