DJ Turntable Grooms Cake

I was recently asked to make a turntable for a groom's cake. I was given two pictures by the bride and was told to do what I thought was best. This is when my imagination began to get away from me. I began to do some research and noticed that most of the cakes I saw were fairly simple or extremely detailed. After looking at more than one hundred cakes, yes I said one hundred, I still wasn't satisfied with any of the designs I came across. I realized that I wanted something that really came to life. That's when I decided to see if I could make the cake spin (manually of course) and light up. I have to admit, I was pretty excited when I saw the finished product and I wanted to share it with you guys.

Tools needed: 

Two 5" Round cake boards

Black 1/2 sheet cake board (wrapped)

Two Flower nails

Black and White Fondant

Silver Cake Spray

One Straw

LED lights (battery operated)

Black Marker (edible or permanent)

Wax paper

Directions
Place sheet cake on the black cake board and frost. Completely cover 11" x 15" frosted sheet cake with black fondant. Cut two big circle shapes out of white fondant, using the 5" circle cake boards as a guide. Place fondant circles directly on top of each cake board and spray silver. Place the flower nail through each one. Once dry, cover the metal flower head with black fondant and write on the CD's with the edible / permanent marker if desired. Insert the straw into the area of cake where you want the CD's and then cut slightly higher than the cake. Remove piece and use as guide to cut a second piece of equal length. Put both pieces of cut straw back into the cake and insert each flower nail into the center of the straw. Outline each CD with a fondant border. Now on to the light switch. Puncture 10 holes into a piece of thin cardboard (around 4"x3") and taped LED lights inside.  Once finished, staple the boarder close and make sure not to puncture the cord of the LED lights!!

Cut out a piece of white fondant slightly larger than the cardboard and then make ten holes. Cover the light switch board in fondant and then sprayed silver. Once dry, place on the cake where desired. To make the second smaller light, cover a small LED with wax paper (the wax paper gives the appearance of plastic clear cover) and gently press into the cake where desired. Then make a fondant cover top. Decorate the rest of the cake as desired. I chose to make turn knobs and volume switches.

Check out my YouTube video for further instructions. Have fun and happy caking!! 

                                     

Just A Thought

                                    

Mommy Scenario Tag!!

I had so much fun making this tag video with my big sister. Whether you're a new mom or a pro, we all have questions about our kids. This is just a really fun way to get a glimpse into how other mom's handle certain situations. As a mom of two young boys, I've learned a lot from other mother's and somethings I've picked up along the way. Hope this video helps you and yours...enjoy!! 

Mommy Scenario Questions!

1. Your kid is refusing to eat dinner, do you stand your ground and demand they eat what you made? Or make something else?

2. Your kid has a melt-down at the store, nothing is working to calm them. Do you leave & come back another time, or grit your teeth and finish shopping?

3. Your kid gets too many toys for their birthday, do you make some returns or save them for a rainy day?

4. Your kid is protesting sleep, do you give in at 3am, get them up & turn on a movie? Or continue to rock them, nurse, etc to try to get them back to sleep?

5. You have an appointment and no babysitter- do you bring them with you or reschedule?

6. You have 20 minutes until unexpected company arrives. Do you rush to clean up your messy house, or just figure- "hey, it's okay. I've got kids!"

7. You're running late & only have time to do your hair or makeup- which do you choose?

8. You're at the park and another child pushes yours, do you intervene and correct them- or go find the child's parent?

Gratitude Pumpkin - 2014

   The "Gratitude Pumpkin" was in full swing this year in the Lopez household. We were a little late starting the project, ten days to be exact, but we caught up. We finally laid our pumpkin to rest yesterday. As I admired for one last time the words that adorned our pumpkin, my heart was truly field with gratitude. I am beyond grateful for all the wonderful things the good Lord has given me and my family.

   It's easy to get distracted from what really matters when we live in fast pace society consumed with getting more and superficial things. We focus on what's wrong in our life before appreciating what's right. We obsess over the bad and neglect the good. This project has definitely been a wonderful avenue for my family to adjust our focus on the many blessings in our life. Now I'm not saying everyone has to run out and get a pumpkin every November! But we should all strive to have a heart of gratitude!!   

                             

No Frizz Please!!

I can't stand frizzy hair, but to be honest who can?? There's nothing more annoying than having a perfect hair style ruined as soon as you step outside!!  Or having to plan your hair style by the weather. Many of us women deal with this problem, which is why there are hundreds of products appealing to our anti-frizz addiction...lol.


I use to think frizzy hair only happened if your hair was damaged. I have now learned that even the healthiest, undamaged hair can get frizzy. So what causes frizz? Humidity, excessive heat-styling (use of flat irons, curling irons, hair dryers), and excessive combing / brushing of dry hair.  Chemical processing (perms or dyes) also contribute to frizz because they change the structure and integrity of hair.


My frizzy hair problem has worsened since I went natural. My natural hair soaks up humidity like a sponge. Seriously, the moment it comes it contact with the moister it frizzes and draws up. This has been so frustrating for me. I can't tell you how many times I opted to put my hair up in a bun just because I didn't feel like dealing with the fuzzy drama that would be sure to follow if I wore my hair down...lol.


Recently, I been on a quest to "Fight the Frizz!". I started with two popular hair products: TRESemme Keratin Smooth flat iron smoothing spray and Fantasia Frizz Buster Serum.
TRESemme promises to protect your hair from heat while providing shine, as well as, controlling frizz for up to 48 hours. Fantasia Frizz Buster Serum promises to be 100% effective in instantly eliminating dry, frizzy damaged hair. 


The Results: I give both products a strong OK!! Can't say they worked great in controlling the frizz but TRESemme did seam to protect my hair from the heat during flat ironing and Frizz Buster made my hair incredible soft and silky which is always a plus for me. Check out my YouTube video for more details!!

How to Make a Minecraft Cake

It all started with me asking my nephew what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday. "Minecraft, I want a Minecraft cake!" " I have to admit that I have been asked in the past to make a Minecraft cake but they wanted the pixilated look which is labor intensive and requires a lot fondant  I thought to myself, there has to be a simpler way to make this cake without all the fuss of fondant. For all the Moms, Aunts, or beginner cakers out there that want to know how to pull off a simple version of this cake...here it is!!

Tools:

Spoon

Spatula

Sharp knife

Grass Tip

Coupler

Decorators bag

Minecraft figurines

Cake board

Two 9"x13" chocolate cakes

Green Buttercream  (around 5 cups)

Blue Buttercream (1 cup)

Directions: 

Place one chocolate 9"x13" cake on cake board. Using spatula, thinly frost top of cake with green icing. Don't worry about crumbs in your coat because you will be adding another layer of frosting 
that will cover it later

.                                    

Cut second 9"x13" cake into cut three pieces:

1. Square shape - 4"x4"

2. F shape - 6"x6"

3. L shape - 3"x4"                                                                              

 Final arrangement will look like picture below.

Place both on corners of the cake and thinly frost the tops.
With grass tip, cover tops of the frosted areas with green frosting.
Hold tip at 90 degrees, gently squeeze and pull up.
See picture below.

Leave area, about 4"x6," unfrosted. Using back of spoon, add blue frosting to uncovered area.  Once covered, make peaks with spoon. To make peaks, make "S" shaped design and then pull away at 45 degree angle.  It will resemble ways.
Add figurines wherever you see fit! For my details, see video below.Have fun and happy caking!!