Well the 5th birthday party at Willowbrook Golf Center was a success! Perfect weather, the kids had a blast, although the first five minutes of chaos was a little overwhelming. The mystery guest, the NJ Devil was a hit! Some of the boys from Cael’s hockey team were there and they all loved it. And even my cake was a hit. Phew, all the work is over…until next year!
So I’ve been planning Cael’s 5th birthday. It’s going to be at a local mini-golf place. I’ve been on Etsy and EBay buying stuff for the party for the last month. I’ve invited about 35 kids, of which I anticipate about 24 to attend. It’s always hard with summer vacations and so many other things going on to get a convenient date for people.
I have coordinated the outfits, purchased the balloons, next big item was the cake. I was originally going to budget up to $200 for a cake but decided I could attempt to make it myself for a big cost savings that could be budgeted elsewhere, like favors or a photographer.
I spent at lest two weeks googling golf cake images and “how tos” for cakes, watched YouTube videos etc. Finally I decided on a simple design. I made the cake/cupcake toppers myself. After free printable flag numbers and the tees, sticks and balls I got on eBay I definitely spent about half of the amount it would have been to buy the items. With just a little hot glue and Elmer’s glue I was ready.
Next up, icing supplies. I googled how to make grass icing. I went to Michael’s and got my Wilton tips and icing bags, and some green Wilton fondant and was ready to go.
My trial cupcakes were first. We used regular Pillsbury funfetti mix and Pillsbury icing. I made the icing green and kept it in the fridge overnight to harden. The final result…
Next up the trial cake.
I used regular butter vanilla Pilsburry with chocolate icing over two 8 inch rounds. I rolled out the green fondant. Did little fondant balls on the bottom and icing on the top, using the dyed Wilton buttercream icing. The final result…
Next up, the cake/cupcake stand!! Still working that one. 6 days to go, it’s crunch time!
I have a coworker who a few months ago (early July) mentioned they were going to enter a 10k. Next thing I knew my untrained, hadn’t run a mile in more than nine months self, agreed to do the same.
I guess it was some inner competitiveness and not wanting to accept the fact that a peer could accomplish a feat of physical fitness that I could not as well. But really, what was I thinking?!
For purposes of full disclosure I work out a good deal, I lift weights and may do 20 minutes on the bike at a time. However, neither of these provide you with the cardiovascular endurance needed for running. My self-proclaimed physically fit self soon realized this.
I quickly jumped in with two feet because I had 2 months to do a 10k!
I first signed up for every local race I could find. One, than another, than another….
The races were:
July 23rd Packanack Lake 5K
Aug 20th Born to Run 5k
Sept 5th Arboretum Run
Sept 11th Tunnels to Towers 5k Run
Sept 18th Brian’s Run
Oct 10th Spartan Run
And after becoming slightly addicted I think there may be more. And it’s a great way to teach your kids about fitness. Cael loves going to the races too!
When I got to the first race I was a little intimidated by the “real runners” in their running gear and running club and track team jerseys…but I was determined (although a little scared) to hold my own.
The first race definitely could use a lot of improvement
7/23 time- 28:36. I was determined to do better next time
8/20- 26:22 (goal was 27)
9/5 – 25:39 (goal was 25:30)
9/11(goal is 24:59)
9/18 (goal is 60:00)
10/10 (goal is 24)
Once one race ends I get so excited for the next one. There’s nothing like setting a goal and trying to accomplish it to make you feel on top of the world!
The first thing that popped into my head this morning after I left the gym…because after a good workout is when my I really get pumped up about EVERYTHING…If you dream it you can be it, if you reach for it you can touch it, if you think it you can become it. It’s so true, and my mantra for the day that I will tell anyone who wants to, or even doesn’t want to, listen.
Everyday I have my son repeat after me, “I am a superstar. I am a campion,” then he gives me five. It’s the little reminder/positive affirmation that he can do anything and that he can become anything.
My son LOVES hockey. I do not know where the obsession (versus just like) came from. Sure he watched hockey with his dad but it went from all Dora all the time to all hockey all the time. Once the playoffs came around last year I knew I would soon be in trouble. That God for DVRs because suddenly we were watching the same games, over, and over, and over again, all summer long.
We're Number 1!
I finally got start and started ordering DVDs, “NHL’s Greatest Goals,” “NHL Behind the Scenes” and every children’s hockey book ever written, “Z is for Zamboni,” isn’t that on everyone’s bookshelf?
We have hockey sticks (many), hockey pucks (many), hockey nets (many) hockey jerseys (many) and hockey cards, literally all over the house, car, and it goes on everywhere you look. The boy loves hockey, and I’m not going to lie, mom likes it better than Dora.
I often ask him, “Cael are you going to be the greatest hockey player ever?” To which he undoubtedly responds, “Yes.”
The purpose of this blog is not to talk about my kid (even if he is the cutest 3 year old ever) but to talk about passion and unbridled enthusiasm.
I am my son’s cheerleader, supporter, motivator, because I believe in him just like I believe in myself or anyone else for that matter. We live in the United States of America, the land of opportunity. Where you can come from nothing and have everything…as long as you want it enough.
We eat, SLEEP, and breathe hockey
Positive thoughts yield positive results. Decide what you want, be passionate about it, move towards it and achieve it. Most importantly, repeat after me, “I am a superstar. I am a champion.”
NJBluEyz 