Pretty Cakes Taste Better

With birthdays in March, May and July, our family's birthday season is pretty much over for the year (at least the ones I work on - mine's next, but I'm done baking birthday cakes until spring!). This year, I went a little overboard in the cake decorating department, but I had so much fun doing it! I thought I'd share with you my favorite place for birthday - and other! - cake decorating inspiration: Family Fun. While I love cleverly designed treats, some of the ideas out there can be tricky to execute, but I've been able to make pretty much everything I've tried from Family Fun, and for me that's saying a lot!

Like this cake, which I made a version of for my son's 3rd birthday:

Photo credit: Family Fun.
Click here for recipe and how-to.

And this one for my daughter's 5th birthday (which we didn't even eat at the party because I let the kids decorate cupcakes and they had so much fun eating those that I sort-of forgot about the cute house cakes until after the party was over - note to self: don't do cake *and* cupcakes next year, pick one or the other!)

... which was inspired by this one ...

Photo credit: Family Fun.
Click here for recipe and how-to.

And I haven't done it yet, but OH! I want to make these cupcakes like nothing else! :

Photo credit: Family Fun.
Click here for recipe and how-to.

I mean, how much cuter can you make a bunch of jelly-beans and a Starburst candy?!

Happy decorating, whatever your inspiration! I'm just glad to take a break from it until next year, when I promise - REALLY this time - to keep it simple.

Free Birthdays

There are 4 people in our family; My husband, my daughter (3.5 years), my son (1.5 years), and myself. Of us 4, three have the same birthday. Yup, you read that right. My husband, daughter, and son all share the same birthday. No, it was not planned. She was a week early, and he was a day late. All natural labor progression, no c-sections, no inductions. Yeah baby! It makes things interesting.

I have only had to plan one birthday for all three of them once so far. When it was just my husband and daughter it was easy. He did not care that she had all the attention. In fact, he loves being overlooked on his birthday. He does not like the spotlight. I have always held a familyish party for him so he gets some attention. But it is going to be hard as the kids get older.

There are some nice things about having three on the same day though.

• Red Robin has a birthday club. Each one gets a free meal no purchase necessary. We can go out to dinner and only have to pay for me.
• Cold Stone has a birthday club, so they all get free ice cream too, no purchase necessary.
• Marble Slab has a birthday club which means more free ice cream.
• Baskin Robbins has a birthday club, so even more free ice cream.
• Denny's has a free Grand Slam on your birthday so another free meal. ( I have seen the commercials for this one and I don't see anything on the site that you need to sign up for. Probably just show up with proof that it is your birthday.)
• Children's Place has a birthday club so you get a 15% off coupon for your entire purchase.
• The Melting Pot has a birthday club and you get a free desert fondue.

All these, I belong too. I know there are more freebies I belong too as well just for the kids too, Toys-R-Us and the Ikea Kids Club (sign up in the store) are the ones off the top of my head. There are tons more birthday Freebies listed at Freebies for Mom.

For my family, we could probably eat almost for free for two weeks around there birthdays if we wanted too. There are so many freebies. All of the coupons I have received are good for two weeks as well. It is not just the day of your birthday which is really nice. So go enjoy your birthday treats. They are even better knowing it is free!