Caking Up a Storm!

I'm been so blessed to be overwhelmed with cake orders lately!  It makes me feel like I'm contributing a little bit to the family income instead of just, well, you know, spending it :)  

I did a Clifford the Big Red Dog birthday party in December.  I've done little Miss Kennedy's cake since she her very first birthday.  So amazing!

One of my besties in the city just recently got married so I made this cake for her bridal shower!  Unfortunately I wasn't able to make the shower, but I'm told it was a hit!  I wanted it to be classy more than slutty and I think my goal was successful.  I think :)

A woman who works with Matt was planning her dad's 70th birthday and asked me to do a cake for him.  She had no idea what she wanted.  She basically sent me an e-mail that said, "Um.  He likes scuba diving, traveling, church, bowling, skiing, golfing, and he worked at Energizer.  Go."  Frankly I was stumped.  I didn't want to just throw a bunch of random crap on a cake and call it a day.  Enter my genius husband who came up with shaping the cake like an actual battery.  Perfection!

The biggest cake I've done recently was my best friend's wedding cake.  Yeah.  Talk about pressure, people.  Although she was entirely nonchalant about the whole concept, I still wanted it to turn out exactly how she wanted.  I mean, a wedding day it nothing to mess around with, right?  It was a very rustic themed wedding so she wanted something with more of a homemade look.  Since we did, in fact, make her cake at home.  Here's what we came up with.

Lastly, I did a cake for a 1st birthday party!  I don't want to be all, "look at this fabulous freaking cake!" but seriously, I think it might be my favorite cake ever.  I want to make one for myself for my own birthday.  I just cannot get over how classically beautiful it came out.  I made a large cake, mini cake, and cupcakes for the event.

Party Deets From a Ladybug Picnic!

I thought I’d share a little bit about Nataile’s 1^st birthday party with you!  I think that was about the time I dropped off the face of the earth….

We hosted her party in January at our home.  Both my parents as well as Matt’s, along with my brother, sister, and her husband all came to celebrate.  Natalie invited several of her playdate friends as well as a few of Mommy’s.  As an aside, I will never invite this many people again.

First up, my beautiful, year old, baby girl. 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, I cannot take credit for this fabulous outfit.  I did nothing.  Well, I ordered the shirt.  Oh, and the leggings.  But that’s it.  My MIL made everything else.  I know, right?  So stinkin’ cute.

Next up…décor!

I should preface this by saying that I am not a crafty person.  I’m more of a wannabe.  So what’s a wannabe to do when her baby girl is turning one?  Outsource.  Insert my sister.  She made this adorable banner for Natalie that is, in all honesty, still hanging on our mantle.  It also became the most fussed over decoration before the party with practically my entire family assisting in its hanging.  The end results was nothing short of perfection.

 

 

I put Natalie's monthly pictures in terra cotta pots with fake grass to fit the ladybug picnic theme.  Those, too, are still on our mantle.  Matt and I sometime go over and try to pick out our favorite.  It changes every time :)

I stepped out of my comfort zone and whipped up some topiaries all by myself.  They were my “big” project for the party :)  Whoa.  I know.  Step back.

 

 

   

I printed this little image to serve as our guest book during the party so Natalie could have a keepsake of who came to her very first birthday.

Okay.  Let’s get to the good stuff.  The dessert table.  Now I may not be crafty, but I am a cake decorator.  This little table was my baby!  Truffles, cookies, cupcakes, candy, pretzels, marshmallows, cake…oh my.  Clearly I went a tad overboard.  But I was so happy with how it turned out and everyone seemed to enjoy it.  And I did make those labels myself…sort of crafty, right?

 

 

 

 

And here’s my sweet baby enjoying her first bite of cake.  Unfortunately, this moment did not go as perfectly as I had envisioned.  She’s smiling here, but seconds before she was screaming about being burned by the candle.  Yep.  You read that correctly.  The one thing you don’t want to happen to your child happened.  Ah the memories.

 

 

It was so much work...but so much fun.  Natalie had a great time with her friends and family and only had to leave 10 minutes early for a nap.  Pretty great, I'd say :)  I had crazy amounts of help from my family with the food and decorations and I could not have pulled it off without them.  Tis why I won't be doing anything like this ever again.  First birthday are a one time thing :)

Love you sweet girl!

All photos courtesy of Zoobee Photography

Girls Week!

West Palm Beach recap...headed your way!

After arriving Wednesday evening, we rested up for our week of fun in the sun.  Thursday was spent lounging by the pool.  Later on, Matt's aunt gave us a tour around the city.  We got to see Trump's house (did you know he has a golf course on his property?  yeah...) and a bunch of other houses with amazing views of the water.  Could you even imagine living on the beach?  I mean, whoa. 

Phyllis forced us to get all posey with our pictures.  This is not typical.

Friday we spent at the beach.  The water was so perfect, clear and warm.  I'm not a huge ocean person (the thought of things swimming around with me kind of grosses me out...) but it was enjoyable enough.  I got a lot of reading done and the weather was just perfect.

We finished the day with a movie...Letters to Juliet.  It was cute.  Predictable but cute.  And the guy was super hot...with an accent.  Always a plus.

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Saturday we went out and got some yummy truffles and drove around the city a little more.  We spent the rest of the day lounging by the pool.  I finished the day with some delicious potato crusted salmon.  Yum!  You seriously cannot beat fish by the water.  

Sunday was our last full day so we spent it at the beach.  I was pretty much sunned out though so I spent a lot of the day underneath the shade of the pier.  A girl can only take so much 90 degree weather, you know?  We cooled off by the pool for the rest of the day and then enjoyed another dinner by the water.

Afterward we walked the beach one last time.  More posed pictures on the way...

Isn't Phyllis just the most beautiful little thing in the whole world?  Could not love her more...

We picked up some essentials on the way home and finished the evening with LOST.  Absolutely perfect.

Yes, they were as fabulous as they look...

After lunching in Fort Lauderdale before our flight...we said our goodbyes.  I could not be more thankful to Matt's aunt and uncle for letting us stay with them.  It was incredibly sweet and I'm so glad I had the time to get to know them better and visit.  

But I was very glad to be home to see my hubs and to sleep in my own bed!  Nothing beats a big hug and a snuggle from your love.