Halloween is on the way

It's hard to believe that Halloween is almost here.  This time of year is always a blur to me with two holidays and two birthdays all before Christmas.  Don't get me wrong this is my favorite time of year but super busy.  So I've started working on some Halloween decorations for my Etsy shop.  This is the black cat that will be making an appearance in them.  I wonder if I should give him a name?  If anyone has any good ideas let me know. Hope you're enjoying the season changes as much as I am. 

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Before I had kids I made Banana bread au natural.  With bananas and if I was feeling adventurous sometimes nuts.  Then a good friend of mine convinced me to add chocolate chips.  I have never looked back and my children like it no other way.  I use the standard Betty Crocker recipe from the 1996 book.  I actually have three Betty Crocker recipe books and use them all lovingly.  That is a totally different story all together.  Today it's just about chocolate chip banana bread. 

Accidental cake

I love to make birthday cakes for my kids but this was the first time a friend kindly let me make a cake for her daughter's birthday.   I have never worked with or made fondant but thought it would be fun to try it out for this cake.  The cake you see above is the result of one failed topsy turvy fondant cake and 4lbs of discarded fondant.