What Makes DIY Projects Awesome

When I used to think about DIY projects, I would begin to roll my eyes and and huff and puff because of the research, the time and the work it takes to get a DIY to look valuable and legit. But, when you want to get something done without paying loads of money for a professional to do it for you or to stay within your budget, then you a dig a hole and bury those complaints.

Little did I know how rewarding DIY projects can be for the soul. In honor of Flashback Friday and Feel Good Foodie Friday, I present to you my DIY project from July. I ventured on a mission to make my son’s first birthday cake using an amazing recipe from My Life Runs on Food and my creative juices to design the cake to look like the cookie monster my son loved so much.

Courtesy of Sanura Weathers from My Life Runs on Food

Courtesy of Sanura Weathers from My Life Runs on Food

I say this recipe is amazing for several reasons:

  • Not every recipe that I follow to its exact measurement comes out the way the recipe calls for (either too dry, too wet, or just horrible consistency all around), but this one is the perfect fit in every way (like the dress in the store that looks great on the manikin and on you as well).
  • The moistness of the vanilla white cake causes this delicious dessert to melt in your mouth most satisfyingly.
  • The mango cream cheese frosting is not too sweet and not too bland.
  • The recipe did not focus in telling you how to choose your ingredients in making the dessert healthier, but it was concocted by a woman who values healthy ingredients nonetheless (that is enough to get an A+ in the feel good foodie book. Besides whoever said cake doesn’t make them feel good is lying).

I left just one detail out on this cake: the pistachio crumbs that were to be sprinkled on top of the cake. Since this was a party for a one year old and I chose not to expose him to nuts, I left out the delicious looking pistachio crumb garnish.

I took the recipe and ran with it. I simply added the blue and black coloring to two different batches of icing and used marshmallows for the eyes and voila: My very own cookie monster cake. Not the most professional of presentations, but it was delicious and my little one loved it.

Courtesy of Sanura Weathers from My Life Runs on Food

Courtesy of Sanura Weathers from My Life Runs on Food

DIY Projects are so rewarding and I know that now. So what makes DIY projects awesome?

  • They cause you to realize creative talents you never knew you had
  • They bring satisfaction to the soul when you realize that not only you enjoy the end product, but also those whose opinions you value the most (I got the sign of approval from the recipe creator herself. I was so proud of me).
  • They save you money that could be better spent else where.
  • They force you to access parts of your brain that don’t get enough excercise

What are some of your DIY projects? How were they most rewarding to you?

 

Wife to an amazing husband, mother to an exploring toddler and an MPA graduate aspiring to impact the world with encouragement in mothering and in social entrepreneurship.

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