Wednesday 18 September 2013

Saving the (Birth)day!!

My twin girls had their birthday last week, and as usual, in the lead up to the Big Day, we talked about the Birthday Cake/s they would like me to make for them. 
 
I thought I was so clever.
 
"Girls, this year for your birthday, you can share one decorated theme cake or you can have an easy cake each." (FYI, an Easy Cake = coloured icing with Smarties and Freckles on top, my supposedly failsafe, go-to method for cake decorating)
 
"Easy cakes, Mummy!!" they shouted.
 
 See? Easy!
 
 
Until Miss J, on seeing her baked, circular and cooling-on-the-rack cake, burst into tears.
 
"But Mummy, my cake is meant to have straight edges."
 
What??
 
"And where is the beach and water going to go? I had a dream about my cake. And what about the boat?"
 
Er... what boat, my darling?
 
"Izzy's!!!!!"
 
Er... who is Izzy?
 
 
 
Izzy, it turns out, is the girl character in Miss J and E's current favourite licensed animated series which includes automated sailing ships, a captain with a hook, and a cheeky flying boy in green clothes who helps to save the day.
 
Quick! Grab the DVD cover, copy it twice, cut out, laminate, trim, and stick into icing on cakes between some Smarties. Phew!!
 
And of course, in the midst of all the birthday party craziness, the only photo I managed to take was one after everyone had left. Not an Izzy to be seen anymore, but I remember what the cakes looked like.
 

 
In fact, I'm thinking I will never, ever forget.


Do you have a favourite cake decorating moment? Or technique?
Do you have any stress/time saving ideas for kids' parties? Successful and not so successful ideas (like mine!) are most welcome - I have another party to organise in three weeks and I could do with all help I can get!!

Have a great week!

 xx

Friday 13 September 2013

Building

 

 
My honey is happy. He has built himself a wall.
 
This has solved a number of problems.
 
First, the new wall replaces the old retaining wall that just wasn't retaining much at all. Second, G has saved us some serious money by doing it himself. And third, but most importantly, it means he can now plant the vegie patch he has been planning.
 
He has missed his garden. He has missed growing his own food, working in an organic manner. He has missed pottering about in the patch, getting up early or staying out late into the evening.
 
Now that he has his new vegie patch to plan, plant and prosper, he is a very happy lad.
 
 
Do you need to have projects to keep you happy?
What project are you working on right now?
 
Happy, happy Spring, everyone!
 
 
xx