Practice Makes Perfect!

When it comes to baking the perfect cupcake practice makes perfect! That saying is also true when rehearsing for the year end ballet recital. Here are some videos of me with my ballet class during dress rehearsal. (I'm the one in front, last to enter) We have been practicing for weeks! This is our last year of Pre-Pointe! We will be getting our pointe shoes in the summer for ballet camp! I'm so excited!!! 

Here is another part to my recital. I'm the one wearing  a braid.

...and another.

...and one more!

Thank you for reading my blog! Keep your eye out for my next blog which will be all about the luscious baked confection called Pavlova. It's named after a famous ballerina!

A Blast from Christmas Past...The National Gingerbread House Competition~Grove Park Inn

It was very thrilling to win 2nd place in The National Gingerbread House Competition at the Grove Park Inn this past Christmas! I was very excited that my cousins, my Auntie Erica, Bela (grandma), Daddy, Mama & brother were there to support me. My family screamed and cheered when the announcer called my name for the top ten finalists and finally for placing 2nd in the youth 9-12 division! I know it's spring but I wanted to share this here since I had not yet started my blog when this exciting event took place!
I posted lots of photos!

Hope you enjoy!

I made the fairy wings using rice paper and food color markers. First I drew the design on a piece of paper... then I placed the rice paper on top and traced it very carefully with the markers. To make them shiny I spread a very thin layer of clear piping gel on one set of wings and sprinkled it with edible glitter.This was my first attempt at making edible fairy wings.

Here I am designing and creating the doors using gum paste. Can you see my undecorated gingerbread house in the background? I had to use lots of royal icing to hold the sections together. Absolutely all of the materials I used were completely edible! Those are the rules!

Mama laid out all the spices for me to use to decorate with. I used pumpkin seeds, oats, dried cranberries, raisins, dries blueberries, whole nutmeg, chives, parsley, rosemary,dried rose petals, dried lavender, whole cloves and cinnamon sticks.

Here is where the fairies come to eat.

I used dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks.

Mama and I were warmly welcomed to the Grove Park Inn to drop off my entry!

Run, Run, as fast as you can! You can't catch me I'm the gingerbread car!

Putting the finishing touches on my gingerbread entry.

Here are a few pics of me with my family after the competition ended.

With my Bela & Auntie Erica.

With my cousins.

Here I am with Colette Peters! She was one of the judges!

One of my favorite pieces in the adult division was the porcelin doll and hobby horse entry. It looked very realistic.

This won ist in my division. The girl who made this was 12 yrs old! I love the beach theme!

Here I am to pick up my gingerbread fairy house after it has been on display at the Grove Park Inn during the Christmas season. I'll be back again this year!