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I stumbled across a blog recently called 5 Minutes For Mom, which is based on the premise that every mom can take five minutes for themselves to relax, read relevant content, and connect with other moms out there in the blogging world. They’re hosting the Ultimate Blog Party, which starts today! All week long there are chances to win prizes, but also to get to know other blogs and bloggers. I think it sounds like a great idea, and decided to take part. I’m even hosting a giveaway over there, so be sure and look for my item!
For those of you that are stopping by for the first time as a part of UBP10, my name is Christi. I’m 28, a Christian, and am raising two boys with my (amazing) husband in west Texas. One of my sons, J, is 2 1/2, and C will be one year old NEXT WEEK! I’ve blogged for almost three years on a private blog for our families – mostly posting photos, videos, and all the details grandparents love to read about. My mom encouraged me to start another blog, and I finally decided to take the plunge. I initially started this blog with the idea of writing about my attempts at being frugal, and that’s still at the core, but I also write about things I love to do, experiences in parenting, and whatever else is important to me at the moment.
In the spirit of the Blog Party, I thought I’d share a little about plans for C’s upcoming birthday party. First, the theme: cars & trucks. That was pretty easy to decide, since they’re things C plays with all the time (and, let’s be honest, it also came down to finding a theme we hadn’t used for J’s birthdays). Next up: invitations. Here’s the final product – minus a few key details. ;)
Now, can I make a confession? We still haven’t mailed them out yet. Tomorrow… hopefully!
I’ll make the cake, and am planning to attempt a 3D car. Nothing fancy, but I’m hoping to carve a convincing shape – partially to save money and avoid buying a pan that we’ll likely use just once, but also because I think it’ll be fun. Brian and I like to work on cakes together, so it’ll be a team effort, I’m sure. Making our own cakes is a tradition in our family – here are some of the cakes we’ve done over the years:
This iPod cake is the first one we made after getting married. We kept it pretty simple – we didn’t do any carving, and I think we pressed bowls into the icing to use as a template for the wheel.
An (out-of-proportion) NES controller was next. This was our first foray into using fondant. We haven’t used it since, actually, not to say that we won’t again in the future. I don’t care for the taste, but there are so many adorable things you can do with it.
Next came a cake that most of you will look at and wonder, “What the heck is THAT?” Brian is, if you couldn’t tell from the NES cake, a pretty big gamer. The next cake is modeled after a game he played called Katamari Damacy. This one was a lot of fun to make – we baked it in a metal bowl to get the half-sphere shape, and used peach rings and Dots to aid in the decor.
I wrote last month about the most recent cake for Brian’s birthday. Now, we’ve done cakes for my birthday too – I just don’t have photos most of them! Here’s a minimalist cake Brian made and decorated all on his own for my 27th birthday:
One last cake – well two, really. Here are J’s cake & smash cake I made for his first birthday:
I just realized I haven’t figured out what to make for C’s smash cake – if the “big” cake is a car, what should the smash cake be? Ideas are welcomed.
For decor we’ll probably keep it pretty simple. I like to use solid bright-colored table cloths, plates, napkins, and cups. We’ll make a banner with cars and trucks on it, and I plan to fill a big hurricane vase with some of the MANY cars we have in our house – gotta love free decor, right?
I’m sure the closer we get to the party, the more details we’ll think of – and I’ll be sure to post photos afterward. In the meantime go check out the Ultimate Blog Party and Friday Follow, and have a wonderful day – the weekend is upon us!
Edited to add – part of my participation in UBP10 is to list some prizes that I’d like to win, from the HUGE list of those to be given away. I kind of felt like I was window shopping as I looked through the list! There are so many great prizes… here are my top five favorites (besides mine, haha… I’m US32, by the way!):
• US39: Be My Guest certificate, good for a 2 night stay for a family of four, at any Hilton Garden Inn, provided by Hilton Garden Inn and Bloggin2Noggin.
• USC17: A $200 Apple gift certificate, provided by CmomGo. We’re big Apple geeks!
• USC39: A $50 PayPal cash prize, provided by MomDot.
• USC8: A $55 e-gift card to Amazon.com, provided by Kelly’s Lucky You.
• US74: $30 Amazon gift card, provided by AFullCup.com (What can I say? I love Amazon!)
You have some AWESOME cakes! I wish I had talent like that! Visiting from the UBP!
.-= Aimee´s last blog ..Photo Mug for $1.99! =-.
Oh wow – I just found your blog and your invitations are SO cute. Wish I could use Photoshop that well – still learning!
