Margaret's French Bakery <% /!!UseJournal %>
01/10/2008 13:32:00
thecakeblog
[info]thecakeblog
100_0657 - Well, Will You?

100_0657, originally uploaded by margaretsbakery.

This was a pretty nifty cake to make for a very nervous (hopefully) groom-to-be. It was pretty funny cause he kept calling and making sure everything was ready and going as planned. I really hope it all worked out for him.

No, that ring is not his, it's one of my mother's that she brought in for this picture.

Anyway, the cake itself is a 7" Devil's Food covered with white fondant and decorated with pink dots (pink is her favorite color) with a pink fondant pillow to hold the ring (obviously)

~Joe
 
Comments
From: [info]gossamerwindweb Date: 01/10/2008 13:33:45  

What a cute idea! Very romantic :)
From: [info]captainneon Date: 01/10/2008 13:33:56  

Awwwwww, how could she say no? That's so adorable!!!

Also, in response to your question, of course I will! :D
From: [info]kitten23 Date: 01/10/2008 13:35:03  

What a cute idea! And a very cute cake. I hope she said yes. Well done, as usual!
From: [info]wyndie Date: 01/10/2008 13:35:31  

Awww <3

Very nice :^)
From: [info]xx_kitty_kat_xx Date: 01/10/2008 13:37:02  

Sure, as long as you don't mind sharing me with my boyfriend...
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:38:09  

Haha, I wouldnt mind at all, but would he? =P

~Joe
From: [info]xx_kitty_kat_xx Date: 01/11/2008 00:39:46  

Probably not :D
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 01:03:49  

Sounds good then, Im in. Haha.

~Joe
From: [info] Date: 01/10/2008 13:37:32  

Awwwwwwwww how sweet is that. (pun included!) You cannot keep us in suspense. We have to know what she says. :-)
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:38:34  

I'll let you know as soon as I know.

~Joe
From: [info] Date: 01/10/2008 13:38:23  

I hope she said yes!
From: [info]orchid176 Date: 01/10/2008 13:39:15  

Aww, just three months too late... got married Oct. 31st. ;)

Neat idea, though! And as always the cake looks great!
From: [info]elegantenigma Date: 01/10/2008 13:43:09  

I'll marry him!

Oh wait, my husband might object. What a sweet (pardon the pun) idea! :)
From: [info]tha_malaya Date: 01/10/2008 13:43:21  

AWWWW that's so original and cute :)
From: [info]niftybabe313 Date: 01/10/2008 13:43:55  

Gorgeous! I love it! And what a cute way to propose...hope it works out for them!
From: [info]opaleyes Date: 01/10/2008 13:49:29  

Aww! If my fiancé had proposed to me (I proposed, being one of those forward-thinking women), that would have been the way to go. That, or having the ring gently pressed into the buttercream on a cupcake.
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:39:53  

Im assuming the ring was pressing into the pillow, I just didnt want to do it just in case.

~Joe
From: [info] Date: 01/10/2008 13:56:34  

That is too damn cute. And delicious.
From: [info]morganwolf Date: 01/10/2008 13:59:46  

You just helped me make my fiance feel really guilty about his crappy proposal. HAHAHA!

Anyway, I hope their marriage is full of much sweetness and imagination as the proposal heralds... that is just too adorable.
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:40:24  

Well now I feel like an ass.

~Joe
From: [info]morganwolf Date: 01/11/2008 12:33:40  

Oh, don't. That's what he gets for not coming up with something creative. It's okay, though: I still said yes.

