One of the family traditions that I would like to start is celebrating half-birthdays for Ellerie and any future kiddos. No real reason other than I think it's a very simple way to make an extra day of the year special. We won't do presents, but when they are old enough to "get it" I will let the little one pick what they want for dinner and I plan on cutting a birthday card in half (just down the center) and giving it to them with breakfast.
And we're going to do half-birthday cakes because I love just about any excuse to make a cake.
I have searched Pinterest for half-birthday ideas (other random things I frequently search Pinterest for – DIY garden beds, chunky yarn & "wall of plants.") and "half-cakes" kept popping up. I loved that idea and it seemed simple enough – bake a circle cake, cut it in half, stack the halves and frost the whole thing.
I bought funfetti cake (because obviously) and a jar of chocolate frosting and on Thursday set to work. Turns out one box equals two 9 inch round pans so I wound up with four halves to stack (even better). I layered frosting in between each cake layer and then used a butter knife to frost the whole thing. I was shocked that it took the whole jar of frosting.
We ate it Friday night (sadly after E was already asleep) with our family in town and toasted to six months of my baby girl & six months of Parenthood. This is a tradition we'll be keeping for sure.
ps and super random giveaway: the garland was just freehand cut from the tons of solid color fabric I have. It's a mix of quilter's cotton, flannel, felt & duck cloth. I just ran circle after circle through my sewing machine. After it served as a makeshift table runner, I hung it in Ellerie's room. Do you want one? In honor of Ellerie's half birthday, I'll give one away. Leave a comment below and I'll post the winner here in this post on 12/26. Giveaway is open to anyone worldwide. as always, thanks for reading.
WINNER IS SARAH! Commentor #47 Thank you!!
enJOY it 
248 responses to “half cake for half a year.”
Happy birthday little E!! 🙂
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I would love one for my daughters room. 😉 thanks for the giveaway!!
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Happy half birthday to Ellerie from an Italian “auntie”! 🙂
Yours is one of the few blogs I keep following in this very busy period (I’ve been neglecting my blog, as well) and you’re a great source of inspiration to me. I also enjoy your IG feed a lot!
Having your garland would be like getting a lovely Xmas present from a far-away-friend.
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Happy half-birthday Ellerie. Love your adorable banner Elise.
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Super fun idea! I like the half card the most. I’d love to be entered too please.
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Elise,
I love to read about what you and your family is up to…..and I would love to win the garland made by your hands!
Thanks for the chance!
Enjoy your first Christmas with a little one!
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Christine
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I think the ideas of a half birthday are great – especially for any kiddo’s born around Christmas time… sure, they might celebrate a birthday/Christmas rolled into one – but six months later they can have a special day all to themselves.
Hope to win! Best of luck everyone!
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SUCH a fun tradition!
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that is a great tradition! my husband and my birthdays are september 1 & 2 so we always celebrate in march as well. this way we have two birthday cakes six months apart instead of two in two days!
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I love how you are starting the half birthday tradition. christmas is not my fave celebration and same with my son. I felt awful that I had missed getting the “traditional” advent calendar together for him this year and when I apologized he said that it was fine and being that it was late he would have more doors to open all at once. he is 23 btw. so he came over for dinner and as we were saying good bye at the end of the night he said “mom there are a few things I DO like about christmas.” he loves the advent calendar, the stockings and that every year he gets an ornament from me. he was just one when his dad and I split up and I worried about traditions and now 22 years later I was doing it all along with even thinking about it AND he looks forward to the little things each year. ellerie is one lucky girl! have a wonderful christmas! ciao!
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Love it! It would be great décor for my B-day coming up really soon 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win!
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What a fun idea!!
Our little guy is just about 4 months old, so I can’t wait to do this with him soon. 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration and the fun giveaway!
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Thanks so much for the chance! Merry Christmas to you all!!
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What a great tradition to start!
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I just recently discovered your blog and am addicted to it! Must have read so much already! It was so inspiring to read your stories about creativity, parenthood and also couple good! 🙂
Keep your stories coming… I love reading them!
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Half birthday traditions are so fun! That circle garland is so awesome.
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Would love the garland! So pretty and simple!
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What a fun tradition and that garland is the definition of happy!! Would love to hang that in my house 🙂
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Love the circle garland & would love to win it 🙂
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The garland colors are fabulous. And funfetti is always the best. :). Happy half birthday!
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Happy half birthday Ellerie! Love the garland, would have made one if I sewed.
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So fun! Love it. Thanks for a chance to win 🙂 Merry Christmas!
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So cute, Elise! It would look so happy and perfect in my apartment year-round!
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I love half-birthdays – keep on with it!! It’s super-fun!
By the way – I think there’s a reason for cake everyday 😉
Lovely Greetings from Austria
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I love the half-birthday cake! And I love the garland. I bet they would make gorgeous curtains in front of sheers if you made lots of them!
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I adore it! Super cute. 🙂
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So cute you celebrated her 1/2 birthday 🙂
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I love excuses.to celebrate! Great idea!
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Love the garland! (And the 1/2 cake idea, too!)
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Celebrating half-birthdays is such a nice idea -I think I have to make this a tradition in our family as well; especially with both kids celebrating their birthdays shortly after Christmas!
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I loooove your garland — would love to win 🙂 Merry Christmas to you and yours!
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Super cute idea! Love your blog.
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I love homemade garlands. I might have to do a half birthday cake for my little one on her next half birthday! We missed her first half birthday but what a cute tradition! So sweet!
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Aw that is so sweet of you, I would love one as I always admire your craftiness xo
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Love that garland. Some day I will own and successfully use a sewing machine… but would love to win one to use in the meantime!
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We do this at our house too – any day is a great day to celebrate a birthday!
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Love this garland! would be perfect in our home. I’ve always wanted to celebrate my half birthday but I forget every year. Hoping to do something for my husband’s this January.
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The garland would look perfect in our girl’s room (her middle name is Elise).
Thank you and congratulation!!!
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What a fun giveaway! I hope Little Miss Ellerie had a lovely half birthday 🙂
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Love following your journey into mama hood and design in IG! Thanks for the chance — love your confetti garland!! 🙂
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Gorgeous garland and awesome tradition (said by the girl who celebrates gift wrap let alone any presents or occasions it might be linked to!). Great blog, realised today it’s now just over a year I’ve been following! And having just had to leave my husband to take a job overseas so much of it resonates truer than ever (Luckily we reunited yesterday for Christmas!) Have a great festive season as a 3!
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That’s a really pretty garland! I still have no kids, but the idea of half birthday cakes sounds really nice… I might as well start to do it for myself!
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Oh yes I’d love one, thanks! I think you’ve started such a lovely tradition. She’s going to love it!
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I would love the garland 🙂
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Oh! It would look lovely in my apartment!
Also, the cake looks delicious!
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I would love something to cheery! And why doesnt everyone make a half birthday cake? I think everyone could benefit from that.
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That is such a fun idea!! Ellerie is sooo blessed 🙂
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CUTE!!!! I heart 1/2 birthdays, I always celebrated mine since my bday is during the summer and couldn’t bring class treats.
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Uh, yeah! I am stunned by how planned-out you have this festive day for years to come. We celebrated our boy’s first half birthday, too – but I can honestly not remember if, or what, we did the second time. The third half birthday is less than two months away and is already so full of possibility thanks to you reminding me of this fun day, but I suspect it will remain that way until the very last minute and then I’ll nix 98% of the ideas as I’ve run out of time, as usually. That truly is seeing how our brains are just so different! Kudos.
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Neat tradition. Thanks for the chance and Merry Christmas!
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