Connor Claire was the star ⭐ of the show at her second ??? birthday party, and she enjoyed every cupcake-fueled minute of it. And every bite of her homemade birthday lasagna (I hope!).
I keep trying to turn birthday lasagna into “a thing.” This was only the second year, but hopefully Connor continues to like it. She seems to.
We had some family over for the party, and Connor spent the day playing, talking, throwing, bossing everyone around, and basically having a grand ol’ time being the center of attention.
Her cake…
Thank goodness for Teeny Cake. They’re known for their cupcakes (and delicious three-tiered cakes, too!), and even though I like to bake and originally wanted to make Connor an Elmo cake… Anyway, you know how when you have people over, and you’re making food, there’s always a lot to do on top of the regular stuff you have to do? It can be tough getting it all done, and I always want to do more than actually I have time for, so I decided to slow my roll and order the cake and cupcakes to make my life easier.
I’m so happy I did it, too, because the cupcakes and cake turned out so well. The cake was lemon with lemon pink frosting, and the mini cupcakes were salted caramel, chocolate, carrot and confetti.
MMMMM!!!
Along with the lasagna, I also made two loaves of rustic bread and brownies. My brother and his girlfriend whipped up a delicious roasted beet salad, my mom-in-law made a delicious onion dip, and my mother covered the Filipino birthday party staple, pancit, which is a noodle dish with rice noodles, chicken, shrimp and veggies. The long noodles represent long life, which is why it’s always served at parties. She also made lumpia, which is like a Filipino egg roll filled with ground meat, sausage and veggies.
It was a fun, filling day (even Tabs got in on the eating action), and hopefully my favorite little person had a great time.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Joyce B. says
March 5th, 2018 at 3:03 pmHappy birthday to Connor! Hope she had a great time and I’m looking forward to her next year. And that cake is beautiful!
Karen says
March 5th, 2018 at 4:43 pmHi Joyce,
Thank you! The two years have gone by so fast. I’m sure this next one will go by in the blink of an eye. 🙂
Have a great week!
Sandy says
March 5th, 2018 at 3:06 pmYour food looks delicious! Wo Of you share recipes of your lasagna and rustic bread?
Karen says
March 5th, 2018 at 4:43 pmHi Sandy,
Sure! I can do a step-by-step post in the near future!
Diana says
March 5th, 2018 at 3:08 pmHappy birthday Connor! The lumpia looks very yummy!
Karen says
March 5th, 2018 at 4:42 pmHi Diana,
It was SO good. Every family has their own twist on lumpia, and I’m probably biased but my mom’s is the best. 🙂
Paris B says
March 5th, 2018 at 4:07 pmHappy birthday CC! It does sound like a lovely day. Any day with that much good food will be! ?
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Karen says
March 5th, 2018 at 4:42 pmHi Paris,
Connor Claire says thank you! And you’re right. Any day with yummy food is a GREAT day.
Chelsea says
March 5th, 2018 at 4:20 pmOMG those cakes!! And love the reason for the pancit – my friend’s mom was in town once and wanted to make dinner for all of her daughter’s friends, so she made lumpia, pancit, some other dishes… it was so nice!
Karen says
March 5th, 2018 at 4:41 pmHi Chelsea,
Oh, how lovely! Was it your first time eating Filipino food? Did you have a fave dish?
Chelsea says
March 5th, 2018 at 5:12 pmIt was my first time eating Filipino food, which is interesting because I used to babysit sometimes for my husband’s mom’s Filipina neighbor. She had two little girls. The younger one was always yelling “ATE!!!” around the house. I liked the Pancit best – I’m not a fan of egg rolls in general, but noodles are always up my alley. She gave me a bunch to take home too!
Karen says
March 6th, 2018 at 7:10 amAww, I remember you telling me the ATEEEEE story, because whenever I’m in public and I here someone yelling that I automatically turn and look to see if someone’s calling me, haha!
If you ever get to eat lumpia again, hopefully you can try it with a homemade sauce made out of vinegar and garlic. Sounds strong, I know, but it’s very good with the lumpia.
Janet Shepherd says
March 5th, 2018 at 4:52 pmI can’t believe Connor Claire is two! The food all looks amazing, and I definitely want a lasagne recipe from you!
I turn 40 later this year, and I want someone to make (or buy) me a birthday lasagne for sure!
Karen says
March 6th, 2018 at 7:10 amYou can make one for Sally! I dunno, how does she feel about pasta?
