B A K E R E L L A .C O M
A n g ie D u d le y ’s love o f cu p ca k e s
in sp ire d h e r to ta k e a c a k e -d e c o ra tin g cla ss tw o y e a rs ago.
“ B e fo re th a t, I’d n e v e r m ad e a cake fro m s c ra tc h ,” sa ys th e
s u b u rb a n A tla n ta g ra p h ic d e s ig n e r w h o began b lo g g in g to
re c o rd h e r p ro g re ss as a baker. S h e q u ic k ly h it th e sw e e t
sp o t w ith re a d e rs, w h o fre q u e n tly p o st rav e s a b o u t h e r
m in ia tu re c u p c a k e s on a s tic k (k n o w n as “c u p c a k e p o p s”).
ifts that give
Yack to cMrity
w w w .g iftsth a tg iv e .c o m
donates 20 percent of each
purchase of hom e decor
and entertaining item s to
the ch a rity o f y o u r choice.
H ic k o r y f a r m s .c o m
gives $5
fo r each Party Planner Gift
Box to Share O u r Strength
to fight childhood hunger.
B u ild a n e s t .c o m
provides
in terest-free loans to
wom en in developing
countries starting their own
businesses. Shop jewelry,
stationery, and accessories.
P o t t e r y b a r n .c o m
donates
$ 10 fo r every $ 2 0 M ercury
Paperwhite Candlepot to
St. Ju d e C h ild re n ’s
Research H ospital.
K ie h ls .c o m
gives 10 0 percent
of profits from its limited
edition C rem e de C orps
holiday moisturizers to RxArt,
which fosters art appreciation
in pediatric hospitals.
O R N A M E N T -IN S P IR E D C O O K IE S
Turn white chocolate-covered Oreos (available at grocery
stores this time of year) into tasty ornamental treats. Use
tubes of decorator icing to make lines, loops, and dots,
and to “glue” on candy decorations such as silver dragées
and candy-coated sunflower seeds.
fresh
now
good fun
Let it sn o w
Make a batch of hot
chocolate, channel your
inner 5-year-old, and start
snipping. Snowflake kit,
$9.95 (10 designs);
b ro o k ly n 5 a n d 10 .c o m
good deed
D o n a te g ift ca rd s
Don’t let those few extra
dollars on an old gift card
go to waste. Pass it on to
a cause you support
through
p la s tic ju n g le .c o m .
charmed by its creator in
this biography written by
Harriet Reisen. Watch for
a docum entary about
Alcott on PBS this month.
good read
L o u isa M a y A lc o tt
L ittle W o m en
fans will be
.
pop!
.
Think 0 tside the box Fill hcliday crackers with
little swflsHses such as a mi«feash drive, movie
tickets, or a personal note. Make your own paper
poppers with buyable cracker “snaps” (see
oldenglishcrackers.com)
or buy them ready-made
at
plumparty.com
(search “party cracker”).
28 DECEMBER 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
PHOTOS: (COOKIES, CRACKER) ADAM ALBRIGHT; FOOD STYLING: JENNIFER PETERSON; CONTRIBUTING BOOKS EDITOR: JANE CIABATTARI
