Olive turns ONE!

Let’s face it, all of this cake decorating business is just practice for the one event every year that really matters to me: O’s birthday!  We chose a farm theme (I know, sort of hoaky to those who actually live on or near a farm, but we had fun!).  I made this adorable banner after seeing a similar one at a friend’s party.

Bushel baskets were freebies from my husband’s work.  Cheesy yet adorable “Moo” and “Oink” ribbons made the baskets just festive enough for a toddler’s party.  I was lucky to find several yards of gingham fabric remnants on clearance.  There wasn’t enough to cover every table entirely, but they made pretty runners.

Sunflowers are very much out of season in January, but to me, nothing says farm like a giant, vibrant sunflower.  I’ve been into Mason jars for a while now (who isn’t?)…so, I had accumulated enough for centerpieces, decoration, and drinking glasses alike.

Lord knows that I do not have 50 sets of matching silverware.  So, I rolled up mismatched sets inside towels and napkins that I use for food styling.  I wrapped them with jute and tied them with pig cutouts.  My poor cousin and housemate, Steph, got carpal tunnel from helping with this tedious project.

 

Ah, yes, the best part: the cakes.  The giant cow (too often mistaken as a pig. boo.) was cut from 2 layers of devil’s food cake, filled with homemade raspberry jam and frosted with buttercream.  O’s barn smash cake came together from some vanilla scraps leftover in my freezer.  Don’t even ask how much red food coloring I used in that little number!

Scrap wood, burlap, straw from my father in law’s yard, berry baskets, brown eggs, creamers found at a flea market and a plethora of cake stands completed the buffet table.

I think it’s pretty obvious that O and I were having a good time.  I wore my Farmer Jane overalls that I’ve had since 1992!  O’s bonnet came from our Halloween outing to the petting farm, and her dress came from Etsy (way too much cute stuff on that site!).

While she was delicate about ”smashing” her cake, she, no doubt, enjoyed herself!  We made the right decision by stripping her down to her diaper and a bib for cake eating.  Let’s hope she doesn’t grow up to be a “woo hoo girl”.

As a thank you for celebrating with us, guests left with a baby chick shortbread cookie.

We had so much fun, I’m already planning the next one.  Happy birthday, O.  I never knew I could love someone so much.

Special thanks to my brother, Mike, who shot these beautiful photos so that I did not have to miss a moment of the festivities.