A "real" red carpet event, well, if your 9!

The wonderful owner of Angelina's Kitchen, Angela, asked me to do a cake for her youngest daughter's 9th birthday party.  She knew I was busy and told me she just really needed a cake to serve, it didn't need to be decorated and "don't go crazy" she said.  I prodded a bit to find out what kind of party it would be.  A red carpet party, complete with a red carpet entrance  filled with interviews, paparazzi and such. Chocolate cake was Sophie's only request.  So as I set out to do a delicious, nothing special cake, I found myself coming up with ideas that would just take a bit extra effort and hopefully look super fun.  Her name in a star, just like the Hollywood walk of fame and a fondant red carpet.  Still it needed something else.  I got it! Red velvet ropes around the edge.  
Angela told me the kids loved the way the cake looked, but by the looks of this picture, I have to think the taste (especially eaten off their fingers) was the best part of it all.
I think I actually like this picture better than the finished cake shot.  Don't you love the touch of glam in their clothes and then the hands everywhere! I am so happy Sophie thoroughly enjoyed her cake.  I am thinking that may be how I should eat my cake this birthday.  41 years of eating cake with a fork, maybe it is a time for a change?!

Catch up - Part 2, I got my eye on you

This little, well actually rather big, Teddy Bear cake was for a Teddy Bear picnic birthday party. One of my dear friends  bought a gift certificate from me and donated it with a birthday party basket at her children's school auction.  It was supposed to be a farm theme cake, but when the woman who received the gift card called, she asked for a teddy bear cake.  I told her I would be happy to do it.  Just a different kind of animal. She seemed a bit skeptical on the phone.  However, she seemed very pleasantly surprised when this guy greeted her at my door.  She took lots of my business cards and told me she would like to help get the word out on my business.  Love when that happens.
These were some cookies that a friend ordered for her daughter's dance group.  The costume for the dance was little raincoats that looked just like these cookies.  Don't mind the valentine tablecloth I had on under the cookies.  I like to use up old tablecloths when I am decorating. You now, living the green life over here. I will try to remove them next time before I take a picture.
This little baseball cookie was for an end of the season baseball party. Go Woodbury!
Okay, short and sweet, right? On to the next post.  A real red carpet event.

Let's play catch up!

Okay, for the two of you that actually read my blog, I am so sorry I haven't updated things as often as I would like.  I have so many things to share and not so much time to share them.  So, I am going to play catch up.  Granted, it may not completely catch us up, but it will get us closer.

I know you are all waiting desperately, hanging on my every word and picture! Okay, I am delusional. But as a creator and main postmaster of this blog, I have to trick myself into thinking you are all out there like an audience waiting for my next performance.  Otherwise, one begins to realize that you are just typing to no one (and talking to yourself while you do it), when you could really just go to bed and get some much needed sleep. 

Ready, set,...

First up is a cake I made for my dentist to celebrate his 5 yr anniversary with his practice. His lovely wife asked me to make it and surprise him with it at the office.  The staff loved it and so did Dr. Mike.  Thanks for cleaning up my mouth Dr. Mike! p.s.- my hubbie could use a little help :)

Next is a simple, feminine version of my red velvet cake.  Steve, the hubbie of my friend and pilates instructor, Debra, ordered it for Debra for Mother's Day. What a great idea huh? Hint Hint! Actually it backfired a bit.  After Debra confessed that she consumed the majority of the cake, she proceeded to make the next week of classes a living "h, e, double hockey sticks"! It was so bad, I actually had people in the class begging me to stop giving her my sweets. Oh Debra, you are my favorite C. W. ;)

Here we have a really bad picture of a sweet cake for one of my favorite family's grandbabies baptism.  Got that?! Love you Mike and Teri!

Here is another not so great picture of some graduation cookies I did for my kids media teacher's daughter.  Are you getting this? Remember, I am sleep deprived, bare with me. 

Last but not least, (I know you are begging for this to end), here is a cupcake that I made as part of an order for a baby shower. I really liked the way these looked so simple and perfect for a traditional baby shower.

I think I will do one more catch up post and then really let you have it with some fun creations. It has been one busy summer.  But I can't say it hasn't been sweet!

Cupcake class with B's friends

Well, here's the motley crew! 

Hardly! They are a very sweet group of girls who just "graduated" from elementary school and are heading off to junior high next year.  My oldest, B, wanted to have her friends over for a Lucky C's Sweets class.  After bringing in many treats to school as well as sending some extras in my daughter's lunch bag, her friends wanted to learn how to make some "fun" cupcakes.  We invited the girls over, via text message you know, cuz why call anyone any more, right? Oh my, I am getting old.  Anyway, once they got here, we pulled up our sleeves, put the aprons on, made a bucket load of cupcakes, and set out all sorts of candy, decorations and frosting.  Away they went.

