Super delicious birthday cookies

If you have a blog, have you ever met another blogger in real life?   I'm lucky enough to live next-door to a real-life blogger (and host of Works for Me Wednesday...Hi, Kristen!).  And sweet Mr. E sent me to visit Cheryl (TidyMom) this summer. And, then there was Ree. :)

If you ever get a chance to meet a blogger you love, DO IT!  Believe me, it's nice to talk to someone about blogging and not have the person look at you, tilt their head to the side and say, "huh?" 

Last week, I attended my first ever blog conference. 
{And I'm still recovering.}

Thanks to my friends at Blog2Print (you know, the company that will print your blog for you as a book), I was in Nashville at Blissdom.


The opening and closing keynotes were amazing (thank you Brene Brown & Scott Stratten...I cannot express how much I loved them BOTH).

The parties were fun...and the music incredible (yes, Michelle Branch, Mat Kearney, Chris Mann & Crystal Bowersox).  {And here's a sign you're old....you have to google all of those people, other than Crystal who you voted for on American Idol.}

But the best part?  The highlight of the conference?  Meeting all of the lovely ladies that I've admired from afar.  The craft bloggers, the photography bloggers, the home bloggers, the mommy bloggers....

 
Kristan of Confessions of a Cookbook Queen
Amy of She Wears Many Hats
Shaina of Food for My Family
Kristen of Dine and Dish (one of the very 1st food blogs I ever read!)
Aimee of Simple Bites
and, my roomie, Cheryl of TidyMom

I wouldn't say I'm lucky, but I have won a few things in my life...

• When I was 6, I won a coloring contest at our local Baskin-Robbins. The prize? 31 FREE scoops of ice cream!!! Is there anything more exciting than free ice cream to a 6-year-old (or a 40-year-old, for that matter)?

• As a sophomore in high school, I won tickets from a radio station to the Cyndi Lauper concert. Second row from the top of the auditorium, total nosebleed seats, but I WON!!!
  
  {Unfortunately, I bought SHE BOP earrings at the concert and wore them....to school! Do you know that "she bop" doesn't have anything to do with dancing? Yeah, me neither...until the *dreamy* senior who sat behind me in Spanish class filled me in. I still wasn't *quite sure* what he was talking about, but I knew it was bad. Google it.}

• And, then, Foodbuzz sent out an email asking if any of its featured publishers would like to apply to go to Kelly's Cake Off. I applied hoping I'd get lucky (and not in the She Bop way) and be chosen. I was!!! Yay!

Thanks to you and Electrolux, these cakes have raised over $20,000 for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. You know all about that, though. Let me show you a little bit more of the trip...

First, I got to meet 14 fabulous food bloggers!!! (You can see a list here.)


{Here I am with the brilliant Jessie of CakeSpy.}


Before the festivities even started, Jen of My Kitchen Addiction & I met with Gail of the ultra-amazing One Tough Cookie. (Go, see for yourself. She's a cookie genius!) Gail treated us to cappuccinos at Pastis and I felt very hip & New York.

Then, we all went to the Gastropub (I'm not sure what that means, but trust me, it's good) The Spotted Pig. We were ushered to a private kitchen and given a cooking demo (& dinner) by Chef April Bloomfield.


You guys...it was phenomenal.

{It was my very first time to eat duck and I'm looking at those duckies in the pond down the street in a whole new light.}


After that, we headed up to the rooftop bar at our hotel for a drink and a gift exchange with the other bloggers.

That morning, we were up at the crack of dawn to go to a taping of Live! with Regis & Kelly. Here's what I loved:

1. a car service....seriously, being picked up and driven around town is something I could get used to,
2. Kelly & Regis came over and talked to the audience between segments. I was most impressed by that.
3. Regis threw candy into the audience. I didn't get any, but I still love Regis for it.

Here's the secret about Kelly Ripa.....ready?

She....
....
....
....
....
....
EATS! Really! She does! Between segments, she ate right from a bag of All-Bran cereal...and joked that she might have to make a quick exit...AND before the cooking segment, she snacked on the nuts and chocolate. (I know you all are probably as shocked as I was.)


Oh, and she's tee-nine-y! (That's tiny.) I thought about sticking her in my purse and bringing her home to Texas. Look at me, y'all, in that picture. I'm freaking Julia Child towering over everyone. I'm even hunching.

Then, it was time for the Cake Off. You all know about that (or if you don't, click here).

I just have to add how nice everyone was to us...the people from Electrolux and Foodbuzz and the PR people handling the event. Kelly Ripa was beautiful and fun and really quick-witted!


{Did I mention the swag?!?!?}


Buddy, Frankie, Remy and the gang from Cake Boss were so fabulous! They were *the sweetest* guys and stayed as long as we needed to help with the cakes, sign autographs, take pictures...and then they had to CLEAN up all of the cake paraphernalia. Oh, and Buddy's cakes taste every bit as delicious as they look!

