Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes Go Hilariously Wrong
17 journalers for this copy...
Jen Yates is the author of my favorite humor blog, www.cakewrecks.com, and she's brilliantly put some of her best entries into a book! She's been traveling around on a book tour, so I picked this up today at the book signing in Plano, TX. She was so funny and charming!
Book Description:
Have your cake and laugh at it, too, with the sweet treat known as Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes Go Hilariously Wrong. From the creator of the ultrapopular blog CakeWrecks.com, here are the worst cakes ever, including the ugly, the silly, the downright creepy, the unintentionally sad or suggestive, and the just plain funny. With witty commentary and behind-the-scenes tidbits, Cake Wrecks will ensure that you never look at a cake the same way again.
Since May 2008, Jen Yates has been blogging about such confectionery calamities at her popular Web site CakeWrecks.com, winner of the 2008 Blogger's Choice Award for Best Humor Blog, and three 2009 Weblog awards (Bloggies) for Best Writing on a Blog, Best New Blog, and Best Food Blog. Yates now offers up this inspired photo collection with over 150 Cake Wrecks, including 75 percent never-before-seen content.
Jen has been a clown, a cash office accountant, a Jungle Cruise skipper, a business owner, a children's book inventory expeditor, and a house painter. She currently lives in Florida with her husband, John, and their two cats. Despite the daily cake carnage she chronicles, she really does like cake.
Book Description:
Have your cake and laugh at it, too, with the sweet treat known as Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes Go Hilariously Wrong. From the creator of the ultrapopular blog CakeWrecks.com, here are the worst cakes ever, including the ugly, the silly, the downright creepy, the unintentionally sad or suggestive, and the just plain funny. With witty commentary and behind-the-scenes tidbits, Cake Wrecks will ensure that you never look at a cake the same way again.
Since May 2008, Jen Yates has been blogging about such confectionery calamities at her popular Web site CakeWrecks.com, winner of the 2008 Blogger's Choice Award for Best Humor Blog, and three 2009 Weblog awards (Bloggies) for Best Writing on a Blog, Best New Blog, and Best Food Blog. Yates now offers up this inspired photo collection with over 150 Cake Wrecks, including 75 percent never-before-seen content.
Jen has been a clown, a cash office accountant, a Jungle Cruise skipper, a business owner, a children's book inventory expeditor, and a house painter. She currently lives in Florida with her husband, John, and their two cats. Despite the daily cake carnage she chronicles, she really does like cake.
Wow, my stomach muscles *totally* hurt from laughing so hard at this book!
The book has some of Jen's famous and favorite Wrecks from her blog, but it's also chock-full of new Wrecks, commentary, and tidbits Jen throws in about writing the blog. If you're a fan of the Cake Wrecks blog, this book is a MUST read ... and if you're not, it's just the ticket if you're looking for a few laughs!
This book is too good not to share - I'm going to offer it up as a bookring, and hope that it will not get lost in the mail or (ugh) stolen, as it's autographed by the author herself! :)
The book has some of Jen's famous and favorite Wrecks from her blog, but it's also chock-full of new Wrecks, commentary, and tidbits Jen throws in about writing the blog. If you're a fan of the Cake Wrecks blog, this book is a MUST read ... and if you're not, it's just the ticket if you're looking for a few laughs!
This book is too good not to share - I'm going to offer it up as a bookring, and hope that it will not get lost in the mail or (ugh) stolen, as it's autographed by the author herself! :)
This book is being offered as a bookring! General courtesy guidelines apply. Please journal the book as soon as you receive it and PM the next reader for their address so that we can keep it moving quickly. Then, journal again when you have finished reading it. If you are backlogged or need to be moved further down on the list, please let me know. Thanks and enjoy Cake Wrecks!
