3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

high school

Day 158/365: Graduation Cake

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High school students graduate in Mid-May in Nebraska and graduation cakes start flying off the shelves. It’s different than a wedding, where the bride and groom will have a cake testing session before picking their baker. Graduation cakes are considered manadatory but at the parties in our area are more of a table decoration as the “real food” is what guest really anticipate.

Most people go to Sams or their local grocery bakery and get a cake.  My son and I had some amazing cake at a wedding we attended about a month ago. The baker was in attendance so I approached her and arranged for her to make his graduation cake.

Graduation Cake

I like supporting local businesses, and a fresh baked cake from Lynnn would be so much fresher and tastier than the cakes from Sam’s that receive frozen sheets by the gross and use prepackaged frosting. It didn’t really cost any more either. Thirty dollars for a half sheet.

Did I tell you my son graduated on his 18th birthday? That in itself was pretty special. He wanted a special birthday cake along with it and picked chocolate. Lynns double chocolate cake was to die for and many people asked who made the cakes. Total on both cakes $45.00, including delivery. Thanks Lynn

Birthday and Graduation Cakes
Birthday and Graduation Cakes

We didn’t have much cake left, all that remained was the picture corner and a small wedge of chocolate.

Most seniors from Elmwood-Murdock High School have their parties on the Saturday of graduation. The parties are pretty much the same, open house style with friends and family and lots of food. On graduation Saturday you can easily go to 9-10 parties, that’s if you’re fast. Halfway through the day you don’t want to look at another piece of cake.

I honestly feel bad for those families who buy full sheet cakes only to have a couple of pieces eaten.

Unique cake toppers and decorations are easily found in various locations, and most bakeries are open to their customers bringing in custom decorations to personalize your seniors special day.

Decorations for Graduation Cakes

MALE GRADUATION BOBBLEHEAD/CAKE TOPPER [Kitchen]Pink Graduation Cake Decorating KitGraduation Silhouette Grad Cap and Gown Edible Designer Prints Cake BorderYou Did It Grad Edible Cake Decoration

Other Graduation Party Ideas

Graduation Cakes – Decoration Ideas | Little Birthday Cakes

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Throw your graduate a great party

Well, it is getting close to the time of year where graduation invitations arrive in our mailbox, and for some of you, your special ones are graduating this year. What a fun and exciting time. Today, I thought I would share some of my graduation party …
Unique Graduation Party Ideas

Flick photo by m00byIf you have a child that’s graduating, you’ll probably spend the majority of graduation day crying tears of joy. But afterward, it’s time to party and celebrate your teen’s milestone. So wipe off that smudged mascara, and check out …
Throw a “Throwback” Graduation Party

Relive the disco years of the 70’s or the totally awesome 80’s by throwing a retro graduation party. Parents can celebrate their child’s graduation by paying homage to their own year of graduation. You can help your child see just how similar and …
Best Graduation Party Menu and Decoration Musts

graduation cake As the school year begins to wind down, the graduation party planning begins to wind up. From high school and college to kindergarten, the coming months will bring graduations galore, and such significant occasions call for memorable …

 

 

Day 138/365: Rock the Prom Dress, Break Out the Red Carpet

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Prom season is here and countless high school juniors and seniors will be buying a prom dress and renting tuxedos in preparation to  show off their finery for a night to remember. At Elmwood-Murdock High School being small doesn’t mean we don’t go all out for prom.

Prom 2011

The post prom committee, parents and students spend all year fundraising to have a high class prom. Students wait in the lobby of the school to take their “red carpet” walk to the two chartered buses. Waiting outside are throng of paparazzi (parents with camera) waiting to take a picture of their daughters in their prom dress along with their beaming dates. Ok, some guys don’t beam at the fuss, but many think it’s pretty cool.

Formal dates are not essential, many go as groups, single guys and single girls also have a good time. I also took the “traditional” shots, but wanted to get a little more stylized with my photography and highlight on the gorgeous prom dresses and finery of the formal evening.

This year prom was held at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln, with post prom at the one of the Lincoln YMCA’s. I don’t know where they had more fun. Post prom included swimming, a rock wall, “A Minute To Win It” games, and prizes which included Notepad computers (which my son won) GPS trackers and much more.

PhotoShop: Typical layers with an increase in brightness, contrast and touched up the sharpness on the prom dress and added a little burn to emphasis the design. Added a layer stroke, selected the color from the dress, and added a drop shadow. The text is just one text box with the vertical spacing decreased so the two lines would overlap, text color is white and black with decreased opacity to soften the colors. I had fun with this one!

Did You Know, You Can Buy a Prom Dress Online?

Last year my daughter bought a prom dress on line. I learned more and more girls are doing this so they will have the unique dress and not end up wearing the same prom dress from Debs that another classmate bought. The safest place to buy a prom dress is on Amazon as they have a return policy if it doesn’t fit right or look the way you expected.

It is strongly advised to shop early for your prom dress though, not only due to the return policy, but to make sure your date knows what the color so he can order the corsage and tux color.

Below are some of my favorite prom dresses on Amazon.

Women ball gown evening prom dress Women’s bra Fishtail wedding dress- BlueTidetell Elegant Floor Length Bridesmaid Cap Sleeve Prom Evening Dresses BurgundyIDOBRIDAL Tulle Beaded Bridesmaid Evening Party Prom Ball Gown Dress -BlueIDOBRIDAL Tulle Beaded Bridesmaid Evening Party Prom Ball Gown Dress -YellowFavebridal 2015 Women’s Long Formal Evening Prom DressesJAEDEN Girl’s Sweetheart Charming Formal Evening Dresses Long Prom Gown Hot Pink

Top Gun: Dangerzone Theme Song

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Something a little extra for your listening enjoyment. The music Danger Zone from Top Gun. Both my son and daughter play in the Elmwood-Murdock High School band and tonight was their annual fundraiser.

Over 600 people attended the spaghetti dinner and listened to the various bands from the elementary, junior high, jazz band and high school band. Jen plays percussion, in this song the timpani, which is awesome! My senior plays the trumpet.

If you have been following this blog you might remember that both communities together have a population of about 1000 people, so to say we had a good turnout is an understatement. A lot of this is due to our band director Michael Hanson. When he arrived the band had dwindled from a strong group of over 60 students to the low twenties. In just a few years his leadership has encouraged students to once again pursue music and strive to be the best.

During the fall the students compete in marching band competitions including the Apple Jack Festival (1st place the past three years) and in 2010 won 1st place in their division and third overall at the Harvest of Harmony parade in Grand Island Nebraska. This festival hosts over 100 high school marching bands  in one of the oldest high school marching band competitions in the Midwest, now going on 70 years.

Last year they were invited to march in the Washington DC, Memorial Day parade. It was quite the experience.

More videos on the band and choir can be viewed on my YouTube Channel, including their other piece The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers, A Symphonic Suite

Memorial Day Parade, Washington DC

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The students from Elmwood-Murdock High School march down Constitution Avenue in Washington DC for a once in a lifetime event they will never forget. They received the invitation because of the numerous awards they had won in marching band competitions such as Harvest of Harmony.

Record temperatures were recorded in Washington DC that weekend, and the black uniforms made it a challenge for the kids, but they endured over an hour of marching like troopers. Again, congratulations to everyone. For more information and pictures visit my original post on the Washington DC trip.