Oh man... where was I when this thread got started! I'd have helped you out girlfriend!! Between Debi and me, MIL will NOT be back!! Hahahaha. Honestly, if I were you, the very next time she started in on ragging about someone or something I'd just sigh deeply and say, "I'm so sorry MIL (insert name of course)!" and when she says 'why' just shake your head and follow up with one of the below suggestions:
"That someone pissed in your cornflakes this morning! I mean, I can't think of any other reason you'd be in such a nasty mood."
OR
"That life has left you such a bitter, unhappy woman."
I have an aunt like that who can suck the very happiness out of a room simply by entering. I like to handle it with humor. Sometimes I can actually get her to laugh, but if not, at least I got a chuckle out of it. 
The last time my MIL was here was back in April. I was on complete bed rest after my ankle surgery and could only get up for bathroom trips and 5 minutes every hour to keep my blood circulating to avoid a blood clot.
Since I couldn't do any cakes and she wanted to see what the whole cake decorating thing was really about we watched a couple FN cake challenged I had recorded.
She was amazed at the art of it and asked if that's what I did. I laughed with a "not right now but when I do not to that extreme but basically... yes."
She sat there for a bit and then said "how much do those cakes go for"
I replied with "depends on how well known the baker and shop are but for someone like me it would be about _______________. Her jaw dropped and she said "what a waste of money!"
I laughed and said "yes but if they are going to waste it better to waste it right into my bank account then someone elses!" She laughed at that because she understood it.
My MIL is honestly a lovely lady but very frugal. She is worth a lot of money now becuase of it.
I asked if she'd let me make a cake like that for a family occasion and said "sure if it's free!" hahahahahaha
Aahh....MILs, the four letter word. To think I'm going to be one one day.
Yeah, but because we are aware of this kind of stuff, WE are the best MIL's in the world! we help when we're needed ... we keep quiet until we're asked.
Man, you got that right..my son in law does some odd things (like spend money on an amp for his grunge band, even though the babies need formula and they barely can make ends meet) but I dont say a word, I slip my daughter a little money and some free babysitting and let her deal with it!
oh, there were so many things I wanted to say! I was hoping the icy stares I gave her were enough! hahaha! At least she talks to my DH that way as well (he said that he just ignores it, she is an old lady and this is how old ladies talk) so I tried not to take it too personally. I am SO looking forward to having my house back!!
I did enjoy reading the comments though...really helped alot! hahahaha!!!
Maybe you should have given her a SMALL cake project to do and see how well hers turns out. I bet that would have been a kodak moment. Stack it up against yours and i betcha she wouldn't complain...well then you could nit pick at her cake....yeah there ya go. A MIL cake throwdown between the 2 of you. Imagine this BEAUTIFUL cake of yours and this piece of s**t cake of her!!!!! I bet that would put a big ol smile on your face and you would get some big ol satisfaction from that one. I know I would!!
Maybe you should have given her a SMALL cake project to do and see how well hers turns out. I bet that would have been a kodak moment. Stack it up against yours and i betcha she wouldn't complain...well then you could nit pick at her cake....yeah there ya go. A MIL cake throwdown between the 2 of you. Imagine this BEAUTIFUL cake of yours and this piece of s**t cake of her!!!!! I bet that would put a big ol smile on your face and you would get some big ol satisfaction from that one. I know I would!!
Now THAT is an idea you can sink your teeth into! Give her a nice little 8" cake (well, two separate layers that you baked, let her ice them since it's so easy and she pretty much does it the same as you!) then let her just go to town. Oh no... no helping. If hers sucks you can feel good about it inside and tell her that's pretty good for someone with absolutely NO decorating skills. If it's halfway decent, then you can tell her she's hired and that you will be working a lot less now, just as she suggested. And when can she start!?
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