Dude’s, I’m co-hosting a birthday party tomorrow for Jackson and his BFF (born a week apart) and I baked a cake for 40 people! Like, with layers and shit. With jam and whipped cream frosting between the layers. I feel like a rock star. I don’t remember the last time I baked a cake at all, from scratch, let alone one with layers. I feel like I can handle anything now. Between this and giving birth with no pain medication I’m all, “I am WOMAN, hear my ROAR.” Or something. Basically, I just feel totally like a MOM now. A mom who bakes birthday cakes. What is it about baking birthday cakes that feels so … maternal?
Did I mention the 40-people part? And how 14 of those people are toddlers? And the party’s at 10 AM? Yeah, so while YOU are lying in bed like a normal person would be/ should be on a Saturday morning, I will be… well, let’s be honest, I’m gonna be downing some serious Mimosas, cause Mama’s gonna drink. (The party will be in the park, by the way. Like anyone I know in New York has room for 40 people…).
On Sunday I’m gettin’ my hairs cut (finally, after four+ months of growing it out). Annnd… that’s my weekend. Exciting, no?
What are YOU up to?
[image via]
![\"\"](\"https://d5nxst8fruw4z.cloudfront.net/atrk.gif?account=r/y/j1a0Sn00OI\")
Taylor October 4, 2013, 4:06 pm
Yumm! The cake sounds deca-licious! Happy birthday Jackson!!
Tomorrow, I am interviewing a doula! I’m having trouble wrapping my brain around the whole childbirth thing, it’s intimidating. Other than that, catching up on work, which I’m looking forward to because I hate that feeling of being behind, and this weekend I will actually have some time ALL TO MYSELF. Hallelujah!
Wendy October 4, 2013, 6:51 pm
Congratulations on the pregnancy!
Taylor October 4, 2013, 7:05 pm
Thanks Wendy! I’ve been sending Mr. Taylor all your parenting articles 🙂
shanshantastic October 5, 2013, 6:54 pm
Ohmigod, how did I miss that?! Or did you not make an announcement? That’s seriously amazing, congratulations!!!! 😀
Taylor October 6, 2013, 7:02 pm
Thank you!! I hadn’t really announced it yet =) We’re about 6 months along, so I figured it’s time.
You have a little one now, yes? We’ll have to have a baby meetup =)
Lyra October 4, 2013, 4:07 pm
Go Wendy go!
I’m half tempted to spend the entire weekend in my pajamas and watch movies. My friend is coming over tonight for a movie night tonight and it’s supposed to be gross weather all day tomorrow soooo I may just cuddle up with a blanket, my new crocheting project, and a cup of coffee and mindlessly zone out for hours. I wish there was a cat in that mix. Soon. Damn bills.
Lyra October 5, 2013, 4:11 pm
So much for my non-boy weekend. I have a date tomorrow. If anyone remembers my AWESOME first date a couple weeks ago (football game and pub), he didn’t text me until ten days later — this past Monday I believe it was. He asked if I would want to hang out. Kind of assuming he wasn’t interested in anything more than friendship I suggested we just walk around a lake nearby and grab coffee or something not very date-like. He responded by saying that the weather is crappy and I should come to a concert he has tomorrow and we can grab dinner afterward. That sounds very date-like to me. I said yes because the first date in itself was awesome, but I’m going in with cautious optimism — he wanted to see me again, and wanted to go on a date again, but didn’t contact me until a week and a half after our original date. Then again, not hearing from him for days at a time has been pretty typical for him throughout the time I’ve been talking to him.
I’ll let you guys know how it goes.
LadyinPurpleNotRed October 4, 2013, 4:07 pm
Oooooh! Go Wendy! Last weekend I made a rainbow cake for my two friend’s birthdays.
This weekend I’m staying in all weekend. Last weekend I went out both nights, next weekend I’ll be in Nashville, and then the following weekend my boyfriend’s parents are flying me down to FL for my boyfriend’s birthday as a surprise. I’m so excited!!! But too much socializing gets to me. So I’m taking this weekend for myself. And not leaving my apartment.
Fabelle October 4, 2013, 4:10 pm
Ooh Wendy, that sounds delicious!! (Also, this is the first I’ve heard about you giving birth without pain medication, dayum :D)
I need a haircut, also. Last time I got a trim, I was trying to grow my layers out, but I think I need them back now? The top/middle layer of my hair (if that makes sense as a description?) is all thinned out & splitty towards the ends, so it needs a couple inches off. Arghh
lets_be_honest October 4, 2013, 4:10 pm
That’s true about baking cakes! I find that also, and making halloween costumes too. I do very minimal “mom” things, so its nice to feel like a mom when I do those things. Congrats on the cake coming out well! Happy bday Jackson.
