• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

  • All
  • Family
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Decor
  • About Lena
  • Contact

#ThrowbackThursday #tbt: Well That Was Fun.

July 24, 2014 By Lena

In 2014, I will be participating in #tbt courtesy of the Epson Expression Premium XP-810 Small–in–One printer, the ultimate choice for scanning and printing. Ultra powerful and ultra slim, it produces stunning borderless photos and documents quickly and affordably. Featuring the ultimate in wireless printing, the XP-810 makes it easier than ever to print from your iPad, iPhone, tablet or smartphone, whether in your home or out and about.

You won’t see it from the picture. I’m simply smiling for the camera, and it looks like we’re about to begin a confectionery class of sorts. Well, that much is true – we were participating in a cupcake making class, and waiting for everyone to take their seats before the cellophane was removed from the table.

#throwbackthursdayOkay, so that’s what you see. Simple enough, right? But what you don’t see:

1) The cupcake class was at sea. It’s true! At the time, we were aboard the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas – the world’s largest cruise ship – sailing on its 100th voyage. The cupcake class was a special perk bestowed on all the Fisher-Price Moms.

2) I hated my hair colour, so I tied my hair back as much as possible. Here, it was in a Pocahontas-style braid. However, I also hate my hair tied back, so this was a doubly bad hair day. I was actually thinking about how quickly I could bleach it back to blonde when this photo was taken.

3) The boys were supposed to recreate a bunny’s face on the cupcake, and so we were given licorice pieces, Smarties, gum drops and other various candies. But the thing is, they only gave us enough candy to complete the face almost precisely, and Ryder kept eating all the damn candy. Seriously, I would literally lean down and growl menacing threats into his ear, and then I’d turn my back, and the silly gumdrop nose would be wadded inside his cheek.

4) Do you see those containers of candy behind me? When I asked for a replacement gumdrop nose, I was denied. “We don’t have any more candy to spare.” Like, whoa. I knew cruise ships had to ration supplies, but even my eyes turned wide as I was flat out denied. Although, considering Ryder’s cupcake looked nothing like a bunny, I dropped the matter quickly. But I never really got over it.

5) The wonderful thing about the boys aging two years from when this photo was taken is that they actually look at the camera and smile when asked now. Most of the time. After repeated threats.

October 2012. This is my throwback.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: #tbt, #throwbackthursday, Epson Expression Premium XP-810 Small–in–One

Previous Post: « The Happiest Party on Twitter: #DisneyFamilyTravel
Next Post: Second Cup Offers a Delicious Blast of Cool! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Flora M

    July 24, 2014 at 10:05 am

    Lena, it wouldn’t matter what colour your hair was – you still look fabulous :)
    I think the cupcake class coordinators should have expected the kids would eat some of the “decorations” before they got to the cupcakes and had some spares on hand – gee whiz, we ARE talking kids and candy here LOL !
    Looks like it was fun though ;)

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:25 pm

      It was super fun, and I totally agree!

  2. Nicky

    July 24, 2014 at 10:21 am

    cupcake making class! neat – fun and a delicious outcome!

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:25 pm

      Yes, yes and yes!

  3. Treen Goodwin

    July 24, 2014 at 12:29 pm

    That is so cool … you always look so awesome :)

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:25 pm

      Aw, thank you :)

  4. Anne Taylor

    July 24, 2014 at 1:33 pm

    What a great experience! I’d eat the candy too lol and your hair looks great that colour!

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:26 pm

      Thanks Anne! Had a dream I had dark hair last night, LOL

  5. Chandra Christine O'Connor

    July 24, 2014 at 2:43 pm

    I would have eaten the candy too. but to be denied candy yikes that would haunt me. :)

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:26 pm

      It has haunted me :)

  6. Yuen C

    July 24, 2014 at 3:23 pm

    The cupcake class looks fun!

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:26 pm

      The kids had a lot of fun!

  7. Judy Cowan

    July 24, 2014 at 3:30 pm

    I don’t blame him for eating the candy…lol But really surprised that they denied you another gumdrop! Oh well, I am sure it was fun and made for some memories!

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:26 pm

      It did – it made for a great Throwback!

  8. MrDisco

    July 24, 2014 at 3:57 pm

    nice photo!

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:26 pm

      Thank you!

  9. Darlene Schuller

    July 24, 2014 at 4:29 pm

    lol all the wonderful memories a photo brings <3

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:26 pm

      LOL indeed!

  10. Suzie M

    July 24, 2014 at 5:57 pm

    Love Royal Caribbean & what fun but stingy with the toppings really !!!

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:27 pm

      Hahaha right?? Love Royal Caribbean too :)

  11. Athena

    July 24, 2014 at 6:36 pm

    Ha ha! Thank you for sharing, it reminds me of some moments I’ve had back with my kids.

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:27 pm

      :) Thanks for reading!

  12. Amy Heffernan

    July 24, 2014 at 6:51 pm

    What a neat class. I have never heard of this before. Great for the kids and parents!! :)

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:27 pm

      Yes! A great way to spend an afternoon!

  13. nicolthepickle

    July 24, 2014 at 6:54 pm

    The cupcake class sounds fun, my kids would love it, but they should have given him extra candy. That’s just odd not to.
    Ps. I think you look better with lighter hair colour too.

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:28 pm

      Thanks Nicoline! Light hair is just more “me” :)

  14. Tiffany

    July 24, 2014 at 8:01 pm

    A cupcake class? Great activity! I always get a kick out of kids decoratin food… Usually most of the decorations end up in bellies, not on cookies or cupcakes!

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:28 pm

      It’s so true Tiffany!

