However, this year was a little different. I was really eager for my birthday to come, but when it did arrive, I felt... normal. The birthday girl felt like her birthday was just like any other normal day, which was a bit strange in the beginning but it slowly started to make sense to me.
I am a very low-key person to start with. I turned off the birthday notification on Facebook a few years ago so my profile wouldn't be flooded with hundreds of messages that I'm obliged to reply - mostly from mere acquaintances, which makes the process of going through the formalities even more awkward (even though I appreciate you taking a few minutes of your time to write a wish on my profile).
But it's disturbing how my friends won't know when my birthday is if Facebook doesn't tell them. I didn't want that kind of fake illusion to make me feel special on my birthday, so I hid it on Facebook, but to be completely honest, I do sometimes wish for the attention, especially if it's on a special day like this. However, I know they are void of the sincerity and genuinity compared to the blessings from my family and close friends
The older I am, the less special my birthdays get - in terms of surprises, parties, grand celebrations. Maybe it's because of the age - I don't know about you, but I'm feeling twenty twoooo (I've waited for three years to finally get to sing this song with my emotions full on) - I actually don't mind that at all. Gradually, I've come to realise that despite the lack of fun birthday things, I'm incredibly blessed to be surrounded by family and friends who love me. Nothing makes me happier than to see them healthy and successful in everything they do. #deep
That said, who doesn't want cake on their birthdays?! I decided to make an ombre cake for myself, just for the fun of it and also to challenge my baking skills. I was pleasantly surprised that it turned out well despite it being my first attempt! I think I was quite brave because I might just destroy my birthday cake, and that would be horrible and depressing.
I wanted a lavender ombre cake because lavender is my favourite colour and because it looks so magically gorgeous. But the closest I could find in the bakery shop is "grape colouring". I had a feeling it's not the shade of purple I want, but oh well. Also I made the frosting first, because... I've not been very successful with it, so in case it doesn't work, I can just forget about the cake haha!
First, chopped pieces of white chocolate.
Thick, luscious, melted white chocolate mmhm.
Beat butter and sugar till light and creamy, then mix in the melted white chocolate.
And my white chocolate buttercream frosting is done! I think it turned out well this time because I practically used the whole packet of icing sugar...
Then butter and flour for the batter.
Whole milk, eggs and vanilla extract.
Mix them in and the batter is done.
Divide the batter into three bowls and drip the colouring until the desired shade. This colour is definitely not what I wanted, but it's not too bad I guess. I initially planned on doing four layers, but there wasn't enough batter so I resorted to just three. Saved one trip to the oven.
The layer actually looks very thin by its own.
I retrieved the frosting from the fridge, and had to wait a while for it to soften before I mixed in the colouring.
Piped these into lovely rose swirls on the cake after crumb coating it.
Important notes for myself to remember:
*too much sugar for frosting
*must keep stirring white chocolate
*batter is just enough for three layers
Well I probably wouldn't make an ombre cake again, at least not for a very long time. It was fun to try something more challenging but too much effort was put into it (spent almost the whole day on this) - even though I was ecstatic when I saw the final result, more so when the cake was cut open and its beautiful, glorious insides were revealed. The rose frosting isn't perfect but I think it's not too bad for a first attempt haha!
Went for a birthday dinner with my family at night and the following day, I had a sweet surprise lovingly planned by my CG members (I completely had no idea!). Thank you girls, you don't know how much I appreciate you coming out to have dinner with me even with your busy schedules :')
I had more cake!
Am I really 22... already?!! Probably more like a 12-year-old stuck in a 22-year-old's body.
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