BriarRose October 4, 2013, 4:12 pm
My daughter’s birthday party is on Saturday too! She’s turning 9 on Tuesday, how nuts.
I might die this weekend. Daughter has Taekwondo testing Saturday morning, then her party, then we’re having a housewarming party with out of town guests attending. I unexpectedly have to work all day Sunday, then 12 hours on Monday, and then have to bake a cake (no layers for me) in time for her real birthday on Tuesday. So if I survive, I’m counting it as a triumph.
bethany October 4, 2013, 4:19 pm
Good luck!!
bethany October 4, 2013, 4:17 pm
My 2nd Nephew was born today!! We’re going to visit him in the hospital tonight after work!
Tomorrow my Nonny is coming to visit!!!! She lives 5 hours away, and my aunt and uncle are bringing her down to see my house for the first time! So that means tomorrow morning is going to be spent cleaning like a crazy person. Oh, and I’m cooking dinner for everyone, which normally wouldn’t be so bad, but I’m cooking for an old Italian woman who routinely feeds 20 people without batting an eye. And she isn’t known for liking other people’s food– Wish me luck!
But anyway, I’m just so happy and excited to have her come and see my house, that I don’t even care too much about the rest of it. I’m really close with my extended family, and it’s just awesome that my aunt and uncle are bringing her down. I can’t wait!!
Addie Pray October 4, 2013, 4:18 pm
Oh I get to go first! (Unless by the time I hit submit others have responded.)
Wendy, that sounds like a perfect Saturday morning to me! Man I got to get myself a kid so I can get invited to those kind of parties.
My weekend is going to start very soon because I’m leaving the office early- Boom! This is the second week in a row that I’ve left the office early for an afternoon movie. Except I deserve because: (a) I’m sick – like deathly sick – i think i have bronchitis, strep, and ammonia all wrapped up into one contagious mess – except actually I just went to immediate care (finally) and they ruled out none of those – which really bummed me out. I hate it when my ailments do not have names, you know? Like I’d rather be able to say “I have strep and I’m taking [whatever you take for strep]” instead I’m just like “I feel, look, and sound like shit, I don’t know why” – it’s almost like, without a proper name, it’s not legitimate, you know?; (b) despite being sick, I came to work every day, and worked super late all nights, on account of being so damn busy; and (c) Gene Siskel is showing old French movies and I love old French movies. So I’m going to go watch one, and then I’m calling it an early night.
Saturday I plan to wake up refreshed and NOT SICK ANYMORE. When I do, I plan to go to Target with two friends, drop them off at a 5k they’re running, and then go to the office (boo!). Then I have a lunch date with a guy I met off Tinder – it’s date number 2. (More on Tinder below.) Then I need to go to the grocery store and pick up a sugar-free cheesecake. I hope they have those at the grocery store. It’s for my diabetic friend’s birthday. Then in the evening I’m meeting friends for said diabetic friend’s birthday – we’re going to a BYOB sushi restaurant, which I hope is also BYO sugar-free cheesecake. Then it’s off to Inn Joy for dancing. Now, this is ALL contingent on me waking up healthy tomorrow, which I will do, because goddamnit all to hell I am sick of being sick.
Sunday I plan to stay home waiting for the cable guy from 8 to noon. He’ll probably arrive at 12:01, bastard. Then Sunday afternoon they’re filming a band on my roof and I keep going back and forth – invite people over for a party on my roof? Don’t invite people over because by then I really won’t want to clean and get snacks and stuff? I’ll probably wait too long and then when I do invite people it will be too late and no one will be able to come. Because the truth is I only have a few friends that I tend to hang out with these days. Sunday night I plan to cry because the weekend is over all ready.
Ok, Tinder, who is on Tinder and who LOVES IT? I think Tinder is SO MUCH better than all those other online dating websites. Here are three reasons why I like it: (1) It’s simple – it just shows your location, age, first name, up to 5 pictures, and a tagline; (2) You can’t see who is looking at whom, or who has liked whom; you only can contact each other if you BOTH indicate you are interested; and you will never know if the other clicked no or just never saw your profile, so you never feel rejected; and (3) It’s linked to your FB account so if someone pops up that you have friends in common with, it will show you. I can’t tell you how many guys have popped up that we have friends in common with. Makes me feel (a) small world and (b) less afraid they’ll turn out to be serial killers.
Addie Pray October 4, 2013, 4:21 pm
Ok, so by the time I finished my novel, several comments were made.
bethany October 4, 2013, 4:21 pm
Tinder sounds fun!! I would do it if I wasn’t married!
Fabelle October 4, 2013, 4:27 pm
Haha, that was my thought too (hmm, mental note: “Tinder” for if I’m ever single again!)
