My sister-in-law, Jeanne, turned 50 this year and is about to graduate college with a degree in massage therapy. This is a very big deal.
Jeanne is the 7th of 12 children in my husband's family. She couldn't afford to go to college, so Jeanne went into the Army right after high school and settled near her family once her tour was complete. When she was 25, she became pregnant and her boyfriend left her. Rather than give up her son or go on welfare, Jeanne moved into a small apartment, worked full-time at a job that to this day doesn't pay well, and raised a fine young man. My nephew Joshua won numerous awards and scholarships for citizenship and community service, while in high school, and attended Southern NH University for 2 1/2 years before making the decision to enter the Marines. He served two tours of duty in Iraq and is currently an Urban Combat instructor based out of Camp LeJeune.
When Josh entered the Marines, Jeanne made the decision to go back to school and get a degree in Massage Therapy, with the hope of eventually leaving her dead-end' low-paying job behind and making a future for herself. Its been a financial struggle and a huge time commitment, but she stayed the course and passed her state boards in March. Her graduation is scheduled for May 17th and the after party is going to be at my house.
I know a lot of folks who've returned to school, but not many who've gone through all Jeanne has and who've graduated college at 50. I want her cake to be as special as she is and celebrate both her birthday and her graduation. She has a terrific sense of humor, which I know has helped her over the years, so I want to interject fun into the celebration, but I also want her to know how big an accomplishment this is.
That's what I love about shortstopmom. "I may need a few minutes". I'd have to sit and think a week before I'd come up with a good idea and it will pale in comparison to hers.
Posts: 538 | Location: Northern California | Registered: November 10, 2004
BBFam,...(LOL )....thank you for the kind words,...but I must admit,...( big deep breath )......I'm a cheater/copier and without my dear friend " Google ", I would be nothing.
KmomNH,..okie dokie,..so you say she has a sense of humor, eh???? ( that's good! ) I keep invisioning a Barbie doll,...laying face down on a Barbie table,...like this:
with little tiny stones glue-gunned to her back, set a top of some-sort of cake. :
Congratulations to your sister-in-law!! ( I'm trying to think up a creative slogan )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ " Play both sports until the competition convinces you otherwise!! "
" Do not mistake kindness for weakness "
Posts: 2692 | Location: Kansas | Registered: March 18, 2006
Originally posted by BBfam: Or how bout "Maxine" face down?? She's a gal after my own heart!
Yes, and perhaps the stones could 'spell out' 50 .... But Maxine all the way (I do believe sheis my evil twin sister).
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3915 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
Okay, this is a little risque but... Jeanne is still single. What if I put a GI Joe under the little sheet and wrote "Congratulations, Jeanne... May all your endings be happy"
You gals are clever - I would never have come up with those ideas in a million years!
I remember the barbie cake with the dress being cooked in the mixing bowl for the skirt - but never Barbie getting a massage or GI Joe! Fun - creative ladies at work~!
Sounds like a fun party for a deserving hardworking woman!
Posts: 241 | Location: Texas | Registered: November 24, 2006
Originally posted by KmomNH: Okay, this is a little risque but... Jeanne is still single. What if I put a GI Joe under the little sheet and wrote "Congratulations, Jeanne... May all your endings be happy"
I guess you could also have Barbie being the masseuse ... or would that upset Ken?
GI Joe's are so macho ... make sure "Barbie Jeanne" isn't drooling while she is doing her job.
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3915 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
I've made lots of shaped cakes -- a table would be a doddle.
If you make the cake pound cake (strong enough to support the icng and a well-muscled GI Joe ) you could ice it with fondant. (Here, cake shops, WalMart, and craft shops all carry ready-made fondant.
You can make the 'table' any color and however detailed you like with food coloring, the sheet would be rolled-out fondant, which you could drape and 'reveal' however you like.
If you use fondant for all icing, coat the cake with some melted apricot preserves first for tasty 'glue'. If you find handling the fondant sticky, coat your hands and rolling pin with confectioner's sugar.
And, if you were ever good at playing with play-doh, you can make the body on the table yourself as well.
I knew I could trust you ladies for great ideas and how-to advice.
Orlando - those cakes are amazing! I am but a mere mortal in comparison to the artist who created them, but I'm pretty sure I could put a fondant sheet over a well-muscled GI Joe. Hmmm... I wonder how my husband would look in a fondant sheet....
Originally posted by KmomNH: Hmmm... I wonder how my husband would look in a fondant sheet....
Nearly naked? Those fondant sheets aren't terribly big ...
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3915 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
The cakes are time-consuming, but they're not master class stuff. Ya'l can do it -- I've made more than I care to think about! If you get the first layer of fondant on, it seals the cake and you can take days to finish it.
I liked the KFC one, reminded me of a pepperoni pizza cake I made for Aeden's 9th birthday!
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) you could ice it with fondant. (Here, cake shops, WalMart, and craft shops all carry ready-made fondant.
