Grow Wild

In order to support my flower habit/obsession, every spring I do some trade-out work for Tree Top Nursery. I design a t-shirt for them to sell, and in return they give me more hibiscus, lantana and scaviola than any gardener could possibly need. It's a win-win for everyone. And by everyone, I mean me.

This year's t-shirt says "GROW WILD." You can purchase them for $9.99 at the Wichita Garden Show this weekend, March 3 - 7. Or, they'll be available at Tree Top Nursery's Garden Center this spring. Every time you wear the shirt into Tree Top, you'll receive 10% off your entire purchase. More marigolds for the money. More daffodils for your dollars. More barberry for your buck.... O.K., I'll stop.

Spring has sprung, and that can only mean one thing at the Denneler house: Eric's a busy guy. We don't get to see much of him for the next few months, so if you stop in at Tree Top to do some shopping, tell him his wife and kids say "hi."

Babycakes.

One of my good friends from Sullivan Higdon & Sink is having a baby shower this weekend, and I wanted to make something fun and memorable to surprise the new mom.

T-shirt Cupcakes: one dozen, assorted t-shirts rolled up with diaper cloths and red sock "cherries" on top. All packaged neatly in a festive pastry box.

The mom-to-be, Sarah, is having a baby boy (and naming him Carter.) So, I cut some boyish & quirky designs out of fabric and iron-transferred them onto the shirts - a rocket ship, a banana-seat bike, a tie, a skull & crossbones, a robot, a word bubble screaming MOM!, the letter C, PLAY NICE, a peace symbol, a weiner dog, a lightening bolt, and an electric guitar.

The t-shirts are sized for 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months so Carter should be a well-dressed baby boy for the first year. (Not to mention, enough red socks for every day of the week!)

LOVE.

Happy Valentine's Day 2010.

This was the view outside my office on the WSU campus last Monday as the snow fell in Wichita. Robert Indiana's LOVE statue looked extra beautiful with 7 inches of fluffy white stuff decorating it's colorful curves.

Bridgette's 30th Birthday

A friend of mine was planning to celebrate her 30th birthday this weekend and asked if I'd be interested in baking a "simple" cake for the party. She mentioned that she liked white cake, maybe with silver or gold accents, but then replied "Oh, why don't you just surprise me?"

OK. I can do that.

Ten hours, eight boxes of cake mix, 9 1/2 pounds of buttercream icing, and 32 inches of cake later, I think she'll definitely be surprised. Silly, silly Bridgette.... don't you know by now that I never do anything simple?

The name BRIDGETTE is so beautiful. I just hope I was able to make a cake as stunning and sweet as the birthday girl. Happy 30th!