Next time I'll just have to do the proposing.
From: [info]my_little_voice Date: 01/10/2008 14:11:18  

that is such a cute cake/idea!
From: [info]absenteeshe Date: 01/10/2008 14:17:16  

Oh, I got a little sniffly. Very sweet. Very pink but very sweet.
From: [info]morganwolf Date: 01/10/2008 17:30:20  

Oh, thank goodness, I thought it was just me and my hormones. Now I know I'm not alone in my sniffliness.
From: [info]_talloolah Date: 01/10/2008 14:19:07  

what an ingenious idea. i never would have thought to use a cake.
From: [info]joandirk Date: 01/10/2008 14:22:07  

I wonder how he presented it. It would be great if it was her birthday, and all the lights were off and he walked in with an engagement cake with a ring instead of a birthday cake with candles.
From: [info]iam_that_girl Date: 01/10/2008 14:27:54  

I will!
How very sweet. Such a simple but pretty cake.
From: [info]mmemaraschino Date: 01/10/2008 14:30:17  

With a cake that pretty, how could anyone say no?
From: [info]mum2hailey Date: 01/10/2008 15:44:53  

That's what I was thinking. With all the effort he put forth how could she say no?!
From: [info]hajari_ Date: 01/25/2008 20:26:59  

Well, if she did say no, at least he could eat the cake to cheer himself up.
From: [info]depressingname Date: 01/10/2008 14:34:29  

aww! i want a cake proposal! ;)
From: [info]rachaeldoss Date: 01/10/2008 14:35:57  

Yeah, I will. But I'm easy - my husband proposed to me in the hallway of my rental house while I stood in the bathroom crying. So I guess if he'd had cake, it would have only made the yes more emphatic. LOL
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:41:36  

Haha, aw.

~Joe
From: [info]awkward_ali Date: 01/10/2008 15:30:41  

What a great idea! I love it!
From: [info]sara_k_s Date: 01/10/2008 15:49:32  

Aww... Who could say no?
From: [info]nichele27 Date: 01/10/2008 15:52:48  

That's amazing! And I agree with everyone else, it's really endearing. (although tooo pink for my taste but at least he knows her favorite colour!!)
I told my friend about the cake (as I was on the phone with her when I was checking lj and she said she'd rather have a proposal pizza.. a specific pepperoni pizza delivered from pizza hut with the ring box in the middle. I was like that's soo random. So i just thought I'd share it because it's amusing...


man i'm wordy today.
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:42:19  

Now that's just awesome.

~Joe
From: [info] Date: 01/11/2008 05:15:30  

They'll have to cut the pepperonis in little heart shapes. :)
From: [info]crescentroses Date: 01/10/2008 16:05:16  

That's so cute. How could she say no when it's cake? Cake and jewelry? Oh hecks no.

I hope she says yes.
From: [info]doxamully Date: 01/10/2008 16:08:47  

Perfect! I would be very excited if a guy did that for me, especially seeing as I looooove cake!
From: [info]opaleyes42 Date: 01/10/2008 16:22:33  

awwwww...what a novel idea for a proposal. I hope he let's you know how it went.

The cake looks yummy.
From: [info]aqua_eyes Date: 01/10/2008 16:56:06  

all he has to do is say 'say yes or no cake'. ;)
From: [info]ronise Date: 01/10/2008 17:00:37  

that's so cute and romantic. i love the idea and the cake.
From: [info]mjtheanarchist Date: 01/10/2008 17:20:04  

He's gonna make her fat.
From: [info]annastevens Date: 01/10/2008 17:25:20  

Aww, that is brilliant! I hope she said yes!
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:43:03  

Me too.

So how are you doing over there? Havent really talked to you in a bit.

~Joe
From: [info]annastevens Date: 01/11/2008 10:24:34  

Oh, just the usual. Been better, been worse, blah blah blah. Nothing really new going on...

How 'bout you?
From: [info]anglicwitch Date: 01/10/2008 20:03:43  

i know you probably got this response from 202349238234 girls but AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
From: [info]the_dark_side Date: 01/10/2008 21:02:43  

that's a really creative idea.
From: [info]ktpinto Date: 01/10/2008 22:33:16  

That is so very cool!
From: [info]randomposting Date: 01/10/2008 23:29:15  

Aww!! That's so sweet!!!
From: [info]seasonsgo Date: 01/10/2008 23:36:46  

What an original idea!
From: [info] Date: 01/11/2008 05:17:48  

Re: your question, sure I will!

You even made a pink cake, how could I say no? ;D

Awesome idea. I'm glad he had you guys do the cake because it's perfect. :)
From: [info]ladycrim Date: 01/11/2008 11:04:41  

What an adorable cake!