  15. Amy Lovell

    July 24, 2014 at 8:33 pm

    That looks like so much fun!

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:28 pm

      The kids still remember it :)

  16. Tara E

    July 24, 2014 at 10:06 pm

    my son would have inhaled the candy… no chance it would have been saved for the cupcake! :)

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:29 pm

      Hahaha glad to hear Ryder’s not the only one!

  17. Alton Chiu

    July 24, 2014 at 11:31 pm

    They grow up so fast T_T

    Maturity doesn’t grow as fast unfortunately haha

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:29 pm

      Hahaha truth

  18. Eldon

    July 24, 2014 at 11:44 pm

    Wish I had the chance to do this!

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:29 pm

      I wish I had the chance to do it again!

  19. Darrah Bailey

    July 25, 2014 at 12:32 am

    Now THAT looks like a fun time!

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:29 pm

      It was! Great memories!

  20. Victoria Ess

    July 25, 2014 at 2:28 pm

    I like that darker hair colour on you! Extra decorations should be the rule, not the exception, in my opinion, which comes from the fact that lack of self-control with decorations is something I have in common with Ryder …

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:30 pm

      :) Too funny Victoria!

  21. Lynda Cook

    July 26, 2014 at 11:18 am

    Sorry Lena, but I see absolutely nothing wrong with this picture, I find it’s a very good one of you and the boys, and your hair looks gorgeous as always!! I can’t believe they would not give you a gumdrop there is a whole friggin jar behind you, the nerve of some people..lol, well it sounds like the boys had fun eating..lol

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:31 pm

      They did :) If I was more bold I would have simply helped myself to another… but it is a cruise ship and I understand they have strict regulations for food handling.

  22. Chandra Christine O'Connor

    July 26, 2014 at 3:10 pm

    you’d look stunning if your hair was green, or blue, or pink or or or

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:31 pm

      Oh stop it! Okay don’t keep talking…

  23. MrDisco

    July 26, 2014 at 7:51 pm

    everyone should attend a cupcake class at least once in their life

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:31 pm

      I endorse this statement.

  24. Melinda L.

    July 26, 2014 at 8:09 pm

    Hahaha hey it’s hard to resist when there’s candy right in front of you!

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:31 pm

      That’s very true :)

  25. JaimeeM

    July 26, 2014 at 9:31 pm

    Ahaha, yes, the uttered threat, a mothers greatest tool…… that only works half the time. Lol

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:32 pm

      LMAO! It’s so true!!!

  26. marissa

    July 27, 2014 at 3:28 pm

    You all look great in the picture and I don’t blame Ryder one bit. I myself would have eaten the candy too!

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:32 pm

      :) I’ll let him know he’s not alone!

  27. ivy pluchinsky

    July 27, 2014 at 7:49 pm

    I totally laughed at this post! too funny! kids will be kids!

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:32 pm

      :) Yes, they will be! And it was only one extra gumdrop!

  28. sarah sar

    July 28, 2014 at 2:45 am

    Awwwww how can you hate your hair in this photo? I can only wish mine would look as nice as yours! You always look good!

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:32 pm

      Aw, thank you Sarah. I guess we’re always our own worst critics!

  29. Renee LeBlanc

    July 28, 2014 at 1:21 pm

    haha so only two more years and my boys will be looking at the camera? SO looking forward to that because getting them to look at the same time now is rare! Cupcake classes on a cruise? So fun for the boys!

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:33 pm

      My boys are pretty good at posing now, but it was painful in the interim… :)

  30. caryn s

    July 28, 2014 at 4:44 pm

    Personally i think this picture is beautiful! You look amazing no matter what Lena and i love that as a mom you are in the photo with the boys!

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:33 pm

      Aw, thank you Caryn! I made sure to get in the photo several times on this cruise!

  31. Tricha

    July 29, 2014 at 10:29 pm

    I gotta say, I love the darker hair. And the kids eating the candies – priceless!

    • Lena

      July 31, 2014 at 1:34 pm

      Thanks Tricha :)

  32. Stephanie LaPlante

    August 10, 2014 at 4:10 pm

    Don’t be silly, you’re beautiful no matter the hair color. How was the class & the cupcake results?

    • Lena

      September 7, 2014 at 5:37 pm

      Aw, thank you. Cupcakes were delish!

  33. Meredith Agius

    August 21, 2014 at 10:36 pm

    the good thing about hair is that colour can easily be changed. I love when kids get a hands on chance to do something like this. My favourite thing to do when my kids were younger was to paint pottery.

    • Lena

      September 7, 2014 at 5:37 pm

      So true!!

  34. kelly young

    August 27, 2014 at 5:50 pm

    looks like you had a great time cupcake class sounds awesome

    • Lena

      September 7, 2014 at 5:38 pm

      We did! Thanks!

  35. Debbie W

    September 6, 2014 at 10:25 am

    This looks like fun. Making yummy treats in someone elses’ kitchen. It’s nice that clean up is somewhere else for a change….right?

    • Lena

      September 7, 2014 at 5:38 pm

      So right!!!

  36. Debbie White Beattie

    February 14, 2017 at 11:32 pm

    Since the then theme is on the past, I just have to say your kids are adorable and now that they’re even cuter. You take great pictures !

  37. Debbie White Beattie

    February 24, 2017 at 11:44 pm

    It’s always nice to look back and see how things have changed and to remember those special days

Primary Sidebar

Lena Almeida

Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

Connect with Lena

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Featured

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Virtual Queue Strategies

Five Cool Tips for a Backyard Ice Cream Bar

Beaches Turks & Caicos: Your FAQs Answered!