Happy birthday to me

This week, I celebrated my birthday . The theme for this year starting from my birthday is  " Take time for yourself and do things your hearts desires for".

My long time friend and her family from seattle planned to visit us on their trip to Portland . Going by the theme along with my friends visit, I decided to make two tiered cake for my birthday.  I came up with a simple plan in my head about what I wanted to do. I have wanted to make a cake with white fondant and royal icing flowers.  But went with buttercream icing instead of fondant.

I made homemade royal icing . It took me around 3 - 3.5 hrs to make the royal icing petunias and lilies .  Made them five days in advance so they can dry well.

For lower tier, I made a 10*4 lemon cake(again) with apricot apple filling. For top-tier, I made 6*4 german chocolate cake with pecan coconut filling(I had left overs from NR's birthday cake). It took me another 4 hrs to bake , prepare butter cream icing and frost the cake.

I had a couple of 18 hour days this week. I managed to do everything after NR went to bed.

The cake turned out pretty well (looks like grand wedding cake) and tasted too good. Two of my friends family came home and we had simple celebration. NR had good time with my friend's family especially with their 14 yr old son. I might be having a house guest this summer (my friend's son for a week) and I am sure NR is going to enjoy his company immensely.

This year birthday turned out well thanks to friends taking time to visit me on my birthday unlike most birthday where only two of us celebrated it alone. While growing up in India, I used to have a grand summer birthday celebration every year with tonnes of family and friends .  The downside of life here is you are "all alone" without any family  for every damn celebration. We always invite friends for every festivals just to have the feel of  family around you. Friends are family in expats life .

NR and hubby gave lovely cards . I loved CB's card .

For the women of my Dreams

" The first time I saw you , I somehow knew you'd be important in my life. In my eyes,you were beautiful in so many ways. There was no doubt, that I wanted to spend forever with you  and when we joined our lives, things were every bit as good as I hoped. I didn't want anything to change. But... life is full of changes and not every day can be paradise. Together we've faced reality, the day-to-day "bumps in the road" that test every couple's patience . I've seen you in many challenging situations and the miracle is you're even more beautiful than I thought possible. You are sweet, thoughtful , strong, supportive and a partner everyone would want on their side.  Not only are you the woman of my dreams but you're also my best friend and as time passes, I fall more deeply in love with you "

Thanks CB for such lovely card(s) for my birthdays for last 19 years .