But seriously, that does sound pretty cool. WAY less pre-meeting weirdness & profile creeping & weird messages & unnecessary analyzation? Gah
lets_be_honest October 4, 2013, 4:29 pm
Wait, isn’t that what the teens were using in the VF from friday links?
Christy October 4, 2013, 5:29 pm
yes!
Addie Pray October 4, 2013, 4:52 pm
It’s so fun. And so easy. So you start playing, and a dude pops up – you can see his age and flip through a few pics and then click the heart or the X. If he has already seen you and “hearted” you, then when you click heart it tells you instantly “you’ve matched” and he’s added to your list of matches and it’s like in text format – so you can just text back and forth. (One guy was like what’s your number so we can text? And I thought, that’s what we’re doing basically, idiot.) And it’s thrilling, really, to click the heart and hear the ding that you’ve matched – it’s like take a spin on the penny slots and getting matches. But even if you don’t match (ie, you click the heart, which then immediately pulls up the next dude) you don’t feel bad; he may not have seen you yet. But it’s even faster than that, you don’t have to click the X if you don’t like them, you can just scroll to the next guy like you were scrolling through pictures. Gawd it’s so fun.
The only drawbacks: (a) it takes your first name from FB and there does not seem to be a way to edit that; (b) when you want to stop talking with someone, you have to block them – you can just delete the messages. So as a result, depending on how many messages you have, your match list can be long. But when I realized I could just block them it was no big deal; and (c) the list of guys near you based on where they are NOW and not based on where, say, it says they live on FB. As a result, I matched with people who it turns out were just in Chicago for vacation but live in a different state. That only happened twice. No biggie.
I always knew Tinder to be the place for just hook ups – the place to find someone close to you so you can just get it on. And the first guy I matched with just cut to the chase “where do you live, I”ll come over or you can come over to my place.” I can’t believe people would really do that – go straight to a stranger’s house. So that guy I had to politely decline.
Addie Pray October 4, 2013, 4:55 pm
I should be a Tinder spokesperson. I’m so in love with Tinder.
JK October 4, 2013, 4:24 pm
Take an extra month off and you can come to Ms bday party 🙂
jlyfsh October 4, 2013, 5:31 pm
if she did that she’d be there to belatedly celebrate yours too, right? i think she should go for it!
JK October 4, 2013, 5:34 pm
Oh good point! PLus instead of a month it would only really be 2 weeks. I say do it AP
Banana October 4, 2013, 4:27 pm
Wow, I had no idea that’s how Tinder worked! That’s pretty cool, actually. In a way, I think it also avoids the whole problem, with online dating, of building a fantasy version of someone in your head, based on their profile, before you meet them. Sure, on Tinder you’re going into a meet-up with virtually no info at all. But then at least you also don’t have pre-conceived notions to be disappointed, right? It’s kind of like meeting someone “in the wild” — you don’t know what they’re like or what they’re into until you start talking IRL.
Addie Pray October 4, 2013, 4:31 pm
Ok, more reasons why I like Tinder: (4) It’s fun to scroll through pictures and click like or don’t like. It’s kind of addicting. And since it’s an app on your fun, it’s fun to do while, say, you’re on the bus, or at work when you don’t want to work, or, like, when DW is shutdown and you dont’ know what to do. (5) It leads to dates, faster. Once you match, it opens a chat for you two, and after a few back and forths you can just say “alrighty already let’s meet for coffee” or whatever. So fast. I mean, do I really need to know their top 5 movies and or favorite places to travel before we get a date set? Besides, I think those long profiles do a disservice. All those self-proclaimed “easy going, laid back” fellows (no one ever is) who love travel (oh really? that’s a first) and who just like to kick it with their friends and family (again, wow, that’s unique) just really bore more.
Addie Pray October 4, 2013, 4:32 pm
*app on your phone – ffs
Fabelle October 4, 2013, 4:40 pm
Okay I just name-dropped Tinder to my single dude friend, who the last time I spoke with him copy/pasted this one girl’s entire cray, cray, cray profile to me on gchat. If *I* can’t use Tinder, I’ll just recommend it to people 😉
Addie Pray October 4, 2013, 5:19 pm
Ok ONE more thing: it lets you be a matchmaker. So if you have two FB friends you think would be a good match, you can match them. Kmentothat, I matched you with this friend John. We went to law school together. He practices law here. He’s cute and only likes hot girls, so you’d be a good match. 🙂
Diablo October 4, 2013, 6:29 pm
Can a person die of ammonia?
jlyfsh October 4, 2013, 8:20 pm
you can have increased ammonia levels, right? wasn’t there a grey’s episode where someone had some sort of liver failure and their ammonia levels were increased? or i could be making that up!
Addie Pray October 4, 2013, 10:12 pm
yes, i’ll show you. i’m dying now!