I hope she said yes!
From: [info]shadowkisaten Date: 01/11/2008 12:52:04  

How creative! Cute! >_<
From: [info]stalk_her Date: 01/11/2008 15:23:23  

omg i love this idea
From: [info] Date: 01/12/2008 06:22:50  

so sweet!
From: [info]kylie1403 Date: 01/12/2008 13:34:40  

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww soooo cute
From: [info]invisibelle Date: 01/12/2008 18:37:47  

Dude. I wish someone would send this idea to my boyfriend. :D
Comments
01/10/2008 13:35:00
thecakeblog
[info]thecakeblog
100_2098 - Pillow Talk

100_2098, originally uploaded by margaretsbakery.

Man, two pillows in one week? The same day actually. I've always been a big supporter of the 'everything comes in waves' theory and this kind of proves it (I guess)

Simple in design, complicated in reality. This cake originated as a 12"x12" Truffle torte that was then cut and trimmed to look like a pillow. That was the easy part. The harder part was the quilting. On a normal cake, quilting is rather simple, but a cake with so many facets it was a little more complicated than I had originally thought. But I got it done and all the lines met correctly (thank god for maths) To top it off we added a fondant button on the top and dusted the whole (blue fondant covering) with a super blue luster dust to give it that extra shimmer.

Now all you have to do is imagine a glass slipper sitting on top of it and you'll have the full effect.

~Joe
 
Comments
From: [info]kitten23 Date: 01/10/2008 13:36:45  

Very cool cake!
From: [info]orchid176 Date: 01/10/2008 13:37:16  

Spectacular! At first I thought this was a post in a sewing community... it looks so real at first glance.
From: [info]hearthisvoice Date: 01/10/2008 13:38:07  

It's gorgeous, wow...it looks like an opal. And you said "maths", hee! <3
From: [info]wyndie Date: 01/10/2008 13:38:38  

ooo Glass slipper on top? Where does one find life size glass slippers nowadays?

Also, was this for a birthday? Wedding? Engagement?
From: [info]joandirk Date: 01/10/2008 14:20:20  

Yes, this also I want to know!
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:44:03  

I believe it was for a birthday.

~Joe
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:44:46  

Oh, and I have no idea where one finds a glass slipper, but the mother did. I would never put glass on a cake though. I think hers was acrylic or something.

~Joe
From: [info]wyndie Date: 01/11/2008 06:54:52  

Ah sweet :^) Thanks :^)
From: [info]captainneon Date: 01/10/2008 13:40:42  

Wow! Gorgeous!!!
From: [info]sevenblades Date: 01/10/2008 13:56:43  

Oh my gosh, I want one. With the slipper. That is possibly my dream birthday cake.
From: [info]storm_dancer Date: 01/10/2008 14:02:40  

That. Is an amazing cake.
From: [info]bloodkitty Date: 01/10/2008 14:15:34  

that is sooooooo awesome!!!
hee - maths r fun!!!
'-D
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:46:14  

of course.

~Joe
From: [info]_talloolah Date: 01/10/2008 14:20:02  

this one is really great too. you do such a good job!
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:45:51  

Aw, thanks.

~Joe
From: [info]wolfsilveroak Date: 01/10/2008 14:46:11  

I like this. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was a satin pillow. What was it for, birthday?
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:45:39  

Yeah, birthday.

~Joe
From: [info]lesli Date: 01/10/2008 15:14:47  

That is Awesome, it really looks like fabric.
From: [info]chellerenee Date: 01/10/2008 15:15:09  

Oh my goodness! This is incerddible!! It doens't even look like cake!! I love! =D
From: [info]crescentroses Date: 01/10/2008 16:10:02  

Well that's scrumptiously pretty. Is there really supposed to be a glass slipper on top of it or were you just kidding?
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:46:43  

There really is.