Coming over from the Ult Blog party. This is my 1st time attending! Looking fwd to your prize. :)
Visiting from UBP! Those cake are awesome! I love the ipod one (:
Wow loving your cakes!! I am visiting from UBP!! This is my first year and I’m very excited! It was fate I found out about this. I was on twitter last night…. read into it and loved the concept so here I am!! ;O)
.-= Kasie Salas´s last blog ..SWAGBUCKS: Mega SwagBucks Friday!!!! =-.
Hi! I am stopping in from the party! Great post. I love J’s first birthday cake!
I think a smaller car, or even a tire would work for the smash cake. =)
.-= DaDana (Lily Bean Designs)´s last blog ..Ultimate Blog Party 2010! =-.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Love the cakes! :)
Have a great weekend! :)
.-= Raising My 4 Sons´s last blog ..The Pretty Peacock GIVEAWAY!!! =-.
Hi! I am stopping in from the party! Great post. I love J’s first birthday cake!
I think a smaller car, or even a tire would work for the smash cake. =)
.-= Dana (Lily Bean Designs)´s last blog ..Ultimate Blog Party 2010! =-.
Dana, a tire would be really cute! I might have to make it a different color – I can’t imagine what a mess black icing would make! Although I guess that’s half the fun of a smash cake anyway, right? :)
Great cakes! Have you tried rolled buttercream? It works and looks just like fondant, but has the flavor of buttercream frosting. I HATE the taste on fondant, but love the look, so rbc is perfect!
.-= Tina – My Own Party of 5´s last blog ..Ultimate Blog Party =-.
Tina, you may be my new best friend! I’ve never heard of rolled buttercream, but I’m off to look it up now!
Visiting you from UBP! Thanks for offering a prize! :)
.-= More Than A Mom´s last blog ..A Lot of Catchin’ Up To Do =-.
You are quite creative.
I like your cakes.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY `C`
Thanks for visiting my blog
*UBP 2010*
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..ULTIMATE BLOG PARTY 2010 =-.
First, thanks for the #FF on Twitter!
Second, those cakes are so cute! We always do our own cakes too — I think it is so much for fun that way.
Love the car theme — my little boy is 7 months and I’ve already been trying to figure out WHAT IN THE WORLD his theme will be. SO MANY DECISIONS!
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..Mamavation Monday – I’m a FINALIST! =-.
I second the tire cake idea! Love your cakes, as always! :)
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..[Sort of]Wordless Wednesday =-.
Cute Cakes!! Happy Friday Follow!
http://www.justtryingtosavemoney.blogspot.com
Happy Birthday to your little one! I’m going to make a Diary of a Wimpy Kid cake for my son next month (well, I’m going to try). Nice meeting you! I really like the design of your blog.
You’ve got a really great blog here!
Happy FF! I’m your newest follower! If you can, please follow me too at http://www.mommylivingthelifeofriley.com
Have a great day!
.-= Melissa Cleaver´s last blog ..FUN FOTO FRIDAY – The Eyes & The Nose Have It! =-.
I’m your newest follower from FF. Can’t wait to read more, stop by my blog sometime! Happy FF!
-K
http://mypottyseat.blogspot.com/
Hi! What gorgeous cakes! Have fun at the party!
.-= Lauralee´s last blog ..Ultimate Blog Party 2010 =-.
So cute! My girls are the same ages as your boys! I bet our worlds are so different, yet so much the same, lol :)
Stoppedby from UBP ’10!!! I’m excited to look around more. Stop by FTSN for some peanut butter pie when you have time!
http://www.fromthesamenest.com
~ Michelle
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Ultimate Blog Party 2010 =-.
Your cakes are so cute!! If you find that carving a car isn’t working out, there are often stores that rent cake pans. I don’t know if you have Bulk Barn in the States…but they have hundreds of pans…you can rent them for 6$ a day!
Ooh, thanks Kalista – I’ll have to check into that. I’ve never heard of Bulk Barn before, but maybe there’s something else like it near us.
Found your through blog party…love your cakes!!!!
What a cool blog!!! And the cakes look very yummy.
Stopping by and will continue to follow your blog. Come on over to my blog’s party to celebrate with me on how to score on hi-end fashion on a low budget.
Check it out at – http://taiyonsimage.blogspot.com
.-= Taiyon’s Image´s last blog ..WELCOME TO TAIYON’S IMAGE ULTIMATE BLOG PARTY 2010 =-.
I’m impressed with your cake skillz – and so cool that your husband has in interest in working together with you on them too :-)
I used to have a cake shop. It is a great fun business. You seem to have a talent for it too. I wish you all good fortune. I am a blog fan and this is my first big blog party.