Janet Shepherd says
March 6th, 2018 at 9:50 pmOh she loves pasta! She loves most food lol, she’s a great eater generally.
Ruchita says
March 5th, 2018 at 5:21 pmWhat a lovely party! All the food looks delicious. Birthday lasagna should totally be a tradition. Yummy! And those cakes and cupcakes look amazing. Happy birthday, Miss Connor!
Karen says
March 6th, 2018 at 7:09 amHi Ruchita,
The cupcakes were amazing! So light and fluffy and melty.
Michele DiCola says
March 5th, 2018 at 6:01 pm?Happy Birthday Connor Claire ??
The Pancit , lumpia , cake , brownies well everything looks delicious!
Hope Connor Claire had a great second birthday!
Karen says
March 6th, 2018 at 7:09 amConnor says thank you, Auntie Michele!
Rachel says
March 5th, 2018 at 6:39 pmConnor Claire is so grown up! And I could totally get down with birthday lasagna!
Karen says
March 6th, 2018 at 7:08 amI don’t know when it happened! It’s like I blinked and then she was two.
Honestly, if someone gave me a heavy dish filled with carbs and cheese and a yummy meat-and-tomato sauce for my birthday I’d be in heaven! #birthdaylasagna for life!
MichelleC says
March 5th, 2018 at 6:48 pmHappy Birthday Connor Claire! Lumpia, yum!
Karen says
March 6th, 2018 at 7:07 amConnor says thank you Auntie Michelle for the well wishes!
CL says
March 5th, 2018 at 7:21 pmHappy birthday, Connor! That is such a beautiful cake! I only got one sort-of elaborate cake as a child – when I was three years old, bunny-shaped cakes were apparently trendy, and my mother made one for me. I only know this because it was photographed; I don’t remember much that happened before I was 5 years old.
Karen says
March 6th, 2018 at 7:07 amHi CL,
Aww, how nice! The one time my mom made me a cake I remember it being kind of gross, LOL! My mom’s not a baker, but at least she tried. It was a creme de menthe cake for my fourth birthday party and I remember not loving on it (I’m not a mint in sweets person… Never have been). But every birthday after that we always got ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins, which I loved. We still do that tradition in my family.
Kelly says
March 5th, 2018 at 10:05 pmCC is a lucky birthday girl! What a glorious table you set. The food and the cake—omg, the cake! Thanks for sharing. Everything is so beautiful!
Karen says
March 6th, 2018 at 7:05 amThank you, Kelly! 🙂
Gina says
March 6th, 2018 at 3:24 amHi Karen, happy belated birthday to sweet Connor. What a lovely birthday party. I can’t believe she’s already two. I read your blog since years, one of my absolutely favs, I’ve never commented though, I’m a little unsure about my English, but anyway I’d love to get your recipe of the lasagna and I’d be totally interested in the recipe of the pancit. It looks so yummy.
Lots of love to you, your lovely family and Tabs from Austria
Gina
Karen says
March 6th, 2018 at 7:05 amHi Gina,
Oh wow, Austria! How I’d love to go there someday. Your English is great, by the way! 🙂
I don’t have the pancit recipe but I’d be happy to do the lasagna one. When I make it again (soon!) I’ll take pics of the process and post it here.
Linda Libra Loca says
March 6th, 2018 at 4:16 amHappy Birthday, Connor Claire! Looks like you had a great time and a delicious birthday lasagna.
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Karen says
March 6th, 2018 at 7:04 amConnor says thank you, Auntie!
Kim says
March 6th, 2018 at 5:28 amThe cake is beautiful and everything looks fantastic! We actually made an Elmo cake (once) for the boys for one of their early b’days, so it’s funny you thought of that as well. Your bread looks amazing and I think b’day lasagna should totally be a thing. 🙂 I have to mention the streamers, too. Now El Hub will know what they are. HAHA!
I’m sure Connor loved her party!
Karen says
March 6th, 2018 at 7:03 amI know Elmo gets a bad wrap sometimes but I love the guy (I think part of the reason why is because I know the Elmo-loving window is so narrow and I want to cherish it!). My parents gave her a large talking Elmo which sings songs and talks and even says her name. She’s obsessed with him and it’s the cutest thing!
