A tale of two cakes

I admit it. I don't bake cakes for birthdays. Instead, I head to the bakery and order a cake based on the 'theme' of the party.

This is a tale of two cakes.

This was Olivia's cake.



Since she was turning 6, Kevin and I let her pick out the cake without any input from us. She decided that she was having a "TinkerBell and friends" party and she wanted this cake. We ordered it from "Bakery #1." This would be the last time I order a cake from that bakery.

The cake that Olivia picked was supposed to have a deep, dark blue border with Tink and her fairy friends centered on the cake. It was cute. The cake that the gave us (see above) was anything but cute.

The border was teal green (and yes, I do realize that TinkerBell IS green, but that's not the point) - and Olivia, ever wise at age 6, said "Mommy, this cake isn't the right color." That is not what bothered me (much). Did you see the writing on the cake? In ALL CAPS? Orange ALL CAPS at that. Oh. My. Gosh. It looks like Olivia decorated her own cake. Seriously, all caps? WHY IS THE CAKE YELLING AT MY CHILD?

Being the high maintenance Type-A mom that I am, I called the bakery to complain. The manager told me "Oh yes, I saw so-and-so decorate that this morning. She was just being creative."

I'm sorry, what? I didn't pay $25 for a cake so your rookie cake decorator could "be creative." I wanted a fairy cake that looked JUST LIKE the picture in the book. You know, the cake my daughter picked out. So, the manager apologized and offered to refund our money. I sent Kevin back to the bakery to get back our $25. (He had originally picked up the cake and didn't see any issue with it. Men.)

And so, we move from Olivia's birthday party cake wreck to our second birthday cake in two weeks - Emma's "Ariel" cake.

See here:



I ordered this cake from "Bakery #2" (a different store) and made it a point to have this conversation with the baker:

Me: Now, this cake IS going to look just like the picture, right?

Baker: Um, yes. Why do you ask?

Me: Well, I ordered a cake two weeks ago from another bakery and they decided to "get creative" with it.

Baker: We aren't allowed to get creative. These are copyrighted cake designs and they must look exactly like they do in this book. We can't even change the colors.

Me: Good.

And there you have it, the cakes are copyrighted designs and therefore no "creative license" should be taken.

I have to say, I loved Emma's cake (it didn't really come with two Ariel's ... one is a candle). It was so cute and really looked like Ariel and Flounder were "under the sea."

In this battle of cakes, Ariel/Bakery #2 wins.
Fins down.

January 28th: A note: My mother informed me today that she read this post and this is what she said: "Your friends are going to think you're crazy. Both of those cakes were very cute." Yes, well...I have to disagree. Olivia's cake was NOT what I ordered, and therefore, I complained. I will be the first to admit that I'm a bit high maintenance and like this how I like them. And so, I guess if you think I'm crazy, you might as well tell me that.

Happy Birthday to Emma!

Emma - Halloween 2009

My little fashionista

July 4, 2008

Em's first trip to Disney World - 2007

My little peanut Emma-nem, January 2007

Happy Birthday to you, Emma!

Three years ago you arrived and our family was complete.

You are my funny (hilarious!), creative, artistic, adventurous little princess who is also a chatterbox and night owl. I don't know where you find all that energy ... but every day with you is a joy! It amazes me how you can spend hours (literally) coloring the same sheet of paper in your own special, magical way. The end result is always a rainbow of color - and no two art projects are ever the same.

You crack us up on a daily basis and the bond you have with your big sister is wonderful to see. I love watching the two of you play together! I love listening to you sing "Over the Rainbow" when you watch The Wizard of Oz...and when you start repeating the lines from the movie...well, it just makes me smile.

Happy birthday my little peanut Emma-nem.
We love you so.

Love,
Mommy, Daddy and Sissy (Olivia)

We went to Disney World!

Enjoying our whole fish at Kouzzina.

Kevin and I just returned from our whirlwind, mini vacation to Walt Disney World. We had so much fun and some unwanted "adventures" in our travels to and from Orlando. [A disclaimer: this post might be a bit long, so you might want to get a snack before you sit down to read.]

Sunday, January 17th
We boarded our flight at Detroit Metro, full of excitement and anticipation - after all, we were going to Disney World! I should note there that I am OK with flying - except during take-off and landing. So, once we were up in the air, I settled in and started reading a magazine. And then the craziness started.

Suddenly the flight attendants are making an announcement asking for any doctors, EMTs or nurses on board to come to the front of the plane. I look up and see a woman in the aisle crying and freaking out and a few people leaning over a man in the middle seat.

This was not a good sign.

Then, the small crowd starts walking down the aisle of the plane, with a very pale looking guy in the middle. And then, the pilot announces that we're making an emergency landing in Cincinnati due to a medical emergency on board. And that's all the information we get.

Soon, we land in Cincinnati and taxi to the gate, where the plane is met by an ambulance, fire truck and police car. The paramedics and police board the plane and the next thing we know, the sick guy is WALKING OFF THE PLANE. That's right. I said he was walking off the plane of his own accord. No stretcher, no oxygen. Nothing.