Addie Pray October 5, 2013, 9:54 am
Well I woke up still sick which BLOWS CHUNKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The only thing worse than being sick is being sick on a weekend.
Addie Pray October 5, 2013, 8:49 pm
So, in case anyone is wondering, NOTHING I planned for this weekend has happened. I stayed in bed all day so I could have energy to go to my friend’s birthday dinner. By the time I got there I realized how NOT WELL I was so I just dropped off cheesecake and turned around. It was so sad. Now I’m in bed eating mint chocolate chip ice cream and watching Princess Diaries 2: A Royal Engagement. MY LIFE IS SO SAD!!!!!
I hope everyone else is having a kickass Saturday night!
Classic October 6, 2013, 2:26 pm
Are you feeling any better today, Addie?
Sure hope so.
Addie Pray October 6, 2013, 4:41 pm
No! And now there’s a loud band on my roof making noise – doesn’t help my headache. Ha, the band is fine. I am not fine (with the band) but I’m dying inside. When I die of strepitismonia, some take over Addie Pray for me. You can be AP 2.0.
Classic October 6, 2013, 4:54 pm
I’m sorry, AP (the one and only AP forever). Your severe case of acute strepitismonia will be over soon, though. Drink lots of water, take care of yourself, and try to rest. (Damn that band.) We are wishing you to get well and feel better.
Addie Pray October 6, 2013, 7:06 pm
Thanks, Classic! I feel like tomorrow is my day – tomorrow I will be back to normal, I can just feel it. The band is gone now. They were so cute. So young and hipstery. And loud. But cute.
kare October 6, 2013, 12:16 am
I love Tinder!
Although my Tinder date cancelled on me because I said I don’t dance. :\
Exact words “That’s a dealbreaker”….alrighty then.
mrmidtwenties October 6, 2013, 10:09 am
wait a second, I thought tinder was just for banging, not dating? Though I do love Tinder anyway. Mr. Mid, you’re so gross.
Banana October 4, 2013, 4:20 pm
Thank Crom for the weekend, after the way this week has gone! Nothing in particular went bad, just been jam-packed with work. Tonight, I’m chilling on a friend’s patio with our crew. Bringing some pumpkin beer cheese and chips to share. Do I have a recipe? Hell no. I’m making this shit up as I go along. What can go wrong with beer + cheddar + pumpkin + garlic and rosemary seasoning mix?
Tomorrow night going to a midnight screening of Beetlejuice. Sunday night going to see TWO of my favorite bands playing a show together — it’s on a worknight, and it’s in Baltimore, so I’m going to be one tired (and potentially bruised, depending on moshing intensity) puppy on Monday. And it will be totally worth it. Also looking forward to knocking out a couple more thousand words on my novel (almost done!) and maybe cutting off all my hair.
Christy October 4, 2013, 5:33 pm
Cut it off! And yay for getting close to finishing your novel!
Banana October 7, 2013, 11:49 am
Danke!
JK October 4, 2013, 4:22 pm
Birthday cake making (all kid birthday planning really) is one of my favourite things! Even though I´m not terribly good at it haha. This year for my youngest´s 2nd birthday I mde a rainbow layer cake, which was a huge success (and it had Elmo on it).
Now like I mentioned on a forum I´m getting into planning my eldest´s 6th (holy crap), today I booked the place, and she finally decided on a theme: the minions from despicable me, yay!
Anyway, happy birthday Jackson!!! Unbelivable 2 years have gone by already. It´s weird how you notice that more with other peoples kids than your own.
JK October 4, 2013, 4:38 pm
Also, that photo reminded me of cake wrecks, for those of you who haven´t seen it, go there. It is hilarious.
honeybeenicki October 4, 2013, 4:50 pm
I totally made minion cupcakes (the ones with the twinkies on top) for my birthday this year. Because, well… because minions are awesome. I made the cupcakes for work and I made a minion cake for home (just a cake version with a bunch of the minions chillin’ on top). Totally awesome.
JK October 4, 2013, 4:53 pm
So cute! I saw the twinkie ones, but we dont have twinkies here 🙁
I have seen cute cake toppers, and am planning on having finger puppets and something yet to be decided for the goody bags.
Wendy October 4, 2013, 7:06 pm
Jackson’s cake has Elmo in it too!
JK October 4, 2013, 7:27 pm
AT the lastminute I had to change it, the doll I had made was SO UGLY. Thank goodness for my brother who has artistic skills.
