{MONDAY MOJO} Weddings, weddings, weddings!

Hello, friends!

It's been a minute since I've given my little blog some TLC! It's good to be back...

I've been busy planning and setting up weddings around London, managed to get myself involved in a couple of different projects in the meantime, hopped to Paris for a few days for the greatness that is the AFROPUNK Festival, took a well-deserved holiday in Tunisia, and started a new professional venture. All and all, summer has been busy and an absolute blast for most parts.
 

I've planned and organised a few weddings at Tower Bridge this year (being the Venue Manager for weddings), a discovery for me as a wedding venue and a brand new opportunity to sprinkle my magic as a Wedding Planner. I couldn't really figure out what it is with this iconic venue that I liked but I took on the challenge and it's been a wonderful journey.

 

Tower Bridge is not only one of the most famous bridges in the world, it has this thing of completely transforming itself at night into the perfect location for sumptuous weddings.

Chinese-inspired reception setting with hand written place cards & menus
 

Ceremony set-up on the Walkways

 

From small ceremonies to large receptions, Tower Bridge has hidden gems! Primarily, it is licensed in the North Tower Lounge and half of the Walkways but event-goers can use the whole bridge if they want to -I call it the real the Tower Bridge experience. If you are lucky enough to have your wedding take place there, you'll be able to enjoy London by night atop the Walkways which boast stunning views of the city, with an added buzz with the glass floors (if you are brave enough!): it is quite simply sensational!

I have since moved on to new ventures and no longer manage weddings at Tower Bridge but it was a beautiful experience to show some of the best parts of this venue. I have learned it from every corner and showed it to clients who were wowed from start to finish, and who I had the pleasure to work with to transform their magical unions. I have toasted to special celebrations of love, ran through the many staircases to set-up beautiful receptions, and coordinated florists & staff to provide the most professional service... And I enjoyed every step of the way!

Intimate ceremony in the North Tower Lounge

I must say that I have neglected blogging altogether as Instagram & Tumblr have been the 2 platforms I've been active on to share my work. Post #WedBizHour conversations (happening every Tuesday on Twitter) with fellow industry peeps had me think about it twice. I love sharing my stories and realise that connecting takes many shapes and form, so blogging it is!

'Til the next time...

{Friday finds} 3 things that I loved this week

It's (finally) Friday, friends! We have been blessed with warm breezes and candy-coloured sunsets... Spring has finally arrived! the days are longer so there's plenty more time to be lurking around the web and gorge on the prettiness that fellow artists produce on a daily. I'm wrapping up the week with these 3 finds that I'm positive everyone will enjoy!

 Caribbean artist Brianna McCarthy has been on my favourites list for quite some time and her art mesmerises me! Her Instagram feed gives me life every day and EVERYONE should know about her and her beautiful art. Words can simply not do her justice, have a peek!

 'Local Milk' is a blog I have been revisiting many times as well. Not just because of Beth's impeccable style, amazing recipes, or incredible imageries, but her story got me. Go ahead and enjoy, she's got a lot to offer.

 As I've been spending a lot of time in bed due to illness, I've had to console myself with goodies from Bombay Duck! I mean, POLKA DOTS... need I say more? The good thing is that they are UK-based and offer a large range of items for everyone's tastes -my favourite online shop at the moment hands down!

Voilà! I've also got some very exciting news coming your way very soon... Wait for it!

{MONDAY MOJO} Catching up on my blogging + chocolate macarons!

It's been a while since I last put words on Blogger! Life gets her way sometimes and the best you can do is live it. I have been taking care of a few things in the meantime, got a new job, a new home, turned 30 (!) and also been through a lot personally. I have missed writing despite not being your typical regular blogger, and sharing my thoughts and work is very cathartic to me... let's get the ball rolling!

We have entered a brand new year and I have concocted a few things to keep me afloat and let my creative juices do the work. To start off, I was really excited to jump on a train and get to my favourite city in the world to spend some quality family time for a few days -Paris has my heart the way no other cities does!

 

After a day of catching up with my beautiful nieces and keeping up with my sister's stories, we decided to get in the kitchen and do what we love doing most: get creative. She's herself an amazing artist and baker and it was our first time trying to make macarons, in fact baking altogether! We had seen a few recipes online and we decided to go for the one we already had all the ingredients for, a simple way to avoid going out in the freezing cold! The issue with our delicious treats is that there are so many recipes out there that it's very difficult pointing at the one that will give you smooth biscuits with a rich ganache in the middle. We clearly failed at our attempt but it was really fun working together, and it actually tasted really yummy! Neither of us were really bothered about the way they looked in the end, it was all about making the most out of the little time we had together. And to be fair, they still tasted delish.

