Decorating Cookies

Decorating Cookies: 60+ Designs for Holidays, Celebrations & Everyday

Well guys, today is the day.  The official release date for Decorating Cookies.  I know Amazon and Barnes & Noble shipped a bit early, so some of you have it already.  YAY!!!

This book is for you.  You, who have never decorated a cookie.  You, who have attempted and want to try again.  You, who love decorating cookies and are looking for some new ideas.

This book is FOR you and because of you.  All of you...whether you've been reading Bake at 350 for 5 years (ok, that would just be me), or 5 seconds. YOU.

Here's a little peek of the inside: (PS...my pictures do not do the book pics justice.)

I love that visual Table of Contents!  I cannot say enough about the people at Lark Crafts, the publisher.  They pretty much rock.

EVERY project has a step-by-step photo tutorial.  Most of the cookie designs are new, but there are a handful of favorites that we just had to include...most with a new twist.

Oh!  Not only that, but 5 superstar guest cookie makers show one of their specialties!  We're talking: Amanda from i am baker, Callye from The Adventures of Sweet Sugarbelle, Gail from One Tough Cookie, Meaghan from The Decorated Cookie, and Marian from Sweetopia!!!  I know, right?!?  I'm so thankful for their beautiful contributions!

Shouts-out (shout-outs?) to Amy, Melissa, and Kate for letting me use some of their fabulous artwork for a couple of projects...and to Amanda of Everyday Elements for making yours truly presentable in the author pics.

Wanna see a little behind-the-scenes from our 6-day photoshoot for the step-by-step cookies?

In two of those pictures, you'll see Steve Mann...the book's photographer.  Yay, Steve!!!

Are you still here?  Oh, good.  Guess what...I have something for you to celebrate!

• 1 lucky person will win a KitchenAid 5-quart, tilt-head, stand mixer in Aqua Sky (US only)
• 5 people will win signed & personalized copies of Decorating Cookies (anywhere)
• enter through 11:59pm CST, October 9, 2012

To enter for the mixer, leave a comment.  That's it. 

To enter for a signed book, leave a SEPARATE comment telling me where you live (city, state, country...whatever).

Curious about where to buy the book?  Check with your local bookstore or order here:

• Barnes & Noble
• Amazon 
• Signed copies (and events, well, evenT) ;)

 

  I really, truly hope you love the book as much as I loved eating the cookies that are in it.
*mwah*

thank you.

Winners!!! 
KitchenAid Mixer: 
Brandie: "That mixer would look fab in my kitchen... and get TONS of use!"

Signed books:
Allison Jordan: "I am a seemingly hopeless cookie decorator (better with cakes) but am determined to learn - your book looks amazing! I am a transplanted both-coaster now living in Greensboro, North Carolina... Congratulations! Cookie on" 

Nane Şekeri: "Congradulations for the book.In Europe it is still pre-order :(  I live in Netherlands."  

Mrs Cosper: "Because of your blog everyone in my family will be getting personalized cookies for Christmas! NC LOVES you!!"

Kristen M.: "Hi from San Diego. I'd love to win a copy of your book!"  

James: "Rural Illinois is getting cookies this holiday season!"

Special Delivery

So, this happened...

...I received my very first copy of the book!

It was a very odd, surreal, and incredible feeling.  I think writing a book is a lot like childbirth.  You forget the hours of labor, the sleepless nights, the throwing up (ok....maybe that was just childbirth); you hold your new baby in your arms, and you think, "hey...that was pretty easy."

Decorating Cookies: 60+ Designs for Holidays, Celebrations & Everyday will be officially released October 2nd, and I really, really hope you love it.  I want the book to be a surprise to you when you hold it in your own hands, so I won't show you too much here.

It has lots of pages...

...with recipes...

...and, oh, 60+ cookie tutorials.

You can see the Magic Rabbit cookie on the book's cover, so this is a peek at the tutorial.  EVERY cookie in the book has a step-by-step photo tutorial.

{OK...that's all I'm showing right now. But, I'll give you more details in a few weeks.}

OH!!!  And, I cannot believe I am saying this, but MARK YOUR CALENDARS! 

If you live in the Houston area (or even if you don't), there will be a book signing event at Hubbell & Hudson in The Woodlands on October 20th.  I'll give more details as we get closer, but plan to swing by anytime between 12-4.  I'd LOVE to meet you all...and there just might be cookies!  (They will have the books in store for purchase.)

{PS...if you've never been to Hubbell & Hudson, you are in for the *biggest* treat. They're a gourmet market with a Viking Cooking school & a world-class bistro.  As a matter of fact, I may never leave.}

Thank you so much for sharing this book writing journey with me!!!  

Wanna come over and make some cookies?

So anyhoo...

...this is where things get a bit surreal for me.

You might remember several months ago I mentioned that I was working on a book.  A book of my best loved fitness routines and diet plans.

Well, I may had fibbed a little.  The book is about {wait for it}...

...COOKIES!!!

Published by the wonderful people at Lark Crafts, the book is titled:
Decorating Cookies: 60+ Designs for Holidays, Celebrations & Everyday

In Decorating Cookies, you'll find 160 pages of step-by-step photo tutorials for all 60+ cookie designs.  It'll be just like I'm in your kitchen holding your hand...in a totally non-creepy way.  ;)

I'll be filling you in and giving you a few sneak peeks in the months to come, but...
It is available for pre-order (!!!) on both:
Amazon
Barnes &Noble
{The official release date is October 2nd, my grandfather's birthday. ♥}

Wanna see what my kitchen looked like for months and months putting this baby together?  Yes?  OK....here ya go:

Thank you so much for sharing this cookie baking and making adventure with me!

*mwah*

I'm expecting . . .

 
Yep...that's right.  I've been working on this baby for a while now.  When is the little bundle of joy due?

Fall 2012.

That's a long gestation, you're thinking.  Well, this baby is not your "traditional," pink-cheeked, chubby-thighed, stork-delivered baby.


This.Baby.Is.A.Book.


{ACK!!!}

I've been working on this super secret surprise for months now and I just couldn't hold it in any longer.

Now, I won't tell you all about it because I don't want you to feel like you've read it before it's even published, but here's a little teaser....

The book will feature all of my tried-and-true diet plans and fitness routines. 

*cough*

Anyway...thanks for letting me spill the beans.  And most importantly, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading Bake at 350.  Your love and support of the blog truly make my day...EVERY day.  Never in a million years did I think I could have so much fun with my oven and my computer. 

♥mwah♥
{We now return you to regular programming.}