Don't Let's Start

I thought I would have to hold off on posting the latest list of audiobooks, but I just finished book #10 earlier in the week for my book club. Even though it's been a while, only two of these books are from the monthly club - I skipped November (too depressing of a book) and December was a paper book with no audio counterpart. And of course, I listened to Serial (and other podcasts) which kept me away from my books.

1: How to Talk So Teens Will Listen & Listen So Teens Will Talk
  Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlich

2: The Circle
  David Eggers

3: Think Like a Freak
  Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

4: God Save the Sweet Potato Queens
  Jill Conner Browne

5: Creativity, Inc.
  Ed Catmull

6: The Round House
  Louise Erdrich

7: Unwind
  Neal Shusterman

8: Oryx and Crake
  Margaret Atwood

9: The Magicians
  Lev Grossman

10: Cold Mountain
  Charles Frazier

Plants vs Zombies

These cupcakes and cake were for my littlest nephew's Plants vs. Zombies themed birthday party. I frosted and my sister decorated with the rolled buttercream fondant made (and dyed!) by yours truly.

Sunflower, Peashooter & Corn Gunner vs. Zombies & Conehead Zombies

My nephew made the paper decorations that topped the game board cake. He is a very talented artist!

Dem Bones

This cake was a commission for a teenager's birthday. I don't think it was part of a larger pirate-themed party, but you could certainly adapt it for that use.

I found a template online and used the transfer technique I learned in my Building Buttercream Skills class to decorate it. I thought it turned out really nice and I heard that the birthday boy loved it!

Flag Cake (Blueberries and Cherries)

The Fourth of July Flag Cake was a little different this year since I used buttercream frosting and cherries instead of whipped cream (or Cool Whip) and strawberries. There was no substitute for the blueberries. I also gave it the right number of red and white stripes, which came out crooked even though I made hash marks. Maybe we'll try it again next year.

Building Buttercream Skills, Class Four (Final Project)

I chose to make ribbon roses for my final project cake. We learned leaves in an earlier class (which are harder than you think!) so I put a few near the roses to give the cake a more "bakery" look. I also practiced my lettering skills and wrote an early birthday greeting on the cake.

Overall, it was a fun class and it made me more confident in using a decorating bag and frosting tips. I will definitely be experimenting with the techniques I learned in this course!

Building Buttercream Skills, Class Three

We could being in any treat for the third class so I made oversized oatmeal cookies. I figured if Little Debbie could add frosting to her cookies (technically creme filling) so could I!

Building Buttercream Skills, Class Two

In the second class, we learned how to torte, fill and frost a cake. I chose strawberry jam to go inside my yellow cake. The cake was a sugar bomb since the Wilton recipe for buttercream icing is so sweet!