{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...

{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...

{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...

{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!