{ more aggie cookie fun }

It's football season.

That means an abundance of maroon & white.

Whoop!

{ cooler air, warmer colors }

Fall is approaching, and the signs of it are popping up all over New Hampshire.

The mornings are crisp enough to keep the windows open, pumpkins, mums and Indian corn have surfaced at the local nurseries and farm stands, apple cider donuts (Lord, help me) are tempting me at every available opportunity, and best of all, the leaves at the very tip tops of the trees are just beginning to blush. 

{ aggie ring day }

The Aggie Ring is the most visible symbol of the Aggie Network that connects Aggies around the world. Dating back over a hundred years, it is a tradition that is deep in symbolism. Every symbol represents values every Aggie should hold: Excellence, Integrity,Leadership, Loyalty, Respect and Selfless Service.

At Texas A&M University, acquiring enough credit hours to order one's Aggie Ring is one of the most treasured rites of passage during ones years in College Station -- Aggie Rings are worn for a lifetime by graduates of TAMU. I could share countless words regarding the special meaning behind the Aggie Ring, but instead I'll simply direct those interested in a more detailed explanation to the Texas A&M Association of Former Students.

A giant gaping whole in my cookie gallery has been staring me in the face ever since I started baking and decorating in earnest -- no Texas A&M cookies. Despite my love and passion for my beloved Aggieland, up here in New England, I've had no occasion requiring Aggie cookies (other than my sister's graduation, which I made down in Texas, but I digress).

So my maroon heart soared when I recently received a request to make cookies honoring and celebrating an Aggie who will be receiving her Ring this week. Whoop (that's Aggie speak for 'Hot damn')!

{ bands for arms }

A few months ago when Ty first deployed, I read about an organization that produced arm bands/bracelets, created from donated military uniforms -- Bands for Arms.  

According to the  B4A website: 
Bands For Arms was created by Nicanor P. Mendoza III to bring awareness and support to our American military, by having Service Members, their families, and all of our patrons display their support with a bracelet made from an actual Service Member's uniform. We at Bands For Arms Int'l Inc., are proud to be able to recognize all five military branches with our bands, and hopefully help Service Members and their families feel CONNECTED.

I ordered four different bands, grateful that the U.S. Coast Guard was included (many opportunities for military families often leave out our Coast Guard men and women). And this past week, our bands arrived -- each one beautifully packaged with a photograph and card detailing the information about the soldier who donated a uniform to create the band.

Aidan now proudly wears a USCG blue band, as do I. Our sweet little Paige is still a bit young to sport one of her own, but she adores playing with the bands on both her big brother's and mother's arms, where they will remain until Daddy gets back.


Our bands won't bring him home any sooner, but they help us remember why he is where he is, and that he loves us.

{ one }

Happy first birthday, to my Sweet Paige.

{ c'mon, Irene }

We survived the "big storm" (that wasn't).

My daddy was here visiting, which 100% took the stress off. We ended up stocking up on lots of booze, cooking big pots of yummy food ("just in case..."), and enjoying some cooler temps and beautiful showers.

Thankfully here on the New Hampshire Seacoast, the extent of our hurricane effects was brief gusts of wind (that cleaned out the "loose" tree branches) and some moderate rain -- nothing but a good ol' fashioned thunderstorm.

{ my office }

Thought I would share what my kitchen looks like in the middle of a "cookie project."

It's tough to find a place to pour Aidan a glass of milk, but we manage. ;)

{ an apple for the teacher }

When I taught school, I loved using clip art from an artist named Amy Dott Harner. Her graphics are simple, bright, and oh-so cute.

One of my favorites was a depiction of a teacher surrounded by adorable little kiddos. I used this particular image on the front of my "Welcome Back" packet for parents and students.

Since I no longer have my own classroom, I seldom have much use for Amy Dott Harner's brilliance; however, now that my own little guy is starting kindergarten this year (sniff, sniff), I figured it would be fun to bake some sugary morsels for his new teacher using (you guessed it!), Amy's themes as inspiration.

From years of experience, I know how stressful the beginning of the year can be, and I can't imagine adding an entire room full of bright-eyed kindergartners into the mix. So here's hoping Mrs. Woodhouse, Aidan's new teacher, enjoys her apples this year -- both the edible ones and the little ones whose minds she'll be broadening!

{ baby [navy] blues }

Cookies for my beautiful cousin, Robyn, who is hosting a baby shower.

The navy and white scrolling pattern is from the nursery bedding. It sort of reminds me of wrought iron I might see in San Antonio. And considering the "customer" is one of my favorite native San Antonians, it seems rather fitting.

{ gracias }

A cookie platter of gratitude. :)