happy birthday, haddy

Happy birthday, Haddy! I hope you have a most marvellous day! This could be challenging given that I’m 1800 kilometres away, but give ‘er a go.

On the weekend, Rosie Beaucoup and I found this delightful photo of you on the day you were born:

happy birthday, haddy | movita beaucoup

And then this delightful photo of us together:

happy birthday, haddy | movita beaucoup

The nice thing about this year’s birthday cake is that you actually got to eat it. Actually eating a cake is way better than just looking at pictures. Of course, most of my readers would say that looking at photos of cake is way better than actually baking one. I inspire laziness.

haddy's birthday cake | movita beaucoup

haddy's birthday cake | movita beaucoup

As requested: three layers of lemon infused cake topped with lemon swiss meringue buttercream.

No fudge, coleslaw or miniature corn, as I know you despise those things. (Though miniature corn would have fit the colour scheme perfectly.)

haddy's birthday cake | movita beaucoup

Don’t you think the border is reminiscent of the seashore? Do you know what reminiscent means? It’s like redolent. Anyhoo, given how much we both love the ocean, it seemed appropriate.

happy birthday, haddy | movita beaucoup

I hope you have your best year ever…

.

23 Comments

  1. Liz on September 12, 2014 at 8:00 am

    Happy birthday, Haddy! I want your sis to bake me MY birthday cake!

  2. AHAnto on September 12, 2014 at 8:03 am

    Photo from the top does look like the wonders left by the wavelet just leaving. Sounds lovely. You’re shipping this thing??? (Happy Birthday HD!)

    • movita beaucoup on September 12, 2014 at 8:12 am

      Haddy came to visit us on the long weekend, and she got to eat her cake then! I’m thinking the cake would have looked more like a shipwreck than the seashore had I tried to ship it to her… Though that could be a theme for next year’s cake!

  3. Rock Salt on September 12, 2014 at 8:08 am

    Sigh. Your buttercream skills are so strong. have you considered a career as a plasterer if all your many other career choices stop working out? Just a thought.

    That photo of you two is awesome. Your wee face… ‘You said you had a bun in the oven. This is a disappointment.’

    • movita beaucoup on September 12, 2014 at 8:25 am

      I HADN’T considered a career as a plasterer, but now I am! I wonder if people would enjoy piped ceilings?

      I’m not gunna lie to you: that border is incredibly easy to make. It took me about 5 minutes. It’s perfect for people who aren’t the best at piping borders and stuff because absolutely no consistency is required. I’m terrible at making things the same size – one blob is always huge, three are small, and another ends up on its side. But with this border you just plop random blobs of icing around the border! Totally makes up for lack of skill…

  4. Choc Chip Uru on September 12, 2014 at 9:01 am

    Happy Birthday Haddy! This birthday cake is PERFECT 😀

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  5. Michelle on September 12, 2014 at 9:15 am

    I would love a piped ceiling! Lemon cake with lemon swiss buttercream… Oh.my.god.

  6. Broma Bakery on September 12, 2014 at 12:41 pm

    Happy birthday Haddy! Shells was the first thing I thought about when I saw that border. It’s just perfect.

  7. Willow @ Will Cook For Friends on September 12, 2014 at 12:46 pm

    Oh my gosh, that second picture is priceless! Also, this cake sounds super yum. Lemon on top of lemon? Gimme. Also also, I’m really hoping you’v invented some kind of tasteable interwebs (like scratch and sniff computer screens, only with taste capabilities?) and that that’s what you mean when you say Haddy gets to taste this cake, because then, presumably, we could all taste this cake. Actually, that might get gross, so nevermind. Happy birthday, Haddy!

  8. Christine on September 12, 2014 at 1:44 pm

    Why is Hadley crying and why do you look like you may have just smacked her with the ruler? All very suspect.

    Hadley is lovely. And a good speller. Both are important.

    So why did you hit her with the ruler?

    Why did you tell her that the air leaving the shells is the screams of the lobster when it is being boiled?

    Why did you always force her to be the victim in our clever game of shark?

