Baby Shower

Last weekend was my little sister's baby shower & we celebrated with an afternoon of cakes, games & laughter.

My very beautiful sister... I love you sis

The cake :)

250 to be precise

The scores on the board

Getting some practice in...

One of my beautiful nieces eating cake pops

I'm so excited about my new niece...

xxxxx

Cakes 4 Fun

I often get asked whether I have had any training re my cake decorating. The answer is a resounding yes! While I definitely have learnt the most through books, YouTube and good old fashioned trial and error, nothing beats a good teacher...

Image taken from thanksforthefood.blogspot.com

So far all the courses that I have done have been at Cakes 4 Fun in Putney, London http://www.cakes4fun.co.uk/. They are excellent value for money with really experienced tutors. Just last weekend I did a chocolate paste course & came home with some great techniques & a tasty chocolate cake.

If you do want to learn more definitely check it out. I warn you though, the courses are ADDICTIVE. I have been on probably a million courses & am still thinking of doing more!

Quadrophenia - live the life you love & love the life you live...x

Conversation

Friend "Can you do me a birthday cake for Jimmy with the Quadrophenia logo on it please?"

Me "Yeah sure" all the while thinking what on earth is 'Quadrophenia'??

Album Cover

As it turns out Quadrophenia is the title of a British film and an album by The Who made in the 70s.

The Film

The word 'Quadrophenia' is a play on 'schizophrenia' as in someone that has four personalities. The film is very loosely based on the album and is a story about Jimmy (the main character not birthday boy Jimmy) getting more and more disillusioned with friends, love, life and work until he eventually drives his scooter off a cliff.

Although suicide and/or suicidal thoughts are morbid subjects, particularly for a cake blog, it's a subject that many people (including me) can relate to. Sometimes it's a build up of things over time & sometimes something happens & topples you over the edge.

At my lowest ebb I couldn't really reason properly and I always think about what stopped me & what someone could have said to me at the time that would have helped. The first thing is realising you need help; I called the Samaritans and went on to have counselling.

But the most powerful lesson I learnt through my experience is that, the feeling passed and I was glad I lived. Everything is temporary, good and bad and we can choose to hold on to or let go of any emotion that we want to with practice.

Peace & love (oh & Happy Birthday Jimmy :)

xx

Leggo!

"People should learn how to play lego with their minds. Concepts are building bricks" Vitorino Ramos

The boys and I went on a trip to Bluewater (a shopping centre / mall) this weekend and visited the Lego store. It was really cool, you can build your own mini collection from the tons of body parts that they have available.

Mini Collection #1

Mini Collection #2

Even more exciting than mini collection lego sets though, are sugar lego cupcake toppers hand crafted and individually wrapped...

I had a little nibble of his toe... couldn't resist!

I came across these cuties on eBay and ordered a kazillion of them (or even 20) The seller is 35carr and you can find them if you search for "lego cupcake topper". 

If you are really keen you can buy an ice cube tray from the Lego store and make them yourself (hence my trip). I would warn though, there is a lot of skill or even patience required and I figure it's better left to the experts, which is what I plan to do! Can't wait to make some cakes to put them on though, just trying to find the right occasion. 

xxx

Cupcake fields forever....

The beauty of being an individual...

"What I love about being human is the freedom to be yourself and to not be afraid. If you can't be yourself then who are you? Don't care about what other people think, just do you...." loosely quoted from "Chase The Dream by Flawless"

Above are the 'rejects' from a batch of Mickey/Minnie Mouse Cake Pops that I did for a birthday party. I plan to do a proper 'How To' post another time, but for now it's all about the individuals who don't fit the mould. 

I would like to celebrate those of us, who are a bit different and aren't afraid of it. It takes a lot of courage to be yourself so in the spirit of fearlessness, there'll be no hiding all my mistakes and only showing the 'good ones'...

Peace & Love

xx

It doesn't matter if you're black or white...

I have had a crazy two weeks of birthdays with more to come. For this offering, the brief was a two tier pink, black and white cake and maybe some Zebra print.

I haven't done a Zebra print cake before, but I did know how to do it as I spend ridiculous amounts of time researching randomness like animal print cakes on the internet. Zebra print has been on my 'To do' list for a while so I was extra happy.

I also wanted another excuse to do more cake dice.... I love those bad boys. I actually did two again to be used as cake toppers. One in pink & one in white so the birthday girl could choose or change vibes during the night :)

I was meant to attend the birthday bash, but I went home after dropping off the cake to have a little 'lie down' and woke up the next morning!!! Missed everything :(

Oh well, I know she had a good time anyway. Not entirely sure how the party was good without me but there's no need to get caught up on minor details :)

xx

Blogger

... Not sure Blogger is working nicely. It won't let me upload any pics!!!

In the meantime please check out my flickr account for the latest pictures http://www.flickr.com/photos/baileyanacakes
Thank you.

xxx