Today my 2 year old decided to wear her Elmo shirt like the one Jackson had on the other day 🙂
kerrycontrary October 4, 2013, 4:23 pm
I have serious respect for anyone who bakes anything serious. I cook…but I do the box cake mix or just buy cupcakes. It’s so easy to just buy a dessert when you live in a city. My boyfriend’s mother made him an ice cream cake, from scratch. I had to tell him that that was never happening with me. The only thing I MAY bake is pie (with real filling, not canned). But that’s once in a blue moon.
kerrycontrary October 4, 2013, 4:27 pm
But also, I have to add that I think that moms who work and have three children and buy their kids cake at the grocery store (maybe even using a SNAP card!) and have epidurals are just as mom/woman as women who do all the traditional mom things.
kerrycontrary October 4, 2013, 4:28 pm
UGH not to imply that wendy or stay at home/work at home mothers don’t work. Can’t type today obviously.
Wendy October 4, 2013, 7:09 pm
I wanted an epidural!! Jackson came out too fast for me to get one. I would have still been all, “I am Woman, Hear my Roar,” because labor is hard whether no matter how you cut it.
ktfran October 4, 2013, 4:24 pm
I CAN NOT wait for the weekend to start! In 1.5 hours, I’ll be heading to my favorite bar with the kid. Yes, the kid. The one I talked about in the spring. Things are going good there, FINALLY.
So, I can’t remember if I told you all about the awkward cab kiss after our first date. But basically, since I didn’t kiss back properly, he thought I wasn’t interested. Since he backed off, i thought I was friend zoned. Soooooooooo not the case. Yeah, we’re morons.
Anyway. There’s been lots of kissing and lots of togetherness and I’m super happy.
That’s all I got.
Addie Pray October 4, 2013, 4:35 pm
Aw, I’m so happy for you! I know your favorite bar so I may just come and get a table next to you and spy. You pretend you don’t know me.
Hey, you two want to come over for a concert on my roof? Sunday, 4 pm.
Banana October 4, 2013, 4:40 pm
I want to come to a concert on your roof! But I live in DC. I just wanted you to have some validation that that is, in fact, a super-awesome sounding time.
Addie Pray October 4, 2013, 7:22 pm
you’re invited!
ktfran October 4, 2013, 4:54 pm
Haha, that would be hilarious. And then we can go to your rooftop party and he’ll be all like “hey, wasn’t that chick staring at us on Friday?”
Ooh, rooftop concert? Can I come without him?
Have i mentioned how ridiculously smitten I am? Like, last night, I had to work late. But I had plans to get an after work drink with the kid and another coworker. They went to the bar without me. I texted the kid on my way and he had a beer waiting. Barf.
Or, how when we didn’t think we were going to see one another this week because we both had random plans all evening, we had lunch on Monday. Then we ended up hanging out a couple hours Wednesday, Thursday and now tonight. Again. BARF!
Addie Pray October 4, 2013, 5:02 pm
No barf, Good!
Addie Pray October 4, 2013, 5:03 pm
Yes, come!
ktfran October 4, 2013, 5:06 pm
Cool. Get a hold of me this weekend.
I actually have to work Sunday. But hopefully, I can get done with my stuff in a few hours.
ktfran October 4, 2013, 4:57 pm
Also, I want to know more about Tinder.
iwannatalktosampson October 4, 2013, 4:39 pm
You guys ever have one of those weeks where you think about suicide bombers and you’re like – you know what? Maybe they’re onto something. On Thursday I left work late, after getting told that I am “fucking incompetent”. I realize I am not going to have time to have my standard two beers and cheese before going to my night class – which is at 7:40 because the world hates me, and gives no shits about my bedtime, and I’m already falling asleep. So I’m in my car, kinda fuming, but I’m like well at least I won’t have a commute since I’m leaving the office at 7:00 p.m. I was wrong. So I’m driving in bumper to bumper traffic, under fed (I had 6 reeses for lunch that day), and slightly agitated. All of the sudden this thought dawns on me. I literally want to kill myself and everyone around me, and it legitimately sounds like a gift to the city. If I could somehow take out 500,000 people, there would be 10% fewer people on the roads, and that would make the average persons days 10% better – forever! Or at least until all the assholes start duplicating again. I think to myself – IWTTS – you’re such a sweetheart that you would sacrifice your body for such a noble cause – it would be the gift that keeps on giving. The thought of this cheers me, and I’m suddenly in a better mood. And then I realize I should never be allowed to drive on an empty stomach again.
Christy October 4, 2013, 5:37 pm
You are like my soulmate when it comes to the driving thing. When I’m in bad traffic, I’m convinced that I’m going to starve to death in my car because I will NEVER get out of the traffic jam. Or else I’m convinced that I need to buy a Hummer so I can just drive on top of the other cars.
Classic October 4, 2013, 4:40 pm
Happy Birthday Jackson, you little sweetie pie!
mylaray October 4, 2013, 5:13 pm
I can’t remember the last time I baked a layer cake (which is funny you mentioned layers because I thought all cakes people made at home had layers, haha) but it sounds delicious! I hope the party goes well.
