An ice cream cake tradition

Tissue-paper-garlandI love celebrating other people’s birthdays, and making them feel extra special on their day. Over the course of a few days I spent some time thinking of what I could do, to make The Guy’s birthday a little different.

Party-Favors-and-BeerI ended up decorating our house with inexpensive ideas: Beer, snacks, tissue paper, balloons and confetti. What more could a guy ask for?

Looking-down-at-table

snacks

Kitchen-table-snacks

Kitchen-TableIt may not be pinterest-worthy but I thought it was cute. It took a lot of work to individually cut that tissue paper garland and put it together, man. You know I love you when I blow up balloons for you. It’s a little fear of mine, because I don’t want to blow them up too much and have them bursting in my face. It’s a scary thing.

I had two surprises for him, one I will reveal and share with you next week. The other gift I wanted him to look away  while I got it ready. Our town house is an open concept so he probably knew what he was getting as his second surprise once I opened the freezer. Singing the Happy Birthday song to him, he made his wish and blew out the candles. He had questions about where the cake came from because we usually go for the Dairy Queen cakes.

Baskin-Robbins-icecream-cakIt’s been a tradition in my family for years to give the birthday-person an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. But this year when I went to BlogHer, I interacted with the Baskin Robbins folks and asked if I could potentially work with them in the future. I received a $30 gift card to go online to place my customized order on Baskin Robbins website.

Since I was given a gift card to purchase the cake I didn’t want to go online to do it because I wanted a bigger cake for him that ended up costing $49.98. I placed the order over the phone and picked it up the next day. Except when I went to pick it up, the woman charged me a $5 cake decoration fee, which wasn’t mentioned on the website nor did I ask for anything different on the cake. So I was a little muff’ed at that.

How does Baskin Robbins and Dairy Queen differ?

It’s clearly obvious the Baskin Robbins cakes are far more expensive than Dairy Queen, and I suppose that’s all due to the fact that you can do so much more with a BK cake than DQ, all the custom options, the shapes, and different flavours you can put into your personalized cake. Then again, I’m not sure how often we’ll be giving each other Baskin Robbins 9″ cakes for that price. It may have stung a little.

Did you know Baskin Robbins cakes are made differently than Dairy Queen? Clearly I didn’t because I was confused when the sales associates were telling me their cakes are half regular cake, and half ice cream cake. Luckily I was informed they had a fudge crunch cake (much like a Dairy Queen cake with chocolate on the bottom, fudgey gooy centre and vanilla on top). I went with their basic 9″ round cake that serves way more people than the two of us in the house. Perfectly okay with us :)

Baskin Robbins is more customizable with their orders. Their go-to cakes are mostly half ice cream cake, and half regular cake, but I went the full nine yards and asked for ALL the ice cream in his. Isn’t that the best? Then again, I never did have the other option so I wouldn’t know. I assume it would be good, who doesn’t like cake? I wasn’t daring enough to go for a customized option, even though cookies ‘n cream top would be incredible. There were so many options to choose from, but I went with ol’ faithful.

TheGuys-IcecreamcakeNow the most important part, the fudge crunch in the middle, absolutely divine. Best part of the entire cake, so fudgey and crunchy. The Guy and I agreed this was incredible. The vanilla ice cream on the cake tasted more like vanilla bean rather than a regular ol’ vanilla — it was a nice change. As for the frosting on top, it was pure sugar, and hard. As a candy and sweets lover, it was far too sweet for me, even. I prefer Dairy Queen’s creamy and soft icing.

I can’t wait to show you the second part of his birthday! For those of you who are interested in Baskin Robbins icecream and cakes, here’s a bit more information regarding up and coming cakes this season.

Some of their fun seasonal cakes include:

  • Pumpkin Patch Cake – This is one jack-o-lantern you will not want to leave on your doorstep. This creative dessert, decorated as a smiling pumpkin, will trick your guests and make a fun sweet treat at the same time with your choice of ice cream and cake flavors.
  • Fall Harvest Roll Cake – Delight in the season with a fudge frosted roll cake, finished with a festive decoration of leaves and pumpkins.

They’ll also be announcing two new mini-cakes available for $12.99. These serve 2-4 people — perfect for small gatherings — and cakes include:

  • Celebration Mini Roll Cake – This streamer and confetti-topped cake is the perfect sweet and colorful addition to any birthday celebration!
  • Rosette Mini Roll Cake – This trendy ombre cake design features rosettes in vibrant shades of purple.

