I got the most wonderful and unexpected gift from my friend Karen Thomas.
As long as I’ve known her, it’s been apparent KT is a creative genius. A few years ago, she discovered a new talent when she started volunteering as a baker for Cake4Kids.
Volunteer bakers design, bake, and donate cakes based on requests. Homemade customized cakes are delivered free of charge to at-risk and under-served youth across the country. The youth served may be in foster or kinship care, living in group homes, survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking, living in low-income housing with or without a parent, or even homeless.
KT also volunteers for Icing Smiles, a nationwide nonprofit organization that delivers dream cakes at no charge to kids impacted by critical illness. She loves exploring new techniques and sometimes she goes beyond her philanthropic work to make lovely gifts for her friends.
This Friday, KT gave me the most lovely gift: she baked custom cookies for me!
Would you look at these?
The Poisoned Glass! Can you believe the frame on the left?
Grievous Deeds!
Cold Heart and Has It Come to This?
Aren’t they beautiful? And here is the pièce de résistance, as the French would say:
You can see how talented and creative KT is. These pictures don’t do her designs justice but you can visit her YouTube channel, TikTok, and Instagram to see better pictures of her work and pick up some helpful tips!
Did you notice? In 12 years, I never wrote a culinary post, and this is my second one in January 2025—and both posts are inspired by gifts!
I’m grateful for all of you, dear readers!
old spirituals 
She does GRRRRR8 work-just like you!!!
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Rob! So glad to hear from you. 🎉 Happy New Year!
KT does do great work… maybe it’s the initials 😂
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Happy New Year to you too Kimberly!
Thanks for another year of captivating reads!
(I did mean to tell you that about 3 weeks ago)
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Thank you so much! Super fun to create and surprise a wonderful friend & amazing author!
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💖💖
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What a sweet and talented friend! Those cookies are beautiful! I took a cake decorating class years ago. I couldn’t eat cake for three years after the class! Lol
I really like the generosity of the volunteers that bake cakes for these kids. That’s a real act of love.
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Thank you, Judy! I went through a baking phase a few years ago. My cakes and cupcakes tasted good but they looked very “homemade” 😂 and you are right about KT: she’s a uniquely generous and talented person!
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Thank you sooo much! I no longer eat cake myself! The addiction to decorating is real! lol! You never know what kids will want for their cake!
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You’ve got so many beautiful ones. Each one is a work of art!
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Those who design and create anything fascinate me. I watch all the reality TV shows that pit contestants in creative competition, from forging knives to baking cakes and pies. I even watch fashion design competitions.
In the case of your friend, it is not only the creativity and its great execution, the heartfelt friendship shown by the gift that earns my respect and admiration.
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Competitions are great. It brings out the best a person is capable of being. We should host competitions for thinkers, with all the drama and fanfare, to solve some of our societal challenges.
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”The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”
— Albert Einstein
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And I must say, this is one of the most thoughtful and beautifully made gifts I’ve ever gotten!
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Thank you so much for such kind words! Kimberly is an amazing person & friend!
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Back atcha KT 😉
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