The evolution of the elephant cake

My nephew loves all things elephant (who doesn't?).  He taught us all many things about elephants... The only thing I really remember is tusks though.  On African elephants, only males have tusks.  For Asian elephants, both males & females do...
So, about 5 or 6 years ago, I found an amazing elephant pan to purchase online because I knew this couldn't be a fad and that I'd be making this kid elephant cakes well into his adult life (and actually pondered if it could cause some issues between me and future wife...but nah, his wife's going to love me because she's getting that cake pan as a wedding gift!)

So, because of this love of elephants, I have become quite skilled with elephant cakes.  Until this year, when the elephant morphed into wolverine.  Sadly, again I ponder, is this the end of an era?  Is the elephant cake evolving into something else, something more mature, more fun, more un-elephant-like?

Here is our evolution:

1) green elephant with tusks

2) blue elephant no tusks (pictured here with his sister's purple elephant birthday cake):

3) elmer the patchwork elephant
 (this one required tons of research. and tons of dye.  in the end, i didnt use nearly as many colors as the artist in the elmer books did, but the customer was happy AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS!)

4) a red elephant on a beautiful day

5) wolverine...so un-elephant-like.  It was very bittersweet decorating this cake (and yes, I know my lettering is very off-center....it was like 7am & for some reason I wrote "Cole" first).  Is it the end of an era?  I'm not sure... part of me hopes we go back to elephants next year.

If you notice the last two elephant cakes didn't use the mold, that wasn't an accident.  I tried to use the pan with each of them, but the cake crumbled right out of it.... I'm not sure if the pan lost something during the three times it was used or what, but I lost hope.   He'll still get it as a gift someday, but maybe it'll just be a wall decoration instead of a kitchen tool.

Happy birthday buddy, xoxo

No Knead Bread (I made bread!!)

Who knew it could be so easy and turn out so wonderfully.  I want to eat it all right now, but will hold off on my temptations and save it for my family to enjoy together....they better enjoy it!

Lucy made it sound so easy with her No Knead Bread post.

So I checked out the original post on Simply So Good: Artisan No-Knead Bread

How hard could it be??  Answer: not. hard. at. all.

I'm going to do it again - it was that easy!

For the end of winter

Being under the weather lately (off and on for what seems like forever), I am cozying up today under a blanket my mom hooked for me years ago with a cup of honey/lemon tea....ahhh, that helps.

I finished P's hand-warmers to match her Momma's:

Just in time for the last few weeks of winter!
I found an easy pattern on ravelry that works up fairly quick... I think these are my 6th pair with this pattern.
Fingerless Gloves Pattern

Over the weekend I started cleaning off the mantle to decorate for St. Patrick's Day.  I found shamrock garland that I had hooked last year... I had forgotten all about it!  Oh how I love the way it looks up on the mantle!

I can't help but wonder if a little starch would do it good though...

I've been a mom for 6 years...

in the past 6 years I feel I've become quite talented in decorating birthday cakes for munchkins....not just my own but niece & nephews also... and some requests have been bigger challenges than others (so many ELEPHANT cakes!). DS is about to turn six.  Last weekend we had a surprise party for him to celebrate with his cousins and family.  I always give him the option of what kind of cake he'd like....of course I know the flavor - french vanilla...and the frosting - home-made buttercream.... but the theme is all on him.
he chose Deadpool.  If you don't know who he is, look him up.  He's not the greatest character Marvel has produced, nor is he age appropriate in anyway for a 6 year old.  But I know DS has never seen any of his cartoons, nor comics, nor the game that DH just came home with (to torture DS??? perhaps).  But he has his action figure...and a poster on his wall (freebie from the comic shop)....and he thinks he's the coolest.... So what's a mom to do??  Well....it was his party!

Snow day...shmo-day

I'm not the first, nor am I alone when I say this is the longest winter ever!  So much snow....too cold to play outside....bored kids, messy house, we have made great use of our netflix subscription...
Today is the first school day in March...100 day party is on Wednesday, and daylight savings starts next weekend....Spring is right around the corner.  YET, Jack Frost is back once again with the 'threat' of up to 12" of snow....but we get 3!!  (hahaha, in your face, JF!)  So, it was a delayed start.  DH had no work because of the 'threat' and just took the munchkins to school... it's quiet...  it's messy....  I'm making a cup of joe and about to start on a mini-project for my neice (she stole her mama's handwarmers that I made for her b-day, so i decided to make her a set...properly sized of course).
off to grab my hook and some super soft yarn for lil P