Why not a Frisbee for the smash cake.
Here for the party! Your cakes are beautiful. My mom is great at cake decorating.
Another frugal blogger here, so it’s nice to meet you. I love all the cake pics.
Newest fan on your blog, twitter and facebook because of the #UBP10!!!
Love all your photos of your cakes! Very cool!!
Party on!!!
@Susieqtpies at Scraps of Life http://cafescrapper-scrapsoflife.blogspot.com
.-= Susieqtpies´s last blog ..Ultimate Blog Party 2010 and 2 cookbook giveaway! =-.
Wow, you are very talented! Stopping by to say from UBP 2010.
.-= Stacie´s last blog ..Free Beverage At Punch Pizza =-.
Having a blast visiting all of the blogs in this years UBP!! Your site is great! Glad you’re a part of the party!
loveeeeee the cakes…. especially the ones for j’s first b-day!
Just stopping by from the UBP 2010. I LOVE all the cake pics- awesome job! And the bday invitation for your son looks great.
.-= Susan B.´s last blog ..My First Blog Party! =-.
Wow, your cake designs are very clever. I can’t wait to see pics of the car cake!
Oops, I forgot, I’m coming over from UBP’10. Your giveaway is great – so helpful!
.-= Artistically Amy´s last blog ..Ultimate Blog Party 2010! =-.
Just stopping by from the UBP! This is fun!
.-= “Deal”ightfully Frugal´s last blog ..5 Minutes for Moms 2010 Ultimate Blog Party =-.
I remember homemaking a lion king cake for son…I am no artist, but he loved it
Dropping by from UBP — love your blog!
What a GREAT blog
Blog hopping and having a blast…..so many great blogs….This is a GREAT party.
I have a Fun $100 Gift Basket to give away and all it takes a comment.
I am number….294 and 295……
Teresa
http://teresa-grammygirlfriend.blogspot.com
http://grammyababychangeseverything.blogspot.com/
.-= Teresa´s last blog ..THE ULTIMATE BLOG PARTY and a GREAT PRIZE =-.
Hi There! I am visiting from the UBP10. I love your cakes, they are so cool! I am having a great time blog-hopping and meeting so many cool ladies. I am at
http://maryscountrylife.blogspot.com if you want to stop by and visit sometime.
~Mary
You have talent! I like the 1st bday cake the best!
.-= Tami´s last blog ..This Little Prayer of Mine =-.
Your cakes make me want to bake instead of clean today! :) Happy ubp!
.-= Lolli´s last blog ..Mommy Olympics =-.
Those cakes are awesome. I have never used fondant and always wondered if it had any flavor. I mean it looks like Playdoh so does it pretty much taste like it. Have you ever watched Cake Boss I LOVE that guy he is so funny and awesome with the stuff he makes..
.-= Angel´s last blog ..Ultimate Blog Party 010 is up and running… why aren’t you here?? =-.
Stopping over from UBP, I love cake decorating (although I’m a real novice.)
.-= Crystal’s Cozy Kitchen´s last blog ..Foodless Friday: Ultimate Blog Party =-.
How fun that your mom encouraged you to start another blog! Yay moms:)
.-= debbie´s last blog ..Missing: My Lips =-.
Wat wonderful cakes, and the perfect thing to bring to a party! Hope you’ll come visit!
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog {Bringing Up Benjamin}! I love this! I love all the cakes! And a Cars and Trucks theme is so cute for your little man! Happy birthday to him!
Hi, from #225 at the UBP! I have two girls who are very close in age like your sons – it’s an adventure, isn’t it? :^) Hope you can stop by my place this week!
.-= Tina H.´s last blog ..2010 Ultimate Blog Party! =-.
Hi Christi! Stopping by from UBP, but I’m already a follower – love your blog!
Thanks for picking the prize I donated and good luck!
Kelly
.-= Kelly from Kelly’s Lucky You´s last blog ..UBP Partygoers – Welcome! Win a $25 Target Gift Card! =-.
Happy UBP 2010!
.-= Deborah´s last blog ..Ultimate Blog Party 2010 =-.
I’m with you on the Amazon gift card. They have everything there!
Happy UBP.
.-= Stephanie J´s last blog ..Win a Private Screening of The Back-up Plan =-.
wow such cool cakes perfect for the UBP party. I am now following your blog as well. If you find time come over and stop for a visit
your cakes look sooooooo good…yummy!
Stopping by from the blog party. Those cakes are GREAT! Really..They’re fantastic. My husband is a huge gamer as well. He’d love the NES cake. I don’t think I could ever make one like that though. I’d love to try fondant, but it scares me.