I Remember the Day...

Today is her birthday! 

I remember the day well...and her very Italian name fits her so well...

For our family of 5, she starts off the birthday celebrations each year...everyone one else's birthdate arrives in later months, etc...

Each one of my girls is unique and special...None of them are just like me or just like my husband...but, part of a sweet combination with large splashes of distinction!

This girlie tends to lean more on her daddy's side of temperament however...which is probably why she and I tend to ease into conversation without difficulty...

She still can get her "justice" side from me and her desire to follow rules...

however, she is quick to apologize, and even quicker to forgive...

she's compassionate and grace-giving...

she's slower to speak but swift to listen...

she's not one to enjoy the center of attention and therefore does not boast about her many skills & talents...

she feels deeply but is patient and thoughtful...there are times you'd never know she was hurting...not because she's an actress or not being "real"...but rather, she's a thinker and it takes her awhile to sort it all out & process things...

She amazes me, this daughter of mine...and I'm so thankful for her!!!

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This year...2016...all 3 girls asked to go to a musical instead of having birthday celebrations...and so, there won't be lush parties or activities to plan...(we will be buying tickets to see Wicked though very soon)

HOWEVER, you can NOT take away "projects" from their crazy mother...and THUS...I have once again crammed more things into my day than probably necessary...

First of all...you must know that my girl is a Harry Potter fan...she loves the complexity of characters and the incredible fantasty of it all...

I thought it would be fun to at least do a "little something" for her on her special day...

which may or may not have turned into a bit of a fiasco, but I'm sure you'll enjoy...

Beginning with... I made this: (the mug, not the books :) )

If you haven't read the books, you will miss the significance, but suffice it to say, the doe, the word Always and the symbol for the letter A all work together for this little design.

The long and short of it is getting an oil-based Sharpie marker and a dollar store mug...drawing your design and then "baking" it in the oven a couple of times. 

I've been so excited to give it to her, as it's been hiding in my office for about a week now.

Next up on my list of  "i-don't-have-enough-time-project-ideas-but-I-can't-help-myself" were cake pops...

and let's be clear here...

in middle school, you don't really celebrate birthdays...

at the same time, when you are in a very small math class filled with Harry Potter fanatics...including a teacher who enjoys using a wand from time to time...(and have a mom who is a tad over the top)...welllll...

I decided to go with golden snitch cake pops...

I can't even begin to tell you the laborious lengths to which I went to create these things...I don't say this for pity, but to mention again my lack of time management skills...my attention to "big picture" rather than the actual details it takes to accomplish something...UGH

I started with fondant wings that I cut out and etched by hand...

I hid them in the cupboards (seeing as my husband & children have all been extremely ill lately, I doubted anyone would be in the kitchen much)

I was wrong in this thinking because late last night as I was setting forth on my creation, I realized that my husband, sick as he was, decided to "clean" the kitchen while I was at piano lessons with my girl...and in doing so had stacked bowls & dishes in the cupboards...ON TOP OF MY WINGS...

Needless to say, all my fondant was superbly crushed to pieces...except for a handful that I attempted to "frosting" back together...

I couldn't be mad though...he was truly trying to help me...

and he is so, so sick right now...

and the smoke alarms went off 2 nights ago and sent us into a panic, 

which has led to light sleeping the past couple of nights...

and the coughing & stuffy head & achy...I feel so badly for him...

even if he broke my little plan

I digress...

It took about 4 hours last night to roll, freeze, dip, drizzle, spray with edible gold shimmer...

It will be a surprise today! and even if they aren't all that magnificent to look at..I've got to believe with the amount of sugar that I used, they will be QUITE tasty!!!