Project: Cake for two wedding anniversaries

My third wedding anniversary project. Officially, my second tiered cake. 

Emma, the lady who I made the hairdresser theme cake for, ordered this for her grandparents golden wedding anniversary.  On Wednesday, when they came to have lunch at the Dome, they gave out some specific details for the cake.  They've decided to combine two wedding anniversaries into one same cake - 50th and 5th wedding anniversaries.

Project: Cookies and cream polvoron

I've got Thursday and Friday off this week, which I haven't had in a long long time. For the longest time, I've been given either Monday and Tuesday or Tuesday and Wednesday. To be honest, I don't really mind. My only concern is for me to have at least a couple of days to rest my legs and to do my household chores.

I have long wanted to make this sweet treat.  Somehow, I know the basic ingredients.  As a first timer, I want to be a little more creative so I thought of adding in some flavor. 

Ingredients

Softened butter
Plain flour
Ground Oreo cookies
Granulated sugar
Powdered milk

Tried to use my Hello Kitty cookie cutter but some of the mixture gets stuck.  The bow on Kitty's left ear looks a bit messy in this photo.

Hello kitty polvoron

My recipe yielded 93 pieces.  Kept about two take-away containers in the fridge then gave the rest to our friends for them to have a taste.

polvoron, anyone?

Hyacinth Ashlyn's Birthday Celebration (February 18)

The dinner celebration for Ashlyn's second birthday.

Two Sundays ago, the parents have already organized a simple dinner to celebrate her actual birthday. And now that Ina Letty is so back from a short holiday, a bigger celebration was held. Purple was the color motif to go well with her favorite cartoon character Dora the Explorer, which was also the theme of the castle cake I made for her. Cute and adorable as she has always been, no doubt, Ashlyn enjoyed her birthday party. 

Click link for photos: http://s929.photobucket.com/albums/ad136/sherylsantos31/Ashlyn%202nd%20Birthday%20Celebration/

Project: One-tier castle cake for Ashlyn

Ashlyn just turned two.  How time ticks really fast?  Can't imagine it has been a year already when I made the barbie cake for her first birthday.  She couldn't walk steady on her own then and neither could she talk quite understandably.  Seeing her now makes me miss the good all days when she would just walk in our room to try getting hold any of my Hello Kitty stuff, which eventually made her like Hello Kitty, as well.

This is the cake I created for her. 

Dora-inspired castle cake

Here's another snapshot.

Ashlyn and Winnie cutting the cake

8th Family Day (February 19)

After the successful celebration on Saturday night, there was still so much food left. And to save us all from cooking and preparing our own plates for Sunday's affair, they've decided to have it at their place instead. I swear the lechon tastes better when it's cooked the "paksiw" way; and nothing could be more compatible with dinuguan than puto.

After the sumptuous dinner, we moved back to our original venue for some singing-along. Chad luckily got this Pioneer brand home theater system at a garage sale that morning, which we just wanted to try out. You'll never really know what you could find these days. Anyway, we had so much fun. We even did a Whitney Houston tribute though we were struggling very hard to reach the high notes.

Click link for photos: http://s929.photobucket.com/albums/ad136/sherylsantos31/8th%20Family%20Day/

7th Family Day (February 12)

Hearts day was just around the corner but unlike the previous year, wherein we went to Lawley Park just to have a shoot with all three of us dressed in pink and red, this year's celebration was very subtle. I guess because we've had dinner the night before while Kumare, on the other hand, was at the Filipino Association's V-day party.

But Family Day has always remained special to all of us. Whether there is something to celebrate about or it's just an ordinary Sunday in the calendar, we always mark it "red". Red, in its most simple definition, means the only time throughout the week to be spared from all the stress imposed by work or life itself.

Click link for photos: http://s929.photobucket.com/albums/ad136/sherylsantos31/7th%20Family%20Day/

Valentine's Dinner (February 11)

Venue: Golden Town Chinese Restaurant

We were supposed to have this pre-Valentine dinner at Joop Thai but they were fully-booked that weekend so we had to find another restaurant. Among the many choices around Albany, we picked Golden Town. They've got buffet dinner and we thought it would be perfect for our Asian preference.

But it turned out as a big disappointment. Hubby and I had dinner there three years ago and the food was great; they must have hired a new chef, I was guessing. Though the buffet table looked full, none of the food on there seemed pleasing to our taste buds. The fried dimsims were too oily and bland; mongolian beef lacked the strong flavor of tenderized beef; fried rice and noodles tasted like they were deep-fried in oil and there was not even a single desert. At $16/head, we deserve far better food than what we had to pay for. We could have just bought a box pizza which we will surely enjoy.

Click link for photos: http://s929.photobucket.com/albums/ad136/sherylsantos31/Valentine%20Dinner%202012/

Project: Cartoon-style turtle cake

A former workmate of mine now living in Perth ordered this for her friend's birthday, who is residing in Albany. She settled the payment thru bank deposit and gave me the contact number of her friend.

This lady with the name Charli loves turtles so much.

