<a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/chicken-and-rice-003.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-713" alt="ombre cake, petal effect" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/chicken-and-rice-003.jpg" width="500" height="374" /></a>

A long time ago, my mom became my grandfather's "#1 daughter-in-law" -- he has 3 daughters, and she was sick of being #4!  But, she's always been and always will be my #1 mom.  We were moving into our new house on her birthday, so we celebrated her big day with dinner out for Lobsterpalooza.  But, she didn't let me forget that I owed her a cake.  How could I let her down?  She is my #1 mom, after all.

<a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/chicken-and-rice-005.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-714" alt="smash cake" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/chicken-and-rice-005.jpg" width="487" height="500" /></a>

I was very curious to try out this decoration style known as "ombre petal effect" (meaning the petal like buttercream decorations are made from varying shades of the same color).  It's time consuming but super easy, and the results are great.