Updated 10OCT10
Here is the bookring routing list and order:
1. NMReader (New Mexico, US)
2. whiskeyjane (New Mexico, US)
3. k00kaburra (California, US)
4. Staxman (Washington, US)
5. collectorkerri (Illinois, US)
6. mrsjones (Ohio, US)
7. MaryZee (Maryland, US)
8. GoryDetails (New Hampshire, US)
9. lauraloo29 (Alberta, Canada)
10. Jonniboi (Birmingham, UK)
11. chich (Perpignan, France)
12. Hayes13 (Rome, Italy) [Asked to be skipped]
13. azuki (Florida, US)
14. Moody-Blue (Somewhere, US)
15. DanielleChonody (Texas, US)
back to me --> BethanieKay (Texas, US) ---> Book is back home with me now!
I'll update this JE with new bookring members as I get them.
Updated 10OCT10
Here is the bookring routing list and order:
1. NMReader (New Mexico, US)
2. whiskeyjane (New Mexico, US)
3. k00kaburra (California, US)
4. Staxman (Washington, US)
5. collectorkerri (Illinois, US)
6. mrsjones (Ohio, US)
7. MaryZee (Maryland, US)
8. GoryDetails (New Hampshire, US)
9. lauraloo29 (Alberta, Canada)
10. Jonniboi (Birmingham, UK)
11. chich (Perpignan, France)
12. Hayes13 (Rome, Italy) [Asked to be skipped]
13. azuki (Florida, US)
14. Moody-Blue (Somewhere, US)
15. DanielleChonody (Texas, US)
back to me --> BethanieKay (Texas, US) ---> Book is back home with me now!
I'll update this JE with new bookring members as I get them.
Released 14 yrs ago (10/10/2009 UTC) at
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The bookring has begun! Cake Wrecks is now on its way to NMReader in the Land of Enchantment. Enjoy!
The bookring has begun! Cake Wrecks is now on its way to NMReader in the Land of Enchantment. Enjoy!
This book arrived today.
I would like to say that I placed it on my TBR pile and that it is waiting its turn to be read. I would like to say I have discipline and didn't sit down as soon as I could and read the whole book. I would love to say that I am looking forward to a few LOL moments.
Oh hold it I am still chuckling about some of the pictures and narratives.
I love the blog site and thoroughly enjoyed the book. This book has new material and some of the classics from the blog.
I would like to say that I placed it on my TBR pile and that it is waiting its turn to be read. I would like to say I have discipline and didn't sit down as soon as I could and read the whole book. I would love to say that I am looking forward to a few LOL moments.
Oh hold it I am still chuckling about some of the pictures and narratives.
I love the blog site and thoroughly enjoyed the book. This book has new material and some of the classics from the blog.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
hand delivered to whiskeyjane's son.
hand delivered to whiskeyjane's son.
Thanks so much for bringing the book by, NMReader! This book is soooo funny. I love it!
Journal Entry 8 by whiskeyjane at -- Mail or by hand -rings, RABCK, meetings, New Mexico USA on Sunday, November 8, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (11/9/2009 UTC) at -- Mail or by hand -rings, RABCK, meetings, New Mexico USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES: In the mail to next on ring, k00kaburra. Mailed media rate so will find out in 10 days or so if I mixed up the envies. I hope not!
11/17/09 - I am so glad I sent this to the correct person. K00kaburra - I love the pic of your cake!
11/17/09 - I am so glad I sent this to the correct person. K00kaburra - I love the pic of your cake!
:D I'm so excited to get this one!I actually worked in a bakery from late 2002-2004 as a cashier. The decorator was a lovely Mexican who, tragically, had a weak grip on English spelling and punctuation. Every week an unofficial part of my job was proofreading the cakes he decorated before he left, because I did not know how to use his materials to fix any problems after he took off. I wasn't particularly vigilant, however, so at least once a month I would have a disgruntled customer unhappy with a misspelling or the execution of his airbrushed images. If CakeWrecks had existed back then, I would have been a regular contributor.
Sometimes I think I ought to submit this cake pictured here. It's not a Wreck at all - my boss made it exactly to my specifications! I drew a cartoon and he copied it exactly with his airbrush! (My Dad's nickname is Scratchy Bear, so my brother and I are 'Little Bear' and 'Crunchy Cub'.) But it's such an epically awesome cake, and I feel like the world should be able to appreciate it.