Additionally, Baskin-Robbins is celebrating with guests across the globe on Twitter with its “31 Cakes in 31 Days Sweepstakes.” The brand will be giving away 31 Baskin-Robbins gift cards for valued at $31 throughout the month. and Anyone can participate in the giveaway simply by following @BaskinRobbins on Twitter and sharing how they celebrate life’s occasions with ice cream cakes using #BRCakeSweeps.

Do you have any birthday traditions?

Do you prefer icecream cake, regular cake, or something else?

When is YOUR birthday?

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$145 Starbucks Gift Card Giveaway

StarbucksGiveawayIt’s been a while since I had a giveaway up on the blog and I thought, since the cooler weather is coming, some of you may want to cozy up with a hot drink (or 50)  from Starbucks and treat yourselves. I pulled together some of my blogger friends to chip in on a Starbucks Giveaway for you guys. The giveaway is open anywhere there is a starbucks available. I’m going to assume it would be worldwide, so anyone can enter!

How long do you think the gift card will last you? I’ll admit, I love Starbucks but I don’t go there often because it’s expensive and I want to make it seem like a nice treat when I do go grab something from there.

What is your signature drink at Starbucks? Over the weekend I picked up a couple of Peppermint White Mocha’s for The Guy and I to sip on during our Sunday morning, regardless of the 36C temperature. It doesn’t look like it’s going to cool down anytime here in California and I was craving the PWM!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Rouge Dior Lip Balm

Rouge-Dior-LipbalmA simple way to wear a coloured lip product. My kind of deal. While I’ve only ventured out of my comfort zone and wore Dior’s deepest lipstick colour from the previous collection outside of my house that one time, I’m much more comfortable starting it all off with a tinted lip balm. I don’t have to colour inside the lines, or keep anything looking sharp and straight on the lips. It’s forgiving for a lip newbie like myself.

4-Dior-lip-balmsAll the colours. I love each and every one of them. This isn’t an exaggeration, I’ve been wearing them every day in rotation because they’re that easy.

Dior states the days of choosing between lip care and makeup are over. Bursting with freshness, the allure created is one of youth, and vibrancy. Isn’t that the case.

As any tinted lip balm, it doesn’t last after a meal.

Lip-balms-by-DiorThe lip balm formula isn’t greasy nor does it bleed. I’ve had those kind of lip products before. They went straight to the garbage after I discovered it to bleed. Not one’s finest look.

Dior-Lip-BalmsWith any collection, there’s always a bit of hesitancy with a colour or two. This one being Star — thinking it would be too nude or shimmery on my lips. But turned out to tie with my other favourite, the darkest of the collection I received: Lili.

Dior-StarStar is initially marketed as a finishing touch to a lipstick, but I prefer to wear it on its own for a glossy effect.

Dior-SpringSpring is a beautiful sunny toned coral that brightens the face up, on those cloudy fall mornings where you’re missing the summer sun and simply don’t want to get out of bed. Pop this baby on, and you’re instantly radiant.

Dior-DioretteDiorette is more on the fuschia side of colours. Not too much of a difference between Lili and Diorette to be honest, but Diorette is more brighter and pinker.

Dior-LiliLili my favourite of the lot, it’s a berry colour that gives my own lips a “your lips but better” look. I dislike that phrase so much, but it’s the best way to describe it. A more muted colour than Diorette.

As for the swatches on my arm, Diorette and Lili come off differently. Left to right: Star, Spring, Diorette, Lili.Dior-Lip-Balm-Swatches

As you can see, the packaging on these new Rouge Dior Lip Balms which contains 0.11oz/3.2g  are more slender than the Dior Rouge which has 0.12oz/3.5g but the lip product inside is practically the same.Dior-Rouge-Balm-and-Lip

Dior-BalmsRouge Dior Lip Balm are $37 CDN each, and is available at The Bay, and thebay.com exclusive September 2014. All other Dior counters November 1, 2014.

What are your thoughts on the Rouge Dior Lip Balms, any catch your eye?

How often do you wear lip products?

Disclaimer, I received all Dior products from the PR company for review, all opinions are my own.

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