Kerstin says
March 6th, 2018 at 8:00 amHappy Belated Birthday to Connor! Time flies, I can’t believe she is two. I am glad she had a wonderful birthday and Tabs participated in the B-Day action, too! All of that food looks delish! Especially, the lasagna, pancit noodles and brownies! I hope you have a good day!
Shannon says
March 6th, 2018 at 11:02 amHappiest of Birthdays to you, Connor. I have been reading your mommy’s blog since my daughter was 2 years old and now she is 10! Time sure does go by quickly! Don’t forget to give mommy extra snuggle time 🙂 xo
kellly says
March 6th, 2018 at 11:31 amWow, Connor is TWO already?!?! How did that happen!?
Happy Birthday!
It looks like a wonderful party and the food looks totally yum.
Suz B. says
March 6th, 2018 at 11:44 amOMG Birthday Lasagna!!! So many happy memories – for me, anyway…I bet my mom got tired of cranking them out after the first 12 or so, haha! And pink cake was always on the menu for my sister. The flavor didn’t matter, just make sure it’s pink! Bonus points for sparkly sprinkles. There is so much love on and around that table – you have a very special family, Connor Claire <3
Amalia says
March 6th, 2018 at 12:16 pmHappy birthday to your “treasure”! May her life be filled of health, happiness and love! Lovely birthday party, Super Mama! Big hugs from Greece!
Barb says
March 6th, 2018 at 12:44 pmHappy Birthday, Connor Claire!! That cake is absolutely gorgeous and all of the food looked yummy, especially the pancit noodles and egg rolls!!
Rachel Runyan says
March 6th, 2018 at 5:23 pmHappy birthday to Connor! I’m glad it was a good one. That food looks incredible. I love the pink rose cake.
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Daphne B says
March 6th, 2018 at 6:23 pmHappy Birthday, Connor Claire! That cake is gorgeous, and the lasagna looks
heavenly. Everything looks so yummy! I hope you post the recipe for your lasagna in a future post. Looks like everyone had a great time!
Jenny says
March 6th, 2018 at 6:35 pmHappy Birthday Connor! I can’t believe she’s 2! Since my little guy is just a couple weeks younger, (like you amazingly remembered!) I’m getting anxious for his bday in a couple of weeks too. He was deciding between a super Mario themed party or a Mickey Mouse theme. He has since decided to go with Mickey so I’ll have to make a trip to Party City soon. Love you both!
Pamela says
March 6th, 2018 at 6:59 pmFood porn! I am loving the look of the pancit! I just Googled a recipe for it.
Most of all…
Happy, happy, happy birthday to Miss Connor Claire! Your cake is almost as lovely as you! I hope you are not giving mommy and daddy a hard time at bed time and that you will be potty trained before your next birthday.
Karen, the next time you blink your eyes she will be in kindergarten. I say this because I just registered my oldest for kindergarten. It seems like yesterday I was looking at his first ultrasound pic…
Annemarie Harrison says
March 6th, 2018 at 7:39 pmKaren, I can’t believe Connor Claire is 2 already! She is just the cutest and she is a little person now!
Happy Birthday Love to you all from me and Rosie! xoxo
Carmen says
March 6th, 2018 at 8:12 pmHappy belated Birthday to Connor! She is such a doll!
I have 2 cousins that also had birthdays yesterday. March 5 is a popular day!
Best wishes
Sissi says
March 7th, 2018 at 3:26 pmWow! I can not even believe she already turned 2! Time flies by! It all looks delicious and her cake looks amazing! Lucky girl!
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Karen says
March 7th, 2018 at 8:04 pmThanks Sissi! The time does fly by. I feel like I blinked and all of the sudden she wasn’t a newborn anymore!
Sherry says
March 7th, 2018 at 6:54 pmHappy 2nd Birthday Connor Claire!! It sounds like she had a great time. By the way, the pancit and lumpia look delicious!! Two of my favorite Filipino foods for sure…I could eat them every day!!
Karen says
March 7th, 2018 at 8:02 pmThank you, Sherry! The time has gone by so fast.
How are you doing? I remember a while back you mentioned you had some pain issues with your spine. I hope things are better for you now!
Pamela Haddad says
March 10th, 2018 at 5:27 pmI cannot believe she is 2! Where did the time go? She is such a cutie and the cake is gorgeous! And I saw the pan it and lumpia-my favorites! My friend gifted me with 500 lumpia at my wedding reception. It was a hit!!!
Iris says
March 10th, 2018 at 10:10 pmHappy birthday to Connor!