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.

Summer Lovin'

Hey y'all!  

Remember me? 

Not so much?  Let me remind you!

I have a really cute kid who is 19 months old.  Holy cow.  She's like a kid.  Not a baby.  A kid.

We've been keeping busy this summer with trips to the zoo, the pool, dinners out with friends, play dating it with other SAHM's, and generally living the life.  

Matt has been super busy at work...and when I say at work...I really mean in NYC.  He's been traveling like crazy and should have his own office in the city any day now.  Shout out to all the single parents out there because being on my own Wednesday-Saturday every week is no joke.  Even with a sweetie like mine. 

Natalie's not much of a fan either.

My cake "business" has been pretty busy lately and I'm excited to share some pictures of what I've done.  People are so creative with their designs and ideas these days.  It's been a fun couple of months!

Natalie's been learning so many things lately.  She knows every animal you can think of and can point them out in books.  She builds puzzles, brings me her shoes when I ask, and sweeps my kitchen.  Now, if the girl would just give me a consistent "mama" when I ask, I'd be a happy camper.  I've got a stubborn one on my hands, friends.  Girl only talks when she wants to and says only what she wants.  But the smile.  Kills me dead.

These are her 18 month pictures by the way.  It's hard to tell but she was a super fussy pants early on.  Obviously she perked up, huh?

Looking forward to catching back up with all my friends!  Hope everyone is doing well!!  XOXO

Since I missed Easter during my hiatus, I thought I'd give a little picture update since I know y'all are dying to know what we did.  Yes?  Okay.

I had grand plans to take Natalie to her first egg hunt since:

1.  She loves to pick things up.

2.  Isn't that reason enough to enjoy an egg hunt?

Turns out the first place we went you had to pre-register.  Hm.  Should've put that on your website Bay Village Nature Center.  Luckily, we heard about another hunt going on around town so we headed over there.  We had some fun on the playground before THE HUNT began.

 

 

 

 Always time to try to stick a little mulch in our mouths....

Then it was finally time to line up for the hunt.  We were inching dangerously close to nap time here people.  Dangerously close.  And throw in a few hundred screaming 2-3 year olds and we were having ourselves a grand old time.  Especially since the starting time was more than 30 minute late.

I'm SO ready for these eggs, Mom!

I'm SO over these eggs, Dad!

Cue our exit.  Yep.  Didn't even make it to the start.  Guess there's always next year.

 Easter basket to the rescue!  

 Don't you feel like everything in life can be cured with a little Cinnamon Maple Puffs?

Sunday morning we attempted to get pictures before church.  See for yourself how they turned out.

 

 Fail.  Big fat fail.

Oh wait...her new trick!  Kisses!

 

Guess she's good for something!  Girl holds my heart in the palm of her messy little hand.  God is good.

On Being Just a SAHM

Being a stay at home mom is such an interesting role.  I didn't really give it much thought until I became one, of course.  Motherhood has opened my eyes and given me a different perspective on life entirely.  Funny how that happened.

I was out with girlfriends this week and one of them was praising her mother for the work she does outside the home.  She said something to the effect of, "I'm so proud of my mom.  She was just a stay at home mom for 10 years and now she's worked her way up to this really great job."  

The word that made the most impact on me was just.

What does it mean to be just a stay at home mom?  

I know bloggers debate the merits of staying at home with your children vs. working ad nauseum.  That is not my purpose.  I'm more concerned with how society views women who chose to stay home to raise their children.  I'm concerned that my daughter will think less of me for not having a "real" job.  For just raising her.

The truth is, my mama didn't raise no dummy.  I was valedictorian of my class in high school.  I was pre-med and I have a Master's degree in Biology.  But I don't work outside the home.  I could.  I did.  But I chose not to.

So why do I, along with so many others in my shoes, have such a stigma attached to our role?  Like somehow we are less intelligent because we aren't technically employed?

It just struck me I guess.

And honestly, I couldn't care less what society thinks of me.  But I do care about what my daughter thinks.  Perhaps this is just a reminder to myself to show her women are valuable in so many ways.  We have talents and skills and can chose to use them in anyway we desire.  And whatever we chose, it doesn't make us less intelligent.  Or useful.  

Raising children, no matter how you do it, is tough work people.  Breaking down the stereotypes of the world and forming these little minds is not for the faint of heart.  It's the biggest challenge of my life, but one I'm taking head on.  Somehow, my girl will know the job I hold now is no less important than the job I held before.  That my brains did not simply ooze out of my head the day I stopped working.  

Because just being a stay at home mom?  Hardest thing I've ever done.

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

Hello Out There!?!

Hello?

Is anyone there?

Yes?!?  Thanks for sticking around during my unintentional, completely unannounced hiatus!

Sorry I disappeared like that.  I was feeling more and more everyday like I had to blog instead of actually wanting to blog.  Have you ever felt like that?  Well, I did.  I needed a break.  And let me tell you, it was refreshing.  I was in a place where I couldn't tell my own ideas from something I read on a blog or found on Pinterest anymore.  And I became entirely too focused on other people and their lives instead of my own.  So I exited stage left and have gained nothing but perspective.  

But I miss you guys.  I miss my friends and being connected to people I truly care about.  But how to solve the problem that sent me packing in the first place?  Ever hear of that little button called 'delete?'  Well, I used it.  I went a little crazy cleaning out my blog and twitter feed, but I feel...well...cleansed.

So I hope you'll stick around because I have a lot to catch you up on!  Like the fact that I have a 15 month old who is literally running around the house like she owns the place...and can wear her hair in PIG TAILS?  Oh...and her professional pictures finally came back from her 1st birthday party so I must share!  Or the four cake/cupcakes orders I have this week.  Or the over the top awesome recipes I have tried?

Oh I've missed y'all!  Can't wait to catch up!