This book was hilarious! I was worried that it would basically be reprints of popular blog posts, or just images of cakes with funny captions. I mean, there's a lot of that in the book, obviously, but what if that was all there was? Why pay for that when she posts it daily for free? But this was actually pretty cool, because Jen talks about a lot of the stories behind the cakes (what happened before it was posted, or after, or how the bakers react when they find out they are featured on the blog) and how writing the blog has impacted Jen's life. (I believe she's just finished a nationwide tour of CakeWreck fans to celebrate this book.) This book was made even more hilarious by my own memories of crappy cakedom (the bakery I worked at was definitely not the top of the tier) and was just a blast from page end to page end.
Journal Entry 11 by k00kaburra at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, November 19, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (11/19/2009 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
sent on to Staxman to continue the book ring!
sent on to Staxman to continue the book ring!
Just received in the mail, looking forward to reading!
I must admit that I wasn't crazy about the first chapter of the book. I was like, "OK, instructions like `large font' can be misunderstood as the actual text to go on the cake, I get it." (As a former typesetter, I'd encountered this issue in the printing industry--one reason I signed up for the ring.) I was concerned that the entire book was going to belabor this point, but then it got better.
I got the most laughs out of the cases where the cake turned out just as intended, but the intent was tacky or just plain weird. I also really enjoyed the author's sense of humor and agree with her that cupcake cakes are a bad idea.
I've only ordered a few custom cakes in my life, and they turned out well. In hindsight, I think this was because I ordered them face to face, not over the phone, and my requests were pretty straightforward. But just to play it safe in the future, I think I'll make a sketch of the cake I want!
I've PMed collectorkerri for her address.
I got the most laughs out of the cases where the cake turned out just as intended, but the intent was tacky or just plain weird. I also really enjoyed the author's sense of humor and agree with her that cupcake cakes are a bad idea.
I've only ordered a few custom cakes in my life, and they turned out well. In hindsight, I think this was because I ordered them face to face, not over the phone, and my requests were pretty straightforward. But just to play it safe in the future, I think I'll make a sketch of the cake I want!
I've PMed collectorkerri for her address.
Journal Entry 14 by 
Staxman
at next participant in bookring, Bookring-Postal Release -- Controlled Releases on Monday, November 30, 2009
Staxman at next participant in bookring, Bookring-Postal Release -- Controlled Releases on Monday, November 30, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (11/30/2009 UTC) at next participant in bookring, Bookring-Postal Release -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed to collectorkerri.
Mailed to collectorkerri.
I am a frequent reader of the Cake Wrecks blog, so I really look forward to reading this.
Cake Wrecks is one of my favorite blogs, so I really enjoyed this book. Thanks for sharing, BethanieKay! I sent it on to mrsjones today.
After 3 straight days of driving and sheer exhaustion, I arrived home to find this book in my mailbox. I opened it up and read the first 20 pages of cakes and was laughing so hard I was crying. My husband said I was slap-happy and getting hysterical, and he was right, but I can't help it; the book is that funny. I'll make sure he reads it when I'm done so that he can see it wasn't just me losing it. Besides, he used to be a baker and will definitely appreciate the humor. I can't wait to read the rest!
I loved this book. I had to pass it around to various family members. We all had our favorites. Among them were the scary looking baby-cadaver cake, Edna's dripping blood birthday cake, and the football "poo" cake.
And, once again, sharing this book through Bookcrossing has promoted sales of this book. My mother just went on Amazon and bought two copies for people she knows. Meanwhile, I've logged onto the blog and check it out every day.
I'm PMing MaryZee for her address.
And, once again, sharing this book through Bookcrossing has promoted sales of this book. My mother just went on Amazon and bought two copies for people she knows. Meanwhile, I've logged onto the blog and check it out every day.
I'm PMing MaryZee for her address.
