Making My Own Birthday Cake. Is That Sad?

Decorating By doughdough Updated 19 Sep 2013 , 5:04pm by hbquikcomjamesl

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doughdough Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 5:41pm
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My 30th birthday is tomorrow (yikes!). I told my friends that I'm making my own cake, and they seemed utterly horrified! I've been getting comments like, "You poor thing!" and "Well I hope you don't have to spend much time doing it!".

Personally, I don't mind. I love making cakes anyway, and this way I can make whatever I want! And if I left it up to my DH, who knows what I would end up with! icon_surprised.gif

Just curious if anyone else has made their own cake & had people feel sad for them? And I'll be sure to post what I make in a couple of days!

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indydebi Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 5:59pm
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I just never understand why it's considered "sad" to make your own cake, if that's what you want to do. Geesh, do they consider it "sad" that you have to clean your own house and buy all of the refreshments when they are coming over to your house to celebrate with you? Or are they all running over to do that work for you? (I bet not!)

When I plan something for me, I tend to do it myself to make sure it's done right (nah ... no control issues here! icon_biggrin.gif ). Sometimes when I'm setting up a small catering or a Drop-n-Run, and someone asks if they can help, I just tell them, "no, because you'll do it all wrong and I'll get ticked, then we won't be friends anymore!" We all laugh and I get to finish the job in peace. icon_lol.gif

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chutzpah Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 6:03pm
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Why is that sad?

Being that I won't eat OPB (Other Peoples Baking), I would make my own cake in a heartbeat.

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cookieman Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 6:05pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bakerbear

Just curious if anyone else has made their own cake & had people feel sad for them? And I'll be sure to post what I make in a couple of days!




If my birthday cake is not coming from one of my favorite bakeries, then you better believe I am baking my own! icon_biggrin.gif Plus, my friends and family are usually let down if I don't bake my own. I take this as one of the highest compliments I can receive!

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jmpearl Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 6:08pm
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I've been making my own birthday cake for years!
Sure, it may not have looked as nice before I took lessons, but they sure tasted great. I'm pretty picky when it comes to flavors, so it was always easier to make it myself. When I first got married, my DH's family felt bad that I was making my own cake, but they got used to it.

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mariela_ms Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 6:10pm
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I just made my own last week! Chocolate cake with peanut butter mousse filling!! hmm! delicious!

WHo could make that for me? my hubby? walmart?? don't think so. I enjoyed it very much and next year, I'll do my own cake too!

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kake4me2 Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 6:11pm
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My b-day was last Sunday and of course I made my own cake. I make everyones else's cake the way they want it so why wouldn't I do my own as well?? Thats part of the fun for me, as I try new techniques, colors, styles, ect...

Now clean up from the party...I leave that to my hubby.(it is my day after all). icon_wink.gif

No one feels bad for me because they know I like doing it(and they don't want to make me feel bad making cakes, because they ask me to do their cake next!) icon_rolleyes.gif

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Win Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 6:11pm
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My mom still makes my birthday cake each year (I'm 45.) It's my favorite -Rum Cake- and is truly a labor of love on her part. She's 77 and battling her fourth round of cancer... someday, I will have to make my own birthday cake. The only reason I'd find that sad is that I know it's because my mom is no longer able to do so. Otherwise, the creative license in making your own is limitless. I would think the freedom in knowing you can pull out all the stops is liberating! Just not having to kowtow to what the "customer" wants or doesn't want --I can't imagine! icon_rolleyes.gif

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Marianna46 Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 6:12pm
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I'm with you, bakerbear. All of my friends and family know I'm the "Family Baker" (that's an official title, by the way), so nobody thinks it's sad that I make my own as well. Indydebi's point about not asking anyone to clean your house bring the other refreshments is right on the mark. I love to bake and decorate. Why shouldn't it be one of my birthday presents to myself?

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melvin01 Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 6:13pm
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If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself!!

You go girl and don't let anyone make you feel bad about it. I didn't see that any of your friends volunteered to make one for you!

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mommarivera Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 6:16pm
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I made my own Bday cake! I told my hubby why are you going to pay someone else for a cake when I can make it and practice. So I made my own. Here is a link to my 41st bday cake

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1205977

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mariela_ms Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 6:17pm
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mommarivera- Great cake! I love the colors! And one of my favorites is Darn good chocolate cake!

Mine was just a cake, no special decorations, but it was delicious.

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Tomoore Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 6:24pm
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(I feel like I've seen this before...maybe even answered it, buticon_smile.gif

I turned thirty last Nov. Mom threw a little shindig. She asked if I wanted her to get the cake from someone else...of course, I said NO.
But, man, did I feel pressure. I could not settle on what to do to save my life! I didn't wanna do a plain ole' cake...cause I felt like folks would be looking for more. I agonized (sp?) over this thing. I have a lot of cake pics in my phone, so I picked it up to look thru the pics for inspiration, when it hit me...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30201547&l=5aba1&id=1039389992


The one thing I can't live without...

icon_wink.gif

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indydebi Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 6:26pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mommarivera

I made my own Bday cake! I told my hubby why are you going to pay someone else for a cake when I can make it and practice. So I made my own. Here is a link to my 41st bday cake

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1205977




Another girl who loves lots of color on her cake!! Here's my 50th cake that I made last week: http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1303013 I wanted as many bright colors as I could come up with!!

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robinleah Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 6:26pm
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I too am the family baker and everyone wondered what i would do for a cake, as some had made offers to get me a cake. They had wanted to give me a baking break but I was turing 40 last year and wanted something that said me. I got just what I wanted and everyone loved it.