~Joe

Ps-when do I kid? Hah.
From: [info]opaleyes42 Date: 01/10/2008 16:27:25  

That looks so real I want to plump it. Fantastic work!!
From: [info]mayphoenix Date: 01/10/2008 16:44:56  

It's a brilliant design. Very realistic! Well done!
From: [info]lyris_avedis Date: 01/10/2008 18:02:11  

That's awesome!!!
From: [info]the_dark_side Date: 01/10/2008 21:05:54  

what exactly was this cake for? fantastic cake, by the way. love the color.
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:47:08  

Birthday.

~Joe
From: [info]the_dark_side Date: 01/11/2008 14:45:27  

that's such a random birthday cake, but a really unique idea.
From: [info]zyta_zebra Date: 01/10/2008 22:43:24  

Your cake is awesome! I guess someone won't be going to bed hungry... or they won't be falling asleep hungry anyway! I love the colour and the way it shimmers. So pretty. You have amazing talent and creativity to pull off all these beautiful cakes.
From: [info]randomposting Date: 01/10/2008 23:34:45  

Oh I looove this one so much!!!
From: [info]zonga Date: 01/11/2008 02:51:49  

Scrolling down my friends page, I thought "How come there's a picture of a pillow. WAIT! That's a CAKE pillow!"

These cakes are always such a treat to look at.
From: [info] Date: 01/11/2008 09:56:32  

That is the most beautiful cake!!! I wish you weren't so far away you guys would be my cake place!!! :) Very awesome job!
From: [info]shadowkisaten Date: 01/11/2008 12:50:04  

Wow! I'm impressed with this one!
From: [info] Date: 01/12/2008 06:22:16  

that is by far my favorite cake
From: [info]aplacental Date: 01/12/2008 10:55:15  

Super cute.
From: [info]samigina Date: 01/14/2008 05:01:17  

I think I'm justified when I say I want to press my face into this cake.
From: [info]padhopper Date: 01/17/2008 09:18:27  

When I saw this on my friends page, I didn't even know it was a cake. I was wondering why the hell you were posting a pillow.
From: [info] Date: 01/22/2008 16:03:01  

I'm guessing you're British, because you said "maths." You do amazing work! When I was a kid, my mom made me a "doll cake" with a Barbie stuck in an angel food cake decorated like a skirt. I thought that was hot stuff, but wow! You put poor Barbie to shame.

Not that I'm putting down Mom's efforts. She was awesome, especially at birthdays.
From: [info] Date: 02/06/2008 15:21:38  

That is absolutely gorgeous! Wow. :) I could not eat a cake like that, I'd just stare at it. lol
Comments
01/10/2008 13:44:00
thecakeblog
[info]thecakeblog
100_2103 - Negro y Blanco

100_2103, originally uploaded by margaretsbakery.

Here is a Quinceañera cake we did this last weekend out to the Wyndham Hotel in San Jose for 125 people.

It was really neat cause while I was delivering it I got to see the dancers practice there dancing (duh) which was good for me because when I was in Mexico City for my friend's sister's I missed out on the dancing because I had a fever and felt like I was going to die. But a quick glass of tequila cured me rather quickly and I was back in the game.

And yes, those are Dragees on that cake. No, we did not buy them, we had the client acquire them from some source of their own (I like to think it was magic)

Top tier (5") = Orange Almond
2nd tier (8") = Strawberry Grand Marnier
3rd tier (11") = Triple Vanilla with Mango
Bottom tier (14") = Red Velvet

The whole cake was covered with fondant with the top tier decorated with black tapered stripes and lines of dragees. The second tier with black diamonds and dragees for the intersecting lines and a fondant bow and ribbon on the third tier. The bottom tier is quilted (see, there is that 'everything comes in cycles' thing again) with dragees on the corners of each quilt.

And that's that.

Sorry I've been so lazy lately, but I've needed the break after that crazy holiday rush.

~Joe

PS-how was everyone's new years? Make any resolutions? Break any resolutions?
 