This arrived safely today. Of course, there was another bookring in the mailbox today too. Don't they always arrive together? But this one looks like a quick, enjoyable read, so I don't think it'll be here too long.
Well, that was certainly a quick and funny read. And of course, I too have now had to check out Jen's blog. I had never heard of Cake Wrecks before this bookring was offered.
I do want to wander amongst these pages a bit more, and pick out a couple of favorites. I've just pm'd GoryDetails about her addy, and will probably be ready to send this one on in a few days. Thanks, BethanieKay, for sharing.
I do want to wander amongst these pages a bit more, and pick out a couple of favorites. I've just pm'd GoryDetails about her addy, and will probably be ready to send this one on in a few days. Thanks, BethanieKay, for sharing.
I've checked out the CakeWrecks blog some. I noticed Jen mentioned that basketweave is a difficult technique to master. The cake at my niece's recent baby shower is not a wreck, but a nice example of basketweave (which I'd never seen before) and I believe a non-scary baby on a cake.Book was just sent out today, media mail to GoryD. Enjoy!
The book arrived safely in today's mail; many thanks! I enjoy watching those cake-decorating-challenge shows on TV, not to mention the exquisitely funny Ace of Cakes, and am looking forward to seeing some examples from the, um, less-talented side of things...[Speaking of "less talented", here's a photo of the last cake I made; I used a castle-shaped bundt-cake mold, and I loved the cake - not least because since then I haven't been able to unmold one of these cakes without having it come to bits - but the "decoration" aspect is minimal! I did sift some powdered sugar over it before serving, to make it look a bit like snow-covered blocks of stone, but I don't seem to have taken a photo of that...]
This was wonderful! From the oddly-Freudian typos ("Huge Me", "Congratulations As Small as Possible") to the "baked poo souffle", this was a festival of "What *were* they thinking!"
The book introduced me to a whole category of cakes I'd never seen before - the CCC's, cupcake-cakes. Oh, I'd seen the cupcake-tower version, but never a mass of cupcakes glued together with frosting the way these are. Talk about taking a bad idea and making it worse!
Perhaps the scariest aspect of all this is that these are supposed to be professionally made cakes - if only in the sense that somebody charged for them. Some of the examples of basic piping and frosting are so clumsy that I can't believe anyone would have dared to ask for payment. [But given the hilarity that ensues, I'm glad they did.]
It's hard to pick favorites from so many jaw-dropping examples, but I was especially fond of the "location location location" photo on page 80 - the wedding tower-of-cupcakes which the happy couple were attacking with a knife (unclear on the concept, anyone?), and which was neatly centered so the top of the cake-tower pointed directly at the genitals of a "David" statue. (That would certainly enhance any collection of wedding photos I've ever seen!)
I also liked the fakeout "pink tarantula" cake, the one that a loving family made for a six-year-old who'd requested a "High School Musical" cake. Lest one think this too cruel, the notes say that they then provided the requested cake as well, but I thought the tarantula was adorable. And I loved the author's comment: "I'm torn between feeling outraged on behalf of the niece and wishing I had a niece to do this to." {snerk!}
Thanks for sharing this - it was great fun. And now I've added the Cake Wrecks blog to my daily favorites - wouldn't want to miss anything!
The book introduced me to a whole category of cakes I'd never seen before - the CCC's, cupcake-cakes. Oh, I'd seen the cupcake-tower version, but never a mass of cupcakes glued together with frosting the way these are. Talk about taking a bad idea and making it worse!
Perhaps the scariest aspect of all this is that these are supposed to be professionally made cakes - if only in the sense that somebody charged for them. Some of the examples of basic piping and frosting are so clumsy that I can't believe anyone would have dared to ask for payment. [But given the hilarity that ensues, I'm glad they did.]
It's hard to pick favorites from so many jaw-dropping examples, but I was especially fond of the "location location location" photo on page 80 - the wedding tower-of-cupcakes which the happy couple were attacking with a knife (unclear on the concept, anyone?), and which was neatly centered so the top of the cake-tower pointed directly at the genitals of a "David" statue. (That would certainly enhance any collection of wedding photos I've ever seen!)