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Cakeonista Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 6:33pm
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Ladies and gentlemen,
We are so lucky and so fortunate to be able to create something that tastes great and looks fabulous for other people, why wouldn't we want to do that for ourselves as well! My birthday is in Feb and I'm already trying to decide what to make. The cakes that were posted in this forum are great! Happy baking and Happy Birthday to everyone who is, had to or will be making their own cakes.

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doughdough Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 6:39pm
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Great cakes everyone! Fun colors, Darn Good Chocolate Cake...what could be better! icon_smile.gif

My cake is finishing cooling right now, and I'm getting ready to tint some fondant...I'm thinking some aqua blue...

Thanks for all the support. I knew I could count on you guys!

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flowermom Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 6:43pm
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I love doing my own cakes! I get to do what I want, looking forward to doing mine again this year! icon_biggrin.gif

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Malakin Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 6:43pm
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I think it's great you made your own cake. I wish I had for my birthday the other day. I am a dessert fanatic and no one ended up getting me one.

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mommarivera Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 7:01pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by indydebi

Quote:
Originally Posted by mommarivera

I made my own Bday cake! I told my hubby why are you going to pay someone else for a cake when I can make it and practice. So I made my own. Here is a link to my 41st bday cake

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1205977



Another girl who loves lots of color on her cake!! Here's my 50th cake that I made last week: http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1303013 I wanted as many bright colors as I could come up with!!




GREAT CAKE!!!

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babycakes73 Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 7:12pm
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Hey
I too just made my own birthday cake a few days back. It was my first purse cake. I agree I just love making cakes too. Also I wanted and need all the practise I can get , so why not with my own.
Mine was Mexican vanilla Kahlua cake (from one of the recipes off CC) with chocolate Kahlua buttercream.
So no we are not pathetic, we just enjoy what we do and what better a person to make it for as ourselves.
Good on you. icon_biggrin.gif

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Ayanami Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 7:17pm
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I don't think I could let anyone else make my cake! icon_razz.gif When I started making cakes, that was the first thing people said, was "well, who's gonna make your cake?" and I was like "duh, me!" Although I did let my 4 yo nephew make my last b-day cake. It wasn't pretty (though not too bad really) but it sure tasted good! My SIL said the only thing she did was measure out the ingredients, help hold the bowl while he poured & then she put it in & out of the oven. otherwise, it was all him! So sweet. icon_smile.gif

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Ayanami Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 7:30pm
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Deb, you are amazing! love your cakes. icon_biggrin.gif

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CeeTee Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 7:45pm
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I don't think it's sad to make your own birthday cake. As the saying goes "If you want something done right, do it yourself" icon_lol.gif

Tho...I have to admit I've never made my own cake. I always have ice cream instead! And if I have cake, it -has- to be an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins! thumbs_up.gif

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sweetlayers Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 7:46pm
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My 30th birthday was in November and my husband threw me a surprise party and I made my own cake and didn't even know it!

He told me it was for his co-workers 80 year old aunt and that it needed to be pretty, purple and elegant. He even made up a bogus email address to place the order. I should have been tipped off when he told me not to write "Happy 80th Birthday Aunt Bonnie" on it. Instead, the fake email said to write "Happy Birthday to a Lovely Lady"! He even pretended to deliver it for me and hid it at my aunt's house for a day. It was hilarious.

And to answer the OP's question, no, it's not sad that you are making your own cake, at least you get to make exactly what you want!

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1288122

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stephaniescakenj Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 7:49pm
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I made my own cake too and I just turned 30 last month! It was nice being able to do whatever I wanted.


http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1296527

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ambrat Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 7:52pm
post #27 of 68

I don't really like cake..so I never have cake for my birthday. My husband said he has thought about it several times...but how do you make a cake for 'the cake lady' lol! If I really wanted a cake, I'd insist on making it myself.

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Honeychild Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 8:09pm
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Yes, there is a bit of sadness factor in making your own cake, if no one else is going to do it for you though. If you like your own baking and designs but someone would have made you a cake if you weren't, then it is not sad. What is sad is not getting a cake at all. I haven't gotten a cake since I was a kid, I'm serious. My last cake was when I turned 18 and Mom made it. I'm 33 now and still no cake. SNIFF. My husband just would never think to get me a cake. Oh well, boo hoo life goes on....but I would like a cake someday!

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eldag0615 Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 8:10pm
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You better do it yourself, if not you may end up with a frozen one like mine.
2 years ago, I could not make my own cake and I was promised one by my son and her girlfriend, which BTW is an excellent baker, everything from scratch, she is from Portland and her grandma is her inspiration, got me the cake, both had to work really late so they didn't have time to bake one for me so they stopped at the store and since they know I LOVE cheese cake, they got me the only one that was there. a frozen cheese cake with some strawberry glaze and supposedly strawberries on top, I say supposedly because it had some strawberries seeds, thats it. Oh, and it was red. It was litterally frozen!! When we cut it, it was hard and had pieces of ice. But I LOVED that cake because it came from my son. Now if it had come from my DH, the end of the story would be different. icon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gif To make it the perfect day, make your own cake, and let others do the clean up for you. Happy B-day. God bless you.

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JillK Posted 27 Jan 2009 , 8:16pm
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I've never made my own birthday cake (DH and I have a standing agreement that we go to Coldstone Creamery once a year on my birthday. icon_biggrin.gif), but I made my own baby shower cakes!

My SIL was planning the shower from out of town and I offered so that she'd have one less thing to worry about. She accepted. My MIL was APPALLED. I'm still surprised that she didn't show up with a grocery store cake.

What she just didn't get was that I love making cakes and it actually meant something special to me to be able to do that for friends and family who were coming to help us celebrate. She still doesn't. icon_rolleyes.gif She just sees the work and that I "shouldn't have to do that when (grocery store) has cakes!"

I suppose that's better than the other way around, through ....

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