Pop-tastic evening

This week is a challenging week for me,for those that have followed my blog know that its the anniversary of the loss of my Gramps.... so determined not to wallow I have a week of feast and treats planned!...
After a trip to the cemetery yesterday I headed over to Islington where last night I had an evening of cake pops planned at The Make Lounge.
It was just the tonic that I needed. A great bunch of girls, lots of laughter and a great tutorial from the very talented Louise. (cake sculptor extraordinaire.. at lovetocake )... a great evening, highly recommended.

 A great array of workshops for all crafts, with a shop to drool over!

The workshop was lots of fun, Louise was very patient with us and was as equally in raptures with all our creations as was we!.... 7 cake pops made, using a range of techniques.... loving the apple and the pig!... For those not familiar with cake pops they are small balls of cake on a lolly stick coated in chocolate!..Mmmmm very yummy.

It was great to try something new, and a little different to cupcakes.....Thanks Louise, Ladies & Make Lounge for making a difficult day so much brighter.

Tx

Creative Walls

Thursday night saw me attend a book launch & private event function for the newly released Creative Walls.
The book is a gem for any vintage/ shabby chic junkie. It's been written by  Geraldine James who I have known for the last 5 years. It's an eclectic mix of vintage, contemporary, & funky styles. You will be scavenging skips, bootsales & junk shops for creative finds!

For a book that it's entire subject is walls it should theoretically have you nodding off half way through, BUT this doesn't and has you're imagination running wild with ideas. From the cover to the index this book
is crammed full of amazing photo's and text.
Without giving too much away, some of my favourites are the Vogue wall, the Vintage plates in the garden, For us scrapbookers, its without a doubt scrapbooking on a wall!
The evening was great fun, & a real mismatch of people that worked really well together.
Geraldine us now currently working on her second book. As you can see from the inscription I may be contributing a little,which is ever so exciting so watch this space!

Cake Days....

every day can be a cake day now!.... this fantastic book fell onto my desk Friday... the fabulous Hummingbird Bakery Cake Days book...

The book is a delight from start to finish, recipes to die for and photographs just to dribble over!.
My cakes to make list has doubled in length with this book. It doesn't just stick with cupcakes it has some scrumptious cheesecakes, brownies, whoopie pies and tarts...spread out over a calendar year, a cakemakers dream.

There are so many cupcakery's popping up over London, Hummingbird is still one of my favs.... great cakes, great books and great stationery!... I'm in cake day heaven!

I just need some time away from my desk to start baking.......

belated blogging!....

title just about sums it up!.... not sure where March is going!.. clocks spring forward at the weekend, which for an insomniac is a nightmare as I loose even more sleep!
Anyway back to my blogging... I have a pile of things in my "to blog" folder but here are a couple of biggies.

A couple of weeks was one of my special friends birthdays.... its always a challenge to find a present for her.... but this year I tried something different. We are off to an evening at a Cookery School in the heart of Essex!...watch this space as its coming soon!!... to complete her little present parcel (couldn't resist the bag as she is a bit of a nightmare with labels & receipts!) and keeping with the cooking theme. Nigellas' kitchen, No reservations chick flick and a friends coffee mug with tea & biscuits!.. so belated birthday wishes Cxx
Watch this space as I have a number of foodie things coming up in the next few weeks......
A couple of people have contacted me to ask what happened with my Journal Your Christmas... so I've finally got round to A) finishing album! & B) uploading pages... It has its own page here!
Just in time as I'm due to start a new project with Shimelle this week... will keep you posted.

This blog post was due to go up last night but was tooooo distracted by Duran Duran's one night only on ITV....

apologies!....

Ssssh can I tell you a secret?

inside all us larger ladies is a skinny one fighting to get out!... and yesterday I think I fell on the solution!!... The Skinny French Kitchen by the very talented and equally glamorous Harry Eastwood.
 Anyone swept away by the need to live the life of Julia & Julia last year, this book MUST be an addition to your cook book collection... not only does it live the dream of french cooking but it also has a "Skinny Secret" for every recipe.
How fabulous is that?...
If I say that just opening the book to the first page had me hooked and that was prior to reading a recipe ... The inside cover is a crafters delight... vintage map of Paris embellished with luggage tags, keys & tickets... the need to now jump on the eurostar and head over to Paris to forage in the flea markets is quite high!.. all this prior to reading a recipe!

