Where Have You Been, Cake Lady?

An excellent question!

3 days after my last post, more than a year ago, my husband and I got some fairly awful news.  Our second baby boy was diagnosed at 17 weeks gestation with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) and was given a 50% chance of survival.   The remainder of my pregnancy became a whirlwind of specialist appointments, hospital visits, and prayers.

Parker was born on May 18, 2012. He spent 90 days in the NICU at Egleston in Atlanta.  It was the hardest time of our lives-- having a three year old at home and a newborn on life support 40 minutes away was, to put it mildly, stressful.  Through sheer stubbornness on his part, the genius of his medical team, and the neverending graces of God, Parker came home on August 19.

I have a family blog detailing our journey, if you'd like to read it. You can CLICK HERE to visit.

In pastry related news, I have been slowly getting back into the swing of things.  I have done a few cakes over the past few months, and I am very pleased to be solidly booked for the rest of this month and most of March.

Love my Loulu's fans!  :-)

Some recent work:

 

Bridal shower cupcakes

 

7th Birthday Peace Signs

 

Oregon Ducks Fan

 

Atlanta Falcons First Birthday

 

Nativity Cake

 

Cross Country Team Banquet

 

Youth Football Banquet

Summertime Wedding

Believe in the magic of Christmas!

Last weekend, I got to do another Polar Express cake, this time for a little boy named Luka who was turning 5.  Since I had been planning Jeremiah's Polar Express party for so many weeks, I had Polar Express on the brain!  This was a fun cake to make-- a sheet cake carved to the shape of the ticket with "BELIEVE" punched on it, a big old Christmas tree similar to the one at the North Pole, and a 3-D model of the train.  Also included are the hot chocolate mug and the sleigh bell.
Dawn and Luka were very happy with it, which makes me happy too!  Happy Birthday!

Chocolate cake, vanilla buttercream.  Tree is an ice cream cone piped in royal icing and train is rice krispies treats covered in fondant.

All Aboard the Polar Express

This post is so not about cake, I just wanted to share my sweet little boy's 3rd birthday party.  It was BIG FUN!
Jeremiah loves trains, and he loves the "Polarbear Express" book and movie.  As his birthday is just a week before Christmas, all the pieces fit for a Polar Express themed bash.

We had all our family and friends over, most of whom only came once I PROMISED to have the UGA/LSU SEC final game in the background. :-)  I think everyone had a ball, and I am so grateful for those who love our family so much!


Not a nutritious bite in sight!  Hot chocolate, cookies, cupcakes, Coke... what more do you need?

Santa greeted the guests as they arrived...

 

Our living room got all of our Christmas trees crammed in there with about 10,000 twinkle lights.  Winter wonderland!!

 

All the little elves rode the train round and round and round our cul-de-sac

  

Birthday boy and his sleigh bell cake!  Can't believe he's 3!

  

Favors were ornaments with sleigh bells inside.  The outside has a quote from the last line of the book, "The bell still rings for me..."

We had such an amazing day!  Love my boys!

Marvelous Maureen

Last year, I made an 80s cake for Maureen's birthday.  I can't believe it was already time for her birthday this year!
Her cake this go round showed off some of her favorite things-- singing, music, shoes, purses, and monograms.  Also thrown in there was a passing reference to "Phineas and Ferb," one of her favorite shows. It's never too late for a happy childhood!
I love making cakes for Maureen.  She is a fun gal and I can't wait til next year!

An I Love Lucy Baby Shower

I grew up watching I Love Lucy.  My mom, whose nickname was Lucy, absolutely adored the program, and I have to admit that as I got older I appreciated the simple humor from a time when sleeping in double bed was scandalous.
I did this cake a few weeks ago for a baby shower for a dear family friend's first grandbaby.  They were planning on a 50s themed shower, and this Lucy-inspired cake was a perfect fit!
Congratulations, Brent and Rhiannon!!

Super Henry!!!

This weekend, I had the pleasure of making a cake for Henry.  He is a very special little boy who has a very rare disease, and every birthday is a special one for his family.  On top of it all, this is the first year that, due to former diet restrictions, can eat cake!  Hooray!!!!!!  I certainly hope my cake lived up to the occasion!

Happiest of birthdays, Henry.  And MANY MANY MORE!

Marvelous Minnie

Last weekend, I got to deliver this Minnie Mouse cake for Hope's 3rd birthday.  I did her Elmo cake last year, and I can't believe it is already time for another one!
Her mommy, Sarah, is a party planning queen. When I dropped this cake off, Hope was sashaying around in the cutest boutique Minnie dress, and the scene was all set for a superfun time. I know this cake fit in right in the center of it all, and I hope they had a blast!
Happy birthday Hope!