Overall, I was lucky! It was a fabulous trip, for a great cause, and I feel blessed to have been a part of it.
Today is the LAST DAY (2-19) to vote on a cake. Remember, for every vote, Electrolux donates $1 to the OCRF. What an easy way to make a difference. (And you can still send a virtual cake through March.)

Ten years ago this month, we lost my mom to cancer. She was 54 years old. Just a year before, her doctor told her that she had cancer, but it was the "good kind"....slow-growing, very treatable. She had endometrial cancer. Fast forward to a week to two later, we found out the cancer had spread, quite a bit and quickly. I'll never forget...her doctor said she had endometrial cancer "acting as ovarian cancer."

Ovarian cancer is currently one of those cancers that is difficult to detect and spreads quickly. It's scary. I'm so glad that the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund is here. This organization funds research to find a method of early detection and, ultimately, a cure for ovarian cancer. I am honored that I can be involved in raising money for the fund.

Over the last month, I've heard from several of you. You've lost your mothers, sisters, aunts, friends to this disease. You know people currently fighting the good fight. This is for them. This is for Mom. Let me tell you how you can help.


Electrolux and Foodbuzz sponsored 15 food bloggers to New York to decorate cakes along with Kelly Ripa and Buddy Valastro & Team from TLC's Cake Boss. We were divided up into teams of 3 and given our cake theme and an example to go by.




Buddy and his crew gave us tips and continually walked from table to table, helping us and giving advice. They couldn't have been nicer!


{You can even click here to see tips from Buddy for making the Cake Off cakes.}


{Do Jen & I look a a little guilty digging in the bucket of chocolate fondant? It smelled SO delicious!}


{Our team even had a VIDEO!!! Talk about nerve wracking!!!}




Here's where you come in:

• Visit Kelly Confidential and VOTE for your favorite (may I suggest the Take a Bow cake?).



• Every vote = $1 Electrolux will donate to the OCRF.
• You can vote once per day.
• Although you do have to register, to keep the voting to 1 per day, it is free to vote.
• ***Voting is open through February 19th.***
  

AND....if you'd like the chance to win one of these beautiful Induction Ranges, just send a "virtual cake" to a friend or two. You'll be automatically entered. Oh, and if you'd like to BUY an Induction Range, Electrolux will donate $100 to OCRF for every range sold during February.

{I got to play around with this one....I wish you could feel those Luxury-Glide Oven Racks; they ARE luxurious!!! And how pretty is that BLUE interior!}


OK...one more thing...every time you vote, please come here and leave a comment. (And if you voted yesterday, tell me that, too.) From all of your comments, one person will receive a dozen cookies....from me! :)

Thank you, thank you to FoodBuzz and Electrolux for the amazing opportunity to have fun and raise money for a cause near and dear to my heart!

My participation with Kelly's Cake Off for a Cause was sponsored by Electrolux and Foodbuzz who provided me with travel arrangements to and accommodations in New York to participate.

Visit Kelly Confidential and vote for your favorite cake...my team's cake is Take a Bow (hint, hint). You can vote once per day and for each vote, Electrolux will donate $1 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. (It's free to vote!)


{Our team: me, Jen from My Kitchen Addiction & Diana from A Little Bit of Spain in Iowa.}

I was just *so thrilled* to be a part of this wonderful event and to raise money for a cause near to my heart (more on that later).

Stay tuned...more pictures and information heading your way soon.


{Yep...that's me with Buddy Valastro and Frankie from TLC's Cake Boss!!!}

Yep, that's right....a little New York City update for you. Just a short recap, 14 other food bloggers and I will be teaming up with Kelly Ripa and a special cake decorating guest to decorate cakes and raise money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

{Thank you, Electrolux and Foodbuzz.}

Tuesday is the big day...here's how it will work (I think):

• Arrive in The Big Apple Monday...dinner and cocktails with the other bloggers! Yay!
  
• Tuesday morning, we're heading out EARLY to see Live with Regis & Kelly!!!
  
• That afternoon, we are paired with 2 other bloggers to decorate our cakes.
• We will be given tips by a surprise guest (click here to find out!).
  
• We'll pull a theme out of a hat and have ONE hour to decorate our cake (and eat lunch!).

Here's where you come in...

• The cakes will be posted on Kelly Confidential. You'll be able to vote for your favorite and by doing so, a donation will be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.
• Check back here on Wednesday because I'll have more info AND a prize to thank you for voting and raising money.

Let me introduce you to my decorating team of three...

1. Jen, of My Kitchen Addiction: check out her Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting!!!
2. Diana, of A Little Bit of Spain in Iowa: how good does this German Chocolate Cake look?!?
3. And, moi! :)

Get to know the other lovely bloggers going along on the trip as well. I can't wait to meet them all!

