Dear Santa...

At the moment, my work life includes creating Gift Guides for the newspaper, creating lists for her, for him, for teens etc.

What I can't get over is how unappealing and unimaginative I'm finding the kids toys that are out now! Seriously, kids need no imagination or creativity to play with these toys, and that seriously depresses me! What happened to all the cool toys at the back of the Argos catalogue that you'd circle months in advance?

So, instead of my normal Christmas list, I'm going to write my 1992 Christmas list - the things I wanted when I was 7. I'm sure you'll agree, these are waaaaaay cooler than some of the over marketed pants you get today!





1) Always at the top of ANY present wishlist - Sylvanian Families. You have no idea how much I wish I could go back into our loft (my dad put down flooring and made it into a toyroom/den for me) and play for hours with these. If you don't know what Sylvanian Families are (Where were you in the late 80s/early 90s??), they are small woodland creatures, which come in families and have a whole world of their own. I got my first Sylvanian family (The Evergreens) from my Granny and Grandad's friends and it started an obsession. My friend Jacqueline (Hi Jacqueline!) and I would hoard these inch-tall figures, and spend hours creating villages, houses, shops - anything we could think of. We cracked up laughing the day our hedgehog lost his 'hair', and ended up looking like a mole, and even my cat Squeak would come up and watch proceedings from a toy box. The best year was the year Jacqueline and I both got the Sylvanian Families Canal Boat (along with the Otter family, The Vandykes). That boat is still under my bed in my room at my parent's house, and still I get to play with it when my mum's friend's daughter Alix comes to play! (Yay!) Unfortunately even Sylvanian Families have fallen victim to modern times, with non-woodland characters added (penguins?)




2) Goosebumps, Secret Seven, Babysitters Club, Sweet Valley High and Guinness World Record Books. No Christmas stocking would have been complete without one of the above. Goosebumps were amazing books that both girls and boys read at my school because they were terrifying! Some of my favs were Curse of the Mummy's Tomb, Say Cheese and Die—Again! and The Horror at Camp Jellyjam. I think the best book I ever got for Christmas was a Give Yourself Goosebumps - a standard book where at the bottom of each page you made a decision that decided how the story turned out! AWESOME! And it came with a clip on reading light - BEAT THAT HARRY POTTER!!! *

*Sorry Harry, I love you really

3) A Doll's Head - Sounds creepy, huh? What I mean is a giant dolls head that you could make over! These were ace! You could do their hair ( I think I learned to plait hair on one), 'draw' the weird plasticy make-up on with out getting messy - it was brilliant. In fact, I think my mum bought me one after I raided her make up and got it all over my friend, myself and my bedroom carpet... At least this way, little girls could play with make-up without going to school looking like transvestites or dolled up like Amy Winehouse, aged 10.







4) Playmobil - Clip on hair? Brilliant! This doesn't really count as you can still get Playmobil, but I remember it being a lot more popular when I was small. When I was 6/7 I was in hospital quite a bit with renal reflux (knackered tubes to my bladder and kidneys), and I can vividly remember getting a Playmobil set with a surgeons table, a drip, a theatre light and doctors - it was great! It came with clip on bandages, and I remember thinking hospital didn't look too bad!




5)My Little Pony, Cupcake Dolls (!) and other weird smelling plastic toys - Cupcake dolls are probably the exception to this - they smelt awesome (for the first month anyway). Turn the doll's skirt upwards and she turned into a sweet smelling cake! My Little Pony needs no explanation, although I think they've been modernised too (boo).






6) Popples - Popples were soft, cuddly teddys/marsupials(?) which rolled up into themselves, and formed a ball. Apparently they were made by the same people who designed Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears,and the idea came from rolling up socks. Whatever, they were super cute and could be used as a pillow in the car! I also had a Wuzzle, but my Popple was a favourite.






7) Cabbage Patch Kids - Not sure if these were genuinely popular in the UK, or if Jacqueline and I were just really lucky. These (butt-ugly) dolls came with their own birth certificate, and mine, bought on holiday in Florida was called Dorothy Molly. She was a redhead, and came wearing a bikini and sunglasses and get this - she TANNED! I still don't know how that worked! Dorothy featured in a series of holiday snaps for years! P.S Anyone else find the fact they had a tattoo on their arse weird?)



8) Sindy - I don't care what anyone says, Sindy will always rule over Barbie in my heart. I inherited some of my mum's Sindys (and a Patch doll) as well as some amazing 70s furniture. Over the years I added to my collection - the Dreamhouse (with a poster of Paul), a make-up counter, a Beach Jeep and a remote controlled scooter. Most importantly - I NEVER CUT MY DOLLS' HAIR!!! This was sacrilige in my book!