    Why did you never allow her to pick her husband from the cast of Emergency or C.H.I.Ps – but rather, she had to watch you and I do so each week, and be satisfied.

    Why did she have to wear your hand-me-down polyester yellow pants?

    Poor kid. She’s likely pretty messed up. I don’t want to point fingers, but…well…keep on baking cakes for her…I’m sure it’ll even out in the end.

    I like fudge.

    • movita beaucoup on September 12, 2014 at 2:38 pm

      I didn’t hit her with anything, Christine. I was just WARNING her. There’s a big difference. (Is that a ruler? Why are there holes?) Also, I’d like to remind you that you played an equal role in most of Haddy’s childhood traumas. I mean, wasn’t it your family that INVENTED shark?

      Honestly, she should be glad she has us. One doesn’t become an award-winning author without a wicked childhood to talk about…

      • Christine on September 12, 2014 at 3:19 pm

        Does this mean we should be getting royalties?? I’m okay with that…

        • Movita's Sister on September 12, 2014 at 10:34 pm

          Thanks kindly for the birthday wishes, all, but I don’t need no pity. After all, Christine was going to marry the Emergency guy with the moustache. And I’m pretty sure her Beatle was Ringo.

          Do you think my hairdresser could replicate Rose’s bed head? It’s kind of awesome.

  9. Nancy @ gottagetbaked on September 12, 2014 at 3:50 pm

    Happy birthday, Haddy! Movita, I’m going to print out these photos using a colour printer and will just paste them up at my house during birthdays. Because looking at cake is just as good as eating — Gawd, I couldn’t even finish that sentence! Looking at cake is just an evil way to torture one’s self. I’m sure this will be fine being couriered across the country.

  10. Nandini b on September 12, 2014 at 9:29 pm

    Darn, now I want cake. Wait, pffft, I have cupcakes on account of it was my birthday. Awesome!!!!

    Hoping Haddy’s birthday was filled with laughter and love to last the whole year.

    xo

  11. Stephbo on September 12, 2014 at 11:30 pm

    I totally thought they were seashells and starfish at first glance. I love it!

    And I’m pretty sure I had that same baby seat thingy as a kid.

  12. Marlene Cornelis on September 13, 2014 at 3:32 pm

    What a lovely, sweet post, celebrating your sister’s birthday, and sisterhood. I always wanted a sister, but my parents meanly refused to provide me one. Anyhoo, that cake, oh that cake. It’s just beautiful, and the decorative frosting is stunning. Love it! (And I’m a sucker for all things lemon, too.) FYI, my birthday is coming up in a few months, just sayin’.

  13. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef on September 13, 2014 at 7:22 pm

    I love Haddy’s cake – it’s beautiful. Love the happy snaps! What I don’t love is the idea that there’s someone who doesn’t eat cake!

  14. Eggton on September 15, 2014 at 12:53 pm

    What exactly is Haddy’s thing with cole slaw and are you partly responsible for it? I’m guessing yes. Your brother, having been denied the privilege of playing with the dog as a child, doesn’t seem like the kind of bully who would cause Haddy to hate cole slaw. But you, my friend, are suspect. Highly suspect.

    Cake looks lovely. I love lemony things.

  15. tworedbowls (@tworedbowls) on September 15, 2014 at 3:10 pm

    Yay for another Haddy birthday! Last year’s chocolate chip cookies still haunt my dreams. This cake is beautiful — seashells were exactly what first came to mind when I saw that piping. Happy day to you and Haddy!!

    • movita beaucoup on September 15, 2014 at 9:21 pm

      This probably isn’t the best time to tell you that I’m eating a Carmichael’s Chocolate Chip Cookie right now. But I am. And it is deeeeelightful!

  16. Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen on September 22, 2014 at 9:36 am

    Lucky Haddy to have a lovely sister like you Movita! I am to make a birthday cake for my sister-in-law and I think it’s time to pull out my icing tips too. I love the little border of icing you’ve made around the top.. it does remind me of seashells. Happy Birthday to you Haddy… and many more.. er .. cakes too:D

  17. Odette on October 19, 2014 at 12:52 pm

    Love the your piping skills/design.

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