Sunday Sweets: To Be Of Good Cheer
September 11, 2011 "Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles. Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost."
— Helen Keller
;)
We will never forget the events of ten years ago, but we will carry on, and we will carry our hope, and our courage, and our good cheer with us.
I wanted to feature cakes honoring our police, fire, and medical services today, but since we did that not too long ago I don't have enough material for it. So instead, after much deliberation, I've decided to just feature Sweets that will make you happy. Not because we don't honor our heroes, or mourn their loss, but because joy and beauty are their own tribute - and today, I think we can all use a smile.
So, why don't we start by cheering Up?
;)
Cake by Kakes by Katie, photo by Wendy Updegraff
There's something about bunches of colorful balloons that make me think of my childhood and theme parks, popcorn and parades, and warm sunny days. The fact that this was such a sweet movie doesn't hurt, either.
Crisp white tiers with bright zingy colors = instant cheer:
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Submitted by Rachel D., made by Hana of A Piece of Cake
I love the lacy swirls and little bows.
Here's one that will *really* take you back to your childhood:
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Taken at the Orlando ICES convention, baker unknown
So adorable, it's hard to believe any of it's edible!
Of course, you don't always need flowers and cute characters to perk up your day:
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Sub'd by Rob G., made by Kakes NYC
Mmmm. That's the stuff.
This next one is pure, goofy fun:
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Sub'd by Geri S., made by Cake Central member irena11
You might recognize the art; it's been all over the 'net and it's from an artist named bri-chan.
Anyway, the best part is that's not edible paper! The baker used a frozen buttercream transfer, a painstaking and time-consuming technique that requires hand-piping every line and every color. Amazing.
These colors always make me smile:
;)
Sub'd by Rachel G., spotted here, but the baker isn't listed.
I can never get enough orange and teal - never. And those patterns on the cake and board! Gorgeous!
It's amazing how many cakes I find that I want in plush. Here's one more to add to my list:
;)
Made by Casa De Cupcake
Just look at that paisley pattern on the owl - and the little edible ribbons and buttons!
If somehow you haven't melted from the cuteness yet, this one will definitely do you in:
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Sub'd by Paula D., made by The Bunny Baker
I'm melting. Melting, I say!
Here, this should pull us back together:
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Admit it: you laughed.
This is one of my favorite Sweets of all time:
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Those graduated colors are hand-piped icing, which means the baker had to mix up each color individually. And the flowers! Ack! Doesn't it remind you of Mexican embroidery or folk art? Just beautiful.
Ok, just a little more cute:
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Sub'd by Jannie P., from this Dutch cupcake contest, baker unknown
Now I'm going to be singing "Honey Bee" all day.
And finally, the Sweet that made me smile the most and the longest:
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Sub'd by Amanda K., made by Bubolinkata
Is that not the most gorgeous thing you've seen today? Look at those little strawberries, and each perfect petal! It's like life and love and cheer, all embodied in one cake (and cupcakes). I love it.
I hope you enjoyed today's Sweets, and that they made you smile. Now, go hug someone you love. Then go hug someone you don't even like*. Because we have to start somewhere, and I think today's just the day to do it.
*Maybe check for pepper spray first.
Reader Comments (98)
I'm so glad you went with this! I really needed it like so many other ppl out there
I was expecting you link to 'honey bee' to be to Madrugada's poignant song, but it was more appropriate to the cute cake ;)
(That link, for you, though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxqYf4FZgGU )
Thanks for the smiles, those are gorgeous! I think I'm going to go bake a cake now.
Perfect
You mean Danish (not Dutch) cupcake contest. :P Why is it that Americans always want my country (The Netherlands) to be in Scandinavia? LOL
The owl is just awesome!!!
You made me laugh and sniffle a little bit. Well done.
Beautifully done
Really, really well done. Thank you for this.
Well done, Jen. Thanks :)
I want that Hello Kitty cake for my next birthday. Who cares that it's my 35th birthday? :P And I want the Dunkin Donuts one every single day to go with my Dunkin Donuts coffee! The one with the rainbow dots is stunning - I can see why it's your favorite!
I don't normally post here, but, Thank You, I needed that.
Thank you!! i really enjoyed all the cakes today.
Thank you Jen & John. Love your site...your humor brings a smile to my face all the time. On our way to church today, my son asked how do we commemorate 9/11. I said--keep on living & loving--the terrorists did not win. I love seeing how others are doing the same thing--we keep on keeping on, and if we can do it with a smile or a laugh, hallelujah!! BTW--@ Tricia--my condolences to your family, how horribly tragic. I pray your are continually surrounded by friends & family to love on you, lend a shoulder, and hand you a tissue. <hugs>
I concur with everyone who says this was a great idea. Yes, today is the 10th anniversary of a horrible tragedy, but we should always remember to look at the beautiful things in the world as well.
These cakes made me smile. Thanks! :)
Squirrel!
Thanks for today's warm fuzzies. :-)
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this post! Mood, lifted.
Though I have to admit, when I saw the link to Honey Bee, I thought it would be this one! I love the one you posted - I had never seen them before!
Thanks, Jen. I really needed a smile today--I'm going through a really hard time right now. Do you have any horse cakes?