Comments
From: [info]xx_kitty_kat_xx Date: 01/10/2008 13:47:02  

We can buy drageees in the supermarket here. Is it only California where they're banned?
From: [info]captainneon Date: 01/10/2008 13:48:30  

lol, I LOVE your icon. That's hilarious. I think it's only California. I can buy them here in New England.
From: [info]earth_muffin Date: 01/11/2008 17:37:04  

What *are* drageees??
From: [info]captainneon Date: 01/12/2008 16:44:03  

They're little edible metal balls, basically.
From: [info]earth_muffin Date: 01/12/2008 17:14:28  

Ahhh...yes, I know those, just didn't know they had a name. I remember as a child, we'd use them to decorate Christmas cookies. I do recall Ohio making them illegal at some point. Thanks for the info! :)
From: [info]wolfsilveroak Date: 01/10/2008 14:37:43  

As far as I know, just California.
From: [info]xx_kitty_kat_xx Date: 01/10/2008 14:39:25  

How odd. It seems like it would be easy to just bring them in from another state after visiting there, or asking a family member/friend to bring some when they come to visit.
From: [info]wolfsilveroak Date: 01/10/2008 14:43:10  

That's what people do, as you can't buy them IN the state.

As far as I know, you CAN order them online, for personal use. But cake stores/specialty stores in Ca. can't sell them.
From: [info]smartee_pants Date: 01/11/2008 17:43:23  

All of the cake stores I've seen online say they will NOT ship to California too.
From: [info]wolfsilveroak Date: 01/11/2008 17:59:55  

Hmm, now that I didn't know. Figures. Poor Californians.}:)
From: [info]xx_kitty_kat_xx Date: 01/10/2008 14:44:42  

Also, because you mentioned you were interested in seeing them - my photos from the Tongariro Crossing. I wanted to die. It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life, but I did it, and it was amazing. Volcanic craters, lakes, and loads of lava tearing the skin of my hands apart as I climbed.

http://picasaweb.google.com/kittikat.j/TongariroCrossing
From: [info]nichele27 Date: 01/10/2008 15:48:20  

those pictures are amazing!! Thank you for sharing them, seems like an awesome way to start off your new year, glad you survived to share them :)
From: [info]xx_kitty_kat_xx Date: 01/10/2008 16:05:24  

Thanks :) It was a great start to the year, although the lack of showers for two days wasn't so great.
From: [info]nichele27 Date: 01/10/2008 16:06:48  

hey ancestors didn't shower often!!

:P
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:48:10  

Those are AWESOME!

~Joe
From: [info]xx_kitty_kat_xx Date: 01/11/2008 01:12:46  

If you ever make it down to NZ, I highly recommend it, if you're really really fit. It's well over 20km from one end to the other, and includes fun features like a 3+ hour climb up a volcanic rock face (two if you choose to visit both summits - we didn't have time for the second one though), as well as a scary climb up a thin trail covered in loose gravel, with a sheer drop on one side. On the other hand, it only takes 15 minutes to get back down again - you do a run-slide down a steep scree slope :D
From: [info]captainneon Date: 01/10/2008 13:47:30  

In a word: classy. I like it a lot!
From: [info]rachaeldoss Date: 01/10/2008 13:49:13  

Very awesome cake.

I elected not to make resolutions, but a "To-Do" list instead. It seems more likely to complete than a resolution list. :-D

And are dragee's against the rules???? I've always wanted some, because I remember them when I was a kid and how awesome they were on Christmas cookies, etc., but now I can't find them ANYWHERE! Are they full of lead or something and that's why you can't buy them at the grocery store anymore? :-D
From: [info]wolfsilveroak Date: 01/10/2008 14:37:59  

They're banned in California.
From: [info]rachaeldoss Date: 01/10/2008 14:39:18  

Oooo, do you know why?

I live in SC, and I can't find them here, though I don't know that they're banned.
From: [info]wolfsilveroak Date: 01/10/2008 14:41:48  

LOL, I was editing when you posted
They're made of silver, which in excessive amounts can make you seriously ill. (The amount needed to do so is stupidly high and I can't imagine anyone eating that many.

But because they do contain silver and because they're 'hard', and might break a kid's tooth, some fool petitioned the courts to have them banned outright.

They're not real popular with the home baker, so specialty stores would be your best bet.

