Cookie Fail.

Here are a few cookie pictures from last week. I had grand plans for these cookies, but with the craziness of moving and getting sick, most of these remained unfinished. That didn't stop us from eating them though! Even though I'd call this a cookie fail, I won't let it stop me from trying again soon.

For next time:

• I need to try a different kind of icing! The recipe I've been using is really easy to make, but I think it's time to venture into Royal Icing territory. I may not have a fancy Kitchen-Aid mixer, and I've definitely never successfully accomplished 'stiff peaks', but it's time to move up in the icing world. That should help with the uneven texture problems and the bubbles, both of which are pretty obvious with these cookies.
• Maybe a different dough? My circles spread quite a bit in the oven, and they ended up different sizes. I rolled everything out pretty evenly, so I'm not sure what caused that issue.

Before I did anything, I mapped out a plan of the different designs I wanted to do.

I only managed to decorate the regular circle cookies, so the scalloped designs will have to wait until next time.

Operation Cookie Headquarters - complete with laptop for entertainment.

Here are a few. You can see the unevenness of the white base, and the airbubbles.

The weird looking cookie on the top right was my attempt at brush embroidery. Great idea in theory, but it just didn't work with my icing. I needed something thicker and more substancial, this was too transparent and goopy.

My first attempt at actual writing on cookies. Not too bad, I'd say!

Obviously I didn't follow my plan too closely, but hey, I'm the boss.

I think I enjoy making realistic cookies more than artistic cookies. I thought these would be easy, but I had a hard time! All in all, the experiment was a fun one even if things didn't turn out quite as planned. Thank goodness I wasn't making these for anything or anyone in particular!

I haven't unpacked any of my cookie stuff yet, but I'm hoping to make some cookies soon now that I'm home and almost over the cold of death. Maybe for my dad's birthday on the 21st?

Have you done any baking recently? I love to see pictures and recipes!

Vitamin C and Cookies

Happy Wednesday! (Almost typed Monday. Yikes.)

You know what Wednesday is, right? Hump day.

Who watched Glee last night?
If you ask me, which you didn't but I don't even care today, I thought the episode was eh okay. Definitely not what I would have expected for the season finale. Somehow is just felt too...normal? I didn't feel the tension! But I did like the songs, especially 'To Sir With Love'. And it was great to hear them sing Journey again! I rock out to 'Don't Stop Believin' in my car on a daily basis, so it'll be nice to have a few other Journey tunes for my car-aoke.
What'd you guys think? If I had to rate last night's episode, I'd probably give it 3.5 stars out of 5.


In Running news:
I was all prepared to run this morning, I had laid my clothes out last night and everything. Unfortunately, I woke up this morning feeling awful. My throat hurts so much I can't even swallow. I had been feeling a little under the weather the last few days, but I was just blaming my allergies! Sorry allergies, that wasn't nice of me. I'm not full-blown sick just yet, so maybe I can still nip it in the bud.

Last year in Tennessee, I got sick a whopping 10 times during the school year. TEN times. Like, that's ridiculous! My mom told me to stop kissing all the boys, but I can assure you (and her) that wasn't the cause!  In any case, those 10 times were miserable. Even with an IV's worth of Emergen-C at all times, I was still catching a cold as soon as I recovered from the last one. And then, I got the honest to goodness FLU during midterms. Super fun.

Anyway, since I've lived in Oregon and gone to school in Washington, I've been sick with a cold just once. Yep. One time! I guess it's two now though. As much as I'd love to postpone my final evaluation meeting, I can't. If only it had waited until tomorrow so I could say I survived the school year with near perfect health.


Long story short: I didn't run this morning! Booo. If I don't deteriorate through the day, I'll probably attempt a short run this afternoon. Maybe by then it won't be raining anymore, too.

Operation Cookie 4.0 is underway.

I stopped in at BB&B yesterday for another spatula, and this bucket was just calling my name. 

How could I let these cookie cutters continue on without a loving home?

What is this?

It looks kind of like a submarine. 

So. Excited. Cowboy boots! 

I may have squealed when I saw this one. Maybe just a little. Good thing no one else was home.

Last night I made my dough, rolled and cut 24 cookies, and mixed up my icing colors!

