my peppermint vanilla birthday cake

I turned 28 last week, and for the third year in a row I spent my birthday putting together a cake with my mom. For my 26th we made a raspberry chocolate cake, and last year there was the black forest cake but this time I wanted another pink one, naturally. Behold the peppermint vanilla bean cake with meringue icing. We followed this recipe which I think is intended as a Christmas dessert, but whatever; it was just as good in July.