~Off to the races~

Today is my father-in-law's big 70th borthday!
WOW!

To celebrate, each year the boys (hubby included) love to go to Emerald Downs for the horse races.  Not just to bet (we bet small moolah) but to enjoy some fun company, food, drinks and good people.

This year Andy's dad was the big winner, winning on a tri-fecta (that's guessing which horses, and in what exact order they will win). Pretty rare especially out of 8-9 horses!

Birthday luck!

I won $24 and was a happy camper.

We enjoyed some roast beef sandwhiches with garlic fries, a latte . . .
Andy had a beer and I had a yummy raspberry margarita.

 Brought floppy along . . . hey it's the horse races!

Andy never buys coffee . . . but he sure does drink mine lol I guess things are better shared!

 Mmmmm birthday tradition: Cakes from Hoffman's bakery.

Black Forest Cake:

soooo goood!

Good times!

Happy Birthday Father-in-Law!

~Happy Birthday to ME!~

See it all started in 1983 . . .

A lovely young couple with a 2 year old boy BADLY wanted a girl . . .

and so did this boy (love you Brian!)

 What a chub-ster huh?!

This little diva loved Strawberry Shortcake

 . . . .

(Flash Forward)

(Sparing you a really really awkward stage of pics here!)

Isn't it funny to look back on old pictures, b/c at the time you thought you were So Rad!

Now they're just funny

. . .

Did a bunch of plays in middle school

Tried out a little modeling lol

 Sophmore in HS

 Flash forward a few years . . .

22nd birthday

23rd birthday

24th birthday

25th birthday

26th birthday

27th birthday

 and now . . . .

~TWENTY EIGHT~

mischevious!

After my 28 whole years of life . . .

I am the happiest I have ever been.

The most comfortable in my skin

The most confident.

I truly am blessed with so many amazing family and extended family members,

the most amazing husband and best friend I could ever imagine

Some pretty freaking fabulous friends

(who we have been through some crazy times together, good and bad and I love ya'll!)

3 cute little kiddos (our pups)

and am embarking on a new journey . . .

Here's to many more great years . . .

and life getting better and better by each birthday!

The best is yet to come!



~Tamara Nicole~

Psssst mom and dad thank you so much for bringing me into this world!

~Happy Friday and Happy Birthday weekend to me!~

Source: prepfection.tumblr.com via Tamara on Pinterest

The sun is shining . . .

My smile is out and not going anywhere . . .

Birthday dinner with friends tonight at Barrios (mmmm jalepeno margarita!)

Surprise birthday fun day with hubby tomorrow

Happy hour with the in laws Sunday

And finally my real birthday on MONDAY!

Life is good, wouldn't you all say?

I hope wherever you are the sun will be shining,

you'll be having some fun times with family and friends . . .

and just sit back and enjoy all that life has to offer this weekend!!!!

What are your plans lovies??

~It's Officially Birthday Week!~

Each and every person deserves a birthday week . . . right?!

Source: tumblr.com via Anna on Pinterest

I mean . . . so many people to celebrate with, no way it can be done in one day,

let alone a weekend!

Although my birthday isn't until Monday . . . we started last Saturday at my grandma's house with the fam.

Then HH with the hubby at McCormicks

Continued today at work . . . I even got an embarrasing song and clap craziness at Red Robin.

And my ladies spoiled me . . .

(via)

Ummmm soooo excited to use my new ruffled cake stand!

 

Remaining celebrations:

Friends dinner/drinks Friday night

Hubby's surprise date Saturday

Happy Hour with the in-laws Sunday

Birthday softball game . . . we better win!

etc. 

Hey . . . anything that happens this week is a birthday celebration!

Birthday wine and chatting with my girly Erika last night

Birthday hike . . .

Lol nope I will never get too old for celebrating.

Many birthday photos soon!

Do you celebrate birthday week?!

Love birthday surprises?

~Have your Cake and Eat it Too!~

Happy Tuesday!

So as promised a weekend recap including my baking fun times.

First off, how was your weekend?  I love to hear about my blog buddies lives so do share

:-)

Ours:

Friday:

Grouting grouting grouting until 10 pm, pretty crazy party animals we are!

BUT the bathroom is looking fantabulous, will share pics when complete!

(For pics from our remodel chk out this post)

Saturday:

BAKING!

Some of you may have read my Strawberry Rufle Cake post . . .

(if not it's here for ya)

So I made this fancy shmancy ruffle cake for my Mom-in-law's birthday.

Baked 5 hours (between freezing to set, layers, frosting, cooling and reading blogs in between!)

And then we met them up for an AMAZING dinner at this cute little Italian place La Rustica in Seattle.

Note to self: scrunchy smiley face: not hot!

I ordered ox tail and polenta . . . mussels for app and some yummmmy vino!

Happy Birthday Maria!

Ok so here's the cake breakdown:

Recipe for Strawberry Creme Filling Cake

Frosting: Martha Stewart's Swiss Meringue Buttercream

So my very first attempt at a fancy cake turned out ok . . .

the in-laws were so excited and impressed and that's all that mattered!

Lessons learned:

1) Martha Stewart is not always perfect (frosting was wayyyy runny but maybe an operator error?! He he.) Next time: find an amazing frosting recipe.

2) If using lots of frosting, tone down the cake flavor.  A little too strawberry and sweet?

3) Cut of the crust BEFORE layering.  Biggest lesson learned!

So all in all it was so much fun and turned out good, but I'm striving for amazing!!!

Any Master-Bakers out there wanting to share some tips?!

~Ruffle Strawberry Cake~

Happy Saturday my loves!

What are you up to this wonderful day?

Me:

Baking!!!

I am making my mom-in-law a pretty ruffle birthday cake.

(source)

(source)

Using this recipe for

 Strawberry Cream Cake and Filling

And I found this video for tips on ruffle frosting:



Cake has just baked and is in the freezer to set so I can continue . . .

more photos soon!

Don't miss out on:

Giveaway from Tasteful Tatters

 and over on my other blog

Simply by Tamara Nicole

Weddings and Events:

My Vintage Literature Photo Shoot in the Woods inspiration post

Gorgeous white and pink burlap wedding decor

and Mother's Day brunch plans

Have a fabulous weekend my dears!