Have Your Birthday Cake And Eat It, Too!

Another year, another birthday. How does that happen? With every trip around the sun, I'm pretty sure someone is playing tricks on me, since I still feel somewhere between the ages of 11 and 15. Certainly not 38. Anyway, this is me at 38 (or so they say...)

It's one of my favorite pictures of myself, so maybe 38 won't be so bad.

As you can see, it snowed today. I guess I really live in MinneSNOWta. I think I deserve this hat:

Want one, too? Check them out HERE.

Speaking of the Great North and growing older, since I've mood back, I've been directly asked my age so many times by strangers or people I've just met. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but this surprises me. Why ask? What are you gaining from that confirmed knowledge? I honestly get asked my age almost every week and it always leaves me bummed out. Mostly because after I honestly give the response, the inquirer seems disappointed. Hmm...does anyone have some insight to this?

Anyway, back to my getting older. I'm not really a (self) birthday celebrating kind of gal. It's been like that forever.

The Saint Paulie Gang

Here is a picture of my childhood birthday party. Where am I? Oh, crying on my parents' waterbed because we didn't have enough time to watch the Care Bear movie and had to watch the My Little Pony movie instead. Yeah, birthday parties stress me out. I think it has to do with expectations. But just because I'm not into the birthday party does not mean I'm not majorly into the birthday cake. Oh no, I am definitely all about that cake.
These in particular would fit the bill:

I love a s'mores-themed dessert, but the marshmallow must be toasted. And it helps if you have a log cake stand to display it.

S'mores Cake - Liv For Cake

How beautiful is this cake? Take time to smell (and eat) the roses!

Rose Cake - Gimme Some Oven

It makes sense to move from flowers to the pollinators. Flavor, texture, and cuteness all factor in to why this cake is the bee's knees.

Honeycomb Cake with 10 Layers - Aleksandra's Recipes

When you can't decide how chocolately you want your chocolate cake...this is so classy and I love the kick and spice of Mexican chocolate for the frosting. 

Ombre Chocolate Cake with Mexican Chocolate Frosting - A Cozy Kitchen

They used to serve this cake at my former workplace and I got hooked. All the various forms of chocolate leave even the biggest choco-holic satisfied.

Brooklyn Blackout Cake - NYTimes

Ooh! It's a macaron but...big. I'm in.

Giant Macaron Cake - Aww Sam

This TREND has been around for a few years now, but that full spectrum is still tops in my sky. Once a Rainbow Brite, always a Rainbow Brite.

Rainbow Birthday Cake - The Little Kitchen

Do you enjoy a birthday party? If not, how do you choose to celebrate your special day?
Is there cake?

Skirted Plaid With A Twist

You don't have to go all Mary Katherine Gallagher to sport a plaid skirt. Here are some examples that give the classic school uniform a twist. Try one out this season, you Superstar!

1. Eva Franco Meghan Plaid Skirt - Anthropologie

2. Plaid Wrap-Front Skirt - Gap

3. Swingy Skirt With Bow Waist - ModCloth

4. Checked Button Zip Mini Skirt - Topshop

5. Plaid Patch Pocket Skirt - Tommy Hilfiger

6. Faye Tweed Skirt - Boden

7. Graham Faux Wrap Skirt - BB Dakota

Everything You Could Want

I knew I was officially a grown up when instead of wanting a sad, plain bagel for breakfast, I craved an everything bagel. To be fair, I don't really remember these being an option in my childhood - perhaps the great North of the 80s and 90s wasn't ready for quite so much decadence and flavor - but I doubt my young, boring tastebuds would have gone for it, anyway.

A crispy crust/chewy inside, heavily seasoned everything bagel was my go-to most mornings while living in New York. Accompanied by the New York Times crossword puzzle and black coffee, I was completely nourished and satisfied for the day. 

Since moving to Minneapolis, it's not quite as easy to grab my favorite hole-y carb on a whim, but I will give shout-outs to decent comparisons at Rise Bagel Co. and St. Paul Bagelry. I can't say that I'm transported to the streets of NYC, but I do get my fix.

Everything Bagel - Rise Bagel Co.

In the past year, Trader Joe's made the world a better place with this product:

Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend - Trader Joe's

Yup. Now almost everything can have a hint of everything bagel. Honestly, at first I limited my goods to sprinkling over plain cream cheese in order to magically turn my plain bagel into its fancier cousin. But then, bottle by bottle, I began to experiment: avocado toast...roasted or steamed veggies...hummus...deviled eggs...any eggs...potatoes...popcorn...salads...pastas...the name really says it all, folks.

Here are killer recipes that I've spotted that I definitely want to attempt to everything-ize.

That Bloody Mary alone! Ah!

Everything Wedge Salad - Spoon Fork Bacon

Everything Chicken - Gimme Some Oven

Bloody Mary with Everything Bagel Rim - Foxes Love Lemons

In my Googling, I also went googly-eyed for this everything take on a grilled cheese:

Sadelle's Everything Bagel Grilled Cheese - Tasting Table

There are other spice brands that have jumped on the everything bandwagon if you aren't near a Trader Joe's, or you could easily mix up your own blend:

How To Make Everything Bagel Spice - The Kitchn

Everything's popularity is showing up in other forms, too - I've noticed many new products on the shelf that are Everything Seasoned _______. Everyone wants to be everything, I guess. One that I've tested and can vouch for are these savory, salty rice crackers:

Whole Foods 365 Everything Rice Crackers

And that's not even...(you guessed it)...everything.

So go forth, my friends, and partake in everything your heart desires! Just be sure to have some floss and breath mints handy.