And then, we sit at the gate. For an hour. They tell us nothing other than "we'll be leaving soon." Oh, and they give us WATER. Just water. Nothing else. The flight attendants claim they can't open anything else. Whatever.

Finally we're back up in the air, headed to Orlando. Then we hit horrible turbulence at 27,00 feet - and the pilot announces "well, it's a bit rough up here so I guess the Delta/Northwest weather guys were wrong, so we'll be heading up to 36,000 feet and see if it's less bumpy up there." Um, OK.

As the flight attendants come around with the beverage carts we're told that they are giving the alcoholic drinks for free but still have to charge for the food because "it's from a different vendor." Now I'm sorry, but after an emergency landing and an hour long delay at the gate in Cincinnati, the least they can do is give me some free M&Ms.

And if all that isn't enough .... when we are landing in Orlando the plane hits an air pocket or an updraft or something and suddenly the entire plane tips to the left (and I'm sitting over the wing and suddenly see the ground move very fast toward the tip of the wing!) and then we tip violently to the right and then we bounce down once and then back up and then we finally land (very HARD landing) and then the pilot slams on the brakes. It was THE WORST LANDING EVER. When we finally made it to the gate the entire plane broke into a round of applause - presumably because we were still in one piece.

So, after all that drama we were finally on our way to our Disney resort. Let me just say this - Disney's Coronado Springs Resort is gorgeous! We had a lake view room and it was so beautiful. As quickly as we could we boarded the bus to Epcot - where we explored the World Showcase and had a delicious dinner at Kouzzina by Cat Cora (which is located on the Boardwalk, outside the gates of Epcot). We got a bit brave at dinner and ordered the whole fish - and oh my gosh it was so yummy!

Monday, January 18th
On Monday I headed to the Magic Kingdom by myself! My favorite part of the morning was riding in my very own boat (all by myself!) in it's a small world! Kevin joined me later in the morning and we decided to ride the things we never ride when the kids are with us, like Big Thunder Mountain and Space Mountain. And we also met one of my Disney friends from Twitter and his wife! We ended up talking for two hours over Dole Whips - so much fun! Our magical day at the Magic Kingdom ended with Spectromagic and Wishes.

All in all, I spent 12 hours at the Magic Kingdom! That's right - 12 hours without taking a break at the hotel. My feet were killing me. (I should note here that the shoes I wore ended up being an epic failure when it comes to comfort. I will never wear them to Disney again.)

Tuesday, January 19th
Oh goody. Another day of travel.

First, they change our gate at the airport. Then, as they start boarding and we're walking down to the plane the kid in front of us vomits all over the walkway! Oh. My. Gosh. I had to hold my breath until I boarded the plane. And wouldn't you know it, vomit boy is sitting behind us. And as he gets out of his seat to go to the bathroom he TOUCHES THE HEADREST ON MY SEAT! With the hand that was just covered in ick. Oh. My. Gosh. I can't change seats because the flight is full. So for the entire flight I had to lean forward so that I didn't have to lean my head on the headrest (which I had doused with antibacterial hand gel).

This was NOT going to be a good flight.

We are supposed to leave at 1:55 p.m. We don't. At 2 p.m. the pilot announces that there's a mechanical issue and they have to turn off the engines and oh by the way, he's sorry that it's so hot on the plane but we have no A/C due to the issue and well, if we just shut the window shades it might be OK.

So, we're stuck at the gate on a plane with no A/C and a kid with vomit potential sitting directly behind us. Yep, we are in travel hell.

Finally, at 2:35 p.m. the pilot says we are leaving.
Which means we'll be late arriving to Detroit.
Oh and he's really sorry.

So, I spent the entire flight worrying that the kid behind me was going to be sick again. (He wasn't. And I should mention that his genius parents bought him a bag of peanut M&Ms. WTH? Who does that?)

We finally land in Detroit and had the only good moment of the entire flight - a totally perfect landing. It was as if the pilot had landed on a cloud. I wanted to hug him.

I grab a Starbucks and limp to the baggage claim and then, finally, we are in our car - headed home to our girls. Exhausted, but happy to be back home.


I have to say, that despite all the travel nightmares and delays and vomiting kids, Kevin and I had a magical two days at Disney World. It was definitely worth all the headaches.

Not a country girl

While this is amusing, I should note that it is highly unlikely. I've lived 'in the country' (OK, so it was just a small town in Pennsylvania), but that was enough for me. I'm a city girl (or at least a suburb girl).

Maybe I'll just move to the beach - and never get bored.

I'm going to Disney World!

You might have noticed that widget over there that says "I'm going! Social Media Moms Celebration at the Walt Disney World Resort".

I am so excited to be writing this -- I am going to my very first blogger/social media conference! And what makes it even more exciting is that it's at the Walt Disney World Resort (and we all know how much I love all things Disney).

Some amazing speakers are scheduled and I think it's going to give me a chance to network with some amazing mommy bloggers. And, if all of this isn't already enough to make me burst at the seams with excitement, I will (finally!) be meeting quite a few of my "Disney friends" from the online Disney community that I love. Oh, and we're staying at Disney's Polynesian Resort - somewhere I've wanted to stay for quite a while!

