Too Fast!! Stop!

Someone please tell me how it's possible

that my youngest brother, Dylan,

turned 16 today!!!!

Man, I'm old.

Also, he might kill me for this,

but good glory he's just too cute...

I mean, wasn't he just supposed to stay like that forever??

Just sayin.

Happy Birthday my handsome brother!

Stop growing up now! Thanks!!

Love,

Mimi

Birthday cake for breakfast.

One of my favorite parts of the summer comes on July 15th;

It is by little brother Max's Birthday.

 This is partially one of my favorite days because he's quite a sweet brother,

who opens the door for you, and offers to carry your groceries.

But also because,

He and I get to make a magical and whimsical,

and creative and artsy-fartsy

Birthday cake.

It started all with a hamburger cake.

Made of two vanilla cakes, with a chocolate cake in between

Complete with fries and ketchup made of strips of pound cake.

Then one year, after one of the Pirates of the Carribean movies came out,

(the first one with Davy Jones)

we made a cake covered with barnacles and starfish

and here's the fun part: they were made of cheerios, 

smarties, and chocolate covered raisins...

and banana pieces covered in icing squiggles

Last year, we made him an "Up" cake.

Complete with clouds, 

and lots of confetti sprinkle balloons, 

and a floating house,

...and Carl and Russell of course!

So thiiis year, after google-ing lots of cake ideas....

We decided it was time for a colosseum/gladiator cake...

With bananas for the arches,

and chocolate and butterscotch chips for the spectators.

Can you see why this is my favorite part of the summer??

Happiest (and much belated) Birthday Max Daniel!!

I love you!

Quote of the day:

"I tried to bake for my mother's Birthday - it took me four hours.

It was terrible, and I cried for three days."

--Rachel Ray

Happy Birthday Emma Gracie.

Dear Emma Grace,

Emmacita,

Peachy keen,

Cita,

Gracie,

Quit growing up okay??

Stop getting all mature and smart-icle.

I know it's your 11th Birthday, so you're like a grown up now.

I mean, you have AWESOME style and are so pretty and stuff.

And I love your super rad glasses.

But can't you just stop growing up??

Love,

Your favorite big sister named Amanda

Gluten Free Birthday Cake.

Yes it's true.  I'm now 24.  I've been telling people that this qualifies as old.

Or at least old-ER.

Finally.

And I just had the best Birthday EVER.

Friday night: Birthday present from my boss was the night/weekend off, and so I went and had some Chuy's Birthday dinner with my favorites... or at least most of them... Jelly Man, Maxy and Emmacita and, Mom and Dad.  Side note: Emma did not wear this halo specifically for my Birthday, she'd just worn it to school that day.  She wears something similar EVERY DAY.  That's why we love her.

My Dad.  I just love him. A whole lot.

And my mom.... goodness gracious.  She bought me GLUTEN FREE CUPCAKES.  And made me a cake topper.  With Paris stuff on it.  Ummm, not that we ever doubted it, but isn't she just the BEST present giver in the world??  I keep telling her she should make it her profession.

. . .

And then after opening a few more cards/packages waiting for me at my apartment, on the morning of my Birthday (Saturday) I go to go to the temple with my awesome roommie and dear friend Amanda (and no, I'm not referring to myself in 3rd person).  It might have been the greatest Birthday ever.  I mean, can you think of a better place to celebrate the beginning of the next year of your life??  I can't!

And here's one of those packages I had found waiting for me: Birthday Puzzle from my favorite Sophie... from the Salt Lake City Childrens Museum... she knows me so well!!! (and yes, my pose is slightly ridiculous; I was trying to pop my foot to also show off my cute new shoes from my mom, but it didn't quite work out)

A huge thanks to all the people who posted on my facebook wall, texted me, called me, sent me cards, sent me packages, took me out to eat, drove me to the temple, and just sent me some general Birthday goodness!! Thank you dearest family and friends!  My whole Birthday weekend has been fuuuull of lovin'.  My life is so full and blessed because of YOU!!!!  Thank you!!

Let them Eat Cake.

I seriously love cake.  Big ornate wedding cakes all the way down to cute mini cupcakes and petit fours (teeny tiny little iced and decorated beauties).  I love them.  As of late, I'm trying not to really eat them any more except for a few small bites here and there though, so I've taken to decorating them instead.  And then there's my newest creative obsession--making cake toppers.  Obsessed.  You should check 'em out on ETSY.  But for today, here's a peak at one of my other projects:

Max's Birthday cake.

 "Up" Cake for my dearest Brother Max Daniel.  I saw this sweet idea on a party planning blog--they obviously were a little more talented when it came to the execution of this idea, but I'd b willing to argue that I had more fun making it? Haha. Max couldn't decide how he wanted his cake decorated, so I picked for him.  He's a big Disney/Pixar fan.

I LOVE any chance I get to whip out my cake decorating supplies and use my kitchen aid.  I will probably blog about that beauty in the future.  For this cake, I colored the icing "cornflower blue", and I was really pleased with how the color ended up.  Used big, fat "confetti" sprinkles for the balloons, store-bought fondant for the clouds and balloon strings, and lazy-last-minute-style printed out pictures of the house and Carl and Russell on cardstock.  I didn't have to keep then on for too long which was good b/c they didn't have the chance to get any grease spots from the icing! 

Um, isn't he the cutest?  Seriously.  And he's 15.  Don't worry, he's that cool--he'll let me make him an "Up" cake for his 15th Birthday!  One of the many many reasons I love my little Maxy.

No go a-away... make some cake.

(Please read the above in Nacho-Libre-style voice)

Grateful for:
My artistic soul brother.


Quote of the day:  ‎
"No person is called because of what they are or what they have done, but by what they will become by doing it"   -Elder Bednar