Happy Birthday ... and a cake that will knock your socks off!

So yesterday was my birthday. I turned 27 on the 27th...that really only happens once in your life...unless (as a co-worker pointed out to me) I live to be 127! YIKES, that kinda scares me!

I didn't really want to do anything special this year. I have been so busy and tired lately that I was looking forward to just spending a nice relaxing weekend with my husband...too bad it didn't quite turn out like that! My friends at work (who are truly wonderful people, I am so blessed to have such great friends) surprised me on Friday, but I will tell you about that in a minute...first a little about my actual birthday festivities...

So ... the day started out with potential ... it just didn't quite end so well! I woke up to the smell of breakfast (which sometimes scares me lol). Turns out my husband surprised me with french toast and bacon for my birthday breakfast! It was so sweet and I loved that he put a candle in my french toast! He is a keeper!

Now a little about my husband...
HE NEVER USED TO COOK AT ALL! In fact it really has only been lately that he has gotten more involved. It took him a while to master the french toast...it used to be that when he would make it he would just leave the bread in the egg mixture until he was ready to cook it (WAY TOO LONG) and he always ended up with soggy french toast and didn't know why...so we had a lesson and he has now mastered it; very well I might add! BUT on my birthday I discovered that my lovely husband is trying new tricks! AND THIS IS A GOOD ONE :o) I mentioned something to him about the bacon ... it didn't really appear as though it had been fried (and the house didn't have the aroma of 'fried bacon' I know y'all know what I am talking about!) - so I asked him "honey, did you fry this bacon?" and his response was "uh, no, I cooked it in the microwave on a paper towel!" :o) I love you honey, really I do!!! The bacon was actually tasty and crispy, but I couldn't get over the fact that he had cooked raw bacon in the microwave on a paper towel!! God bless my husband for always making my so life interesting!!

Now not to drag on and on, but I do have to tell you that yesterday did start out well, but didn't end so hot...ok maybe it did end "hot". I know that was really lame, but we have been having serious issues with our AC unit and it finally bit the dust yesterday (ON MY FREAKING BIRTHDAY NO LESS AND THE HOTTEST TN DAY SO FAR) go figure! Bad news is...they are discontinuing the freon units starting 2010 (just and FYI to all you freon users be prepared) and if your AC unit goes bad after January 2010 then you are basically SOL! NO MORE PARTS ... NOTHING! So we need to buy a new one...and it sounds like it is going to be expensive. Not what we need right now, but I hear a $1500 tax credit will be awarded, so at least that is something...right!?!?

I know where is the recipe ... it is coming promise!! So back to Friday now, and no more bad news (I hope)...
One of my friends at work went out of her way to decorate my room. (my favorite color is purple by the way!)
She placed those little construction cones around my room (and in it) and displayed "CAUTION BIRTHDAY ZONE" signs around my room! It was cute and it made me laugh...I am telling you I really do have some great friends!
My festivities didn't end there. One of my friends actually made me a cake! It was so delicious and I asked her if I could share the recipe with all of you because it is so easy you won't believe it! So easy, and SO GOOD that it seriously will knock your socks off!!!

Coconut Pecan Cake

1 Box of Butter Pecan Cake Mix

1 Tub of Coconut (or Pecan Coconut) Icing

4 eggs

3/4 cup of whole milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Blend together all ingredients. Pour into greased bundt pan. Bake for about 50 minutes. Serve with ice cream!!
Yes it is that easy! The cake was so incredibly moist! The coconut pecan cake was so delicious, and I actually think the possibilities are endless for different flavors with this type of cake, I may have to pull this recipe out soon and test it out!

One last note...I actually managed to bake myself my own birthday cake yesterday (in my incredibly HOT house). You want to see this cake, it was SO AMAZING!!! I hope to post it soon so stay tuned! Until then, I am going to go sit in front of a fan LOL!