I also liked the fakeout "pink tarantula" cake, the one that a loving family made for a six-year-old who'd requested a "High School Musical" cake. Lest one think this too cruel, the notes say that they then provided the requested cake as well, but I thought the tarantula was adorable. And I loved the author's comment: "I'm torn between feeling outraged on behalf of the niece and wishing I had a niece to do this to." {snerk!}
Thanks for sharing this - it was great fun. And now I've added the Cake Wrecks blog to my daily favorites - wouldn't want to miss anything!
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The book's on its way to lauraloo29 in Canada for the next stop in the bookring. Enjoy!
The book's on its way to lauraloo29 in Canada for the next stop in the bookring. Enjoy!
Arrived today safe and sound. Looks like a fun read. :)
This was a fun read. Although I personally have never seen or heard of a cupcake cake.
I have the next address and will be mailing next week. Thank you for sharing!
I have the next address and will be mailing next week. Thank you for sharing!
Journal Entry 27 by JonniC from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 14, 2010
FINALLY received through the post today, I shall start reading it soon. I shall contact the next person in line after I've posted this journal Entry, I so cannot wait to read it!
just finished and I loved the book, thanks for including me! will send out soon!
Journal Entry 29 by JonniC at to fellow bookcrosser, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, May 20, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (5/20/2010 UTC) at to fellow bookcrosser, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent off to the next person in line who is Chich
Sent off to the next person in line who is Chich
Journal Entry 30 by chich at Ibiza - Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Saturday, May 29, 2010
Book received today, many thanks for passing it on Jonniboi.
Unfortunately I'm extremely busy at the moment and will have to send it on without reading. I have PMed Hayes13 for his/her address and the book should resume its journey shortly.
Thanks for sharing this with us BethanieKay !
ETA: Hayes13 has asked to be skipped so I have PMed the next person in line (azuki).
Unfortunately I'm extremely busy at the moment and will have to send it on without reading. I have PMed Hayes13 for his/her address and the book should resume its journey shortly.
Thanks for sharing this with us BethanieKay !
ETA: Hayes13 has asked to be skipped so I have PMed the next person in line (azuki).
Released 13 yrs ago (6/1/2010 UTC) at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Book sent to azuki today, enjoy! :-)
Got it here and started reading a few pages. Totally hilarious, too bad nobody was next to me to share. It's absolutely my type of book so thanks so much BethanieKay for adding me to the ring.
This is the perfect read for when riding in a car. Some of them are totally hilarious. I have to say I enjoy the photos more than the commentary. It's hard to believe how anyone could make such a mistake, or how any bakery would allow such a cake to be made, but then I remember how sometimes at work, I have to remind the young kids (sorry for stereotyping but mostly they are young males) to kindly bring their brain to work.
I have the next person's address so over the weekend I will pack this ready for mailing next week.
I have the next person's address so over the weekend I will pack this ready for mailing next week.
Journal Entry 34 by Moody-Blue at -- Parks (state and national), Colorado USA on Sunday, August 1, 2010
Put on some waterproof mascara, take some Beano and wear your Depends. This book had me belly-laughing so hard, I was afraid of all kinds of personal physical embarassments!
Journal Entry 35 by RxBluff at -- Parks (state and national), Colorado USA on Sunday, August 1, 2010
Very funny!
Cake Wrecks is back home with me once again! Thanks to everyone for making this a successful bookring -- I hope you all enjoyed the book!
