Icing Smiles

This week's post will be a little different from the usual. I would like to talk about an organization I love: Icing Smiles. Icing Smiles is a non profit organization that provides celebration cakes and other treats to families impacted by the illness of a child. Their goal is to create a custom cake for the ill child, or their sibling, that provides a temporary escape from worry and creates a positive memory during a difficult time.

BimsFlavors has partnered with this amazing organization by signing up to be a Sugar Angel and we are looking forward to 'Baking a Difference''! We look forward to baking a smile for the families involved with this organization!

I found out about Icing Smiles about a year ago. I would say I discovered this organization by accident but I don't believe in accidents or coincidences. I also believe that to whom much is given, much is expected. I work in cancer research by day and create the cakes and treats you see on this blog when I'm not 'researching' and I couldn't figure out a way to merge both of my worlds. Enter Icing Smiles. As I read through the Icing Smiles website, I was overcome with emotion. Simple things like a birthday are luxuries to families who are battling illness. Imagine that.

I just love this description on their website:

Memories have magical powers.  Long after the cake is gone, the memories linger-- memories of the kindness of a stranger, of the art of the design, of the sweet smells of a special treat, of the smiles and laughs, of a normal childhood experience so often stolen from these children.  These memories are why we say, "It is so much more than a cake."

I truly believe that it's so much more than a cake.

So how can you help? You can help by clicking over to their website and making a donation to help bring a smile to a child.

To read more about this amazing organization and its founder Tracey Quisenberry and to read real stories about these families, take a look at Tracey's blog at www.icingsmiles.org/blog

 

You too can make a difference!

Have a sweet day and be blessed!

Sam's Katy Perry/Candyland Pool Party Cake

Natasha contacted us to create a cake for Sam's 5th birthday party. The pool party was Katy Perry/Candyland themed and Natasha sent us some pictures of the dress Katy Perry wore in the California Girls video for inspiration. We made the dress a longer version of the dress in the video to have more cake for everyone!

If you recall, we created this Sleeping beauty princess cake for Sam's 4th birthday last year (how time flies!) and received this wonderful review from Natasha on her blog!

We also received a great review here last week. Thank you Natasha!

The cake was all pink velvet with white chocolate frosting.

The details on the dress include an ice cream cone and several hand-crafted candies.  I want to use this opportunity to thank my sister for her assistance with the details! :)

 

We also made 2 dozen chocolate mini cupcakes! Natasha asked for colorful, sparkly toppings for the cupcakes.

Happy Birthday Sam!!

For more details on the party, visit Natasha's blog for alllll the fun details!

Fairytale Books Cake

We loved working with Wren's parents to design her first birthday cake. They knew what they wanted which always makes the process smoother :o)

Wren's parents came up with the original idea. We went through a few sketches before we decided on this design.

When we first designed the cake, the leaning book was supposed to be on the left (see sketch above) but somehow, in reality, it looked better and more "stable" on the right.



The flavors were red velvet with french vanilla swiss meringue buttercream and french vanilla pound cake with french vanilla swiss meringue buttercream.

For the fairytale books theme, Wren's parents chose Alice in Wonderland, Black Beauty and The Secret Garden". I have to say making this cake took me back to my childhood.

We also incorporated different elements from each book around the cake. For The Secret Garden we had "buttercream grass" and flowers, for Black Beauty we had a fondant horse (not pictured).

Wren's name was written on a bookmark.

For Alice in Wonderland, we had "Alice with a twist" made out of fondant . She had an afro and her outfit, while similar to the original, was ankara print. We also had other items from the story such as the cheshire cat, pocket watch, the caterpillar with the hookah bottle, smiling flowers and a teapot.

Happy Birthday Wren!