Old Years Thankfulness!

Happy New Year!

I realise a lot of people will be sitting writing New Years Resolutions lists this week - stop smoking, go to the gym more, eat less fattening foods etc, but I find those lists quite annoying.

Yes they are good for inspiring you to get off your arse and do something, but just writing something in your diary or on a bit of paper isn't necessarily going to make you do it. And then by February, when you look at your list you feel like a failure. Boo.

Well not on this blog!

Instead, I am going to look back at some of the best things that have happened to me this year, and be thankful for such a great year. Much better to be positive!

So, here goes!

- My year started off with a much anticipated trip to New Zealand - it was a fantastic three weeks back on the Kiwi's home turf, and can't be summed up in one go. So firstly I love the North Island because -

My friend Anna lives there - Hi Anna!

We saw the Kiwi's family again! Hi Jordyn and Zoe!

We celebrated the Kiwi's 21st birthday - yes, he's just a baby.

I love the South Island because -

I pulled my first pint

We went road tripping and met up with loads of friends

I did my bungee jump - aagh!

Finally, I love Durville Island because -

It looks like the Secret Island

I learned to fish

I saw actual glow worms and they were amazing, but unfortunately not very photographic!

I spent lots of time on a boat

We also visited Barcelona, and I loved it. Paris, you have some serious competition

The city is gorgeous

As is the food - yum!

We fell in love with an ice bar

And I discovered Gaudi's work - I want to live in a gingerbread house!

On home turf, we spent a weekend tank driving which was amazing fun!

-We were wined and dined in posh hotels in Dundee, Stirling and Inverness and visited the Highland Wildlife Centre.

BAKING

GOOD year for baking!

I made these adorable cake bites for the first time - I must have made hundreds since

I found an awesome cupcake contact in New Zealand who made and delivered cakes to a friend for me

I made my fun Halloween cakes!

I did some fun special orders

I purchased some important baking equipment including two stands, a cupcake caddy, countless sprinkles (candy canes anyone?). Sadly the Kitchenaid is still slightly out of reach.

And I perfected multicoloured swirling!

PERSONAL

We celebrated our first year with the pyusses - how is this possible? It feels like they've been around forever!

The Kiwi and I celebrated our third anniversary in style at Malmaison.

I finally took the plunge and cut my hair short! Again this may not seem like a big deal but look how long it was beforehand! Thankfully I love being a shortie.

I added to my shoe collection - and as you now know, THE DREAM SHOES are now mine! Mua hahahaha!

We attended a good friend's wedding - ah! People I went to school with are getting married! We must be getting old

I finally took the plunge and got my tattoo

And (drumroll please...) I started this blog!!!

Thanks so much if you've been reading my little ramblings! Here's to a great 2010!

Slimy yet satisfying

Thankfully none of my Halloween cupcakes were slimy, but any excuse for a Lion King quote.

I had WAY TOO MANY ideas for Halloween and I really had to behave myself to just knock out four designs. I had an order for Coco Violet this weekend, as it was their 2nd anniversary and also they had an amazing Halloween event, complete with live mannequins in the window - oooh spooky! Thankfully they weren't there when I dropped off my cakes, as that kind of thing FREAKS me out! Blood and guts? Fine. People jumping out at me? No way, Jose.

Anyhoo, I had 24 cakes baked (12 Gingerbread, 12 Coco's Chocolate Temptations) and had the most fun decorating them. No ganache spiderwebs here, oh no.

First up - Spindly Spiders

These chocolate arachnids are de-lish! Double chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, chocolate vermicelli and liquorice legs! (Ok so technically these only have 6 legs. And chocolate drop fangs. But it makes them slightly less scary!)

Girly Ghouls -

Ok so these were actually the friendliest ghosts I've ever seen (second to Casper maybe - wow I totally fancied the boy he turned into when I was little...) They are gingerbread cakes with white chocolate buttercream frosting, and little girly bows. Unfortunately I used slightly too much icing for details on another two, and they ended up looking like girly Scream masks. Yikes.

Batty Chocolate Orange -

Anyone remember Ferngully? I just got the 'Batty' rap in my head! Hee hee! These swirly cakes are double chocolate with chocolate orange buttercream frosting, adorned with pumpkins and bats. I've never ever carved a pumpkin for Halloween, it was always a 'neep lantern' in my day (a turnip lantern) What a country bumpkin!

Finally - Dem Bones

Yay! I finally got to use my grass icing tip! These gingerbread cakes have white chocolate grass topping, and lonesome little fondant tombstone, and a chocolate skeleton!I'm sooooo happy with how these turned out!

The skeletons don't look creepy at all! And anything that de-creepifies Halloween is good with me!

I wasn't out for Halloween this year - instead I hummed and ho-ed for a while over which movie to watch (Hocus Pocus? Beetlejuice?) and so the Kiwi and I plumped for The Witches - and it's still just as terrifying as I remembered! Watch out for ladies with square toed shoes...

Love,

Colene

xxx

Cupcakes for the Other Coco

Last weekend I had a very exciting cupcake order.

One of my fave shops in Aberdeen is the fantabulous Coco Violet.

Coco Violet is a unique boutique in the heart of Aberdeen, Scotland housing an eclectic collection of fashion for the woman that wants to stand out from the crowd. With stunning items you won't come across often, you will be sure to find that little something to make you feel special.

Owner Lou Couper scours the country for special pieces that include incredible 1940s style dresses, stunning shoes by Shoemissy and the cutest and jaw-droppingly amazing accessories this side of the moon (I want to wear this dress and be a sexy sailor EVERY day!)

In other words, I love this little treasure trove in The Green. And seeing as I named one of my cakes after the shop's gorgeous femme fatale, I felt it only right to provide some for customers to nibble on while perusing the shop's goods.

Et voila! My new cake stand was put to good use displaying the cakey goodness!

The display houses a combination of Coco Violets and Gala Darlings.

Meet Coco Violet -

Coco Violet is a light vanilla sponge, hiding a scrummy stawberry jam centre, topped off with a swirl of Parma Violet frosting, and pink sugar crystals. She's fun, flirty and always stylish.



Oh and this is her companion Gala Darling-

Named after Kiwi blogger Gala, this luxurious chocolate cake hides white chocolate chunks inside its crumbles. In honour of Gala's ever changing hair colour, the cake is topped with vibrant pink, vivid lilac and milky white frosting, which incorporates smooth melted white chocolate. Gala is spunky, creative and devilishly good fun.

This was such a fun order, I always love a bit of colour and sparkles!

This week I'm busy working on Halloween ideas - witches legs anyone?

P.S Coco Violet are holding a special Halloween event this weekend to celebrate their second birthday - why not visit the shop for some apple bobbing, bewitching outifts and spookily good Sugar-Coated Cupcakes!

Colene
xxx