after working so long on those ducks, i decided that i was going to keep things simple this year with the cake. i had an idea for the wow factor that, for once, didn't include pounds of fondant and days of preparation. the basic plan: elegance on the outside and fun on the inside.
for the flower cakes, i usually make a trip to the florist. but bella wanted the flowers to be from our yard. a semi-wildflower cake, the perfect idea. and so after frosting, i gathered::

and then went heavy handed to cover the flaws in the new buttercream recipe that wound up being a complete flop. not that i don't normally get a little too happy with the flowers. "less is more" is a sentiment i've never been able to embrace. "the more the merrier" is more my style, for better or worse::

and the surprise inside::


this brightened the overcast late afternoon. not that bella noticed the weather. it was warm, she was outside, she had just ripped through a pile of gifts and she was eating rainbow cake. happy birthday to my first little girl. 5 years old!!