I'm not going to reveal details but here are two little tidbits:

• White, red, and orange
• Scalloped and regular circles

What, no crazy shapes? I know, I know. I wanted to make cowboy boots so badly, but I decided to stick with my original plan! Pictures soon!

In closing...

OPI's You Make Me Vroom 

(The perfect red creme, no shimmer, no streaks. It's also limited edition, apparently)

Ps. Don't forget to send in your questions!

Final thesis project for my MRS degree.

This is only the 3rd batch of decorated cookies I've made, and I'm really proud of how they turned out.

The only cookie cutters I own right now are super basic shapes, so these are all hand-cut from templates I made out of cereal boxes. The actual designs are based off of actual cookies I've seen before. While it was incredibly helpful to have something to replicate, I'm ready to create my own designs and decorating ideas.

Okay enough talk, here are the cookies! 

Cookie Crumbs

Here's a little glimpse of what I've spent all of my free time doing this week...

(click to enlarge!)

Couch to 5...oh screw it.

I'll be upfront. I ran. I got tired and bored and cranky. I stopped and lifted weights instead. The end.

Okay, okay.

Yesterday was gross and rainy - surprise! - so I went to the gym instead of suiting up for inclement weather.

Quick treadmill workout. 

Music:

Car Crash - Marr Nathanson

Sympathy - Goo Goo Dolls

The LIttle Things - Colbie Calliet

Pretty Girls - Wale ft. Gucci Mane

Hyyerr - Kid Cudi ft. Chip Tha Ripper

Brooklyn Girls - Charles Hamilton

Obviously you can see I was struggling with this 'easy' workout. You know it's bad when I switch from the 'chill' music to my hip hop and rap.

I wanted to run for 25 minutes, but that obviously didn't happen. Instead, I hopped off the treadmill and pumped some iron! Ha, for the first time in a long time I was at the gym around 6:30 pm instead of 10 pm. Lots and lots of guys working out, and very few girls! I always feel a little weird being one of two or three girls lifting weights along with twenty guys.

After I did some bench-pressing and lat-pulldown-ing I reverted right back to my old (good) habits and did my abs super-circuit. I felt great and the time flew by, which is not something that typically happens while I'm running.

I want running to by my sport. I want to run a half-marathon or a 10k, but I also want to have fun doing those things. When it comes to running, I enjoy everything except for the actual act of putting one foot in front of the other and moving. Yeah, definitely not a good sign. When are these endorphins supposed to kick in? Isn't this an addictive sport? Yikes!

SO. I have a 5k scheduled for the 4th week of June. I'm still going to be running that, and training for that, and hopefully I find the fun in running again! Yesterday's workout didn't follow the C25K plan, and I'm going to try to run for distance rather than time for the next few work-outs.

In other (cookie-related and nail-related) news...

Time for cookies again! Popsicles, in honor of summer!

And bows! In honor of...bows!

And a question for you: what's your workout of choice? If you had to choose one word to describe how it makes you feel, what would it be?

Couch to 5K - W6D2- Again!

The run:
55 degrees. Sunny! Don't worry mom, I remembered to wear sunscreen today. :)

Instead of doing Week 6 Day 3, which consists of 25 minutes non-stop running, I decided to repeat day 2. Not to worry though, it's pretty similar with two 10-minute intervals of running separated by a three minute walk break.  I did have to slow down to a walk for a minute during my second interval, but other than that things went pretty smoothly for me. Pacing is my biggest struggle - the only time I can keep an even pace is  when I'm on a treadmill - but I think I'm finally improving!

What did I listen to today?
Nothing! Okay, that's not entirely true. I didn't listen to music today. Instead, I went for a run with my new friends Josh and Chuck from Stuff You Should Know! I listened to their 'How Urban Planning Works' podcast. I've never tried running with anything other than music and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it! Not only am I working out, but I'm learning things too! Andddd that's the end of my Public Service Announcement for the day. :)

Operation Cookie Update!
Oh yeah, this hasn't stopped! I mentioned on Saturday that I had made another batch of cookies, and they are now safely residing at home with my parents. And by safely residing, I mean the last 5 are cowering in fear of being eaten. I guess they enjoyed them! My mom sent the cutest text this morning that said "resisting the cookies." I'd call that a success!