(ack, stupid HTML)
From: [info]rachaeldoss Date: 01/10/2008 14:47:44  

Re: LOL, I was editing when you posted
Thank you! I always loved them as a kid. Not that we were encouraged to eat a whole handful. LMAO. But they were sort of what made a bakery piece "special"
From: [info]wolfsilveroak Date: 01/10/2008 14:57:43  

Re: LOL, I was editing when you posted
Same here. Gingerbread men and sugar cookie stars were considered complete with the addition of dragees.}:P
From: [info]morganwolf Date: 01/10/2008 14:03:58  

ILLEGAL DRAGEE TRAFFICKING WHAT.

Triple vanilla with mango? I am flying out there to buy a cake. Seriously. Seriously. I need some of that like crazy.

My NYE was nice, thanks, how was yours? I never make resolutions anymore-- and anyway I'm too busy to carry any out. My goal is to lose 10 lbs. by April, though, and YOUR CAKES ARE NOT HELPING, SIR.
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:50:26  

Mine was pretty good, went to Monterey and ended up with two girls in my car with a head in my lap. Haha. Not nearly as dirty as it sounds though.

~Joe
From: [info]morganwolf Date: 01/11/2008 12:32:02  

Oh, dear. Sorry to hear that. Mine was disappointingly non-dirty, too. ^_^
From: [info]my_little_voice Date: 01/10/2008 14:08:56  

I love that quilted look. :-D
From: [info]wyndie Date: 01/10/2008 14:15:23  

New years was full of family drama, but still managed to turn out good. Never make resolutions. But I am planning on breaking some resolutions somewhere somehow. }:^)
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:50:59  

Excellent. The best part of making resolutions is breaking them!

~Joe
From: [info]wolfsilveroak Date: 01/10/2008 14:43:55  

That's gorgeous. Very elegant.
From: [info]hermioneann Date: 01/10/2008 15:12:12  

Didn't do anything for New Years, the boy and I stayed up watching movies, but that was about it.

No resolutions, just the goal of going to the gym as often as possible (joined today!) more for the mental benefits than anything, and potential weight loss is just an added bonus.
From: [info]nichele27 Date: 01/10/2008 15:33:38  

oooh i remember them on christmas stuff.. you used to be able to buy the dragees everywhere!

oh well!

My NYE was great, I had a party at our house and friends came over, we drank, played guitar hero, ate random food and then on New Year's day my made our normal meal of ham, black eyed peas, apple sauce, and homemade macaroni and cheese. IT was delicious!!

And I make a resolution every year, and stick to them.
one year it was to learn how to dance in high heels
another it was to learn how to put on eyeliner and make up
another it was to stop tailgating (stupid people with tvs in their vans...)
2 years ago it was to not eat fast food.. and I can say that I haven't eaten fast food in 2 years :D
last year.. it was just to be healthier and happier with myself. which i lost like 15pounds, danced more, had more fun and didn't stress as often i also traveled to Germany.

and this year I'm giving up sodas (unless with mixed with alcohol but even those i'm trying to cut back on/avoid)

It's been cold turkey and i haven't had a soda yet. or even alcohol mixed with soda so I'm doing pretty well :)
From: [info]nichele27 Date: 01/10/2008 15:35:17  

oh and you inspired me to make cakes for my friend's for their birthdays! Although they won't be as super, we're making one friend a "2" and a "1" for her 21st bday. the 2 is going to be chocolate on chocolate with pink polka dots and the 1 is going to be vanilla cake and white icing dyed pink with the black/brown polka dots.

and my other friend, we're going to make her a green clover/shamrock for her birthday.

it should be fun!! :D
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:54:29  

Oh man, that's awesome. I gave up sodas for about a year. It was good times. Then I needed some sugar to stay awake one night and it all went to hell after that.

But Im weening myself off of them again. I have maybe one a week or so.

Although surprisingly, I've been eating vegan for the past two days. It's weird. But only because Im trying to get as much face time with my friend before she leaves for college and she is vegan.

