Simple. I use to long to make fondant cakes like the cake boss until I realized that he had an entire staff who each did a different part of the cake. Now it’s simple. I love a birthday cake with homemade butter cream and piping or simple roses and swirls. That’s more my style anyways.

Row’s 2nd birthday cake was what I like to call an open faced cake. Meaning there was only icing in between layers and on the top. I loved how it came out. It was simple and stress free and I also felt like it wasn’t so overloaded with icing like it would have been if I had iced all of it.

To make this cake simply use any cake recipe or box cake. You shouldn’t feel bad about using a box cake by the way…..do you know how many cake decorators use them? I was shocked. Many professionals do, so don’t feel bad about it. I do both depending on time. In fact I actually have some batches pre made. You may have seen them in my pantry entry here.

Stack a layer ice, stack a layer ice….you can find my butter cream recipe here. Make the top pretty and bam it’s done!

 

I also made a bunting as a cake topper out of washi tape, baker’s twine, and skewers. Simply tie the ends, add washi and cut to form pennants. How easy was that?! Yes I had a lot of washi to choose from. It gave me an excuse to use it. I swear I buy some every week! Oh which reminds me Target had large size washi in their Christmas wrapping section-who bought it? Me!!!!

I also wanted to share with you one of my favorite things-other than washi. These are called Bake Even Strips.-here’s a link Wilton 415-0795 2-Piece Bake Even Strip SetI learned about them while taking cake decorating classes-oh yes I did! These are awesome. You wet them and then wrap them around the top of the cake pan. They work on smaller circles, ovals, and square pans. There’s a pin to secure them. You pop your pan full of batter in the oven and these babies help them rise evenly so you don’t have to mangle them and cut them to make them even later! I’ll be adding this to Momfessional Friday Favorites list!

Our week ended with me throwing out my back-so fun. A trip to the brand new Sam’s literally five minutes down the road. Row had a blast because since it’s opening they have samples galore! Looking forward to a cousin birthday tomorrow and an Aunty visit this week….oh and a Toddler Thanksgiving too! What are ya’ll doing to get in the Thanksgiving spirit?

 

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