More Tasty than a Chocolate Frog

*Do you have the theme song in your head yet?*

Last week, part one of the movie of the last Harry Potter book was released.

We haven't seen it, yet, but I must tell you, we LOVE Harry Potter.  At first glance, it may seem a story of wizards, but at it's heart, it is a tale of the power of love, loyalty, bravery, sacrifice and friendship.

Once I thought kiddo was old enough, we started reading them together.  Actually, *I* read them...aloud, all 4,100 pages of them (to be exact).  Snuggled on the couch, under a pile of afghans, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid and Dumbledore...they became a part of our lives.  Everyday we ended our reading with kiddo begging, "more, more!"

 

 

We waited for the last book to be released and I sobbed though the entire thing.  Not only was I going to miss Harry, but I knew this had been precious time with kiddo.  Yes, there would be more books to read together,  but these were special.

Want to make some Harry Potter cookies?  Here's what you'll need:

• royal icing in Americolor copper/flesh, super black, super red, and leaf green
• disposable decorating bags
• squeeze bottles
• icing tips in #2 and #1
• round cookies

With a #2 tip, outline the face in copper/flesh.

Thin the flesh color with water until it is the consistency of thick syrup.  Let sit several minutes covered with a damp dish towel.

Stir gently, transfer to a squeeze bottle and fill in the face.  Let sit a few hours.

With a #2 tip, outline the hair in black.

 

{Forgot to take pictures of a few of the steps here, but.....}

Fill in the hair in black flood icing,
pipe the glasses with a #1 tip,
pipe the lightning bolt with a #1 tip in red.

With the #1 tip, pipe a smile.

I've said it before.....do NOT try to cheat and use a baggie instead of a piping bag.  I slipped a #1 tip in a baggie for the eyes....not wanting to waste a piping bag for a few eyes.  Yep, the bag exploded and broke Harry's glasses.  Not even a "Reparo" charm could help me.


On the brooms, I tried a trick from Kudos Kitchen.  Painting on the wood grain.  Renee is a master of this; I'm still learning.  (You can see a video of her technique here.)

{Broom cutter from Sweet!}

Don't forget sweet Hedwig, Harry's snowy owl.

Ron & Hermione sittin' in a tree....

{JK Rowling...thanks for making Hermione a hero to "bushy-haired" girls everywhere!}

A special shout-out to Diamonds for Dessert!  Her Harry Potter cookies were a MAJOR inspiration to me and the first Harry cookies I'd ever seen.  (Love that Snape!)

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! COOKIES!

It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I even learned what a Wubbzy was (I'm old). My cousin's little girl, Violet (don't you LOVE that name?), was turning 3. Her party was Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! themed and she needed Wubbzy  cookies.

To tell you the truth, I was a little crushed that kids weren't watching Blue's Clues anymore. You see, Steve and I had a relationship. Some days, he was the only adult contact I had until my husband got home...and he and I became *thisclose*.  (Then he left and they brought Joe on board, who might have been cuter, but didn't have Steve's charm. But I digress.)

Back to Wubbzy....character cookies make me nervous. Just look at Batman. So, I took the chicken's way out and used my icing printer.

But, I think the key to these cookies is the sprinkles.

I really like edible image cookies with a decorative edge. That's probably because I never get them on exactly centered.  Here's an example of edible image cookies with a piped edge.

If you don't have an icing printer, you can usually have them printed for you at a bakery supply shop...call ahead, you'll probably need to format the image for them. I've even heard you can get them from the grocery store!

Just cut the images and peel away from the backing and place on wet royal icing.  Allow 2 days of drying time. For the sprinkles, mix equal parts meringue powder and water. Brush on the edges and sprinkle. Voila!

Happy birthday, Violet!

Now, I'm going to check hulu for my old friend Steve.

Mondays with Mariah

I've been thinking about Melissa at home with her brand spanking new baby. It makes me reflect about my own babies. On one hand it seems like a REALLY long time ago that I was changing diapers and trying to figure out how to bathe them and get them to sleep. On the other hand, it seems like just yesterday and I cannot believe that my Jacques will be going to Jr. High in September. It seems like just yesterday that Trish came to the hospital to take his first portrait! I'll have to dig that up and post it next week!

Anyway, I was inspired recently to take some new photos. Vianne is growing out of her clothes every week and Jacques is taller than my mother. I don't have much more time with them as little kids and the thought of that is kind of crushing down on me a little. At least I can freeze them in time a little this way... Waahhh!

I found this amazing spot a year or so ago and have been dreaming of photographing there since I saw it. We took these photos on a warm day last week about an hour before sunset.

Vianne used to be shy for photos and do a smile that was more like a grimace.

Now she is totally working it. She's so beautiful it takes me breath away.

How about that skirt? Marshalls!




Vianne recently lost her two top teeth. It seems like she loses a tooth at school every day. The nurse sends her home with a plastic tooth container necklace holding the actual tooth inside. She has a collection of them now.

I'll be ordering this one for the wall.

Here's my heart-throb son Jacques. The best part is he is a total shameless goofball and will humiliate himself to no end to make you laugh.

I must have made a joke about farting here, because anything you say about farting is funny when you are eleven.

I am sure he will hate this photo, but I love it.

This one is going on the wall too.

The girls in Jr. High won't know what hit them. They better not call my house though, I don't think I am ready for that.

Fav of Vianne, I think... there's just too many to pick from.

Typical. McSpaz-a-tron.

Can you stand this location?!!! Who wants to do their engagement photos here? Right?!

This is cute, it seems like Jacques is looking at his sister adoringly, but in truth he is probably insulting her.

I think Grammy is going to need this one.

Time to head home. Such cooperative children, and I only had to bribe them with icecream.

Don't feel too bad for me... I actually wasn't very good with the baby stage. I enjoy them more and more every year. I can't get enough of all the funny things they say and stories about the kids at school and all the classroom drama. I think I'll be a cool mom for teenagers- I was a frazzled mom with babies. It's just sometimes I miss the squishy baby snuggling. Guess I'll have to drop in on Melissa and squeeze her baby.

Preggers!

Posted by Trish:

Well, there seems to be something going around...and it makes your stomach really big like this...
Melissa reluctantly met me on Sunday for a few portraits before she is relieved of this condition, which is actually happening this Thursday by c-section because 'someone' is being a naughty baby and standing up straight! No matter, he/she won't win this battle, but I'm sure will win many others in their future.
Zoe the big sister came along to get into a few shots for posterity, how cute! So this is Melissa now, but lucky for her not for long, thanks for being a good sport and posing for a few pix!

This is my favorite!

Oooh, but I like this one too...

Now poor Melissa is on her own for photos, feeling big but looking great!

It's hilarious!

And saucy!

I think that at a much later time when Melissa is not feeling so big and preggo and is svelte again she will excited to have these photos.

Classic!

Good luck Melisser!