Wow, you guys! I’m writing a blog post. I know…I can hardly believe it myself.
And you know what? It’s really hard! It’s been almost a year since I last posted – not since March 11 of last year. That’s crazy. I don’t mind admitting that I’m freaking out a little bit. You know what, though? Bakingdom turned seven years old this past Wednesday, and for the first time since arriving home in the States, I felt the urge to bake a cake, *and* to tell you guys all about it!
The last year was both really tough and really easy. It was a relief to take this time off and focus on my family, and our move home from the Netherlands. I spent a lot of time making crafts and turning our new little place into a home, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it in future posts. We are living in military housing for this tour, and even though it’s disappointing to have our options taken from us, this place is cute and we have some really nice new neighbors. Plus, we’re home! Living in Europe was an incredible opportunity, and we absolutely loved it. We hardly wanted to leave, but man! We aren’t half a world away from our family anymore, and that is the best thing ever.
I have a pretty small little kitchen here, but it’s bright and cheerful, and I’m looking forward to showing it to you all…and to baking lots of tasty treats to share with you. I have *really* missed you guys!
I decided that I really wanted a floral cake for Bakingdom’s birthday this year. I realized that in all the years we’ve been hanging out here together, I’ve never done a good old fashioned floral cake. Considering that my caking roots are deeply entrenched in the grocery store bakery and it’s buttercream roses, this had to be remedied. After all, that’s where this all started for me – in a little grocery store bakery in Indiana, decorating cakes with roses and ruffles and lots and lots of “Happy Birthdays”.
Which is why there are plenty of those classic buttercream roses on this cake, but I also dressed it up with a few camellias and greenery. I had so much fun making this cake.
I think this year will be the year of the flower. Lots of roses and mums and ranunculus on my cakes and cupcakes, and tiny versions adorning fat sugar cookies. Bouquets of sugar piled all over the sweetest treats I can dream up!
I want to share tutorials for them with you guys, and I can’t wait to make some geeky goodies that I’ve been dreaming up all year long.
I’m so happy to be getting back into the swing of things, and I really want to thank you for all of your support and love during this last year, and over the last seven years. I need you all to know how much it meant to me to receive your messages of love and kindness, and how encouraging it was to be reminded that you were still hanging out with me. I love you guys so much! Thank you! Here, have some cake. <3
Yay! So happy to see you’re back! <3
I’m so happy you are settled in and working up to blogging again. I always look forward to your posts and cant wait to see what you’ve dreamed up. This cake is STUNNING and elegant and perfect for a 7th birthday 🙂 the green roses reminded me of succulents actually, so pretty!!
YAAAAAAAY you’re back!!!
That was my reaction, too! <3
I didn’t think today could get much better and then I saw you had a new post! BEAUTIFUL cake, so glad to see it!!
So glad you’re back! I was showing your website to my 12yo niece not too long ago–she’s getting into baking and is particularly interested in developing her cake decorating skills, so your site is the first place I thought of. Between your baking and Harry Potter love, you’ve already captured her heart. Missed you, girlie 🙂
Welcome back! Can’t wait for more of your geeky, sugary goodness!
I have missed you and your beautiful treats! It is so good to see that you’re back and settling in well. Thank you for sharing this gorgeous cake. Seeing it totally brighten my day.
This is beautiful! happy Birthday Bakingdom! I missed you!
You’re back! Gorgeous cake! Is that a cookie cake server?
You outdid yourself and made the most beautiful cake I’ve seen! I love it! Welcome back, Darla!
So glad you back, I’ve really missed you! You’re cake is beautiful and love how colourful it is! A home is wherever you all are but it’s sure great to be in the same country as your family! Xx
What a beautiful cake! So glad you’re coming back to blogging. Can’t wait to see what you have in store to share!!
I’m so excited that you’re back!! Beautiful, beautiful cake. 🙂
Yay! So glad to see you’re back! And that cake is just beautiful! The flowers are perfect, but I am totally in love with that gray and white striped side!!
Happy Birthday! The cake looks incredible 🙂
Glad to have you back posting. I can’t wait to see what you’ll be baking next.
I get back from the cake supply store, getting ready to go to bed for the night, and I see on Pinterest that you are back! So excited! This cake is gorgeous, and I can’t wait to see what delicious craftiness you’ll share with us this year. Welcome home!
Welcome back to the blog and the US! I was wondering if you had given up on blogging, but I kept checking. Gorgeous cake!
Happy birthday Bakingdom ~ gorgeous cake!
Gasp! You’re back! I’m so happy that my favorite baking blog is happening ONCE AGAIN!
P.S. Your devil’s food cookies and chicken and dumplings soup are still the best recipes ever. There is soup in my freezer at all times.