Rosette cake - take 2

Since I did the other cake sooooo quickly, I wanted to try it again. My hubby wasn't fond of the rosettes on the side, so I decided to try it with a plain (combed) side, instead of the rosettes.

Here is how it turned out

Top of Cake

side of cake, with "combed" look

Check out a Dad's blog!

A friend of mine just started a blog - it's from his perspective as a dad! Check it out here : Canadian Dad!

Rosette iced cake

I have seen this cake floating around the internet since last spring. The first and 2nd times I encountered it was on a web forum I frequent, from 2 different posters.  I have since seen it crop up on some other blogs as well - and it was something that I wanted to try.

Yesterday, I was craving chocolate cake, so I decided that I would make this recipe (I have linked to the recipe directly, but I actually found it on another blog - you can check it out here, she has lots of great ideas!)
I have made this a few times in the past, for a get together I was hosting, my MIL's birthday cake, and Kyle's birthday cupcakes - it is really quite simple to make, and it tastes DELICIOUS!

I then prepared my bag, I painted stripes inside the bag with my gel colour to create a streaky look on the icing, as I didn't want a solid colour, and then I filled my piping bag with my white buttercream.

Then, I piped out rosettes on the side, and then the top. I filled in with swoops of the same streaky icing, and this is my finished product.  I am pretty pleased with it - it's kinda messy - as I was working quickly to avoid a 4yr olds help.... so from the time I started piping to finishing, was about 5 minutes (give or take a bit).  Next time, I know that if I take my time it will come out much more finished looking , and I will be able to fill in the open spots too.!

Now, onto pictures - please don't mind the fact that the cake was cut into before pictures were taken.... I could not remember where I had placed the camera.....

Top of Cake

the icing colour effect I was aiming for

Date night with my Big Little Man

Julien's school hosted a movie night last night - they showed Kung Fu Panda 2 in the gym.  It was free (well, it cost a donation to the food cupboard - I had a half pack of unopened diapers that Kyle has outgrown, and a couple boxes of lipton soup/kraft dinner that we brought with us).  They did have refreshments for a small fee $1.50 for a small bag of kernels popcorn, and $0.50 for a juice box.

They had some yoga mats on the floor, and lots of people brought sleeping bags/pillows/blankets. I happened to run into my best friend, who was their with her sister and niece, so we were able to sit together!

It was an enjoyable way to spend a date night with my guy!

crazy crying woman at the grocery store - that was me

So this has been a week of bad news....it's been rough.  I was at the grocery store this morning, and the song "dance with my father again" by Luther Vandros, came on .... it had me near tears. Well, i had tears, but I was able to blink them away.

For those of you that don't know, my Father died when I was a teenager - so that song is dear to my heart - and while I really like the song, it can be hard for me to listen to.

rough week

Have you ever heard the saying the bad things happen in 3's? Over the weekend, I found out that a highschool classmate of mine had died in a snowmobile accident; yesterday, I was told that a co-worker of mine and his wife lost their baby; so now I am waiting to hear of another death.

My thoughts and prayers go out to both the families, and I can only wish that they can find some way to work through their grief.

I need help - tips, advice...

My oldest has never liked to have his hair washed. As an infant, I dreaded bath time because I knew it would be met with screams that would last for a long time afterwards.

As he got older, he did outgrow his hatred of the tub - but not his fear of having his hair washed. He hates water on his face/head/hair.  Up until recently, I have been able to convince him to let me wash his hair (it would take some cajoling, but I got it done) however - recently I can't even convince him to let me near him . I have tried using the removable shower head, a cup of water, a container; I have given him a cloth to put over his face, lean back, lie back whatever I can think of with no positive outcome.

This week, he had food stuck in his hair (thanks to a younger brother that likes to grab and pull with messy hands) and Iwasn't able to convince him - so i pretty much had to hold him against the wall of the shower while I threw water on his head. I didn't evne get shampoo in his hair, just water - enough to get out the dried on food......

Help me please....any advice would be wonderful