So here's what you do

Each year on Memorial Day, kicking off summer, we celebrate Erica's birthday.

She was actually born on the Friday before Memorial Day in 1986.

Every year on Labor Day, kicking off fall, we celebrate Stephanie's birthday.

Her actual birthday is about a week later. My first baby turns thirty-three this year.

Several weeks ago we inquired what Steph wanted for her birthday and she provided a list complete with helpful links.

On that list was a set of stackable rings.

We liked that idea but we weren't enthusiastic about the set she'd picked out, so we decided to pool our racehorses and get her a different set.

A nicer one than the set she'd requested.

And after dithering over which set to buy, we decided we wanted Stephanie to have a grouping of stackable rings that included the birthstones of her babies.

That would be blue topaz (Melanie), diamond (Allissa), and amethyst (Andrew).

Of course we couldn't afford a real diamond so we substituted white topaz.

And with Joel's help it all worked out very nicely. Stephanie now has a set of five stackable rings in varying colors (including blue topaz and amethyst) and stone sizes, plus an extra ring (the white topaz).

She can wear her children's birthstones together or mix and match all of the rings. Her fingers are very long so the style works well.

Stephanie seemed so happy with her gift and after she'd opened everything up, it was time for cake.

I usually ask Audrey to be in charge of the cake course and this year was no different.

Generally we go to Sam's Club and buy the gooiest buttercream-frosted layer cake we can find, and have the honoree's name scrawled on top in icing.

After our big Labor Day lunch it is our habit to brew copious amounts of hot, strong, fresh coffee, then serve up slabs of that cake and tuck in.

But this year, in the interest of eating lighter and healthier, I suggested a break from tradition.

Namely I told Audrey I thought we should serve store-bought pound cake with fresh berries and Reddi wip.

I love Reddi wip. Yes, I am too lazy to whip cream. Don't judge.

So on Saturday we went to Sam's Club where Audrey picked out a set of stackable pound cakes -- three, to be exact.

And she also got plump raspberries and radiantly purple blueberries.

After securing a can of Reddi wip, we were all set. Stacking cake, berries, and Reddi wip should be at least as enjoyable as stacking birthstone rings, we reasoned. 

Only, I wish you could have seen white topaz's face when she realized there was no five-pound layer cake slathered in buttercream with her mother's name written in sugar on top.

Incredulous does not begin to describe it.

"That's the cake?" Allissa blurted when Audrey placed the squares of plain pound cake on the table beside the bowl of no-sugar-added berries.

My granddaughter recovered sufficiently to make peace with the absence of buttercream. Still, she refused the berry part, asking for simply "cake with cream" and plenty of it.

So here's what you do:

Ask your loved one what they want for their birthday, then go online and buy it, or an improved version of same. No footwork involved.

Then go to Sam's Club and buy pound cakes and berries. Get yourself a can of Reddi wip. Or two.

Wrap up that present, plate that cake, wash those berries, and make a pot of coffee. Voila! You're there.

Commence to celebrate.

That is all for now.

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Happy Wednesday

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Comments

[irene]

Happy Birthday to your baby. Your cakes sound delicious.

[Mari]

I love, love, love those stackable rings! Pound cake with berries sounds good too. Looks like a wonderful celebration!

[Skunkfeathers]

There was nothing on the list I wouldn't have indulged in ;-) Happy Birthday one and all!

[Donna (Texas)]

Ahhh, traditions! Crystal HAS to have her strawberry and whipped cream cake...NO substitutions allowed!Hahaa
Love the photos and her Rings! Cute idea!
hughugs

[Sue the Hobbit]

Do you guys ever do anything but partay?