“Cakes are special. Every birthday, every celebration ends with something sweet, a cake, and people remember.  It’s all about the memories. ~ American TV show chef “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro

My entire life Mama and Daddy got me my birthday cake each year from the same bakery.  I loved it so much it became tradition.  I remember one year it had plastic turtles on it, and another year there were roller skates.  It is truly the best cake in the world.  I have always gotten chocolate cake with white icing.  And I have always loved the little stylized shells they use to border the cake with.  It was the bakery I used for our wedding cakes (complete with the same shells) and it was where I had our little one’s very first birthday cake made, starting the same tradition for her.  When I got older I realized roses were the way to go; they’re solid icing.  NOTHING beats cold birthday cake and warm coffee for breakfast.  I look forward to it every year.  It is lonelier without my parents but I celebrate their memory and now I am able to celebrate with my husband and my little girl.  Like so many other wonderful things and memories my parents started for me, I am keeping up the tradition.