My Son's 6th Birthday

My Son's 6th Birthday Cake

Yes, I did it! I made a birthday cake for my son's 6th Birthday!. I know it's not a spectacular cake and far from perfect..but I'm glad I finally achieve my goals to make a birthday cake for my son this year. This is why I'm so into baking from last year. I had this goal in mind that I have to learn making cakes so when my son's having his birthday, I could make one for him (not buying anymore).

My plan was to make a number cake for my son's birthday cake. Not knowing how to make number '6'..I tried to browse internet but still couldn't find the answer. Luckily, I'm in this group called NCC and one day I read an email which a mom asking about making cake number 6 for her son's birthday too. I remember one of the member replied and gave her attachment about picture how to make number cake from 1,2, etc. Oh wow what a coincidence! I'm so glad that I join the group so that I could learn a lot from it about baking stuff. So, I have prepared my self and plan which day I will make the cake.

The Base for Cup Cake Box…

… and Thank You Tag - Designed by moa :)

Basically I have to bake two shape of cake and then combine it.. I think it's gonna be easy..but when the day has come..I'm having a really really hectic day because of works!!! I don't have much time to prepare it days before.. I'm still hoping that I could make that number, but thinking about the time and effort..arrggh I'm so hopeless that I wouldn't make it in time.

So then I went to Titan buying the ingredients and also a plastic box for the goody bag (I'm planning to give a single cup cake for Figo's class mates). The boxes were completed, check!. And now for the tin.. I have to buy round tin and square one.. but when I got into the tin section..I couldn't believe my eyes that they did sale tins in number shape!!! My God..I was surprise and totally want to jump around..They also had number 6!! or 9!!! never mind..it's the same anyway.. Oh I'm so so Glad coz this will save my time much much more for making it!!! Thank God!!!

For the Boys - Chocolate cake with chocolate ganache innards
Topped with buttercream, Blue and Green M&Ms

We'll be having the celebration on 12th June at Figo's class (Figo's actually birthday is June 8, but it's Sunday and we're still at Singapore, so couldn't celebrate it in Jakarta anyway). So I started making it 1 day before, from noon (after I finished working) until 3.00 am. Yes, damn right it took so long and I had to sleep only for 3 hours then.. But I'm saying for my self.."If I was wiling for not having enough sleep because handling my working job, so I should do the same to finish this for my own son!!!"..

For the Girls - Lemon cake with strawberry paletta innards
Topped with buttercream, Orange and Yellow M&Ms

I don't know much (yet) about decorating cake, but I do want to make it simple but still colorful..and it goes along with the collaterals I made (cup cake base, tag, flag). So I just use M&Ms as the decoration. Simple and colorful, I like :D. The Birthday cake was ready at 3.00 am and so half of the cup cakes (28 pieces).. 13 were done, only 15 more to go to decorate it..I'll do it on the next morning. Just couldn't bear with my sleepy eyes...

At 7.00 am, I'm starting to decorate again..Thanks for my assistant and hubby's cousin who live with us also, they helped me to do the packaging and stuff (I did the prototype and they did the rest)..I couldn't finish it just all by my self.. Then exactly at 10.45 am cake arrived safely at Figo's school. It's so funny when the kids see me carrying the birthday cake..one of them asked me "Figo Mom, Did you make the cake by your self?".. and I'm so glad I could answer "Yes I did dear :D"..

When I opened it, Figo (who hasn't seen the cake yet this morning) and all his friends was surprised and said "Woowww...".. I feel so proud to my self (still even it's far from perfect) but I could make my son's feeling happy and proud of his 'mom's homemade' birthday cake.

The Number 6, on package

Happy Birthday my dearest son..Semoga panjang umur, sehat selalu, semakin pintar, menjadi anak yang sholeh dan selalu di ridhoi oleh Allah S.W.T. Amiinnn.

My Journey Finding a Great Macarons

BUGIS MRT Station

At last, we've (Me, Hubby and my son) arrived at Singapore. And my first to do list is to buy a good macarons that I had longing from last November 2007.

The story begins when I accidentally found this singaporean blogger (bossacafez.blogspot.com) who made cup cakes, cakes and macarons! First I didn't know what macarons are..but after I browse a lot here there looking info about it..I kinda know what it is after all. I did try to make it but I just couldn't make it right.. Desperately want to taste it so I tried to search whether it's sold in town.

