Simple and Sweet Birthdays

I'm a firm believer that birthdays should be celebrated at every age. ((Although this year was an exception, didn't feel much like partying in the midst of ACTs XDDD)) They don't always have to be such lavish affairs, small celebrations can be just as enjoyable. And not to mention, easier on the wallet. ^o^ This year I quickly threw together a small birthday celebration for my mother.

Decorations

Decorating a birthday party is really quite simple. Just add some colors to liven up the atmosphere and it's done. A little crepe goes a long way. ;)

The materials I used were mostly reusable. Some construction paper, balloons, crepe, and an old pack of those gift star things all for under $10!

Gift

Personally, I think fresh flowers are overrated. It's so depressing when they begin to wilt like a bunch of old ladies. After about a week they end up in the trash. So instead of buying Easter lilies, I made origami lilies! All I needed were a pack of green pipecleaners, origami paper, and a glue gun. My poor clumsy fingers slaved over these flowers for a week but I like how they turned out. I spritzed them with some perfume so they'd be fragrant like real flowers. I also added a bag of paper hearts. I am so cheesy. ^^;

Cake

I'm not a fan of commercial cakes. They're way too sweet for my asian tastes. I've always loved the cakes from Chinese bakeries, those spongy cakes with whipped cream and fresh fruit. It turns out they aren't hard to make at all!

For the base, I used a chiffon cake recipe because it's tastier than a sponge cake. It's also a great cake on its own with some diced apples and dried cranberries or raisins. The whipped cream frosting was incredibly easy and delicious. I just mixed a carton of heavy whipping, sugar, and vanilla extract with an egg beater. The best part is piling on the fruits. I prefer canned peach slices instead of tangerine sections but they weren't available. ><