My friend Erin’s birthday is today, at least for ten more minutes. I made cupcakes in honor of her birthday, despite the fact that she lives in another state and won’t get to eat any of them.

I ate this one and it was delicious. Sorry, Erin! I guess since I made you a wedding cake, I can manage to make you more cupcakes when we come visit in a couple of weeks. I can hardly wait to see you and Rocco and the kitties!

Bethany & Erin in Costa Rica, October 1999

Photo taken September 1997

Technically it’s not her birthday anymore on the East Coast where she lives, but it’s still her birthday in the rest of the country. So I will go ahead and wish my sister-in-law Dana a very happy birthday and the best year ever. We love you!

My friend Anna has a son who doesn’t like cake. What to do for his birthday party? She came up with a brilliant yet simple non-cake that would also work perfectly for kids with allergies to milk, wheat or eggs.