Happy Birthday, Matt!

For Matt's 31st birthday,  I tried out my new Cricut Cake!

This thing is very cool, but it definitely has a learning curve.  It took me awhile to get the hang of it, but I think once I get used to it, I will be able to make some pretty cute things. 

The Saturday before Matt's birthday, we drove to Allentown to visit with his grandfather who is in from Puerto Rico.  Luke got to meet his great grandfather for the first time!  It was a great day, and I made Matt's favorite cake...vanilla cake with vanilla bean frosting.  I'm not sure what I did with the recipe, but the cake was a little dry.  The icing was fantastic, though.  Soooo buttery and smooth! 

The directions for the Cricut say that gumpaste works best, so I thought I'd give it a shot.  I think I like it a little better than fondant, but again, I need some practice with it. 

Some of the more intricate designs need to be cut out at larger sizes...

This was Matt's first birthday cake that said, "Daddy." 

He was extremely happy when Luke helped him blow out his candles. 

Happy 31st birthday, Matt.  Luke and I love you so much!

Jedi Jack!

Happy 4th Birthday, Jack!

Our godson, Jack, loves himself some Star Wars, which is why he was thrilled when we named our son, Luke.  When Jack walked into the room just a few hours after was Luke was born, the first thing he asked was, "Is he going to be a Jedi?"  Needless to say, his fourth birthday was Star Wars themed.  Again, Matt came up with a pretty neat idea for his cake...a Death Star!  This time, even my dad got involved.  He helped me roll out fondant and even designed the rivets in the bottom of the cake. 

Matt was super excited to buy Jack a Darth Vader helmet.  It actually is a voice changer as well.  Matt had fun saying, "Luke...I am your father!" over and over again.  Unfortunately, with Jack's skinny legs, he ends up looking a little more like
Dark Helmet from Spaceballs. 

Even Luke got in on the action with a teeny tiny Star Wars onesie. 

Happy 4th Birthday, Jedi Jack!  May the Force be with you!!!



Go Phillies!

Happy 4th Birthday, Connor!

Several months back, I was contacted through the fabulous world of Facebook by a friend of mine to make her son's 4th birthday cake.  Kelly and I played basketball together in high school and even ended up at the same college.  We have been out of touch for awhile, so I was thrilled and surprised when she asked if I could make a Phillies themed cake for Connor.  Although the cake was needed for only a few short weeks after Luke was born, I couldn't pass up an oportunity to make a Phillies themed birthday cake.  As you probably remember from posts past, my husband is a Mets fan.  I am, however, not.  And I am determined to make my child a Phillies Phan!!! 

Kelly asked for a cake for the party and cupcakes to take home as favors.  Conor is allergic to nuts and likes vanilla cake, so I made my simple vanilla cake recipe from my Magnolia Bakery cookbook.   I will admit that the design of this cake is all Matt.  For a Mets fan, he really got into making this cake (I think he's a Phillies Phan at heart!). 

I cut all of the designs out of fondant for the cake and just piped on some red icing for the cupcakes.  I think they turned out pretty good.

Kelly wrapped the cupcakes up in these adorable boxes and tied them with a pretty red ribbon.

I will admit here that I am terrible at covering entire cakes in fondant.  I need a lot of practice.  Because of that, I had a lot of cracks along the side of the cake.  Matt came up with the great idea of covering oreos with fondant to make baseballs.  Genius.  Necessity is the mother of invention...

In order to cover up another large crack, Matt cut out this great MLB logo out of fondant.  I think he may be better at this than me!



Happy 4th Birthday, Connor!

Speaking of the Phillies and trying to make Luke a Phillies Phan, we got one step closer a couple of weeks ago while on our way to visit my parents in Raleigh, NC.  While waiting for our plane, the Phillie Phanatic and a few players were helping out at Southwest Airlines.  Luke got in pictures with a few current players, a few past players and the Phillie Phanatic!  He even made the local news...CHECK IT OUT!!!!!

Here is Luke with Larry Anderson, Gary Matthews and John Mayberry, Jr.  A few weeks later, my brother and sister-in-law met John Mayberry, Jr. at a charity function, and he said he remembered Luke!!  So cool.

Here is Luke and I with Shane Victorino. 

And of course with the Phillie Phanatic!!!

It was such a cool experience that we ended up missing our flight!  Luckily, Southwest Airlines was very gracious and put us on the very next flight and we were only an hour later than we originally planned. 

GO PHILLIES!!!!



Holly turns 3!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Holly!

I'm sure you all remember Holly from birthdays and showers past...

Well, Holly turned three this year and decided that she wanted a "Pink Piggy" party.  With some help from my mom, Matt and a baby who sleeps well, we were able to accomplish some cute cakes and cupcakes. 

I will admit that in my new mom stupor, I messed up one of the batches of cupcakes, but we recovered and produced a small chocolate cake and two batches of cupcakes...one chocolate and one vanilla.

After mulling around some design ideas for a few weeks, my godmother stopped by and gave me a new cupcake book.  Wouldn't you know, they had a cute idea for piggy cupcakes!?  So, after a few modifications, this is what we came up with...

I was a little preoccupied in that Luke was less than two weeks old so I didn't get any pictures.  Luckily, Matt was a little more on the ball and snapped these gems. 

Happy Birthday, Holly... We love you!!!

So....Its been awhile....

But I have a good reason....

Luke Alexander York was born on April 19, 2011 at 3:30 pm.  At 8 pounds, 12 ounces, and 21.25 inches long, he was a perfect specimen of baby deliciousness.  He is a happy little boy who has already brought so much joy and love into so many people's lives.  (Bonus...he lets his mommy sleep most nights!) 

Look at that tiny little face...

Although, not so little anymore....

Needless to say, this little guy has kept me pretty busy; although not busy enough to keep me from baking!  Just too busy to blog about it.  However, Luke is napping like a good boy right now, and I am determined to update you on all of my adventures.  Hopefully, over the next few days,  I will show you some of the cool things I have worked on, and over the next few weeks I will show you the new things that I will make with the very awesome present my parents bought me....

A Cricut Cake!!!!!

How cool is this?  I will be trying this baby out this weekend for my husband, Matt's birthday.  I can't wait.