Cake Teen!

AWESOME AVALON AND HER STAR 102.1 CAKE ENTRY!

I wanted to share something with you today. My kid never ceases to impress and amaze me. As you may know, she loves making cakes. She hasn't had a single class in cake decorating, but from watching Cake Boss and other cake decorating shows she has figured out how to make some really cool looking cakes. I can take not even a shred of credit, this is all her. She spent the entire day yesterday working on this cake for a contest on a local radio station Star 102.1. Her dad drove her down there this morning to enter. The Cake Boss is coming to Knoxville and she really, really wants to meet him.

Some of you might remember that we drove to Hoboken once to go to Carlo's Bakery, here is a pic from that trip, but Buddy was in PA doing a speaking tour. Avalon made him a 3d card we handed to Mary, but she never heard from him. I am sure he gets a lot of presents. So flash forward to today, she was the only kid to enter this contest and I was really hoping she'd win, but alas she did not. I think Buddy would be blown away. She held her own against professional bakers. YAY AVALON!

You know, we have to try. We have to keep trying. If we keep focused on our goals and we keep working hard, we get there. It may not have worked out today, but Avalon will meet Buddy one of these days and when she does, I think he will be duly impressed. She's a smart, kind, funny, talented and amazing kid and I am blessed to be her mother.

Truly.

Rock on, Avalon.

Love

Mom

Let Them Eat Cake

Avalon at Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken

We took a quick day trip to NYC yesterday for a bead buy and a side trip to Hoboken. I've never been to Hoboken New Jersey, but Avalon is obsessed with The Cake Boss and when she heard NYC, she requested Hoboken on the side! Ya gotta love a gal who knows what she wants! Hoboken is just on the other side of the Hudson River, so it's the first exit out of the Holland Tunnel, which is on our way home. I've always wanted to go there, and who doesn't love cake?!

We intended to leave early, but as usual we left later than we intended, oh for more hands! It all worked out in terms of traffic with just a few snaggles in Manhattan. Thankfully, my husband did the driving. I have no patience, have I mentioned that?

My Bead Score and Text from Avalon's Card for Buddy

I scored a pile of vibrantly colored and inexpensive beads and a single strand of rhodochrosite I simply could not resist. I rarely buy beads just for me, which is silly considering how many beads I own, but sometimes I find a strand that beckons...

Rhodochrosite...yummy.

Avalon spent all day on Tuesday making a die cut pop up 3-d cake card...twice. There was some serious drama around Studio Madge that day on top of the card making meltdown, so our delicious dinner that evening at The Blue Pear was well earned! Avalon wanted to give the card to the Cake Boss, but we knew Buddy was going to be away. When we drove into Hoboken there was a huge line out in front of the shop. They had cops out front and a door person! I can't believe they can keep up with the volume!

We decided to have lunch first to gear up for a long wait in the 90 degree weather, but by the time we finished eating and got to the bakery the line was thankfully gone. I didn't get a pic of the card, sorry, but once we got there and I saw Buddy's sister Mary at the end of the counter Avalon got a little freaked out. So I gave Mary the card. Frankie came down stairs while I was waiting to speak to Mary, which was pretty cool. Mary ended up down at our end of the bakery counter later. You would have thought she was one of the Beatles, Avalon was so excited! She was busy with a customer, so we didn't get a picture of her. We got them to put Avalon's name on her lovely and expensive fondant covered cake and we headed home. I'm happy to report that the cake tastes as good as it looks! They don't call Buddy The Cake Boss for nothing!

A Most Awesome Avalon Cake from Carlo's Bakery

Hoboken is a charming city, if you go to NYC, I highly suggest a side trip. You'll be really glad you took it! More pics to peruse below...enjoy!

xoxo

Madge

Carlo's Bakery

Avalon and Mom at Carlo's Bakery

Avalon and Dad at Carlo's Bakery

Please Don't Feed the Bead Dog

Fab Octopus Ring Madge Could Not Resist

If You Can't Spell 'Checks', You Can't Cash Mine