Happy Birthday to Me! And to you!
So today is the big day. I turn 21. Okay, that's a total lie. I'm not 21. I'm 25. Okay, that's a total lie too. I'll be absolutely honest here. I'm 45. Yepper, stunning right. That's a big ass number. But it's okay, with age comes wisdom and the ability to know yourself well enough to say whatever pops into your mind. Which I do. Way too often.
So how am I celebrating. Well, if all goes well today we'll be hitting a movie and dinner. Mini-me has school today so we're doing two days of celebrating. Which I'm going to be honest here, totally rocks. Sunday I hit a flick with hubs, Mini-Me (my daughter) and Boytoy (Mini-Me's boyfriend). We saw Jack Ryan, which totally rocked. Then hubs grabbed some Swiss Chalet so I didn't have to cook dinner. Today if all goes well, which is questionable, I'm seeing either The Secret Life of Walter Mitty or Saving Mr. Banks. It's a toss-up depending on my mood after I grab some much needed sleep. I refuse to cook on my birthday so we're meeting Mini-me after school (she's in university so she is in class late every day) for a very late dinner. My birthday is the one day a year I refuse to cook. Or clean. Or basically do anything "grown up" at all.
Each year I ask one of my BBBF's to make a cake for me for my birthday. This year I begged my lovely buddy Jenni. She is the genius behind Pastry Chef Online. I adore Miss Jenni. She's one of my besties and I am so lucky to call her a friend. I had the pleasure of meeting Jenni in person at a food conference called Mixed in 2012. We had a ball hanging out and talking. We've become such great friends. 2013 was a hard year for me on a personal level and Jenni stood by me through all of it. She was supportive and kind, it's just who she is.
I left it completely up to Jenni what to make me. We had a little G+ hangout so we could talk about what we were doing for this post. I told her to make anything she wanted. Then we got to chatting about foods I hate which turned into a hilarious conversation about pickles. So knowing Jenni shares my twisted sense of humour I'm half expecting a pickle shaped cake today. Which would be absolutely hysterical.
As you can see Jenni and I are silly girls. The first photo was of us posing with the Dirty Dancing cutout at the hotel they shot they movie at. I think we may have been cracking up because my hand might have been somewhere inappropriate moments before the photo. In the second one we had promised our friend Becca we would take a pic of us together at the conference missing her because she couldn't come. We keep our promises. And have no shame when it comes to being silly in public. I love that about Jenni. She makes my heart happy.
So make sure you head over to Pastry Chef Online to see what mystery cake Jenni made for me. I cannot wait until she unveils it. I'm so excited she agreed to do this for me.
Jenni I adore you woman. You are the wind beneath my wings. Thank you so much for your friendship. You  make all the ups and downs of life seem like a smooth ride. I'm a lucky egg to have you in my life.
*Update: Yeah, it was reveal time and Jenni sent me the pic of my cake. Okay so she nailed it. She knows me so well. It's everything I LOVE rolled into one cake. Someone grab me a huge spoon!*
Another special touchy feely thank you to Jenni for this awesome cake. You went above and beyond. Turtle S'more Chocolate Cake, it's like you know my true heart. I am so thankful you did this for me Jenni. You rock.
Make sure you check out Pastry Chef Online for the recipe. You're going to want to make this. Immediately!
Toodles and smoochies! xx
Tara
Happy Birthday Kim, enjoy your day!!
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks Tara. xx
John@Kitchen Riffs
Happy Birthday! Love the idea of the mystery cake. On my way to check it out right now . . .
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks so much John. I had so much fun doing this.
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes
Happy Birthday Kim!! Have an amazing day!
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks so much Paula.
Betsy Cohen
Happy Birthday Kim!! I just had a gigantic slice of Jenni's Turtle Smore Chocolate Cake.
It is the perfect cake for this auspicious occasion. It has style, flair and is sweet…just like you!
Kim Beaulieu
I wish I was noshing on Jenni's cake. That woman just amazes me, I love her to bits. I am in awe of how over and above she went.
And thank you, how sweet are you. I appreciate that. You made my day.
