{ 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. :)