I had an extra special birthday this year. First, my great hubby gave me four days off from being a mommy to attend the National Capital Area Cake Show (NCACS) in Virgina. It will be a first for me and I was so excited! And for the cherry on top of this cake, my mom paid for the trip as a birthday present! (wohoo!)
The highlight of my trip to the NCACS was meeting Food Network and TLC starts. But there is one that I was particularly eager to meet -- Lauren Kitchens of Fancy Cakes by Lauren. To those who don't know her, she is a Food Network Gold Medalist and known for muppetizing the judges at the Sesame Street Cake Challenge. She made an awesome Elmo which my 2 year old loves. We've watched that episode so many times but it never fails to put a smile on our faces.
Lauren has been giving Muppet 101 classes in cake shows and at Dallas' local cake shop. I wanted to fly to Dallas (my first home here in the US) to attend her class but time would not permit. And when I found out she was going to be in NCACS, I was ecstatic! It was her class that brought me to this event and it was worth it! I loved every minute of the class. She and her assistant Ashleigh were great. Mike McCarey (another decorator I look up to) was there to help out as well. They made all the students - experienced decorators or not- feel comfortable with what they are working with. To top it all, Lauren is one of the nicest, and down to earth person I've ever met!
Here are some photos of Lauren and her Norman Davis muppet of Sweet Life (by his request I think hehe!).
I decided to muppetize my daughter Izzie. She is a Sesame Street fan and I wanted to take back a nice present for leaving her for the first time all alone with daddy. I'm glad I did because the first thing she asked when she saw me was "Where's my muppet, Mama?". Here is my little girl and her muppet.
Lauren and me. I realized that my muppet was "screaming" so I did adjust her head when I got back to California (first photo above).
I have not taken a cake class in years. The last one I had was still in high school. People and everything around me has helped me with what I know but it was really nice to be a student again and learn new things from a fantastic teacher. Plus this was such a fun class! I hope to be given another opportunity like this.
I can't wait to make another muppet. Thanks again Lauren for such a wonderful class!
