Cheers to the Experts

I've been known to dabble in baking and flower arranging, like this white lilac and parrot tulip arrangement I sent to a friend for her new job but...I had a few cool chances recently to see the work of real professionals.

I was so excited to visit the kitchen and showroom of Ron Ben-Israel: the premier cake designer.  Ron was away at the time, but we got a wonderful tour from Rebecca Taylor, whose official title is "operations, etc."  I love that since it describes my job as well!

This cake for Swarovski is covered in real crystals: even the flowers are wearing them.

And what an adorable workspace

I could've spent all day here in this sunny room buzzing with creativity

amongst the rows and rows of sugar flowers

including Ron's signature red roses, amazing.

Next up, the Macy's Flower Show.

One of the windows had a Paris theme.

And we were wondering how these ranunculus withstood the sun for weeks.  Maybe they were replaced every so often?  I bought a plant last week and it already seems to be drooping.  That's why I like cut flowers, my thumb is so far from green it isn't even funny.

The store was really decked out

and everyone was buzzing around excitedly like little honeybees.

There were even flower poodles!

Wish it could be like this all the time.

Damn Groundhog...

Really, Punxsutawney Phil, you had to see your shadow and run away for weeks and weeks?  I was loving this amigurumi groundhog from Planet June, so cute and innocent, and then you doomed us to 6 more weeks of winter?  You may be the most famous ever, but the other groundhogs don't even agree with you!

It's raining in NYC today and supposed to change to sleet, ice, snow... and then a NOR'EASTER by Thursday??  Well, I'm thinking about spring anyway and these flowers were crafted out of sugar by the amazing Sylvia Weinstock.  Here are some closeups (don't mind the traces of icing from the cake they adorned).  I'm SO into these...

My Valentine's Eve arrangement reminded me to surround myself with flowers until spring comes (ok, well, *always* would be nice too), so this is my desk at work right now: a white phalaenopsis orchid and orange ranunculus:

I wasn't familiar with the ranunculus until I saw this beautiful arrangement on A Little Sussy and now I'm definitely obsessed with them.  On my way home last night I got some tulips because I agree with Suburban Zen about buying some for yourself instead of waiting for someone else to send you some.

I also walked by Carlo's Bakeshop, the bakery from the show Cake Boss on TLC.  I wrote about the long lines that are now outside on the weekends, making it impossible to get in there for a cannoli, but the cakes sure are pretty.

P.S. the animal-directed sarcasm at the top of this post is done waaay better by the author of FU Penguin: Telling Cute Animals What's What.  I'd go into further detail, but my Mom is reading this, so expletives will be left out for now.

Here's hoping that spring gets here soon, it will definitely improve my mood, but for now, flowers will have to do.