Don't forget that if you want more daily doses of Cake Wrecks, you can follow Jen's blog at www.cakewrecks.com
This book will stay in my PC, but will list it as AVL in case someone wants to borrow it :)
Don't forget that if you want more daily doses of Cake Wrecks, you can follow Jen's blog at www.cakewrecks.com
This book will stay in my PC, but will list it as AVL in case someone wants to borrow it :)
Sending this to aetm in Austin, as I'm guessing that both she and her husband will appreciate the humor in this book. :)
Anna -- you can send this back to me when you're done (no rush, of course :)
Anna -- you can send this back to me when you're done (no rush, of course :)
Journal Entry 38 by BethanieKay at ~~~ ♥ ~~~ A Friend ~~~ ♥ ~~~, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Sunday, February 20, 2011
Released 13 yrs ago (2/21/2011 UTC) at ~~~ ♥ ~~~ A Friend ~~~ ♥ ~~~, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Book is on its way to aetm in Austin, TX. Happy Travels, little book!
Cakewrecks has arrived here safely, finally. Thanks Beth. I think I'll need to make some cake to enjoy it with :)
(thinking of rum cake... but now I think I'll need to get some ideas on how to make Caribbean rum cake or cupcake wrecks)
(thinking of rum cake... but now I think I'll need to get some ideas on how to make Caribbean rum cake or cupcake wrecks)
Mmm... cake... wrecks. I've enjoyed the wrecks a few laughs at a time, and it's just impossible to pick ONE favorite of these. If I had to try, it would probably be the one with NOTHING written on it, or some of those psychedelically colored cakes. Or the superfrosted cupcake cakes? Mm, those I would probably just eat. And then some cakes were just awesome - like the one with armadillo (I don't see that one as a wreck. But yea, it could have used a few more super awesome cakes.. maybe that'll be in the cakewrecks #2 eventually).
But enough laughing and drooling :) and back to Beth now, sending today, hopefully it'll be in Dallas before we meet (I did consider making the cake book make a 'few' extra miles next week, but comfort wins).
But enough laughing and drooling :) and back to Beth now, sending today, hopefully it'll be in Dallas before we meet (I did consider making the cake book make a 'few' extra miles next week, but comfort wins).
Sent back to Beth - safe journey little cake book :)
Cake Wrecks is back home again with me. This is part of my PC, but will list as AVL in case anyone wants to borrow it :)
Journal Entry 43 by BethanieKay at ~~~ ♥ ~~~ A Friend ~~~ ♥ ~~~, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Released 12 yrs ago (12/20/2011 UTC) at ~~~ ♥ ~~~ A Friend ~~~ ♥ ~~~, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sending book to bookczuk as a loaner -- this one is definitely worth a bunch of laughs :) Enjoy, and Happy Holidays!
Love the CakeWrecks blog, and have wanted to see how it translated into a book, so when the chance to borrow it came up, I jumped! Thanks BethanieKay, and waves of hello and Happy Holidays to the wonderful list of previous readers. I haven't read through the journal completely yet, as I want to read the book first. Will probably start it today or tomorrow, as I'm snuffly from a bug I've picked up and am staying home, trying to recover in time to sing at midnight mass for Christmas Eve tomorrow.For anyone interested, we didn't to a tree this year, since it was just the two of us, but I missed the lights too much, so came up with my own solution -- made entirely of BookCrossing books. That's what's pictured in this journal entry.
I snuggled into my chair, with a hot toddy in hand, and chuckled through the book last evening. While I had seen many of these on the blog, there still were a fair number I'd missed, and some that were definitely worth the repeat. The editor in me loved the frosting equivalent of typos. Some of the others were really funny, too, though I don't know that if it was a cake I had ordered for a minor life event, say, a wedding, that I would see the humor at the moment -- though I certainly would see it afterward! My favorite personal cakewreck story is sadly available only in memory pictures-- a cake for a Hanukkah party, which when it arrived, had the menorah on top of the Christmas tree, and dredels hanging from the branches of the tree. Wish I did have a picture.
Will put this aside to send back to BethanieKay with another book I have on loan from her.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Will put this aside to send back to BethanieKay with another book I have on loan from her.
Thanks so much for sharing!
The plan is to mail this back to BethanieKay tomorrow. It's all packaged up; just a matter of if I get to the post office or not.
CW is back home with me -- glad you enjoyed it! Listing as AVL in case someone else wants to read it, although it is part of my PC.