♥Linda, of My Salty Seattle and her Mad Men Birthday (love this!)
♥Katherine, of Smoky Mountain Cafe and Chocolate Brownie Cookies
♥Meghann, of The Inner Workings of a College Graduate and Pumpkin Spice Granola
♥Megan, of Megan's Munchies makes yummy Spice Cake Oatmeal Scotchies
♥Sandy, of No One Puts Cupcake in a Corner introduces us to the Sweet Sweat Towel
♥Laura, of The Cooking Photographer makes Caramel Macchiato Thumbprints (!)
♥Erika, from In Erika's Kitchen has a great post on 10 Things NOT to say to Kelly Ripa
♥Kelly, from Evil Shenanigans makes some deliciously evil Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies
♥Jessie, of CakeSpy...please tell me you've met Cuppie! (This is one of my favorites!)
♥Tina, from Carrots 'n' Cake makes Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies
♥Sabrina, from Rhodey Girl Tests and Pumpkin Pie Cake
♥Joseline, of Daydreamer Desserts makes a Hot Chocolate Cake (oh my!)

I just wanted to share some exciting news with you all...

Foodbuzz & Electrolux are teaming up with 15 food bloggers to join Kelly Ripa (!) in NYC for a special cake decorating event to generate support for and awareness of the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund's mission is to fund research to find a method of early detection and ultimately a cure for ovarian cancer.


{And there's nothing like the prospect of meeting Kelly Ripa to jump start those plans to get into shape! ;)}

The event takes place February 9th and I'll let you know more as I know more. I'll be asking for your support in the form of votes and there *just may be* a giveaway in it for you, too!

I'm here now, but I'm goin' to New York City, baby!

Oh...want to know who else is going? Can't wait to meet these other food bloggers!!!

A Little Bit of Spain in Iowa
Bake at 350
The Cooking Photographer
Daydreamer Desserts
Smoky Mountain Café
In Erika's Kitchen
Evil Shenanigans
Salty Seattle
The Inner Workings of a College Graduate
Megan's Munchies
CakeSpy
Carrots 'N' Cake

No One Puts Cupcake in a Corner
My Kitchen Addiction

RhodeyGirl Tests

I've made monogram cookies for baby girls before, but never for a baby boy. These were so fun! I like that the shower hosts chose the scalloped square for the boy cookies...so much more masculine than a circle. :)


The instructions for making the monograms are here. They can be made ahead of time and stored in a container at room temperature. One other note, when choosing a font, it can't be anything too "swirly", the nonpareils will obscure the design and it will just look like a blob. How do I know? I had to throw out my first batch. :)

Now to the question (poll on left sidebar)...would you be interested in a once-a-month, FLAVOR-OF-THE-MONTH, blog carnival/event, hosted here? It's an idea I've had floating around in my brain for a while and after reading all of your coffeecake favorites here, I really wanted to see each and every one of them.

Each month would be a different theme, such as chocolate or yellow or coffeecake. From there, you could make whatever you wanted.

Let's say, the theme was "turtle" (go with me here), you could make Turtle Cheesecake, or cookies decorated like turtles, or Turtle Ice Cream Pie, or a Turtle-shaped cake...whatever.

At the end of the month, you'd post your creation on your blog and link here. On the last day of the month, I'll post mine with a way for you to link in to my post. (Have you seen a Mr. Linky before?). I'll explain more about the details later.

That way, we'd all be able to see each others' creations...and maybe find some new, fabulous blogs, to boot!

I think it would be fun and a great way for all of us to get to know each other a little better. BUT, I know there are lots of other carnivals and blog events, so if you're already overbooked, let me know.

Anyone interested? I'm adding a poll to my sidebar. Please take a moment to let me know. If you have any suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments.

If you live in or near Amarillo, boy do I have a party for you!

My dad ordered these Kentucky Derby cookies for the local Ambucs' Derby Days party. Derby Days is a charity event with food, music, drinks and entertainment. The event raises money to buy AmTrykes for children with disabilities.

Physical therapists use the AmTrykes to help kids with cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, spina bifida, hemi paresis or motor, sensory, general developmental delay, and autism. Ambucs also provides scholarships for therapists.

Click on over for more information on the Derby Days event or for information on the AmTrykes and how to make a donation. Derby Days supports a great cause, and I can tell you, these Ambucs members know how to have a good time. It will be a blast!


Now...to the cookies....

I like this picture because you can kind of see the horses some to life. The cookie on the left has just been outlined and filled. The cookie in the middle has been piped with details in brown, and then the one on the right has the added color detail.

I'm not sure what you have to do to get a cookie. My dad ordered 120 and I know there are A LOT more than 120 people who attend. Here's my advice....ask for John who brought the cookies. Tell him you're a blog reader and...here's what will really help...refill his beer glass. I can't promise anything, but, hey...it never hurts to ask! :)


Don't forget to enter the See's Candies giveaway...drawing to be held Saturday night!

Come back tomorrow for ONE MORE quick Mother's Day giveaway!!! YAY!