Beachy cake for end-of-year school party :)

I got to make another cake for Anna's teacher, this time for the end-of-year school party. :) Anna thought that vanilla cake would be best since most people like that flavor. I used my favorite vanilla cake recipe (too see it, click here) and frosted the cake with vanilla buttercream (recipe below) and put fresh strawberries between the two layers since they are in season right now and so yummy. :)

I frosted the whole cake in a very light blue buttercream, then decorated it with a shell border (both top and bottom), sea weed, and starfish. I also put a big smiling sun on top, reminiscent of a first grader's drawing. :)

I just realized that although I have been posting a lot of pictures of my cakes and cupcakes frosted with buttercream, I never actually posted my recipe for it. So, I am correcting this mistake right away... :)

Vanilla Buttercream

Ingredients: 
1 1/2 cup (3 sticks butter), at room temperature
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 tsp salt
8 cups (about 2 lbs) powdered sugar, sifted
1-2 tsp vanilla extract (or the flavor of your choice)
5-6 tbsps (or more) heavy whipping cream, or half-and-half, or whole milk

Directions: 
In the work bowl of your stand mixer, beat butter and shortening on medium-high until very smooth and creamy (2-3 minutes). 
Add sifted powdered sugar gradually (covering your mixer with a towel to avoid clouds of powdered sugar all over your kitchen), and continue creaming until well blended. 
Add salt, vanilla, and  whipping cream/ half-and-half/ milk. Blend on low speed until moistened. Add additional 1-2 tabsps whipping cream if necessary. Beat at high speed until frosting is fluffy.