BEYOND THE OVEN
Hello friends!! Sorry for the silence on this series front. I haven’t been up to much the past couple of weeks and couldn’t update you with nothing. But here’s a few things I’ve been up to!
We had a big snow storm two days ago after a series of 40 degree days. Despite being a crazy mess, it was actually beautiful once I made it home safely of course. I stepped out for a few minutes into it and took these pictures.
Despite how it looks outside, I’ve been obsessed with and enjoying smoothies lately for desserts. This paleo chocolate cherry smoothie is a new favorite.
This weekend I’ll be curled up on the couch enjoying two wonderful cookbooks. I pre-ordered both from Amazon and they showed up on my doorstep yesterday. Amanda’s (i am baker) surprise-inside cakes is one I’ve been looking forward to for months. She is my cake idol and I’ve learned so much about cake decorating from her blog. Sally from Sally’s Baking Addiction has always been a great big blogging sister and of course makes drool worthy desserts. Her book is nothing short of amazing treats. I will share more after I read them both cover to cover.
On another note, since the last time we talked, I have watched the entire two seasons of House of Cards. If you have not seen it or heard about that show, drop everything you are doing NOW and watch it. It’s that good. Just know that you will accomplish nothing for the next two weeks. Right Jessica?
This new shoe collection by Sarah Jessica Parker at Nordstrom is going to be the death of me, my credit card and my poor husband. I want them all. Save me!!! These are some of my faves.
Talking about fashion, what are your spring must-haves? I am thinking I need a new spring blazer, a colored skinny jean and some floral tops. I’m trying to keep my list to the minimum so that I can afford one pair of SJP heels come August for a certain monumental birthday. After all, a girl only turns 30 once 😮
And talking about birthdays, today, we are celebrating this cool chick’s 13th birthday. Happy Birthday Miss Maddie!!!
Little tidbit why she is my dearest…Mr J invited me to her birthday party 4 years ago to ‘meet’ the in-laws after 6 months of dating. She has been glued to me since then (I don’t know why) and made that nervous meeting so easy. Love her.
For her birthday, I attempted to make a minion cake. Here’s what it looks like. By the time this goes live…I think I’ll be there already so the surprise won’t be ruined 🙂
Hope you all have a great weekend!!
Gorgeous cake! Being cake challenged I really admire your production, maybe in my next life I can be back with SOME cake baking skills
shoes – love them all. Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks of being over 50 is the inability to wear this type of heels. Those are now a luxury of the past. But, I think the whole game is to dance according to the music, if I cannot wear this type of sexy shoes, I find some other type that will still look good. Maybe not AS good, but still…. 😉
my weakness is and has always been black dresses. I won’t divulge how many I own, unless a lawyer is present. So there!
Oh my gosh Zainab!!! The minion cake turned out beautifully – it looks incredible and I absolutely love it!!! That was sooo sweet and nice of you to make this for your niece – she is one lucky girl to have such a talented and sweet auntie 🙂 My son’s 3rd birthday party theme next month is all about minions (he adores them and was a minon for halloween hehe http://lifemadesweeter.com/?p=3889) and I was going to make a very similar design except with little minions surrounding him with a base. Can’t wait to see the post for this or a tutorial – it would be super helpful for the fellow minion party planners 🙂
Man, those SJP shoes are gorgeous, I am not allowed to buy any more shoes this year but boy they sure do look purdy! Hope you stay warm and enjoy the rest of the weekend!:)
Thanks Kelly!! I will definitely work on the how-to for the cake this week. Your son will love the cake 🙂 I love his halloween outfit…he is so cute!!
It’s so funny you are not allowed any more shoes. I have been cut off for 5 years since I got those Manolo Blahniks for our wedding bahhahah! But I think my birthday counts as an exception lol!
I love your minion cake! You are super talented! Is there anything you can’t do!?
Hhahah thanks Meriem!!
I am in awe of that cake! You are seriously the best aunt ever – and one talented baker! I haven’t started season 2 of House of Cards…I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop watching!
Thanks Cate! She loved it!! You should have seen her face. Made it worth the three hours of pain lol!! And she kept saying how special she felt 🙂 And girl, please start season 2. Things get roudy good!!!!
That cake oh my God! You’re such an artist – give me your talent!
And Happy Birthday to Maddie! xxxx
Thanks Consuelo!! The cake turned out great 🙂
Oh my gosh! Love the cake! Also, I texted you the surprise cakes book picture before I read this! Didn’t know you already had it!!!
Thanks Amanda!! I thought you saw it here lol! I read it and there is a construction cake in there that Brian would love.
What an amazing cake Zainab! It’s stunning. It sure looks like a winter wonderland, have you got snow still?
Thanks Laura. Yes we still have snow, in fact it’s snowing tonight 🙂
I am swooning over those shoes, and that cake looks fantastic!
The shoes are killing me!!
As a recovering shoe addict i just scrolled past the shoes quickly. lol
Hahhaha Chichi recovering is the key word lol!
Love the minion cake. My daughter wants one for her birthday . Well done !!!
Thanks!! I’ll have a tutorial of how I made this in the next week or so.
such a beautiful cake!!! and yes I have been eyeing that SJP shoes as well..
Dixya they are so pleasing to the eye!!!
Wow. Look at that cake. Wish you were in my family. I’m celebrity a big one this summer. 75. Will you come and bake me a surprise!!!! Great post. Love the snow pictures, too.
Helen, thanks!! I wish I could bake you a very special special cake. 75 is definitely a special one 🙂