Also on my list - Teddy Ruxpin (always wanted one), Trolls (I remember having one whose eyes flashed. Very 90s rave), Pogo Balls (pogo sticks, without the stick), He-Man toys and videos of The Gummi Bears, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Tailspin, Ducktales and Maid Marian (so good!). Ooh and also, if anyone can get me on Funhouse, Finders Keepers or Art Attack, I'd love you forever.

Love,

Colene

xxx

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

Things I Like Thursday - 29/10/09

* Interviewing Status Quo - they are hilarious, and every time I interview them they make me laugh a bit harder.

* Having my appraisal at work and discovering I'm going to be doing some design work - yay! Time to put that degree to use!

* Having one of my best friends visit from Lewis, a tiny Scottish island she has moved to with her fiance. Exciting conversations 1) the fact that this former dog owner is now a cat person who could barely take her attention away from Coco, and has now got her own bundle of whiskers and 2) wedding plans! Nicola is getting married in 2011 and I'm one of three bridesmaids. I'm a bit of a wedding fanatic so this means lots of fun research for me (and lots of earbashings for the poor Kiwi) As you can see, she's going to make an interesting bride!

* My new cake stand - it's so girly it should be pooping unicorns. (Excuse my messy desk at work in the background)

* Getting everything ready to renew the Kiwi's visa...(please cross your fingers and toes and whatever else you can for us!)

* My friend Andy refusing to spank Coco as he didn't want to "w*nk off the cat" - haha! Coco was not amused and proceeded to wiggle her rear end under his hand and gaze lovingly at him until he gave in.

* How gorgeous Ivanka Trump looked on her wedding day

* Having fajitas with friends (favourite past time)

* Talking about exciting trips to luxury hotels with my mum, who also managed to come up with plans to see We Will Rock You, have a few drinks, and also somehow convince the Scottish Rugby squad to let us party with them. Droooooool.



*Absolutely losing it in McDonalds with mum - why can't we ever remember what made us start laughing?!?!

* Disney's UP in 3D - We queued (at 10.30am on a Sunday. To see a Disney film. In the freezing cold. Nuts? Me?) and it was well worth it. I wasn't that hyped about it as I had no idea about the story, but it's the sweetest adventure and makes you appreciate what you have in life. I did NOT appreciate the Kiwi laughing at me crying during the film (I AM A SOP)

* This outfit from Topshop -

* New found evidence which proves that men prefer normal sized woman to size zero models. I could have told them that! (I have no problem with girls who are naturally slender, it's the ones who starve themselves because they think it will make them more attractive that make me sad. Embrace your curves!)

* My dad's remedy to his full-on stonking cold - A hot curry, some rum and a whole lot of Belgian beer. Guaranteed to clear your sinuses (and most likely your bowels too)

* Planning trips to Inverness with the Kiwi and my adventurous buddy Naomi!

* And this picture - I can't even remember who sent it to me. But I love it.

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

Good things come in threes...

This week I have finally taken ownership of three new items I have pined after for some time.

Item number 1 - The Handbag

I mentioned yesterday that I got an exciting delivery from asos.com.


Mika certainly thought it was interesting - this is moments after he jumped out of the box (hence the shy and embarrassed look on his face)

VOILA!!! My beautiful new handbag!!!

I've been searching for a new handbag for a couple of months now and couldn't find anything to replace my trusty black 2005 Oasis one. I wanted something big enough to fit all my crap in, but which still looked classy, and could be carried over my shoulder or forearm.

And my, haven't asos.com done a good job? This Marc B bag ticks all the boxes - chain handle? Check. Lots of pockets? Check. Leopard Print lining? Checkeroo!!!

In other words I'm in love. (And it was half price! Woohoo!)




Item number 2 - The Cupcake Caddy

I may have just declared my love for my handbag, but already I've committed adultery. How AWESOME is this???? I've wanted one of these for a long time, after trying (unsuccessfuly) to win one on Bakerella.com. But finally Lakeland got some back in stock and I'm now the very proud owner of the latest model in cupcake transport. Hmmm maybe a road test is in order...


Item number 3 - New Shooooooooooooooooooes

Does anything make a girl happier??? I've been trying to find the perfect pair of shoe boots for while now, but found them all too velvety, too plain, too low etc. I swore to myself I'd never buy another pair of feet-wreckers from New Look a long time ago...but sometimes you have to break your own rules.

Look at them! They're so pretty!!! The patent is perfect for Scottish weather, the brogue stitching detail makes them smart enough for work, they tie up and so stay on my feet, and they have a peep toe!!! Admittedly a peep toe isn't ideal for me (what with having no big toenails), but hey, I can deal with them, so should everyone else!!!


Have you got any new goodies this week?

Colene
xxx