The Barbie-cake-baking has begun.....

I've studied the video on the web, I've used my positive imagery, and now the wheels have been set in motion.

Step One: Baking the Cake Layers

*First, a disclaimer: I realize in my original plan I stated I would be baking the cake, frosting the cake, and assembling all cake-related items AFTER the kids go to bed tonight. Then, when re-reading the instructions, I noticed that it said, "TOTAL TIME- 3 HOURS and 40 MINUTES"!

So, for those who know me well, you know that I can't stay awake past 10:30 p.m. to do much of anything, let alone create a Barbie doll dress out of sugar and sprinkles! I decided the best course of action would be to let the girls help me bake the layers, and then do the frosting/assembling after bedtime. Hopefully this will go okay!*

The cake mixing went pretty much according to plan. I used my big Kitchen Aid mixer. I greased and floured the pans and bowl. (The instructions say to use 2-8" round cake pans PLUS a 1.5 quart bowl with a diameter of 8 inches across the top. My bowl was about 7 3/4 inches, but I'm figuring I can make up the 1/4 inch with frosting.)

The round cakes just came out of the oven- I was hoping for as little doming as possible, but I can see that we are going to have to trim some off the tops. That is also going to be true for the bowl cake. Its actually domed so much that its cracked a bit on top.

We're headed to the doctor this afternoon (Rory's 5-year checkup with shots), so I will let them cool until we get home. The video then describes freezing the layers for a short amount of time so they trim easier with fewer crumbs.

Stay tuned for Step Two: Trimming the Cakes.....

Countdown to THE BIRTHDAY CAKE

Rory's 5th birthday is Friday, 8/8/08. (I keep getting reminded that its coming up by the TV because that's the same day the Olympics start.)

Rory wants a Barbie cake, and I've come across this wonderful creation at Betty Crocker.com that looks really cute and girly. It uses a *REAL* Barbie doll placed in the center of the cake, and then the lower half of the cake is her skirt. My own personal expectations for the outcome of this cake are pretty high. (Although I am trying to be realistic: I've not ever been really successful at the piping of frosting, [which is necessary to cover the doll's upper body], and I'm not sure I have the skill to cut the "dome" off of the inidvidual cake layers without them breaking in half.) I have wisely chosen NOT to show the Betty Crocker picture to Rory in the hopes that she'll be super-impressed with whatever low-rent version I am able to pull off. (This is also why I have not posted a link to the beautiful Betty Crocker version.)

Even though the big day isn't until Friday, I'm starting my prep work today. Here's a rundown of the tasks I hope to complete:

Monday: *Buy cake mixes, frosting, candy sprinkles and Barbie doll.
* Re-read directions printed from website.

Tuesday: * Watch a Betty Crocker web wizard make the entire cake on a video.

Wednesday: * Complete positive visualization exercises by imagining myself making
perfect frosting swirls and rosettes, and trimming the cake layers swiftly
and easily. (I might even try to dream about this perfection.)

Thursday: * Take a nap in the afternoon.
* Bake cake layers, assemble, and frost after the kids go to bed.

Stay tuned for updates on my progress...there's more to come!

CVS Deal of (Last) Week

I hope I don't confuse you...the great deal I am about to explain happened LAST week, and is not available anymore. (Parts are, but not the entire thing.) It was super great, so I just have to share!

I bought:

(1) Infant Advil - 5.79 (regular price - 6.49)
(1) Chlorophyll tablets - 3.38
(20) Candy bars @ 2/$1 - 10.00 (reg. .79 each)

Then I used these coupons:
$1/1 Infant Advil
$19.99 ECB's

My total OOP was 18 CENTS!!!
Plus I got 10.79 back in ECB's.

Total value of 25.67 for 18 CENTS!
My husband is starting to get impressed.

Walgreens Plan - Get more cereal!!

Here's my best scenario for getting the most out of the Kellogg's rebate and Walgreens cereal sale.

According to the Kellogg's website (http://www2.kelloggs.com/Promotion/PromotionDetail.aspx?PID=9117), to get the Kellogg's $10 mail-in-rebate, you must purchase 10 items ALL IN THE SAME TRANSACTION. I am learning that doing multiple transactions at any one store increases your rewards for that store, so this made my scenario a little more difficult. And the register receipt MUST BE DATED AUGUST 5TH or AFTER!

I plan to buy:
(2) Froot Loops
(2) Corn Pops
(6) Pop Tarts

The total price for these should be $22 + tax. (Cereals 4/$10, Pop Tarts 5/$10, added one Pop Tart to get the 10th item needed for the Kellogg's rebate.)

After using (2) $1/2 cereal coupons, and (3) $1/2 Pop Tart coupons, and $3 in RR from a previous purchase, my OOP is $14 + tax. I then should get $5 RR for the cereal (pg. 1 of the weekly ad), and $5 RR for the Pop Tarts (pg. 3 of the weekly ad). Plus I can use this one receipt to get the $10 mail-in-rebate (MIR)from Kellogg's.

Summary: $14 OOP
- $5 RR (cereal)
- $5 RR (Pop Tarts)
- $10 MIR
$6 PROFIT!!!

I will probably stock up on more cereal without the Kellogg's MIR, and it should still be a good deal.