My birthday is this Sunday…and the other day at work, my friend Stacey pulled out a little early birthday present.
I was shocked enough at this, because I wasn’t expecting a gift from anyone…but was also seriously excited…especially when I saw the little striped material peeking out from the top of the bag.

I pull it out and it is the coolest apron I’ve ever seen…and to top it off…she made it.

Now, I will probably never be this cool – but I’m sure glad I have friends that are…

check it out…it makes me want to bake everyday!   

 
and I must say, I look pretty good in it too! 

A new apron needs a test drive, right? 

I signed up to make a cake for my boss’ graduation party…so i put that apron to good use.   

For therapeutic reasons, I’ll tell you just how that cake turned out.  
I finished baking it on Wednesday night, and after struggling to get it out of the pan (this is a constant struggle for me – if anyone has any suggestions on this so I can stop pulling my hair out, i’d appreciate them), put it under saran until the next morning.
The next morning, i got the base layer of frosting on it before i went to work. Mom suggested that i put it in the oven to store it because i lack counter space in my kitchen (not that I blame mom for what was about to happen to the cake from this suggestion. In all fairness, i did ask where i should put it)
That night, we were running around like crazy people and Ellie and i started making the two strawberry/rhubarb cream pies i needed for the weekend. We got them all put together as I started to heat up the oven. It wasn’t until the oven was fully preheated and i opened it did i realize the cake was still in there, albeit in worse shape than when i put it in. 

The cake did turn out fabulously…did you know that Hy-Vee makes sheet cakes and sells them un-decorated.

I didn’t either, but i do now. 

cake melted…cutting board ruined…lesson learned.