Disclaimer: this, by no means, reflects our talents as bakers! There's always a time when things just don't work out and you have to be OK with that. And also, if you have a recipe that works, holla!

 

... and on to the next recipe! (or the nearest boulangerie?)

 

 

 

Family time is SO important. I haven't been lucky to start off with but I have managed to build my own and so fortunate for the people who make it. I have basking in my baby niece's smile for 3 days straight and it was a pure delight -the overload of selfies can prove it! I really look forward to my family getting bigger, hopefully soon!

Until the next time, friends...

{Things I love Thursday} Summer cocktails!

As the weather blesses us with sun rays and high temperatures, I got excited about going back to an old skill of mine: mixology. Many moons ago I worked as a bartender and indulged in the art of making cocktails with great pleasure. I lost some of my mojo, but was still able to put my skills into practice to rustle up a little something to cool off. And since I have some liqueur hanging around, why not?! 

I made this super cool cocktail mixing Malibu mango with a dash of citrus syrup on a bed of blueberries, topped up with ginger beer and a tiny squeeze of lime juice for some zing. I anticipated that it would go down quickly so made a few in case I needed a top-up...so delish! 

I would urge anyone sensible to try this recipe, a pitcher of this concoction would definitely go down well at any party! Oh, how I love summer...

{MONDAY MOJO} The chocolate diaries

                

If you ask me to make you a birthday cake, chances are, I won't say no. I don't consider myself a baker but I can make something decent when I put my mind into it, especially if it involves creativity!

I made this cake for a special birthday: a layered chocolate & Guinness cake with hazelnuts, finished with a chocolate ganache and chocolate sprinkles, and chocolate flakes. My take is that if balanced enough and not too heavy, one can never indulge in too much chocolate!

I adapted this recipe to my own liking and you can also add a bit of dark rum in the ganache if that's what you like! Hazelnuts can also be replaced by pretty much any nuts you feel like having, and decoration is up to the artist! In my opinion, it's a pretty delish addition to any meals or celebrations (not just because I made but because I made it!) and quite easy to bake... So go for it, why don't ya?!

{MONDAY MOJO} My Easter story! (Special feature: Bailey Ana Cakes)

 

Last week's 4 day Easter weekend break was as sweet as the biscuits I made to celebrate the date! My weekends are getting more scarce as weddings are in high demands at the moment, so any occasions to have fun and relax at the same time is welcome with open arms. I also had the opportunity to get a proper Easter dinner this year. I'm talking steamed fish, rice & peas, veggies, mac and cheese, and, of course, a chocolate cinnamon layer cake with white chocolate cream and summer berries topped with lashings of chocolate fudge cake, courtesy of Bailey Ana Cakes - can a girl ask for more?!

 

  

So to mark the occasion, what better idea than to bake some iced Easter biscuits? I have literally been drooling over Pinterest photos of everything biscuit-y, Easter-y related (in between table designs, wedding inspiration, baking projects, style shoots, food styling, and tattoo ideas) since I had a charity event to bake for and I had wanted to make something a little different. The cake was taken care of anyway and my mission was more of an accompaniment to the vibe! And to be fair, I had been shown the fine art of biscuiteering and was ready to put my skills into practice once again.

 

 

 My charity bake sale iced biscuits for Richard House, London's first children's hospice

 

We quickly squeezed in a photo shoot session of the notorious cake that was so delish that I ate 2 slices! The way chocolate has its way to my heart...

 

I'm really enjoying to spending more time doing work I enjoy the most: creating. Immersing myself in any kind of creative activity is what liberates my mind from my daily bustle and I'm really grateful for those impromptu moments I get to explore the depths of my dexterity. 

{Tuesday TIP} Time off!

I had a very pleasant weekend unwinding, baking, and hanging out with friends. Monday, though, was truly blissful as I was able to make the most of my 'off' time and spend it with my favourite person: myself!

I crave solitude almost on a daily basis. My demanding profession rarely allows for those special moments spent alone and I often find myself thirsty for isolation, confinement, total peace and quiet. Those golden moments are when I feel at my happiest, when my books become my best friends and I feel comfortable in my own universe. Regroup. I'm not a loner, just a super introverted soul trying to find my way through a world of amplified social interactions.

A full on week awaits ahead and I'm really happy I got some proper ME time before the chaos. I went through my favourite design book again (The art of the party by David Stark), took the time to write a poem, and even napped like there was no tomorrow!

And breathe...

