slowing down

I've been absent from this space for over a month now. Honestly, I hadn't given it much thought, except when I work on some projects and  realized I haven't shared them here. We are recouping from a busy holiday season, that was filled with lots of baking, last minute gift getting, traveling and more traveling.

 And while we had a great time doing all of those things, we were in desperate need of a daily slower pace. So that's what we are working on this January. Slowing down. Making dinner on a regular basis that doesn't come from the freezer or a box, building block towers, dancing around the kitchen, playing in the snow and most days hunkering down inside when its 5 degrees outside or venturing out on an errand or two. There has been time to catch up with friends and work on side projects like our yearly photo book. Things that bring me joy. Oh and we are still working on our kitchen renovations, so that keeps things interesting.

 I'll be back here on a more regular basis soon. I have some cakes to share, maybe a recipe or two and definitely pictures of this 1 1/2 year old!

bits + pieces of our year

Yeti and Peppermint Cupcakes

These yeti cupcakes were perfect, for all the snowy days we seem to be having. They along with these chocolate peppermint ones were ones I did recently! The yeti ones were vanilla cake with marshmallow cream filling and vanilla buttercream! The peppermint ones were chocolate cake with chocolate ganache filling and peppermint buttercream topped with candy cane sugar! Just wanted to share a little of what's been happening this Christmas season over here.

Merry Christmas!

 xoxo Snacky French

Arts and Crafts Cake

 This was my Thanksgiving project. Along with some rolls and cranberry sauce, of course. My niece turned 13 and so we celebrated over Thanksgiving with my family. My niece is an artist. Skilled in drawing, sculpture ( she helped me make this cake ) and almost anything she touches! So to go along with her creative side I decided to make her a cake displaying some of her favorite "tools".

SNOW day!

There is something completely and utterly magical when a soft snow falls and covers everything gently around it! As an adult, the magic is still there, but there are fewer days to sit in the house and watch it come down and then go play in it, than when you were a child. Today, however, was one of those days. We got up with the snow falling, had a lazy morning and then after lunch got to go explore the winter wonderland around us. Liam got to really experience the snow this year, since he can walk in it, pick it up and experience the wet and cold too. We didn't stay out too long, since Liam still has a runny nose from a cold. Just enough to enjoy the beauty around the house and trail.

Raspberry Picking 2013

We went raspberry picking back in September! We did last year as well, shortly after Liam was born. It's always a fun time. We went with my friend ( and wonderful photographer) this year! Liam had a ball, eating warm raspberries straight off the vine! I just received these pictures and thought these were to special not to share! It's raining and cold on this November day so, the sight of these already warms me up!

We love to freeze our raspberries. We simply sort, spread them out on cookie sheets to be frozen for several hours and then bag them! It helps the raspberries not to clump!

Delicious! We are still enjoying ours!

*please don't use these pictures without permission

Lamb Baby Shower Cake

Here's another cake from earlier this month! It was a lamb themed shower! I love making baby animals with fondant! It's really become something I thoroughly enjoy!