{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} Baking 'Blueberry bites'

Good morning, friends!

I had so much fun getting in the zone and baking on Sunday, I thought I would share my baking prowess. I stumbled upon this recipe via my favourite website Pinterest (of course) and I thought I'd give it a go because it's very simple and requires a little skill with the pie crust and cookie cutter. 

So, I am now happily presenting you my 'Blueberry bites'! They are basically impossible to mess up and really delicious, and I think that everyone should try. I had the most fun baking them and was really proud of the final product.

If you don't try, you don't get, right? Although when I saw the ease of this recipe I almost immediately set my intention on making it a reality, I always get second thoughts about trying something new. I'm my biggest judge and I'm harsh at myself. But every opportunity for me to outdo myself and battle an inner fear is a victory!

Bottom line, if you want to make people (and yourself) happy, try this:

• Pre-heat your oven at 225 degrees
• Roll out a refrigerated pie crust
• Cut out 1 and half inch circles
• Place a blueberry in middle, sprinkle with brown sugar
• Fold your circle in a half moon shape
• Egg wash your parcel thoroughly on both sides (mix 1 egg with a teaspoon of water for your mix)
• Place on a baking parchment and bake for 10 minutes
• serve warm with ice cream, custard, or simply on its own

Voila!

I was also able to relax in the middle of planning weddings, baking, and hosting, and it's been a real bliss! I live in a peaceful area of London which my introvert soul is grateful for everyday. 

And I hope everyone had a lovely weekend as much as I did!

{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!

{Wednesday Wisdom} with Warsan Shire

{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

{Wednesday Wisdom} with Audre Lorde

{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...

{MONDAY MOJO} Tea Party time!

HAPPY MONDAY!

I had a lot of fun tea-partying with my lovely sister friends last week-end! I had been planning a gathering for a little while and was pleasantly surprised by how the day unfolded. We started the afternoon in style and we ended the shindig on the rim of debauchery!

A vibrant tropical setting embellished with colourful lilies and a heavenly vanilla sponge with summer berries & lemon cream, courtesy of Bailey Ana Cakes

Love in abundance was at the party...

I couldn't have asked for better surroundings to celebrate love & friendship: in the comfort of my home, we proclaimed sisterhood in the most organic way. I had an idea of how I wanted the day to turn out when I sent out my invites, but I had no idea it would be such an enriching experience: an overwhelming medley of powerful energies.

Fatima & Astrid, my fellow Frenchies!

Delish chocolate & ginger mini loafs by Bailey Ana Cakes

For this tablescape, I went for a bright decor that completely overturned London's grey skies and temperamental winds. It was warm and welcoming, with an abundance of tea lights, gorgeous gems, potent tea cocktails with sweet & minty flavours, a lot of laughs, and a lot of love. We partied until the sun came down, wrapping up the day with a couple of dance moves and a lot of fond memories.

A big cheer to my sister friends for a beautiful day.