These might be my favorite of the batch.

I didn't quite get the correct shade of red, but they're still cute. 

More marbling. Who knew it was so easy?

And a star for good measure. 

I'd call this test run a success!

And a question for you: what's your favorite sunscreen?
As I mentioned, I wore some on my run today and I'm really not a fan. Sunscreen is absolutely imperative, but I still haven't been able to find a brand that isn't gross. Right now I've got a tube of Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Ageless and it's...okay. The biggest problem I have is with it staying white on my skin and turning kind of sticky and powdery at the same time. Almost as if it doesn't soak in? This could be because it's a higher SPF (55), or maybe it's from the 'Enviroblock triple defense technology'. Do you have this problem with your sunblock? I'm glad I've found one that doesn't sting when I sweat, but I hate not being able to touch anything without getting white stuff everywhere.

Operation Cookie: Complete!

It's official, I have found a new hobby.

Last year, I was all about the tie-dye. 

But then I started to wonder what I would do with a million tie-dyed shirts.

Cookies, on the other hand...

I think I could handle an overabundance of cookies.

This was the first time in my life I have successfully made sugar cookies without crying. Not only did I manage to use my rolling pin and cookie cutters without disaster, but I also made my own icing!

Sometimes you will fight with your piping bag. 

And the piping bag will win.

Other times, you will work together to create beautiful cookies.

Marbling looks great, and it's easy to do when you have the right consistency of icing.

Who knew you could do things like this?

A few lessons learned from Operation Cookie:

• This is a multi-day process. You can't make, bake, and decorate a batch of cookies in one day. I know, I know, that sounds crazy. But this takes patience! You could whip up the dough and cut and bake in one day for sure, but the icing is a whole other story.
• Patience is key. After you outline a cookie, it's best to let that completely dry before you move on. If it's black, this could take 24 hours! Same for when you flood a cookie with one color (like the above fishie). Unless you want the next color to bleed or sink into your base, you need to let that completely dry!
• There a lots and lots of cookie blogs out there that feature the most amazing and beautiful cookies you have ever seen. Your cookies will not look like this.
• Remember that the professionals use name brand icing colors and fancy projectors to create their designs. As a beginner, it's okay to use store brand gel colors and freehand smiley faces.
• When outlining a cookie, the higher you hold the tip from the surface, the easier it is to draw a straight line.
• If your piping bag is malfunctioning and spitting out blobs and uneven lines, take the tip off and clean it! Be careful though, because if your icing is too runny you will come back to a table covered in a puddle of black goo. That was fun to clean up!
• You get to eat all of your mistakes.

Couch to 5K - W6D1 - I ran. And I baked.

I said I would, so I did!

Just back from my first run of week six. Today's run consisted of: 5-3-8-3-5 (run/walk). This is my very last week of intervals! I don't even want to think about the next two weeks right now. Twenty minutes feels like a long time.

Temperature was 54 and cloudy, but I did see a little bit of sun as I finished my run. Even though I wanted to stop, I pushed myself through all of the running intervals, and I'm glad I did that. I'm working on this whole perseverance thing! Total distance (not counting warmup/cool down) was exactly 2 miles.

And today's music:

• Magic - B.O.B. ft. Rivers Cuomo
• Don't Let Me Fall - B.O.B.
• Crossroads - John Mayer
• Desperately Wanting - Better Than Ezra
• Assassin - John Mayer
• The Kids - B.O.B. ft. Janelle Monae
• Come Original - 311
• Hit The Ground Runnin' - Keith Urban

Kind of a weird mixture of genres, but it worked for me! 

Finally, two cookie pictures! They're from my iPhone so they're not the prettiest, but I couldn't wait to show them off. :)

L- My second attempt at outlining with a piping bag. (You don't want to see my first try! And I ate it.)

R- Check it out, I can draw even lines!

Not the prettiest picture at ALL, but this is some of my progress so far. 

I wanted to let everything dry so I could try out some more techniques today.

Definitely not as pretty as the cookie blogs out there, but I have to remind myself this is the first time I've made cookie cutter cookies without crying! Haha! What can I say? I'm a perfectionist. For years the only kind of cookie I would make were the kind you drop right onto the pan. And now I love rolling and cutting. Go figure!