Sembawang MRT - exactly 45 minutes from BUGIS

When I knew macarons was sold at this popular local bakery called B****Z*N. Me & my friend, Nini, ran over there and tried the macarons... We tried this Ispahan, blueberry, and Foret Noire. But somehow it wasn't like what we've expected. It's darn too sweet, sweet and sweet. Even if you already put it in the refrigerator..it's still too sweet. I'm not a very sweet tooth kind of person..For me, something too sweet just making me feel a bit dizzy.

Sembawang MRT - The meeting point to collect the macarons

But I do feel and hope these macarons from bossacafez are different. From what I've seen the customer/friends who ordered from her, it has lots more of flavors and they're all look so mouth watering!!!.. I just made a promise to my self that when I'm going to Spore, I will definitely buy those things for sure!

Sat June 7, I'm leaving from hotel at 5.00 to the MRT station and go right away to Sembawang area where I will collect my macarons. I've already email asking about the flavor, etc, with Evangeline (owner of dessert couture and the blog also) before I go to Singapore. I'm so excited and yes, Evan was really helpful guiding me to choose which flavor that suite me most. The journey took about 45 minutes from where I left (from Bugis MRT Station) and I arrived 15 minutes earlier. Sembawang is a really nice suburb.. Rain was pouring half of the day in Singapore so the weather is a bit chill and windy. Glad I wore my pink jacket and that's also my clothing 'code' for Evan so she could easily find me :D

Macarons by bossacafez.blogspot.com - Aren't they gorgeous?

Finally I met the girl..I'm such a fan of her haha..If you see her cakes, macarons, cup cakes all have been created with neat and perfect!. Specially her food photography oohh just amazed me :). I'm so glad that we finally met and we had chit chat a bit. She also recommend me to go to the local bakery shop that sold nice packaging for cup cakes..I already did go there before, in the afternoon, with hubby and my son. I bought some packaging, candies and sprinkles there. Wish I have more money that I could spend more haha..

Enjoying Mango Macarons while waiting my plane at Changi Airport

Anyway..the macarons taste Great! It just blew the taste when I first taste macarons from that popular bakery shop.. The tiny sizes just make it even more easier to eat and the sweetness is just right for me! My favorites are the Graine de Pavot (orange poppy seed) and Cafe Noissete flavor. I ate it almost 1.5 boxes just for my self at the hotel, my hubby took just 2..they're all miiine!!!haha..I finished the half box tomorrow, while I'm waiting my plane at Changi Airport.

Macarons Flavors: Mango, Fraise, Macha, Caffe Noisette, Graine de Pavot, Chai Spice

I gave other 3 boxes to my friend Nini, after I arrived at Jakarta. Luckily the macarons stay as yummy as it was the 1st day I got them, and they taste even better when you put it on the fridge! My friend and her family loving it too.. Somehow it's a different idea for a 'souvenir' from Singapore :)

Macarons - One bite is never enough...Trust me!

Thanks so much Evan for the macarons.. I'm sure gonna buy other flavors whenever I come to Singapore again :D..

PS: check out her blog for more cool cakes and pics at bossacafez.blogspot.com
and her cakery shop dessertcouture.blogspot.com

Coblos Cinta Cup Cakes

Cup cakes and some of the collaterals

Finally..after a very short time to develop a movie collaterals with a very very tight deadline (1 month only after the photo session!)..The project's done..I'm free from working overtime and free from sleeping at least only 4 hours a day!! yeyy.. It's an exhausting job but I'm really glad I did it and finished all on time :D.

Girls Rules

We (me and my friends) went to see the Gala Premiere on May 28.. The crowd were full of young stars (since this movie for teenagers) and somehow I felt like one of them..haha (you wished!). I got a chance took some photos with the casts, and we did have a great time. The film itself was light and funny kind of story..although It wasn't great..but I think I could appreciate the directors who wanted to bring a romantic comedy film in different way.

Boys Rules

The cupcakes made for the Film company as my gratitude and I also made a Cremé Tiramisu for Mandy, who gave me the job and being a very nice client :D. The graphic was done taking some of the cast pics, and since the color theme is Pink and yellow, so I made the same colors as in the cupcakes. Last, thanks to Ina Larizz for printing the edible image.

Cup cakes in the box, ready to deliver