This weekend I’m doing a lot of DIY crafts for our wedding (10 weeks now!) which should be fun. This week I also finally got approval for the restaurant that is going to cater. It’s where we had our first date (and continue to have a first date there each year) so it is really special to us for them to do this. They are pretty famous for a burger restaurant, and are known for being a little snobbish about special requests (and they don’t offer catering typically) but we begged and begged and so I’m so happy they said yes. It’ll be a splurge, since they’re definitely charging a lot for it, which is fair enough, and I think it will be so worth it.
lets_be_honest October 4, 2013, 5:19 pm
so does that mean you’re having burgers at your wedding? If so, I applaude you and would love an invite! 🙂
I decided many years ago my wedding will have McNuggets. 🙂
mylaray October 4, 2013, 5:30 pm
Yes! It will be burgers and sandwiches! It’s an outdoor wedding at his parents’ house so I think that’s very fitting. We were thinking (and still might) of having Zaxby’s fried chicken in addition (Zaxby’s is a semi fast food chain of the best fried chicken in my opinion in our area).
You can come if I can come to your McNugget wedding 🙂
Theattack October 4, 2013, 6:47 pm
Where do you live? Did you mention living in the south earlier?
mylaray October 4, 2013, 7:06 pm
Yeah I did, I live in Atlanta.
veritek33 October 4, 2013, 5:14 pm
I’m making my mom’s birthday cake this weekend! Salted caramel mocha bundt cake. She’s excited.
I’m also cleaning my house and car top to bottom because I cannot stand the dog hair and minor filth anymore!
And, date tomorrow night with an older man. Wish me luck!
mertlej October 4, 2013, 5:54 pm
uhhhhh recipe please! I have to work ALL weekend, but might take a little break in order to make myself some baked goodness.
the_optimist October 4, 2013, 4:19 pm
YUM! You are amazing– a cake to feed 40 people is no small feat!
My birthday is Sunday, so I’m actually baking my own cake tonight (by choice because I’m a nerd and love this kind of stuff). I’m doing a s’mores cake with a chocolate ganache and cookie crumb filling. I am ridiculously excited. And apparently my boyfriend is planning some sort of extravaganza with a few of my friends, so I’m told I may have to share this cake with people. After a tough few months I’m happy to have a few things to look forward to :). Everyone enjoy the weekend!
LadyinPurpleNotRed October 4, 2013, 4:23 pm
Do you have a link to this amazing recipe? I *love* s’mores things!
the_optimist October 4, 2013, 4:42 pm
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/09/smores-cake-marshmallow-layer-cake-recipe.html?ref=search
That’s the one I’m making and I’m adding cookie crumbs from these cookies I made and wasn’t really into (but they’ll add a graham-crackery texture that would work well with the cake)
LadyinPurpleNotRed October 4, 2013, 4:44 pm
That looks delicious!
Fabelle October 4, 2013, 4:28 pm
I also love s’mores things! I just pinned this: http://honestlyyum.com/6084/smore-squares-with-smoked-marshmallow-fluff/ recipe the other day, but it looks a little complicated for my current skillz.
LadyinPurpleNotRed October 4, 2013, 4:30 pm
Holy shit that looks delicious! Basically my dessert board is s’mores related items.
Fabelle October 4, 2013, 4:42 pm
Have you ever gone to P.F Changs? Yes, the Americanized Chinese/Asian Fusion chain restaurant… BUT they have s’more (or USED TO have, I think they discontinued it 🙁 ) “mini desserts”— it was basically one layer of graham cracker crumble, one layer of marshmallow fluff, one layer of chocolate, then repeated, in a little shot glass that you’d spoon out with a little spoon. That was basically my main reason for going there, haha. Sooo good
LadyinPurpleNotRed October 4, 2013, 4:45 pm
That sounds incredible! My mouth is watering with all of these s’mores recipes!
Fabelle October 4, 2013, 4:46 pm
Okay & their tofu lettuce wraps are good. And garlic noodles. Basically, I’m lying, I love that place
LadyinPurpleNotRed October 4, 2013, 4:47 pm
haha…I just ordered chinese food. Tonight is my lazy/eat whatever the fuck I want while watching reality tv soooooo fitting time to make me crave chinese food.
Christy October 4, 2013, 5:32 pm
I like irrationally hate PF Chang’s because it’s so expensive. Like, if I want Chinese food, Imma spend $10 on three meals-worth. Or else go to Chopstix and eat deliciousness. But PF Chang’s is just such an expensive proposition.
katie October 4, 2013, 5:35 pm
very nice, wendy! i want to see a picture!!
i need to clean, which is basically all i say about being at home now. but this week i am not travelling, yay!, so that is good. i also found a cleaning service for $35 for 2 hours and i totally want to do it…..