{MONDAY MOJO} Kung Hei Fat Choy!

 

I felt that this year hadn't started properly for me as I had been ill for quite some time and felt robbed off celebrating the arrival of 2014. So to set the tone right and give myself a second chance (illness is gone!), a Chinese New Year dinner was organised. It was not only an opportunity for new connections and new beginnings, but also one to embrace what I love doing (amongst many other things): dinner partying. I love using my creative skills whenever I can and I love showing people a good time with delish food in lush surroundings. 

The dinner party took place in the gorgeous front room of sweet treat maker Dewbien of Bailey Ana Cakes. We co-hosted an intimate affair and invited our sister friends for an evening of festive shenanigans. I'm talking about a 3 course Chinese-style banquet with home made desserts (by her, and while we're at it can we also talk about her fortune cookies made from scratch?) and home made cocktails (by moi) - the whole shebang! What a blissfully relaxed meal we all had, I had an excellent time at last. 

The conversation was flowing and the food swiftly making its way through our palates, washed down by exotic flavoured drinks (jasmine, honey, cayenne pepper, dark rum). I stopped counting how many I had after the 3rd one!

Prosecco & pomegranate jelly shots topped with gold glitter, courtesy of the sweet treat maker...

She also blessed us with a banana and passion fruit treat with coconut & lime ice cream... Sweetness on a plate!

The affair ended naturally as guests were satisfied and all made their way home with big smiles on their faces and sweet memories. We made sure our personalised invitations communicated the whole vibe of the evening accordingly and hope they knew what they were in for...

At last the year is starting for me and I feel refreshed and ready for new beginnings. Cheers to that!

{MONDAY MOJO} Making cakies!

What a delicious and fun way to end an exhausting week! After drooling over Jonathan's The Candid Appetite blog, I thought it would be nice to make something yummy for my end of year party, so I made my not-so-own version of his Strawberry Shortcake under the supervision and with the help of baker extraordinaire Dewbien of Bailey Ana Cakes.

A creamy and delightful cake for the sweet palates...

2 layers of strawberries goodness, dark rum, whipped cream and a side chopped almonds... Delish!

The cake is a 2-tier vanilla sponge with strawberry and whipped cream, imbibed with a dark rum syrup and a side of almonds... It's hard to describe how tasty it was! And if I get into more deets (not to show off, of course), there more fresh strawberries and more whipped cream inbetween the tiers giving the whole cake a rich and creamy texture without overpowering flavours. My advice is that if you want that amazing recipe, you better ask somebody nicely!

In the meantime, I'm going to find the next best recipe and try it out. I definitely need more yumminess in my life!

{Friday finds} 1 blog I loved this week... (and every single week!)

I've had a lot of fun browsing the web this week, something I don't do enough as my little phone device is usually my weapon of choice when it comes to surfing and I don't tend to read blog posts as much. Instagram and Pinterest literally rock my world! It's all about the visuals they say...

Well this week, after much consideration and thinking, I've decided to feature my 3 favourite blog finds. 

 The Candid Appetite is one my favourite blogs! 

Also probably one of the most gorgeous food blogs out there! I'm often skeptical about food blogs as my attention span is very limited and I do sometimes find them a tad boring (often not enough good quality visuals). However, Jonathan, founder of The Candid Appetite, has got my full attention at every single of his creations! The guy is an actual genius and manages to capture his prowessed baked goodies  with such beauty and sharpness I can't seem to stay away. Check for yourself... One of his latest posts is about this gorgeous Strawberry Shortcake, need I say more?

GET TO KNOW!
Find out more about Jonathan and his blog:

Website: www.thecandidappetite.com

Tumblr: http://candidappetite.tumblr.com

Instagram: @Jonjon33

{Tuesday TIP} Lusting over LesBInTheKitchen

A few weeks ago, I had the absolute pleasure of catching up with the lovely Aarum from LesBInTheKitchen. If you don't know Aarum, she's a gorgeous ball of super energetic vibes who can rustle up the tastiest American-style dishes! Thanks to the magic of Skype, we entered a world of creativity and storytelling and through her eyes, I was able to catch a glimpse of her own creative mind - it didn't fail to impress me. Now, it's widely known that I have a soft spot for sister friends who are doing it, but her story was so passionately told that it had to be shared.