Julie
My birthday cake has to include chocolate for sure, but not all chocolate, cake and icing both - a sure way of making me sick for the rest of the night, ugh. As a kid, my cake was always chocolate with a Queen Elizabeth icing, which is like a sucre à la crème with coconut, hmmmm! But my favorite birthday cake is, of course, one I didn't have to make myself. I think I need to go cook me a cake right now.
Kim Beaulieu
I love chocolate in all forms, and I love with with caramel, or cherries, or marshmallows, or pistachios. Pretty much anything. Lol.
I'm sitting here imaging Queen Elizabeth icing, I love coconut.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress)
YAYYYYYY!!!! HAPPPYYY BIRTHDAYYYY!!! It sounds like its an awesome one-and omg that cake is TOTALLY you to a T! Jenni did a great job!!
(and my fave birthday cake is chocolatey chocolateynessssss)
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks Kayle. Jenni rocked it out. I'm such a lucky girl.
Julie
By the way, your cake is killing me. I have to make it. Today. Happy birthday!!!
Kim Beaulieu
Jenni is a cake Queen, I love that woman. She made my birthday so special.
Jenni
I totally could not pickle you because I love you too much! I am thrilled that you love the cake, Kim!
Love you a ton! xoxo
Kim Beaulieu
Ha, I am dying laughing right now. I totally expected a pickle shaped cake after we talked.
I love you so much Jenni. You always make me smile. I cannot thank you enough for doing this for me. It was the sweetest thing ever. I can't wait till we can cook together one day. Thank you a million times over for doing this.
Love you. Oodles and bunches. xx
Dee Fedor
I love Angel Food cake for my birthday. Love cake, hate icing!
Kim Beaulieu
I love angel food cake. I adore icing. I've been known to eat just the icing. lol
Tricia
Caramel cake......
Kim Beaulieu
Good call.
Jaye Lorton
Happy, happy birthday! I'd be happy too if someone made me that delectable cake:-) My favorite cake would have to be homemade hummingbird cake. However, I'm certainly not picky...any cake will do, especially if I don't have to make it for myself!
Kim Beaulieu
Thank you. I am a lucky duck to have a friend like Jenni in my life. She makes me so happy.
I love hummingbird cake. And I'm the same way. My birthday is the one day a year I refuse to cook or bake.
Emily
For birthdays, it's all about the funfetti!
Kim Beaulieu
I love funfetti.
Pat
Happy Birthday! What a fantastic cake Jenni chose for you!
Pat
I like so many cakes it's hard to choose a favorite....hmmm maybe the best is something with chocolate!
Kim Beaulieu
Chocolate rules.
Kim Beaulieu
Thank you so much. Jenni is amazing, she knows me so well.
Becca from It's Yummi!
Hippo Birdie Two Ewe, Lunie!! My favorite kind of cake is truly a toss up between double chocolate and cherry cheesecake, so I usually end up making both and smooshing them together into my mouth 🙂
I hope this year brings you INCREDIBLE happiness, success, and downright fun!
xoxo
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks lady. Yours is any day now right? Happy early birthday my friend. I hope your day rocks. Mine sucked, I was so sick and overworked. I still need to open my gifts, hoping maybe tomorrow we have time.
I wish you all those things for yours as well lady. I am so lucky to have foodie friends in my life.
nettie moore
Happy Birthday Kim!! My favorite birthday cake is Carrot Cake! Nettie <3
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks Nettie. Love carrot cake.
Coco
Happy bday, KimBee!
You rock 45! I'm 43 and you look way younger than me.
xoxo
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks lady, and lol. You look super young. I think I just lucked out in the gene department. My dad's whole family aged well. It gives me hope.
Aly ~ Cooking In Stilettos
Happy Happy Birthday Kim! What a GORGEOUS cake - Jenni is a pastry genius!!!
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks Alycat. Jenni amazes me, I love her to bits.
Yvonne McGowan
Have a happy birthday!
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks Yvonne.
Amanda P
Love me some spice cake!
Kim Beaulieu
Spice cake rocks.
DeniseG
Hmmm, I love cake so much it's hard to choose... but I'd say my favorite BIRTHDAY cake is good old fashioned yellow cake with chocolate buttercream. And don't forget the sprinkles. Happy birthday to you!
Kim Beaulieu
Ah, classic is good. So are sprinkles. Thanks so much Denise.