I was so impressed by how creative they were.  We had a couple of books out so they could look for examples, but I think once they had an idea, they just found a way to do it.  I showed them how to use decorating bags and tips, which they loved! The were a bit heavy handed on the frosting, but that's really as it should be.  Don't you agree? Take a look at some (seriously, only some! we made dozens o' cupcakes that day.)

Don't know if it was satisfaction at a job well done or the sugar high they were on, but you couldn't wipe the grins off their faces. Who would want to anyway!

My little guy participated also.  He has always been a big helper when I am baking, so he was right in there with the girls.  After he got done with his first one, all the girls went crazy for it! He made a caterpillar on a sunflower.  Not bad huh?

Is it bad that while I was enjoying their creativity and personalities, I was also watching their technique and thinking about who could work for me someday?  Hey! I can barely get everything done now, I gotta look for a little help at some point!

All in all it was a great way to spend a Minnesota summer day (you know, cloudy and 59 degrees!).  Our next baking day is going to be decorating cut out sugar cookies.  I can't wait to see what they will do next!

It may be summer, but we are always thinkin' about Hockey up here, heh

As my girls and I were sitting with friends at a dance competition, one of the moms mentioned all the things she had to get done before her son's birthday.  She looked up at me (as if a light bulb went off) and asked if I could do a cake in two days.  Of course, right?! We decided to go with a hockey theme, since her son plays.  It was just for the family, so she told me I could keep it simple.  Hmm, still working on that one.  I called her that night and told her I could just do a generic looking cake (boring, not my style really) or maybe hockey sticks and a puck would be more fun.  Here's what she decided.

They wanted to use buttercream instead of fondant. I think fondant would have been a cleaner look, but I still think it turned out cool.  It all worked out.  My friend had one less thing to do, her son was pleasantly surprised with a "fancy"cake and now my son knows what he wants for his birthday.  Until he sees the next cake!

Thanks Cam for always making Mommy feel like Superstar!

Ayyy Yaahh!

You know how busy we all are and how hard it is to take the time out to do something for someone else sometimes? Have you ever then done something and realized it was a gift to you, not just a favor for someone else?

Well, my family had the great privilege of watching some of our family friend's children (are you still with me?) test for their black belt's in Tae kwon do.  My children also practice TKD. They all have gained so much confidence, strength and friendships throughout their practice. Two of their favorite people in the world are their first instructors, Mr. and Mrs. Moh.  They moved to LA a couple of years ago and Mr. Moh is acting now.  He appears in the CW kids show, Kamen Rider.  Pretty cool, huh?

Anyway, their was a group of kids testing for their black belt and we all wanted to be there to watch, but time was so tight, we didn't know how to make it.  Thank goodness we did, we enjoyed it so much.  Most of the kids were under 13 yrs old.  They had to break boards, do forms with so many moves and position- I lost count! They also had to spar and answer questions from the judges who were made up of some very high ranking black belts.  They all handled themselves with such grace, it was truly inspiring.  Ms.K and Mr, Niska run the school and they where both very emotional when they were able to hand out the black belts to this deserving group.  Come to think of it, I don't think there was dry eye in the place, but many full hearts.

Back to cake! I made a cake for two for the families and cookies for another.  One of the mom's joked with me and asked if the belt was removable in case they didn't get their black belt.  She still had to feed a house full of people ya know!

Here is the one for Jackson. He had the most determined look on his face all day, there was no doubt that he would achieve his goal.

Here is the one for Heather.  We all knew she had it in her and it was so great watching her discover it too! 

I made the two different so each had their own personalized cake.  The patches are made out of fondant, then I just let them dry out a bit and painted them.  I thought they turned out pretty good and gave the uniform a more real look. 

My girls will test for their recommended black belts this July (you have to test for your recommended black belt, them after a few months, if you are ready, you may test for your decided black belt).  I think I am nervous for them already.  But also so proud that they have made this one of their goals.

So, my advice, for what it's worth.  Take time and do something for someone or with someone else, even though it may not be convenient and scheduled.  I think you will find a gift in there for you just as we did that special "black" day!

1966 Corvette (Cake of course)

Hey it's Livi! (again) I am now in complete power of the blog! Mehehehe- ach hairball,(jk). Well conditionally of course. Mom is just 2 busy 2 type today. That means I'm in control 4 today. Well anywho remember the people that bought that cute little well actually BIG horse cake? They came back for another cake in the shape of an old car. I think it was actually called a corveete? corvette? Something like that. Mom got this sweet pic of the top of the cake. It even said his name on it! 

Okay here is the back of it. Pretty cool huh? The license plate says NC66 because the car is from 1966 and the NC are his initials. Look at the texture of the fondant! No just kidding I don't really need to go through all of that and make it so long you wouldn't want to read! But I have to say that is some good work. NEXT picture, 

Well this is the finished product! Do you like it? Hope you do! The product looked awesome in person too. I wasn't there when they picked it up this time. But instead of galloping off into the sunset, it drove away....... Actually it was still in the back seat of the car. Vroom! Vroom! 

Livi is out, PEACE!