I can't wait to experience what is no doubt going to be a magical conference.

Poop! In the potty!

Yes, I'm once again writing about poop.

I make no apologies for this - I have two kids, one of whom is learning how to use the potty.

And today, we had a small success (but really, when it comes to potty training...any success is good!).

I found Emma standing the family room in what I like to call her "poop stance" - she stands very still with a look of sheer concentration on her face until she does the dirty deed.

"Emma, are you poopy?"

"No."

"Do you need to go potty?"

"Yes. Emma go on potty."

And so, I set Em on the potty and well....she pooped.

And I jumped up and down yelling "Yay Emma! You POOPED ON THE POTTY!"

My favorite moment: when we flushed and Emma said "bye bye poopy!!" while waving at the swirling toilet water.

I'm hoping this was the first of many potty training success.

Yay poop.

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Update 8:03 pm: So, I just changed yet another poopy diaper. So much for success.

In need of a makeover

I'm going to admit something.

I need a makeover.

Well, not ME exactly. (Although that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing).

No, this blog needs an extreme blog makeover.

But I don't know where to start.
I've been looking at blog templates all day - and have yet to find anything that grabs me.

I don't like the look of this blog.
There, I said it.
It bores me.
And I don't like to be bored.

So, anyone who has redesigned their blog -- where did you find your template?

------------------------------------------
UPDATE: January 12 - So, you may have noticed that I updated my blog last night. It's OK for now, I suppose. What do you think?

Happy Birthday to Olivia!

My birthday girl....

Pretty, pretty princess

One of my favorite pictures of my girl

A big sister...

...and, Olivia at age 1.

It's amazing how time flies when you're having fun! I can't believe that my baby girl is turning 6 years old today! It seems like just yesterday that we were bringing her home from the hospital, thinking we knew what we were doing (that thought quickly vanished when Olivia PEED ON ME as I walked her from the nursery to the kitchen sink (yes, the kitchen sink) to give her that 'first bath' at home. Yes, I undressed her in the nursery and walked her through the dining room to the kitchen and she was a totally naked baby! So much for knowing what I was doing. After many sleepless nights and MANY, MANY weeks of colic (worst weeks ever!)....we finally 'got the hang of it'.

And now, six years later....every day is another new adventure with Olivia. She is our bright, brilliant, talkative, creative, shy, funny, beautiful, amazing little girl.

Happy Birthday Olivia! We love you so very much!!!

Another post where I talk about poop

As any mom with a toddler/preschooler (read: 3 year old) will tell you....potty training is never easy. Oh sure, there are books out there claiming you can POTTY TRAIN YOUR CHILD IN 20 MINUTES! (OK, so I think it's really two days, but c'mon...seriously) .... but it's really not that easy.

I have yet to find a tried-and-true method to get my kid to sit on the potty and do her business.

And believe me, I've tried just about everything.

When we were potty training Olivia we were essentially clueless (as most first-time parents are...and if anyone tries to tell you they knew EXACTLY what they were doing...they're lying! Yeah, I went there). We had potty training charts (thank you, Huggies), we had potty training books ("Potty Time with Elmo" was my personal favorite, although our copy said "Uh-oh! Who wants to die?!" rather than "Uh-oh! Who has to go?" You think I'm joking? I'm not.). We also had prizes and we bribed and we pleaded and finally, in April 2007, Olivia was potty trained.

Yes, she was 3 years 3 months old. We almost had her potty trained BEFORE she turned 3, but then Emma was born and Olivia reverted back to 'wanting' to be in diapers (just like the pediatrician said she would). And we actually accomplished the potty training in about a week. The 'overnight' training would take a few more months.

And now, Emma is almost 3 years old.
And we've been trying for a few months to just get here interested in sitting on the potty....to no avail.

We've tried telling her that EVERYONE sits on the potty and then she proceeds to list everyone she knows (Nana, Papa, Daddy, Mommy, Sissy, Mady, Tami, Jon and boy). "Boy" would be my almost-two-year-old nephew Cameron ... Em just calls him "boy". When I say "No, boy doesn't sit on the potty", Em says "No Emma sit on potty!"

Great.

The frustrating part is this: Emma tells us she needs to be changed as soon as it happens. "Mama, pee!" or "Daddy!!! Poopy!!!!" are heard daily around here. [And I'm going to talk poop for a second - for the record, a 3 year old's poop is NOTHING like a baby's poop.] So, it's not as if she ENJOYS walking around with a soiled pull-up. Nope. She just refuses to even TRY.

I tell her every single day that she needs to try and that it would be so "cool" to get princess underwear and it all just goes in one ear and out the other. While I KNOW that you can't force a child to get potty trained, it would be so nice if she would just show a little bit of interest in at least TRYING.

So, all you moms out there who might be reading this blog -- what worked for you in the quest to potty train your toddler?

I suppose as someone who has already successfully potty trained one child, I shouldn't be asking for advice, but what worked for us with Olivia is NOT working with Emma. And I'd really like to have Em potty trained before the end of 2010.

I think I can relate

A girl can dream, right?

The Mouse House.

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and magical 2010!