Did I ever tell you about the time I wanted to write children’s books? Probably. I still want to write children’s books. When I find the time to read, I always read children’s. My favoritest books in the universe are Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. Currently, I’m re-reading Harry Potter’s run. (I’m up to Book 5. Again.) It may come as no surprise to you that I’m also a total nerd. I never, ever, ever, ever got a “C” in any class from Kindergarten through college at Georgetown, throughout my two Masters degrees. OK, that’s not true. I got a “C” in gym class in 7th grade because I forgot my clothes one day and had points deducted. You can believe I went up to that teacher and argued for a “B.” (I lost.) Picture me now shaking my fist at that stain on my record.

I love book-learning. I earned a Master of Liberal Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, just to keep learning. I studied English Literature in a summer program at Oxford. And then I went and got another Masters from American University here in Washington, DC. I earned an MFA in Literature/Creative Writing back in ’03 (Holy moly, has it been ten years?). If I had any talent for teaching, I’d have earned a phD, too. But alas, I’ve no talent for teaching.

But I do love writing. I’m insecure about my talent in that area, but gosh, if I could stay in school and write forever, I would. I found a community of thinkers at American University, smart people who have ridiculously meaningful insights about words on a page and life in general and who are pretty darn funny because of said smarts.  I found a community of writers, a community that talked submissions and manuscripts. Protagonists and drama. The twists and turns a voice can take. Memoir and poetry and all kinds of new things. I studied the sublime in Alice in Wonderland, I translated Baudelaier’s Les Fleurs du Mal, and I wrote a middle-grade novel about building a rainbow. I sat and soaked in knowledge from Richard McCann, Kermit Moyer, and Andrew Holleran.  I’m still in cahoots with Sandra, Paulette, Natalie, Monica, Jen and Eve and so many more from this great time in my life.

Which is all a lot of talking to get to the point of this post. Sniffle, sniffle, I was pretty honored–given the aforementioned great time in my life at American University–to have my cookies featured in the current issue of American Magazine as part of their “My Favorites” series.

Read the full issue of American Magazine HERE.

(I’m on page 47.)

Thank you, American University!

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Feel free to share (nicely)! While my blog's photographs and text are protected by copyright, I do allow (and encourage) you to share ONE photograph with credit to "the decorated cookie" and link to this blog post. PLEASE don't reprint any part of the blog post and PLEASE don't post a photo without credit. Thank you!

Do you know Bird? Yes, of course you do. Wait, there’s one or two of you who don’t? You must immediately. She’s an insanely talented party gal. This is the Bird’s Party blog. And she also works her techno-graphic magic to create fantastic magazines, available both free online and as a paper copy for purchase. You’ll want to see the latest issue for Spring/Summer 2012, and I’m not just saying that because yours truly is honored to have a couple of her own ideas in there. I’m saying that because it’s 182 pages of bright and colorful ideas and how-tos for birthday, Olympics and graduation parties. Oh yeah, and also 4th of July, golf, mother’s day and Spring parties. And a pancake brunch and a circus party and a street party. Themes range from rustic to modern, classic to whimsical. Think fondant chickens, pie pops, candy keys, clown or mermaid cupcakes and pineapple centerpieces. All in one issue.

Read the magazine online for free HERE.

Buy the hard copy of the magazine HERE.

I was lucky to contribute some Olympics-themed treats. First, I made these

mini cupcakes with fondant toppers that represent (almost) all of the sports and a couple for the host town, London.

I also made some sparkly Olympics rings cookies, a bigger version of bite-size cookies I made a couple years ago.

The how-tos for both the cupcakes and the cookies are found in the Spring/Summer 2012 issue of Bird’s Party Magazine.

Enjoy!! And thank you to Bird!

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Feel free to share (nicely)! While my blog's photographs and text are protected by copyright, I do allow (and encourage) you to share ONE photograph with credit to "the decorated cookie" and link to this blog post. PLEASE don't reprint any part of the blog post and PLEASE don't post a photo without credit. Thank you!