Sue Jones October 4, 2013, 5:43 pm
That’s a great price! Wish I could find someone that inexpensive here!
Sue Jones October 4, 2013, 5:41 pm
It snowed here last night and while I picked all of my tomatoes, peppers, and zucchinis, it dawned on me this morning that my basil plants are gonna freeze, so today my project was to make really garlicky pesto, which I did with real pine nuts. My blender survived which is a good thing because I am known to murder blenders. On a crappy note, I never saw an email dated Sept 19th of a potential client who wanted to schedule with me , so I wrote them back today, but I think they are peeved at me since I don’t see them on my schedule…. I just get so inundated with emails sometimes. Email fail…
Diablo October 4, 2013, 6:48 pm
I harvested my basil a while ago due to frost warnings. I just wash it, dry it, and freeze it in bags. Then, i break out a chunk for whatever I’m making all winter. I love pesto, but wouldn’t want to overcommit. Plus I got a ton of red basil this year, which i use primarily in Thai dishes. Also got a ton of large leaf oregano, which I love because it is so much less hassle to harvest. But now all I can think about is pesto with sundried tomatoes. Actually had to slurp drool back into my mouth while I typed that.
quixoticbeatnik October 4, 2013, 6:30 pm
I just ordered Chinese. Today was just such a BLAH day. I am just feeling so freaking blah and bored with everything in my life. Maybe tomorrow will be better. IDK. I’m just tired…I’m tired of this one online class I’m taking and I’m tired of wanting to date someone and I’m tired of feeling like I don’t have enough friends. And I’m also tired of the fact that my ex is now facebook official with the girl he started dating 17 days after we broke up. It took him TWO years for us to be facebook official. It doesn’t bother me that much right now but it just felt like a punch to the gut earlier. IDK. I really do not hate him and we really are trying to be friends but I just feel like I am so weird about relationships. Too long to explain but basically I need a drink and some Parks and Rec and maybe New Girl. Maybe Catfish too.
That cake looks good, though, Wendy! Yum! My mom made this really yummy cake for my birthday this year using orange moscato.
Diablo October 4, 2013, 6:44 pm
Decent weekend here: It’s M’s birthday, so we are going out for Japanese with friends tonight and then will probably drink sake like fools. She has the day off and is already drinking wine, so i figure i am in for sexytimes later. (Don’t worry, I have pre-authorized good consent. As in she indicated on the phone about 15 minutes ago, when she told me she was drinking, that i could make my move anytime after dinner. Old marrieds are not subtle.)We saw Indigo Girls on Wed, which was just so awesome. I don’t usually gush about musicians, but they were so good. Saturday, I take my cat to the vet and we start to get the yard ready for winter. It could snow soon, which blows. (I once used “the winter wind blows” as a song lyric, and I meant it.) Then on Sunday, we have our friend group’s roving potluck. This time’s theme is Julia Child. I personally don’t enjoy her recipes as much as when we just have a theme ingredient for me to work with, but it’s still fun to share everyone’s creations and, again, drink. To borrow Tom Waits’ old emotional weather forecast: high tonight, low tomorrow.
rachel October 4, 2013, 7:36 pm
Ooh, your themed potlucks sound awesome! Happy birthday to M!
Fabelle October 5, 2013, 1:20 pm
Happy birthday, M!!
Theattack October 4, 2013, 6:56 pm
We’re visiting my grandpa in the hospital again for the fourth weekend in a row. P has been so patient with me. I haven’t had any emotional energy to do housework or cook or take care of the cats or anything since he’s been sick. This work week has been hell. It’s like this is the week to molest kids or something, and it for real needs to stop. Plus my boss volunteered us to start going on call to help cover one of our partner agencies, and that sucks. Our boss gave us the afternoon off since this week has been SO ridiculous. I got a new drivers license, and now I’m trying to clean the apartment to make up for how lazy I’ve been.
Also I’m playing my French horn and trumpet again for the first time since I had facial nerve damage from an oral surgery. I’m so happy to say that I can still play! So so happy.
beelzebarb October 4, 2013, 6:08 pm
This has nothing to do with anything, but this article is hilarious:
Seriously the weirdest arrest story I’ve ever read.
othy October 4, 2013, 6:14 pm
Zomg. It gets better and better as the story goes on!
rachel October 4, 2013, 7:34 pm
Wait, it’s not real though, right? I mean, it’s hilarious, but it’s not real.
beelzebarb October 4, 2013, 7:46 pm
It’s most likely fake, but I don’t care. It’s hilarious, and the sad part is that I can see it happening. In a world where Honey Boo Boo gets her own show, anything’s possible.
Addie Pray October 4, 2013, 7:21 pm
OMG I JUST SKYPED WITH JK IN ARGENTINA! It was the coolest thing ever.