Talking of recipes, anyone who can give me the following:
* Bavette a l'Echalotte
 * Pommes de Terre Sautees
* Profiteroles au Chocolat
for 700 cals has me loading this book into my shopping basket.
Torn between so many mouthwatering recipes....mmmm which one is going to be made first? Loving the Skate with sauce vierge.

Harry was in work yesterday to launch her cupcakes (cupcake post to follow) and sign her new book .. I dashed down from desk very quickly between meeting's to meet and greet, exchange twitter details and grab a copy of this fabulous book.
I then spent the afternoon dribbling at each page, reminiscing Ladies that Lunch day in Paris last year and scouting websites to book a weekend in France for flea market finds and food!

• Off now to compile shopping list for the weekend... Bon Appetit!!... recipe results will be posted next week!

Get the batter whisked!...

Today is pancake day!....
A day that always makes me think of my nan. No one made pancakes like her. A day she was guaranteed to see all her grandchildren as we all popped in for her to get busy with the batter!!
When in London I'm either a plain, sugar & lemon lady or a fruit & sultana girl (nannies fav!!)

Pancakes are also a must for me when in New York!... Here are some that I had on Boxing day morning!... A must with bacon, maple syrup and fruit ( must have my 5 a day!!!!) for me. an indulgent NY treat!

So however you have yours enjoy!

A Night at the Opera..

Friday evening saw me at the beautiful Royal Albert Hall to watch a performance of Puccini's Madame Butterfly.

This was my first foray into a full scale Opera and I loved it. The opera is performed in the round and is set upon a water garden which is magical. As with most opera's no happy ending but a rollercoaster of emotions throughout.

I went with my friend who out of all us is the most cultured!... we dined in the brasserie before hand which was lovely, it was nice to de-stress from work before the performance started.
A lovely evening... and who knows possibly my next foray into the operatic world will be Verona!

March reads.......

Today is World Book Day... so what better than to talk about what books i'm looking forward to reading in March... here are my Books to Eat for this week!

The Girls Guide to Homemaking ~ Amy Bratley. I fell in love with this cover on site and knew that I had to have it...."On a mission to have the perfect home, Juliet hits a major stumbling block - reality!...Heartbroken she seeks solace in her grandmothers 1950's manuals..."... can't wait to start reading

A Perfect Proposal ~ Katie FForde. Never been disappointed with any of Katie's books. I have 5 authors which are a must and Katie is one!... the perfect curl up in the armchair, tea, biscuits & book moment i'm VERY happy!...looking forward to this one.. She's surpassed herself with this one, set between Little England and the Big Apple, i'm hooked already!

Friends, Lies & Alibi's ~ Debby Holt. The story of 3 friends that have been friends forever... 3 reviews say it's the perfect bad weather escapism... set in and amongst Bath... can feel a weekends away coming along!

.... happy World Book day... enjoy whatever your reading!

March Magazines....

This week the April monthly subscriptions fell through the letterbox.... here's my 2 foodies ones... Delicious and Sainsbury's... both for me offer so much more than a food mag... Delicious does exactly what it say's on the cover.. and this months marshmallows look scrumptious!.... and Sainsbury's this month has a cake & Cookie supplement which is just fab!!!... Both mags will be devoured this week, Delicious was started whilst watching the master himself Raymond Blanc making cakes & pastries on Tuesday evening..Mmmmm
Also in Sainsbury;s at the weekend I picked up their Baking Book, which is filled with some very yummy recipes, which I am looking forward to trying!
Just waiting for postie to deliver Country Living and my monthly mags will be complete!
I have a few foodie things coming up in the next few weeks... so pop back and I will keep you posted!