I’ve got this super-fly friend named Mary, and last year, she threw an awesome birthday bash before moving far, far away from me. (Any place to far too hug on a regular basis is “far, far away,” just so we’re clear.)

And I was far, far too busy drowning in my tear puddles to post pictures of the cookies that I made for her party. Until now. (Which is exactly one year later, for those keeping track.)

So… ta-da!

And really, it’s only fitting that I can make a post to her today, as I *wish-wish-WISH* I could be near her for BIG-TIME hugs as she celebrates not only another birthday… but some really great news from her doctor regarding the healthy TWINS she has now carried through a full first trimester! 😀

WOO-HOO!

She and her hubs have been trying for over 3 years to become pregnant, and they’ve lost a precious angel along the way. Just when they would’ve given up all hope, they learned God had blessed them with a little Christmas miracle. A few days later, they learned it was indeed TWO MIRACLES!

I could not be happier for my Mary! ♥

Which brings me back to her cookies from last year. 😉 You see, Mary & her husband were leaving the military in a few months, and for her birthday, she wanted to have cookies that represented her beloved Kansas. She gave me free reign, so I went with a few Kansas staples: ruby red “Wizard of Oz” slippers, golden waves of wheat, and of course, sunflowers!

I think these wheat cookies might have been my very favorite!

I flooded in shades of farm red, chocolate brown & sunflower yellow, and then I used a bit of gold lustre dust mixed with vodka to paint on the shimmery, waving wheat stalks. It was easy-peasy, but the end result was SO pretty!

And for the sunflowers, I used the same brown & yellow icing, but I added a bit of regular, granulated sugar to the brown centers while they were still wet. Most of the sugar sunk in, giving the effect of a nice brown sugar, but a few flecks here & there remained white. I think it gives the cookies a bit of sunlight “sparkle.” 🙂

For the pale green decoration around the center of the sunflowers, I used Wilton Sugar Pearls, dropping each one carefully by tweezers into place. They add the perfect touch!

I made a few simple, red-sugared ruby slipper cookies, and I was done. Once the designs were thrown together, it made a very sweet Kansas-esque platter for my dear Mary. 🙂

Happy Birthday, Mary! I just know that this year will be the very best of your life! ♥