Project: Cake for Gabby

Two weeks ago, I got this message from Trish who used to work at the Dome. I made a cake for her in December before she left for Melbourne.

Hey Sheryl!
How are you?? Hope you had a nice Christmas!
My friend from Albany- Fiona, wanted to get your number as she loved the cake you made for me! She wants to call you and arrange for you to make her a cake, if that's okay?

So if you don't mind could you send me your number and I'll pass it on to her?

Thanks Sheryl!!!

The following day, Fiona rang up to order a cake for her daughter's 18th.  Honestly, I still have hesitations in making tiered cake.  But I know that the only way to for me to learn is to actually try doing it.

And I guess I'm all ready for the challenge.

6th Family Day (February 5)

Our recent family day would probably be the shortest we've had since we started. Normally we finish dinner by seven and from there onwards, we would just have casual talk in between watching TV or karaoke. Though we all have to work the following morning, we don't part ways until about 11 or 11:30PM.

Last Sunday, was just not the usual. After having dinner, we, the ladies went to see Ina Letty as she just got back from Manila that afternoon. From there, we went to a dinner invitation at Rey Family's new place. The family have just moved to a new house on Friday (the house owned by Lulette at Grevilla Street). Because we were all getting tired from going one house to another, so we called it a night and bid each other good night.

Click link for photos:  http://s929.photobucket.com/albums/ad136/sherylsantos31/6th%20Family%20Day/

Project: Ladybird cake

What are ladybirds and why do kids love them?  Ladybirds, also known as ladybeetles and ladybugs, are natural controllers of aphids, scale insects and mites which otherwise damage plants.  It is believed that ladybirds are lucky. Killing one is said to bring sadness and misfortune. The nursery rhyme "Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home" encourages children to catch the beetles and blow them on their way in return for a wish. It is thought this was a way of getting the children to disperse the beetles amongst the crops to destroy pests.  

Now I understand why this little creature is so loved.  I can't say I'm a fan but I do find them really cute.

The client wanted this insect to be the theme of his daughter's birthday cake.  I'm lucky enough to have this book given by my sister, with step by step illustration on how to create this magical little creature.  It was such a big help.  The instructions were so easy to follow.  I had a wonderful time making and decorating because the design itself was so interesting. 

Ashlyn's 2nd Birthday and 5th Family Day (January 29)

The little cutie turns two last Sunday.

The parents Winnie and Bunso invited us for a simple dinner at their place, alongside our weekly family day gathering. I know a big party is being planned (in two weeks time) for her birthday, they just want to wait til Ina Letty gets back from her two-week holiday in the Philippines. Nonetheless, the dinner was great. Everybody had a chance to have a little chit chat. And the little girl did seem to have enjoyed the attention and spotlight all focused on her.

Click link for photos:  http://s929.photobucket.com/albums/ad136/sherylsantos31/Ashlyn%20Birthday%20and%205th%20Family%20Day/

Project: Hairdresser theme cake

One of our staff at work wanted a cake for her last day working with us.  She quit to pursue an apprenticeship in hairdressing at a well-known salon.  She's such a very nice lady.  It's always sad to see people go.  But, in her case, she will still be around Albany and we might one day bump into each other at the plaza. 

I knew already what I was gonna make for her...

hairdresser cake

Making the toppers was so much fun than I ever thought.

hair dryer

hair curler

mirror

scissors

Project: Booty cake in boyleg

Booty cake

Just got back from Joop Thai Restaurant to deliver this cake.  A lady who works there ordered this for herself, for her 21st birthday. 

On our first talk over the phone, she wanted a cake in the shape of a dolphin.  I didn't want to disappoint her but I had to be honest in telling her that I can't do it.  I could try but like I've always said, my skills are limited to the basics.  She was really nice to instantly change it to a booty cake instead.  Apparently she's seen the cake I made for Krishna and Ivy sometime in December.  So there, other small details were easy to discuss too.  I'm just so happy that in spite of my inadequate skills and techniques, there are still people who choose to believe in my talent.

When I was covering the cake with butter cream, I couldn't help but smile that it kinda looked like a boobs cake upside down.

covered with butter cream

Lastly, notice how I did the word "happy" in the wrong direction.  Silly me... I didn't even realize until I've finished taking a photo.  There was not enough time to change it unless I'd pull it out under the cake which is completely not a good idea. 

Aquatic Fun Time (January 28)

Location: Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre

We had it planned and smoothed out about two weeks ago. Like a kid, I was so stirred up for Saturday to come. In the last three years of living in Albany, I had always wanted to go in the Leisure Centre; not really for a swim but to just have look around keen to see what's in there to enjoy. But for our planned visit, to give myself a relaxing dip into the pool was the main goal.

When Saturday came, the gladdened feeling slowly drifted away on finding out I won't be able to take a plunge into the water. Why does it have to be "it's-a-girl-thing" day on a practically important day? Anyway, I didn't let it spoil the moment. Being at the poolside was worthwhile as I could see them having fun, especially Charmelle. 

Click link for photos: http://s929.photobucket.com/albums/ad136/sherylsantos31/Aquatic%20Fun%20Time%202012/