JK October 4, 2013, 7:30 pm
Right back atcha AP 🙂
jlyfsh October 4, 2013, 8:15 pm
i’m so jealous!!! why was i not at home when this happened???
Sunshine Brite October 4, 2013, 8:10 pm
It’s my birthday weekend too. I’m going to a play and out to eat tomorrow. I’m super bummed I don’t get to do much on the day of since next week is my 7 day stretch and Wyatt has class that night. I have to try and get some friends together.
Classic October 4, 2013, 10:44 pm
Happy birthday weekend, Sunshine!
AKchic_ October 4, 2013, 7:37 pm
Tomorrow… putting together two dressers, cleaning out the empty half of the duplex (it’s not totally empty) and weed-whacking the yard if I can find an extension cord long enough. Oh, and buying a new rake. Must buy a new rake.
fast eddie October 4, 2013, 9:16 pm
For the first time in our 25 years together we picked out a new couch and chair that we BOTH like. It’s always wound up being something I could live with. (sigh) I AM SO HAPPY!
Our latest foster kitten was adopted by someone I know and will be very spoiled. MORE HAPPY!
jlyfsh October 4, 2013, 10:20 pm
I wish the weather would make up it’s mind as to whether it’s fall or summer! And I hope anyone in ‘Karen’s’ path stays safe and that it’s not too bad of a storm. The weather guy where I work says it’s kind of lame, so hopefully it’s nothing to worry about!
Lemongrass October 4, 2013, 11:42 pm
Happy birthday Jackson!!! And good job on the cake, Wendy! This weekend we’re at my inlaws and OMG the sleep is terrible. E has only been getting up once lately but last night he cried for an hour and was up a lot. He missed a couple naps, just refused them and was just tired and cranky. He went to bed fine tonight and hasn’t gotten up yet and it’s been close to 3 hours so it seems tonight will be better. Travelling with a baby is the worst but it’s so nice to see E play with his grandparents.
AliceInDairyland October 4, 2013, 11:03 pm
I run a 12k tomorrow!!! And it’s a trail run!!! And it rained all today and is supposed to rain tomorrow!!!!
It’s an old-school tough MUDder. I’m wearing my older running shoes and just crossing my fingers I don’t break an ankle. 🙂 Then tomorrow night it is Benjamin’s 10 year high school reunion. So I have to look like a young bombshell to make everyone envious of what a successful fantastic gentleman Benjamin has turned out to be. So that should be easy.
Plus the farmer’s market Sunday. Plus I am supposed to see a friend this weekend to catch up on girl talk. PLUS I have an exam Tuesday that I am furiously unprepared for. Small Animal Surgery Ugh.
McLovin October 5, 2013, 12:18 am
My son brought home a rescue kitten that one of his friends moms found in the parking lot where she works. Apparently the mama cat was nowhere to be found so *Katie* brought the 3 kittens home and basically hand fed them 12,000 times a day for first 2 weeks.
Anyway, he’s the most affectionate and curious little mofo on the planet. Even the dog thinks he has a new best friend, which is weird because I assumed there would be a lot of tension around here for a while. So, yeah, this weekend we’re having friends over to watch football and meet the newest member of our family.
GatorGirl October 5, 2013, 9:24 am
I’m currently sitting in the middle of UFs campus listening to the WORST music ever, fighting off the urge to vomit due to 3 hours of sleep.
The idiots next to me have an FSU tent (we’re not playing them) and I want to punch them.
It’s going to be a long 10 hours till kick off.
Christy October 5, 2013, 11:54 am
🙁 I understand tailgating, but couldn’t you get some rest for a while before the game?
GatorGirl October 6, 2013, 11:15 am
Christy, GGuy has friends in town so I was dd for them Friday which resulted in a super late bedtime. Then I had to go steak out our tailgate spot, and if you’re not there before 8 you’re not getting a good spot.
We ended up leaving the game in the first quarter because a fight started between a guy in front of us and a guy behind us. I got caught in the middle of it and ended up with an elbow to my cheek. The cops wouldn’t throw either of them out unless I pressed charges, so we just left. Ruined my 5th row viewing. Assholes.
shanshantastic October 5, 2013, 7:03 pm
Today was a good day – Brian sold his project car and we can pay off our refrigerator! He was very sad to see it go – he’s had it for four years – but it’s a good move for us, and in the spring he’ll get a new project that’s family friendly.
He also brought me McDonald’s breakfast, which means this might be the best damn day on the planet.
Tomorrow it’s craft day with my mom, making baby gifts and planning my next party! (I’m a Thirty-One independent consultant and she helps me come up with cute party ideas.)
Wendy, totally jealous of your cake skills. We were looking at Lego cakes and I think I might try to pull it off for A’s birthday. I still have 8 1/2 months so I think it’ll work. 🙂