~Joe
From: [info]nichele27 Date: 01/11/2008 01:00:19  

Vegan is cool, if you do it right. I eat vegan a lot because one of my bestfriend is Vegan. I bet it's easier to do in california though.. in Texas..it's a bit hard. haha
From: [info]we_like_you Date: 01/10/2008 16:21:24  

I made a New Year's Resolution last year to GET HEALTHY. I lost 93lbs last year. I actually just posted some before and after pics in my livejournal, all candid type things nothing artistic or gorgeous hahaha. :) But anyway. I made the resolution to continue my healthy habits and get as fit as possible. :) I may continue to lose a bit, but I'm going to be mostly focused on improving my body composition, lowering my body fat percentage.
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:57:10  

Well holy crap, kudos to you. What did you do to lose the weight? That's really amazing.

You look really good, btw.

~Joe
From: [info]we_like_you Date: 01/11/2008 15:40:54  

THANKS! :) I used SparkPeople.com. It's a 100% FREE (YES, it's true, it's not a scam) website with information for a healthy diet and lifestyle. There's a nutrition tracker, fitness tracker, articles, messageboards, individual user pages, blogging, TEAMS, alllll kinds of good stuff. You can also enter your measurements in addition to your weight and it will generate charts and graphs showing your results -- it will also do this for your nutrition and workouts if you enter your information.

Basically, when you sign up on the website, you put your goal weight and goal date, as well as how much you intend to excercise (even if it's nothing, but I recommend the excercise!), and it tells you how much to eat each day (within a range).

The Nutrition Tracker has tons of food items already entered, but you can also manually enter items individually, as well as enter recipes on the recipe calculator on SparkRecipes.com and it'll calculate nutrition facts per serving.

It's really really awesome. And you can tell I pretty much owe all my success to it's help.

I've followed the nutrition guide (as far as how much to eat) pretty much exactly, with some splurge days here and there, sometimes as often as once a week, and worked out at the beginning 30min 3x a week and now 45min 3x a week for cardio, and Strength Training kind of sporadically throughout.

ANYWAY. The point is -- it's basically a balanced reduced calorie diet plan and it's very simple, and not crazy or extreme, and it really teaches you how to eat HEALTHILY. :) I recommend it.

And if you check it out, I'm zircadia on there.
From: [info]nichele27 Date: 01/11/2008 00:58:36  

wowsers. I think i'm going to add you, because you are now my inspiration. will you share secrets?
From: [info]we_like_you Date: 01/11/2008 15:41:59  

Sure! :) Add me if you like! I detailed all my "secrets" in my response to Joe in his comment back, but basically I used SparkPeople.com (which is FREE), and I'm zircadia on there if you want to check it out and look me up. :D
From: [info]mjtheanarchist Date: 01/10/2008 17:16:48  

Ah. *That's* what you're supposed to call candy jewelry.
From: [info]esme Date: 01/10/2008 19:34:11  

Beautiful cake, Joe!

(Makes me question using quilting on my wedding cake project, but, blast it! I'll do it anyway.)

My new year has been all right so far. I made a resolution to get serious about my diabetes-related weight loss this year. Seventy pounds in a few years should do it! (Slower the better for me.) I've been pretty good about the eating well, but not so much with the exercising.

I hope you have a fantastic, busy (but not kills-you-busy) year!
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:58:44  

I know what you are going through. My sister was just diagnosed, and it's been a strange journey so far, but everyone is adjusting rather well to it, being supportive and all that.

~Joe
From: [info]esme Date: 01/11/2008 08:07:46  

I'm sorry to hear about her diagnosis. However, a supportive family is one of the best things when dealing with diabetes. I get flak from my family if I do really bad stuff, which is rare, but it's good to know they care. I sincerely hope she and her doctors are able to get it under control quickly!
From: [info]anglicwitch Date: 01/10/2008 20:05:09  

that is ridiculously beautiful, joe. I think this has to be among my favorites.....

I played poker until two in the morning for new years, and no resolutions.... you?
From: [info]thecakeblog Date: 01/11/2008 00:59:51  

Monterey, girls in car, head in lap, not as dirty as it sounds. =P

~Joe
From: [info]randomposting Date: 01/10/2008 23:37:45  

I hope you're feeling better! The sick has certainly been going around!

Lovely cake, as always. :)