HappyShabbyHippy: May 2014

We had so much fun! Let me just tell ya though.... it was a TON of work to keep it a secret from the husband, it was especially hard to keep my own mouth shut and not ruin the surprise myself, haha!
The actual surprise when he returned home was perfect.... if I'm honest I was relieved when it was finally over so I could relax and not feel like I had a ball in my stomach... surprises are hard to keep, even when you have no desire to tell.

ok, for those of you who are wondering, he's holding a bottle of Orange Cream Soda... just to clear that up... :)

Almost everyone dressed up in 80s theme attire, and it was hilarious! We have plenty of evidence to prove how funny it truly was.

Then it was time for his bday cake prep... I made him a cake last year that he raved and raved about, so when it came time to choose a cake for the BIG 3-0, I just decided to make it again, but go WAAAAYYY bigger!

It's called "Peanut Butter Butterfinger Blizzard Cake", ya, that's right.

Here is the link to the original source: http://www.confessionsofacookbookqueen.com/2013/04/peanut-butter-butterfinger-blizzard-cake/

While pouring over the Ganache, I bumped it and almost sent it to it's "Death", but somehow I managed to keep it from falling? Don't really know how but thankfully it was saved.

My sis made the 30 by cutting them out of thin cardboard and spray painting them cream.

So with the big "Happy Birthday" song and the cake reveal, I also surprised him with his gift.... it took me a long time of searching on Etsy for thee perfect one, but I think I made the right choice. Recently he has taken a liking to Chess, and so I felt it appropriate to purchase him his first set, in style. The chessman are hand-forged by a blacksmith in Ohio, and the chess board is an antique from the late 1800's.... no big deal.

Here is the link to his Etsy Shop if anyone is interested in his work:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/EchoHillForge?ref=shopsection_shophome_leftnav

We were all completely worn out by the end of the night, it was well worth it... but that said, I told him that that was IT for his whole life, no more surprise bday parties for this lady... sheesh, I guess I can't handle the excitement or something.