I asked Mark what kind of cake he wanted, and we talked a little about ice cream cakes and Better than Sex cake (for those of you who don’t know what that is, Google it!).  But I remembered flagging a page in Real Simple a couple months back with a way to make vanilla ice cream not so boring by adding layers of peanut butter cups and pretzels. I also remembered that Mark’s been bugging me to try Chubby Hubby by Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, and I think that pretzels in ice cream sounds gross.

So, I decided to create an ice cream cake of my own.

I used a pyrex bread pan and lined the bottom with a half inch of vanilla ice cream. The next layer was peanut butter pretzel sandwiches, then an inch of ice cream, then crumbled peanut butter cups, then more ice cream, a layer of chocolate/peanut butter ganache and more pretzels.

It was GLORIOUS. It’s not technically his birthday until tomorrow, but since we knew we were going to be out of town this weekend, we decided to cut into it a bit early …

Look at that giant hunk of chocolate at the top. om. nom. NOM.

The official 25th birthday celebrations began a few weeks ago with Kelly’s celebration. For her birthday, we did cake and wine (MollyCake) at Molly’s place. Molly made an amazing raspberry lemon cake that was beautifully decorated.

Gorgeous!

Eloisa and I eating the leftover frosting. Yes. Leftover frosting. Amazing.

Kelly and Molly cutting the cake.

inside … YUM

me n shelly — tallest person in the room + shortest=epically cute.

AND the birthday celebration continued on Kelly’s b-day at Olde Main Brewery in Ames for dollar pint nights. Mmmm … Off Kilter.

ridiculously cute as usual.

Yay… Kelly, Maria and I. I <3 my girlies!

And now, for my b-day celebration!

On Saturday we went to the Appare Steakhouse in Des Moines for some sushi and steak (mostly sushi).  And then we went to the Blue Moon Dueling Piano Bar in West Des Moines.

Kelly, Feleecia, me and Maria at Appare

Me and my boys, Mark and Matt. Related: I am ridiculously short.

Molly and I (pseudo roomies!) — I’ve been hanging out/staying at her place some of this month. Molly is awesome!

Steph and Nathan — the cutest awesomest couple EVAR. Seriously. Look up “made for each other” in the dictionary and you see their picture (not that you can look up a phrase in the dictionary, but hey, you get my drift).

Annnnndddd… no night would be complete without making out with some inanimate object.

This was just at the sushi place.  The piano bar was far less interesting.  We got there and had nowhere to sit. So we ended up on some couches by the bathroom. Kelly and Danielle got a fish bowl, which ended up being given to a bachelorette party. BECAUSE because because … some girl was waiting in line for the bathroom (which was being occupied by a couple that was getting busy) and TOTALLY puked all over herself and the floor right by where we were. Although it was hilarious, it was also disgusting, so we promptly left.

More is to come for the Birthday Parade of Awesomeness ™.  Thursday we shall have cake and some awesome TV watching (the office, project runway, sunny).  For my birthday cake, I requested a Cake Wreck.  Molly and I have something reaallllly awesome in mind.