Andrea's Happy Birthday

Last weekend was my very good friend, Andrea's Birthday. I love this girl! She is the epitomy of sweet, generous, and just overall thoughtful. We met back at UCR which seems like a century ago. I'll never forget that music class :) Anyway, we celebrated her Birthday at The Beach House in Laguna Beach where they had some amazing sourdough rolls! I made her a chocolate cake with fresh strawberry filling. This cake was covered in fondant and colored lilac. When I think of Andrea, I think PURPLE! I bought a new little trim cutter and an eyelit lace punch out and tested it out on this cake. The idea was to create a lace wrap and doily on top fondant dries out super fast, so there was some cracking, but for my first time using these tools, I was pretty happy with the results. I hope you enjoyed it Andrea!!

Feliz Cumpleanos my dear!

The birthday girl!

Andrea and Luis :)

Mary Ann's Wedding

I have known Mary Ann since I was a book clerk at Berean. She was the payroll clerk and someone I really admired and looked up to in so many ways. We spent many dinners and lunches talking about our futures and asking for guidance as I entered a very exciting yet nerve wrecking part of my life. Last year we reconnected and told me she was getting married! Her wedding was going to be small and quaint. She bought the cutest little cake topper of an elephant pair at an antique store for her 10" cake. It was a plain white cake with strawberry filling and Swiss Meringue Buttercream. It was a joy to make and be part of her special day.

Congratulations Mary Ann and Lalo!!

Addie's 3rd Birthday!

My friend, Priscilla, asked me to make a cake for her daughter, Addie's, 3rd birthday. She sent me a picture of a cake she liked that would fit into her garden themed shindig. It was adorable and I wanted to do my best to make it look like the original picture. My colors were a little brighter, but I liked the way it came out. The cake itself it marble with strawberry filling and cream cheese frosting. My favorite part was when I delivered the cake and saw Addie's face when she saw her Birthday cake. She lit up like a little doll :) Warmed my heart, I tell ya! I always love seeing how I can add to someone's special day whether it is their birthday, wedding, or just because.

Happy Birthday Little Addison!

Thanks Priscilla, for allowing me to post these pictures of the big day!

Happy Birthday, Noel!

Happy Birthday, Noel! Sorry this is so late (a month) in coming but I finally found time to post. I made a red velvet cake with a cinnamon buttercream frosting. I used a recipe from the book "Baked." It is quickly becoming my favorite cookbook. The cake was moist and the frosting was nice and smooth. It was a cooked frosting so now I have two under my belt. Anyway, enjoy the pics.

Valentine's Treats

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I made a few cupcakes and cake pops to celebrate this day over the past few weeks. Mostly cupcakes for different occasions so I thought I would post the pictures of them all. In a few weeks I will have a few cakes to post so keep an eye out for that.

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes for Javier's Co-workers

My first attempt at Cake Pops for my classroom.

Chocolate Chocolate Cupcakes for Kermaine

More Chocolate Cupcakes.

Red Hot Red Velvet Cupcakes for the Cook's Club.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Oscar and Camilla's Baptism

Back in December I did a dual Baptism for one of Javier's co-workers. The family had two new babies so they decided to combine the Baptisms into one big event. They ordered two 10 inch round cakes and 100 cupcakes. The cakes were marble and the cupcakes were half vanilla and half chocolate. All were made with a vanilla buttercream. I did pink and blue since those were the colors that were requested.

For the cupcakes, I made fondant cutouts of crosses and doves with dragee embellishments. I did the same for the 10 inch cakes. I was very happy with how it all came together.

Camilla's Cupcakes-Chocolate.

Close up of the fondant cutouts.
Oscar's cupcake close-up.

Oscar's cupcakes-vanilla.

This is what 100 cupcakes looks like.

How I displayed the boy's side.

The girl's side.

The complete set up.

Recap of the Past Few Months

So to say I have been busy is an understatement. I have been on a roller coaster the past few months. I started a new job which was a blessing but also a burden since I am also going to school for my master's full time as well. I was hired to teach a 4/5 combo class and learning two new grade levels and how to teach two at the same time has been crazy! Since it is technically my first year as a contracted teacher I also had to start my induction program to clear my credential as well, so that meant playing catch up on two months worth of work and meetings with my BTSA advisor. Plus the regular eating, sleeping, bathing, and maintaining the house, still needed to be done, so that left no time for baking at all. :( I did manage to complete a few goodies for the holidays and was still making time for my fondant class so the following are the pictures of the projects from that. Hopefully in this new coming year, I will find a balance with my crazy schedule and have more time for baking.

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting for Thanksgiving.

Chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting for Halloween.

I also make fondant cutouts of punpkins and candy corn as a decoration.

The first cake we made in fondant class. Here we learned a quilting technique and rolled roses. I also learned how to use my bead maker for the border.

For the last cake for fondant class, we learned how to stack a cake and made a pretty cherry blossom design.

A close up of the cherry blossoms. This was a really fun cake to make.

So hopefully you will be seeing more from me in this new year, if not my apologies are given in advanced. Happy 2011!