Friday 27 June 2008

Is there such a thing as "post party stress disorder"???......


Is it possible to poison small children with too much suspiciously highly coloured food? Yes, you've guessed it, today was party time in the VH household. Eight 3 & 4 year olds ran riot through my tidy (not for long) home and, I hope, had a great time. The adults?............well we shared a jug of Pimms and pretended it was sunny!



Now I'm no baker (i blame the oven) and this cake proved to something of a challenge. Can anybody tell me why Barbie has such ridiculously long legs? It was either chop them off or sacrifice the sponge cake I'd made for us long suffering Mummies. In the end I decided I just could not amputate limbs just for a cake so we made do with strawberries and cream instead. May I say Barbie looks slightly relieved!

Small hint :: it really is impossible to keep Barbie's dignity intact when cutting the cake. She ended up with her (impossibly small) bottom hanging out of the back of the cake and looking slightly like she belonged in a very dodgy food related porn film!

As usual it's been a busy week and I'm feeling slightly frustrated because I've so many post ideas in my head but not the time to write them, probably how a lot of you feel out there.

Last Sunday Andrea and I went to London to visit a trade fair. We met the man behind the now famous "Sarah Smith" dishcloths with the flowers that have been mentioned here in Blogland so many times. After leaving we decided to have a little trek around the capital and managed (thanks to me) to get onto totally the wrong tube. We ended up in Portobello Road and from there walked about 6 miles (no joke) back to Kensington where we'd parked, via a very convoluted route worked out using only a tube map! Along the way we stopped for Sushi and walked through Notting Hill and Kensington Gardens. We laughed so much whilst we walked that I was beginning to rue my decision not to have followed my pelvic floor exercises! It was a truly great day out with a fab friend, one I'll remember when I'm old and grey and pushing her round in a bath chair (she's older than me, as I keep telling her!).

I haven't forgotten the giveaway, next post I'll choose the winner. Have a lovely weekend all, I'm off for a large glass of wine, a lie down, and a chat with my other half...................(or, truth be told, to slob in front of the tv!)

23 comments:

Just Original said...

Hi Julia,

The barbie cake reminds me of a loo roll holder but pimped up! I can just imagine your face as you cut into the cake and reveal her bum!

Vanessa x

Ali said...

You've earned the drink for sure! My frind made a similar cake for her 4 year old - all the Daddies were waiting for Barbie's clingfilmed torso to be exposed. The children couldn't understand all the infantile giggling.

prettyshabby said...

Having two stinky boys I have missed out on the delights of Barbie..I think your cake is hilarious..Barbie looks like she's just paraglided in from above,hair flying in the wind, and landed in a large cone of skirt-shaped ice cream..how fantastic!..it just wouldnt have worked with action man in our case...although I suppose he could have landed in a pile of cake flavoured 'mud'.
I'm totally useless with trains and directions..kind of thing I would do but glad you had a great time..at least you got to see another six miles worth of London!

Locket Pocket said...

I'm giggling here at the thought of poor Barbie's blushes! Lucy x

driftwood shack said...

what a great looking party! and poor Barbie at least us mums have grown out of the embarrassment of exposing ourselves at parties!

Summer by the sea said...

Really enjoyed reading todays post Julia - that cake is great. you have definitely given me an idea for next years cake (when my little un will be 3). Sounds like you had a lovely time in London with your friend too - Natalie x

julie said...

loved the cake and the pimms doesn't sound too bad either. Maybe every adult should be offered a glass when there is a childrens party going on. I'm sure the mess they make wouldn't look half as bad and their screams would seem less piercing well maybe not after one glass, maybe two!! Parties here in France are pretty low key, and as for the cake I think they would be amazed. Well done you

mollycupcakes said...

Happy Birthday Kitty, your cake looks fabuous, your mummy is very clever even if she doesn't think she is.
Julia your day in London sounded like the best ever. n all the years my Mum lived in London I've never been to Notting hill, was is full of amazing stalls?
And which trade fair is it you both went to , I always go to the pulse and top draw ones but would love to know about any others. Drop me a email hun with details (sorry I'm being nosey).
Have a lovely weekend.
Hugs.
Catherine x

Suzie Sews At DOTTY RED said...

so much to catchup on...just read your last few posts, so much going on, love the cake, love the table setting, very pretty and I am jealous of the magazine!!!

Louise said...

I did one of those cakes once - nearly did my head in but it worked in the end. I would prefer the Pimms! I would so love to have joined you on your walk - it's been a while since I've been anywhere near those places. Glad you had fun!!

Deb said...

Love your decorated "party tent" - Your barbie cake looks wonderful in strawberries and cream!

Sal said...

Your Barbie cake is fantastic!!;-)

Claire said...

Hi, hope you don't mind me asking.....where did you purchase your kitchen shelving? I really like the the shelf you have over the range cooker. I've looked in the usual DIY stores but havent come across anything I like....except yours :) Claire x

Claire said...

Ps.....love the cake, would love to make a cake like that but think it would be thrown in my face from my boys.....lol....Happy Birthday to Kitty, we had Mason's 5th birthday party today....feel complety shattered now!! Claire x

Anonymous said...

Oh, the Barbie trama -- legless, buttless Barbies on a stick are available at cake decorating stores-- at least stateside. Your party was charming.

dottycookie said...

Lovley party - we had one today that was suspiciously similar in looks!

Hope the Pimms went down as well as my glass just did ;-)

Claire said...

Hiya, thankyou for the info, I'll check out the kitchen site and still carry on till I find the shelves. Claire xx

Ragged Roses said...

We're building up to a birthday sleepover here and I'm making sure that the wine is at the ready (for us not the kids!). I remember making a barbie cake and just pulling her legs off, I can't remember what the children thought of her dismembered torso - hope I haven't scarred them for life. Glad you enjoyed the Pimms
Kimx

Emma Bradshaw said...

Oh Julia

How i laughed when I read this entry, and yes I'm sure all mummies will agree there is a disorder called 'post party stress'! Although I always succumb to the earlier version of this disorder called "seemed like a good idea at the time" when I am up all night working out how to make a birthday cake in the shape of a pair of wellies and in April when I thought I would make all the party bags out of swatches and oddments of material & ribbons I had, again no sleep!

I think your cake is fantastic and if i had a butt like barbie I would mind it on show!

Emma Herian said...

Hi Julia
Just thought I would let you know that you have been tagged! Its quite a nice one - you need to show your view from your kitchen. I am sure its a view to be admired, judging by your kitchen!
Hope you have recovered after the great party!

carolyn said...

mRvellous cake and love hearts, you can't have a girly party without love hearts!

Greedy Nan said...

Hi. Could Barbie have sat down instead of standing or would that have made the cake too wide. Never having had Barbies in our house, despite having all girls I'm not au fait with her dimensions. My cakes were generally chocolate [which I hate] in the style of a clock with the fingers pointing to the age.
You really must persevere with the Pelvic floor exercises - take it from one who knows ...

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a fun day in London and a great party too. I'm sure Barbie can cope with such undignified situations...she's been around a while after all.
Margaret and Noreen