Let Us Eat Cake

It's a crazy world right now. It's always been a crazy world to be certain, and we knew a number of months ago that things would indeed be an extra level of crazy and chaotic. So while we struggle to find safety and sanity, and the rich and powerful will do what they do, I suppose it only makes sense for us to follow that age old wisdom from the elite, and indeed eat cake. But make it cake on paper. In a yearbook. For decorating. Circa 1985...

I'll be honest. It's been a hot minute since I last posted something. Life has been a bit all over the place. Navigating the current world we live in and trying to be connected, showing up for work and helping people while also taking part in building community for vulnerable populations, like, I've been exhausted. I've been doing some wonderful things, make no mistake. I am in a really beautiful stage in my career right now amidst so much fear and uncertainty. I'm doing my part to make a difference. To be my own Wonder Woman. 

I also enjoy writing and talking about the silly fun little things that have helped bring a level of joy to my life that is nothing short of pure magic. I'm also aware that the end of this month marks the anniversary of this blog. This lovely little diary that keeps chuggin' along. 14 years. While there won't be some big celebration or giveaway like years past, the honor this year might be finally posting about something I have wanted to share for months now.

So behold, the reason for many seasons, the Wilton Cake Decorating Yearbook for 1985. I've always loved reading books, but when I was a kid, this was the quickest way to keep me occupied and immersed in a world of fantasy and sweet cravings of sustenance. I had all but forgotten about it until a number of months ago. I was visiting my parents for a weekend, just enjoying their company. We no longer live close to each other. Time tries to steal a lot from us all, so I relish when I am able to spend a weekend with them.

Rummaging through their pantry, I was calling out oohs and aahs at all the new snacks 'n things my mom had stumbled upon at the store. Listening to her cook and regale me with the latest gossip in her life, my eyes suddenly stumbled upon this lovely gem. "My god, I forgot all about this!"

It was a rush of more than just nostalgia. This magazine contained a level of core memories that have informed very important details about who I am as a person, that have remained true to me decades later.

I had to unlock what was inside. And boy howdy were there some amazing items. My mom has long been a lover of baking and celebrating a function with a cake of some sort. Her favorite part of her birthdays has been the cake. As she became an adult learning how to bake and ice fun cakes and desserts was her thing. When I found this yearbook and explained my joy to her, she smiled at it, "Oh yes, I remember that. I took some cake classes and wanted to learn how to do all those designs." 

As a kid, I wanted her to make everything. Partially for me to eat but also because I lived in a world of delulu and thought these cakes could become real life playsets for my toys. I mean look at the castle above. Sure, I'm sure it tasted amazing, but all I saw was a backdrop for a splashy fancy party with She-Ra and her friends that gets interrupted by Catra being all catty and stuff.

Then there were the character sheet cakes that looked like pillows. My mom could ice these so well, and they were so beautiful. We had a Superman cake pan like the ones above and oh when she made a Superman birthday cake, I just looked at that image and was in love. (My Super Powers Superman figure was my pretend boyfriend back then. He'd go everywhere with me.) 

I love the era of Cathy. She was everywhere and I thought she was so cool. I wanted to mimic that grin. There was this silent understanding between her and I.

Younger me had no idea what to think about a pizza cake. I would often wonder if it tasted like cake or pizza. 

I'd thumb through these pages, looking at all these cakes and reasons to celebrate. Trying to imagine what it might be like to be at a party or celebration and see one of these on a table. I would just travel to all these worlds. I grew up with a big Italian family on my dad's side, so there were always celebrations, all coming together to laugh and bond. Typically over food and desserts. As years would pass, those events would become less and less, and I think about how things are right now, and how important family is now more than ever. 

Here comes the part that was my favorite. It was the decade of excess, and these wedding cakes were Dynasty on sugar. I mean come on, there's a freakin stair case with mini figures on it through multiple tiers. And! Let us not forget the water fountain feature under the cake! Like, excuse me, but who told you that you had any right to be that fabulous? 

Wedding Romance could never be Wedding Joy, she's just not that girl. But I loved her any way.

Wedding Drama ate. I mean seriously, we need to go back to having water features as part of the cake decoration. 

I have always been a fan of a wedding. Either for true love, or as a massacre, I just love the nature of what it can all represent. Call me a hopeless romantic or corny as a cobb, but there is something about a wedding that is inspiring to me. 

I've also always been drawn to houses, like this Baby Shower cake. Oh I just was swept away by the pink shudders on this cake house. I would have been the kid that would have absolutely joined Hansel and Gretal in the pastry house and gotten killed by a witch.

This yearbook breaks down all kinds of cakes for the seasons, and Halloween was a standout for me. My mom has already begun to feel the change of seasons in the air, she can feel Fall arriving. And while some might think she is crazy since we live deep in the heat of Texas, I can sometimes understand what she means. Ever the faintest hint in the change of the wind, it can come on like a rush. Perhaps that little kid thumbing through this book of magic grew to be quite a lovely witch.

And perhaps still, now that the witch has leaned into her own powers and created a home of her own to protect herself from the horrors of the world, maybe she'll dabble in some of these and see what mischief she can make herself.

I always imagined what these might taste like. I still do after all these years. It's just chocolate and such, but still. It always looked like it was more than just that. Which was probably the point. 

Favorite characters. It's wild, when this came out, I was very much obsessed with DC. I wanted to be Wonder Woman and Superman was my boyfriend, and then over the years my comic sensibilities would shift and I'd fade away from DC. There'd be other boyfriends. Other role models. But seeing these pages, and watching the Superman movie this summer, it's been interesting reconnecting with certain interests. I might be picking up some Supergirl comics. I mean, the original Supergirl movie was a big deal for me around this time, so next summer, it has me really excited for a Supergirl movie which is not something I ever thought I'd be saying.

There ya have it. A curated look into the Wilton Cake Decorating Yearbook from 1985. After I thumbed through this I had told my mom, when you no longer want this, please do not throw it away. I will take it from you. (My mom will go through phases of donating items and the like.) She looked at me and smiled, "It's yours. Take it home with you. I remember you being that little kid looking at it, showing me the pictures of what you wanted me to make. I no longer need it." Life cuts ya, because I know one day she won't be here anymore, and this yearbook will be an important piece of her for me to hold onto. 

And here, one of her masterpieces. This was for my fifth birthday. She wanted me to pick a cake and she'd do her best to make it. I chose the house. With the pink shudders. She worked so hard on it, and while it was a challenge for her to make, and her perfectionism could not allow her to fully revel in her success, I was in a world of magic.

We all came together by the glow of the candle light. And for a moment the world wasn't so scary. 

I hope you are all doing well. Staying safe, taking care of yourselves. 14 years goes by in a flash, and I hope for many more. I'm forever grateful at the people I have gotten to know through this blog. You all mean so much to me. Until next time my dears. Hugs to you all.