This is not my best cake. I can see several bits that I wish were a little more cleaner, a little more perfect. But! In the past few years, cake decorating has become a very stressful hobby for me. It was normal for me to cry over every mistake or mishap on every cake. It got to the point where my son, for his 9th birthday, asked for a DQ ice cream cake because he didn’t want me to cry over his birthday.

So, for almost 2 years now, I have been far more mindful that hobbies are supposed to be enjoyable! I have chosen simpler designs, made sure I had an audiobook or podcast at the ready, and taken many, many deep breaths while repeating: perfection is the enemy of good.

And I’m proud to say that not a single tear was shed over this one. The birthday girl loves it, and that’s all that matters to me.