<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/593-smash-cake/ry4001-2" rel="attachment wp-att-594"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-594" alt="1st birthday" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ry4001-2.jpg" width="500" height="364" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">A while back, I decided to let O play around with a smash cake for a birthday invitation photo shoot.  Wow, did we have a blast.  But, it didn't start out so well.  First, I picked the darkest damn day of the year.  It was nearly impossible to shoot, and let's just say that I learned a lot about shooting in low light situations that day.  Plus, taking photos of a neurotic, non-stop action little one is WAY harder than immobile food.  So, we took things slowly at first.  She played with streamers and a party hat before we brought in the big guns.  That way, I could get the camera settings just right before the cake was destroyed and I became a distraught mom without any good photos.  We did need to bribe her with Cheerios and various other snacks since she wasn't so happy about sitting in front of a wide open patio door on a plastic sheet in the middle of December.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/593-smash-cake/ry4001" rel="attachment wp-att-596"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-596" alt="smash cake" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ry4001.jpg" width="500" height="364" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">When we finally did bring out the cake, she took things slowly at first....</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/593-smash-cake/ry4002" rel="attachment wp-att-600"><img alt="ry=400[2]" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ry4002.jpg" width="500" height="364" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">  Why use hands when you can use your mouth?<a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/593-smash-cake/ry4002-3" rel="attachment wp-att-598"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-598" alt="ry=400[2] (3)" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ry4002-3.jpg" width="500" height="364" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The candle was a "delicious" starting place...</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/593-smash-cake/ry4002-2" rel="attachment wp-att-597"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-597" alt="1st birthday" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ry4002-2.jpg" width="500" height="364" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/593-smash-cake/ry4003" rel="attachment wp-att-603"><img alt="smash cake" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ry4003.jpg" width="500" height="364" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/593-smash-cake/ry4003-2" rel="attachment wp-att-601"><img class="size-full wp-image-601" alt="smash cake" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ry4003-2.jpg" width="500" height="364" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Eventually, she just got right in there!</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/593-smash-cake/ry4003-3" rel="attachment wp-att-602"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-602" alt="ry=400[3] (3)" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ry4003-3.jpg" width="500" height="364" /></a>Smug satisfaction.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">   <a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/593-smash-cake/ry4002-4" rel="attachment wp-att-599"><img alt="ry=400[2] (4)" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ry4002-4.jpg" width="500" height="364" /></a><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/593-smash-cake/ry4001-3" rel="attachment wp-att-595"><img class="aligncenter" alt="ry=400[1] (3)" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ry4001-3.jpg" width="500" height="364" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Down went the cake stand...</p>
<a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/593-smash-cake/ry4004" rel="attachment wp-att-605"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-605" alt="ry=400[4]" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ry4004.jpg" width="500" height="364" /></a>

Why not just get your whole body into it?  Stand up.  Turn it over.  And, SMEAR.
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/593-smash-cake/ry4004-2" rel="attachment wp-att-604"><img alt="smash cake" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ry4004-2.jpg" width="500" height="364" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I'm pretty sure this counts as cake destruction success.  Let me know if you think otherwise.  And, if you think your little one can do better, let me know.  I'll bring the cake and the camera.  We'll have a smashingly good time.</p>