The Cookie Counter

I have been itching to make cut-out sugar cookies since, well December when I missed my normal Christmas cookie making.  But its okay because I spent the holidays in the Dominican Republic with my family instead which is way more amazing than making sugar cookies at home.  Regardless, I have been in the sugar cookie mood for awhile now and just haven't found the time to make them because lets face it when you factor in all the decorating time, they take a very long time!  But finally, I was able to find some time to make them but then I realized that there was no current holiday to celebrate....but then I remembered seeing some really cute "popcorn" cookies while I stalking my fellow bloggers.  I "borrowed" this idea from The Decorated Cookie . My cookies don't look as realistic as her's but I gave it my best shot.  I used my good ole trusty sugar cookie recipe which can be found below and my delicious almond cookie icing (recipe also below...

Working in the corporate world, especially the accounting industry, can be rough sometimes when it comes to taking vacation.  However, I am fortunate enough that my company likes to give us surprise "extended holidays" and so we get a FOUR day weekend this weekend to celebrate the FOURth!! :p In celebration, and in preparation for my mini-vaca to Tampa tomorrow morning, I made festive CAKE BALLS!  These are all the rave nowadays, but I find it hard to bring myself to make these... probably because I am not a fan of them **gasp** They are just too sweet and rich for my liking.  For those of you who have been buried under a rock for the past 3 years (uh hmm W. Xie) I will provide bakerella's "recipe" here.  And I say "recipe" because it is rather an equation not exactly a recipe. You will need: Favorite cake recipe (or box mix) plus all ingredients called for to make the cake Favorite frosting recipe (or fluff in a can) Melting chocolate (or ...