Her tag line? 'Just a person who loves to cook / Self taught'

I stumbled upon the lady via the channels of Instagram (don't ask me how!) and I have been curious to find out about her craft and how she came up with the idea of LesBInTheKitchen - I digged deep! Through Aarum's story, I saw a woman who is fiercely committed to creating the most delicious and authentic dishes (with her own little twist, needless to say) - an homage to her own heritage and experience of homely Southern comfort and her family surroundings. It's as real as it can get. I listened to the deep but sweet words of a woman who wants to reach out to a wide audience and share her passion of good old home made cooking, whilst creating that same welcoming feeling amongst her audience.
Check that smile out! I'm glad we got to connect and I'll be sure to pay her a visit next time I'm in California (hint, hint!).

For more juicy food inspiration, check out Aarum's Instagram feed at LesBInTheKitchen or holla on the Twitterverse @LBITK. And a little tip... She's got an e-book coming out soon! If you're about that life, GET TO KNOW!

{MONDAY MOJO} Caribbean conversations, connections, & cupcakes with Chantal Miller

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of being invited by Chantal Miller, founder of ChantiMedia, to be a panellist, cater for and style her event, a filmed interview about 'Carribbean style'.
I was slightly nervous about being on camera, all the while excited with the prospect of doing something I hardly ever do! Now, I can't reveal much about the event itself but I was delighted to be part of this experience and I'm very much looking forward to the interview being published - hurry up, Chantal!

Before the video is revealed, I wanted to share a few snaps of the work I produced for Chantal, a flashy decor with vibrant hues of gold and a hint of tradition with my madras table runner - an ode to my beloved Guadeloupe. The scrumptious banana cupcakes were also a treat that complemented the event perfectly... Needless to say they went down quickly!

The beautiful panel (including myself) involved two other Caribbean sisters and we had a really interesting conversation about what 'Caribbean style' means to us that we could have elaborated for ages! Unfortunately, we had to wrap up the conversation at some point but the connections are still buzzing...

Behind the scenes, the golden transformation...

I had a lot of fun delving into my props and getting my hands on my can of gold spray paint to transform the centrepieces! I do have a little obsession with all things gold and thought it would add a nice touch to the tablescape arrangement. Top it up with colourful pink and white roses, and you get a nice medley of colours that complement each other and clash in a nice and colourful way. Vibrancy was a necessary element to my interpretation of 'Caribbean style'.

Delish concoctions: banana-flavoured cupcakes with a rich vanilla buttercream, decorated with sugar flowers and sprinkled with gold edible glitter... A real treat for everyone! Made with love with the help of my Dewbien from Bailey Ana Cakes (honestly, she did most of the job!)

What a great day we all had! There are other projects on the talks so keep your eyes peeled. Chantal's energy gets everyone going and I can't wait to brainstorm and work with her again... Island girls truly rocks!

If you want to holla at Ms Miller, do reach out via Facebook where you can find more information about her and new projects with ChantiMedia, mind-blowance guaranteed!

{Tuesday TIP} A tour of Istanbul

Those who know me and are following me on Instagram have had a glance into my holiday snaps a few weeks ago. I had a blissful break away from the city and escaped to 2 very different, but gorgeous cities: Geneva and Istanbul. While my first stop in Geneva was family-time-kinda-time, I chose Istanbul as my destination for my solo venture this year. The excitement of unknown territories.

Until I met a Geneva-based Londoner on the plane who kindly shared tips about the city (where to go and, most importantly, where to eat!), I didn't have a plan on how I would spend my holidays, I just knew I was drawn to Istanbul and wanted to explore its treasures.

Istanbul, city of cats

My first impression of the city: seed of approval. The heavy atmosphere of the jammed roads, the golden crescents of the mosques peeking at every street corners, the numerous food shops offering the best-priced deals, the peaceful locals, and the coral sunsets. I felt a sense of relief. My hostess, Basma, also was the warmest woman and welcomed me with sweet Turkish tea, fresh fruits and a heap of affection. I almost felt home.

As I explored the city of many façades, I relish the solitude. I lusted after the delights that Istanbul offered me without an ounce of guilt. I navigated through the busy side roads of Taksim Square aimlessly; made my way through narrow cobbled alleyways, greeted by sweets merchants and hookah smokers; sailed to Asia on the Bosphorus; gorged on thickly sliced fish sandwiches layered on coats of cholesterol-induced condiments; indulged in the most exquisitely presented and deliciously famous Turkish delights; and soaked every single ray of sun I could. My soul smiling all along.

Montana propaganda?

Beyond the tourist-imbibed areas, lies that urban-flavoured city that I was eager to unfold. The graffiti art shows up here and there, the trendy coffee shops/networking spots, and the hip young artists working on the cobbled streets with tea and sketch pads in hands. It was another side of Istanbul one cannot ignore!

Istanbul has my heart in many ways and I hope I cross her path again...