{the love cake}

Husband finally decided to have his birthday 2 hours after I got home my trip. I was a little heart broken that I didn't pull off the envisioned party but I hope I made it up to him with the cake I made from my heart. I didn't stop thinking about him in any one of those four hours that it took to make that cake. What a glorious day when husband graced his presence to this world. The value he has brought to our family is immeasurable so by me saying his birthday is one of my favorite days is not an exaggeration.

Hope you had a wonderful birthday my main Mr. Man.


OH MY, besides my kids, that cake was the most wonderful thing I have ever made....I am not exaggerating that one either. Everyone NEEDS to go and make it. Every little detail that went into making the cake was so worth it...even the very expensive dutch processed cocoa.  So my little cakie cake didn't exactly look like the picture but I didn't care because it was all about the taste.

Recipe from here, ENJOY!

ingredients

For cake layers
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup whole milk
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon almond extract
3/4 cup boiling-hot water

For filling
7 ounces sweetened flaked coconut
4 ounces coarsely chopped pecans (1 cup)
14-ounces can sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon vanilla

For glaze
2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
10 ounces fine-quality semisweet chocolate
3 tablespoons light corn syrup

For full instructions go here.

If your wondering if cake is included in my special diet than the answer is no but there is always an exception for LOVE CAKE.  I made my candida very happy last night:-)

Paper crafts

Life has been really crazy around here these days. We will just leave it at that but want to see what I've been using the last couple of nights....

You don't know what they are you say....

It's my latest & greatest paper craft project.  Ever made makeshift ear plugs out of toilet paper? Well they have come in handy the last couple of nights when a certain little someone feels the need to ONLY have Momma from 1am to 4am. The first couple of nights I sorta felt sorry for the little guy until on the 3rd night I figured out there was nothing wrong with this little tike and he was merely in a habit of playin' his Momma. Well I am tired & maybe I should invest in a real pair of earplugs but for now the above have seemed to get me through.

Speaking of things made of paper look at all of these fun pics.  I LOVE PAPER CRAFTS!! 

{via DesignSponge}

{via my home}

{via Martha Stewart}

{via Orange Beautiful)

{via Orange Beautiful}

{via Orange Beautiful}

I love the above photo.  It's been around the blog -o- sphere but there was a great tutorial that went along with it found here.

The above picture is from the Mr. Man party.  A few people asked where I got the lanterns so  I thought I would share.....The Dollar Tree.  They were all white to begin with but I found that spray paint worked great on paper.  

Daddy

Dear father of my children,

Today I wore a yellow polka dot shirt

to church and then when we got home

I started to make you an egg salad sandwich

 and noticed it kind of matched.  

I wished it were filet mignon 

instead because I know how much you likey.  

I will make it up to you with some of my famous

cookies later on.  Don't you leave to Alaska

soon anyway....you deserve it.  I will miss you

because you are what makes this family hold

tightly together.  

Hey remember when we were sad 

that we had no kids so we went to Hawaii instead?

Well look @ you now Mr. Daddy.  What you are 

doing now is bigger than anything else.

Your kids love you and I love & appreciate all

you do even if you.....

ride a girl's bike with black socks and crocs on....and even if.......

you like hanging dead animals up on the wall.  That's OK if we don't see eye to eye on this because it still is beautiful just like you....especially when you are with my children and because of that I will let you hang one more (for a lifetime maximum of 2) dead things on the wall.  Funny how it started out as only being able to hang one in the garage.

 

Yep, by the looks of things you definitely need a manly man vacation.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY love muffin!

Love,

Me

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let's not forget the 1/3 of the reason why I am who I am today.

THE BREAKDOWN

33.333333% - just came the way I came

33.333333% - am who I am because of my Dad

33.333333% - am who I am because of Mom

{estimated percentages}

I hope to have your 33.333333% of who I am be really GREAT so that I can show everybody what an amazing Daddy I have.

I love you so much Dad!

Remember how I said I only liked choc. mustaches?  I may just change my mind.

Being that I am the sole author of my blog sometimes I feel it is not an equal opportunity blog.  For example lots of pictures of my Dad but not of husbands Dad (husband was a little slow on getting them for me).  My Father-in-law is a very special Dad.  I look up to him so much.  He is a strong, honest, salt of the earth kind of man who raised a mighty fine son.  Love you too!

The Mr. Man Party

So the Mr. Man party was so much fun.  If you can't read the sign it says, Come One, Come All or just COMB over (get it).....MR. MAN PARTY "featuring" ANDREW & The BOYS.

Yes my brother was so kind to share his birthday with my boys in which I am very grateful for....like he really had a choice in the matter:-)  This birthday meant that my boys were kind of a coming of age.  When you hit 2 years old you're kind of not a baby anymore so I have been a little sad to see this day come.  That is where the whole idea started unfolding in my head for a "Mr. Man Party".  If you can't beat 'em join 'em.  Seriously it won't be to long before they are wearing ties and carrying briefcases but hopefully not mustaches (unless they are chocolate ones on a stick).  I promise to savor every last minute of these little tikes.    

  

The cookies, especially the tie ones were so cute & tasty.  Michelle makes very cute cakes as well...check her out.  The cupcakes were awesome because one of my favorite people came over and made them for me yesterday.  My Dad loved them so much that he even asked for the recipe.  Perhaps I'll post the recipe because they are sure to trick the pickiest of eaters.   On second thought, I don't know if I should because then my Dad would find out they were actually healthy & wouldn't eat them again.  They were made with agave nectar, whole grain spelt flour, coconut oil, pineapple and carrots.

  

 

          

The chocolate mustaches were a hit.  I think Auntie Whitney should consider one in real life.

So cute!  We always love it when baby "P" is in the house.  Does anybody know how to spell strictly...apparently I don't (refer below) but I'm too tired to change it.

My Mom made the below shirts.  The front had old ties sewed on with the back having their initial embroidered on it.  Thank you Momma, they were perfect.  Don't worry my brother got one too, except his said "The original Mr. Man" on the back.  We really did call him Mr. Man when he was a little boy so it was very fitting.  Thank you to all that came.  If anybody got some good shots of the boys blowing out their candles, pls. send my way.

Have a great weekend and a Happy Fathers Day!

Shout out to my Pappason & my Hubby.