Love the cakes - Especially the Owl, and the one with the "embroidered" look and the last cake with the incredible flower garden. And the UP house cake made me smile for sure.
and @Jo, I'm a princess bride geek, so had to go watch that youtube link - very funny. thanks for sharing.
We can all use some smiles today.
Thanks for the lovelies today, Jen.
The teal and orange cake with the hot pink details was made by my good friend and fellow intern Michelle Arvaj who is an intern at Planet Cake in Sydney, Australia!
I love Sunday Sweets! The balloons on the Up cake were so adorable!
With respect to a plush version of that owl...http://www.etsy.com/shop/BWinks Not exact, but pretty close.
Can I just say... my favorite part about the princesses cake is that Ariel appears to be making "fish lips"!
My next favorite part about it; everything else.
How great is it that you can make people smile with cake even in the midst of tragedy?! Thanks for making us smile!
Your cakes are beautiful and certainly not wrecks. My cakes do not compare.
I love the owl cake! And the clown cake... is that Jojo the clown... with one of her friends? Awesome!
I just wanted to say that I looooove your blog! I just recently found it and I enjoy reading it so much that I keep going back to older blogs.... love it! I mentioned you in my blog today about my son's birthday, had to after the mini-minor mess up on my son's cake.... I mean, it was his 3rd birthday and the lady writing happy 1st wasn't all that much of a difference .... lololol..
http://moonnstarmommy.blogspot.com/2011/09/three-year-ol-burfdae-boy.html the link if you want to check it out.
Thanks for the happy! We need more happy. Love you.
I was wondering how you would handle the post today; the answer was with class. I loved the quote, and the beautiful New York skyline. FDR's said that "the only thing to fear is fear itself", so let us treasure our way of life and our societies, and appreciate beauty, joy -- and beautiful, joyous cakes.
Love the warning on the Dunkin "coffee cup" cake! Given the age of the Disney characters, it's quite plausible they would sometimes shed their prim-and-proper airs for a little playfulness. The owl is fabulous and would not be difficult to create as a stuffed animal. The graduated-colour-dots cake is lovely; the perfect mix of class and fun spirits for a formal (but not stuffy) wedding. That bee hive cupcake was adorable-- the lil' inchworm, awww. And that final flower garden cake was perfection-- beautiful and 3D, gardeny yet cute; I'm in love.
A nice reminder of the good things in the world on a day that will be remembered for some of the worst of humanity.
And Tricia-- I am so, so sorry for your loss. I cannot fathom what you are going through, and only hope that you and yours are able to find the comfort and support one would need at such a time.
Thanks so much for this--I really, really needed a laugh, and the Princess cake was just the ticket. (The gorgeous work on the other cakes didn't hurt, either.)
Thank you, thank you, Thank you!
So many beautiful, cheery cakes--thank you! My personal favs--the white with the lime green, the owl, and the rainbow dots and flowers.
#5 I would have thought they would use a cake donut. But donuts are never wrong.
#10 That is a spice cake, right?
One of the ways we overcome inhumanity is simply by remaining human. This post was therefore entirely appropriate.
Love them all but I want the owl one as a knitting tattoo - I am envisioning his nest as a ball of yarn drool!!!
thanx, I made a Disney Princess cake .... for my daughter for her seventh birthday :)
I'm glad you liked it :)
I thought you meant this Honey Bee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t5RrUt3nrY
But the one you were talking about seems much more "you."
Beautiful cakes. Just gorgeous.
Thanks! What a terrific way to commemorate the day. But a special thanks for the sentiment at the end. Anyone else remember how *NICE* we were to each other from 9/12/11 to, say, 10/15/11? I'd like us all to get *THAT* back. Even if it means hugging a so-called enemy through pepper sprayed peepers.
Thanks Jen. For the pictures, the smiles and the comforting comments on a tough day
Haha, now I'm craving Dunkin'. Dangit... *lives in an area that, believe it or not, has zero Dunkins in driving range*
Yes, I laughed at the Jabba one as soon as I spotted poor Leia. Ironic twist on that scene. XD
And recognized Bri-chan's art on the cake...love that particular piece. So silly and un-princess like, especially for Disney princes. *giggle*
What a great post!
My almost-six-year-old wants the Disney Princess pic on a t-shirt. WIN.
LOVE the Up cake! One of my favorite movies :)
Ok the owl cake is AMAZING!!! I dont think i have ever seen anything like it! The owl itself was incredible, but just how much detail was put into the nest to was great! I would love to know just how much time all these cake designer/chef put into the cakes.
Well done. The cakes *and* the post.
My favorites are the Jabba cake - complete with itty bitty fingernails (no credits?) and the one right afterwards. Love those colors!
I love these cakes
Hey, look - non-creepy clowns on a cake!
I adored all of these cakes. They are beautiful. The Up one was my favorite of them all because of the balloons, however, I don't think that the person claiming to have made it really did make it. If you go to her website there are no pictures of it on there and the work that she does is good, but not great. And that cake was stunning. Just a thought.
These did make me smile =)
WOW! I always loved that goofy princess picture, now I love it even more on cake! None of these even resemble cake at all! Simply beautiful!
Hahaha, the teal and orange cake reminded me of this:
http://theabyssgazes.blogspot.com/2010/03/teal-and-orange-hollywood-please-stop.html
(sorry!)