A Very Maine Valentine's

Maine has all these things about it. Unique things. But no Valentine's treats (except candy lobsters). These are very Maine and very Valentine's. It was my dad's idea. ;)

Since the focus is on the shape and decorating, I'm not going to post a sugar cookie recipe. This one is what I used though and I really like it. 

So, what you are about to make is a bakery-worthy Maine Valentine's cookie. So you'll need:

1 batch sugar cookie dough

1 lobster cookie cutter

1 heart (or other shape) cookie cutter

Roll out the dough and cut out a lobster and a heart.

Remove the dough around the cut-outs and move the lobster to a baking sheet.

Now, take the lobster cookie cutter, and use the tips of the claws to cut shapes out of the heart.

Place the cutter just over the edges of the dough (above) and then slide away (right). This will leave a cut out of the bottom of the heart in the shape of the lobsters claws. This will keep the cookie from having a big lump in the middle. That probably doesn't make sense yet but the next step should clarify it.

Place the heart on the baking sheet just about the lobster and slide it so that the lobster's claws fit into the cuts you made in the hearts. Like a puzzle. Press down to seal them together into one cookie.

Slide them together...

...press to seal.

Bake the whole thing according to the directions in the recipe. Let it cool for awhile when it comes out of the oven because if you try to move it to a cooling rack while it's warm, the tail or the claws will probably break off. On that note, you should probably make more of these than you think you need because they break a lot when they're fresh.

Make the icing from the recipe above and put a small amount of red food coloring in it to make it pink. Frost just the heart(s).

I made mine with a cookie cutter that was two hearts stuck together.

Add more red food coloring to the icing to make it red. If you don't like food coloring, you don't have to use it. Or you could find a natural alternative. It's up to you.

Now do the lobster with the red icing.

Tada! I made one of these for each of my teachers and they all liked them. I think they're really funny. And yummy (I made a rhyme!). I use a pastry brush to apply the icing because it makes it thinner and it gives it a really smooth icing. Also, the recipe for icing in the recipe I mentioned at the top is perfect for brushing on. It also hardens in an hour or two so you can package the cookies without ruining the frosting.

Dun-da-dun... New Hair Cut!

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for, my new hair cut! I put up a collage of pictures and asked people to give me their opinions on which hair style I should try. I finally opted for number four. Selena Gomez inspired layers and side bangs.

Photography Contest!!

Hey all, my friend Jenna is hosting a photo contest on the theme Winter Scenery! It would be awesome if you could enter and pass on the information to your friends. Information on how to enter etc. is here, at her website.
Maybe you wouldn't mind sharing the information and links on your blog (if you have one)!

A New Pet :)

Although we've had him for a week, I have not been able to announce Cocoa, our new dog, because we were saving the information to surprise my dad. Now that he's home (and very much surprised, I might add) it's time to spill the beans. So here he is, a totally-adorable-super-sweet-15-week-old-chocolate-brown-standard-poodle!

I might also add that he wants to play with the cat very, very badly. Unfortunately, Milo does not share the desire.

Can I please play with it??

All in all, he's a sweet, lovable dog--though he is mischievous. He enjoys chewing on gloves and clean laundry. 'Cause who wants to chew on dirty laundry anyway, right?
That being said, we all love him and are happy to have another dog! :)

decisions, decisions, decisions...

Which of these hairstyles should I go for? Please comment with your opinion!

Check out...

Bunnies, Budgies, & Big Ideas! It's a blog I do with two friends of mine, Emma and Moira. It's about the same as any other blog, but (as the name suggests) it is all about animals. We'd love to have you visit, give feedback, and follow! :D

I Can't Remember How to Ski!! French fries? Pork chops?? Lemonade?! Pizza!!!

     Yesterday we went skiing for the first time this year. Needless to say I couldn't remember much about how you do it. I knew that there was some kind of food that was supposed to help you remember how to slow down  but I couldn't think of it! So there I was, at the top of Mt. Abrams, forgetting how to stop or slow down. Of course, we had to start at the top and not on the bunny hill. Oh joy.

     I did, thankfully, remember how to stop as we got going. It was actually a little bit scary going down the first time. I'm not exactly intermediate.... more like mediocre. But we all made it! And of course, what is a post without pictures?

No, that is not underwear in that tree. Oh... wait...

What a name for a trail, right? Fractured Fairy Tales. Makes me want to ski it right now.