Purple Lips and Perfect Smiles

My Blue Ombre Cake

2012-01-17T06:55:00.004+02:00

At the end of last year, I challenged myself to make a Ombre Cake after reading Oh Darling Bride's post.

The lovely SwissTwist also made an Ombre Cake.
SwissTwist also posted instructions and recipes and I was a little too busy to take photos of the process.

It was fun mixing the cake, adding the colouring and taking a chance that my layers would come out ok!

The blue was VERY blue and I wouldn't recommend it unless you're having a smurf themed birthday party. But it did taste great and all the friends who tucked in where full of compliments.

The wedding confetti decision

2012-01-16T13:41:00.000+02:00

I like the thought of confetti. It's traditional and I think it's so romantic! To me it's the first time you, as a guest, can get a photo of the couple. And I just think it's a perfect start to the festivities.

We had our hearts set on brightly coloured streamers! We had even purchased them - silly we know!

Our venue has declared "environmentally friendly confetti only". I feel that is fair as it is a nature reserve. Some venues charge you up to R500 (that's like USD50!) to sweep up rose petals.

So, what are the options for environmentally friendly confetti that will:

a) look great in the photos

b) not get stuck in my hair/dress minutes before we have our photos taken

c) will be cost effective.

Some options:

Beautiful white feathers seen below. But if there is a breeze, would they be blown away?

Bubbles - lovely, but can be a soapy mess, containers are expensive and where will a breeze take them?

Flowers such as heather and lavender tend to get stuck in hair. Coconut has a nice beachy feel but once again, can get stuck in the hair.

Popcorn - cheap and cheerful. Eat or through!

Other suggestions are pom poms, sticks with ribbons that guests wave, ringing of little bells and sparklers.

Any suggestions?

Ask nicely

2011-12-21T13:14:00.000+02:00

I love these bridesmaid and maid of honour cards!! http://www.dessy.com/diy-bridesmaid-cards/

You can customize them to your wedding colours and then print or email them. Such a great way to ask your special ladies.

I sent them out to my bridesmaids who all live far away. I will also be printing them for their "bridesmaids guide and survival kit" that I am putting together.

Save the Dates

2011-12-20T13:54:00.000+02:00

Destination wedding

9 months notice

send out a fun Save the Date

I knew I wanted luggage tags for our destination wedding Save the Dates. So I walked through shops in Johannesburg. They were all going to break the bank. I found these amazing clear plastic luggage tags on the internet, but they were only available in the USA. Luckily I have one amazing friend in the USA who was on her way to SA - check!

I was so excited when they arrived. At a great price I could give my guests a tag that they could use before, on their way and at the wedding. I had dreams of strangers arriving at the airport, seeing the tags on other bags and instantly becoming friends. I know, you've seen that movie too? Not so much for reality.

Anyway, I took photos of our test versions and never ever took of the final product. Hence the ink looking a little strange and the ribbon not being too pretty.

But I present to you - our luggage tag Save the Dates - details on one side and monogram on the other.

Wedding Designs

2011-12-19T13:28:00.000+02:00

Searching the internet for ideas and inspiration I found a number of wedding couples who had lovely logos and monograms designed for their stationery. I loved this idea!! I decided I wanted something similar for our Engagement Weekend and for our Save the Dates. So I sat down and starting creating. I am very proud of our green tree and the monogram we have. In a few days I will post the Save the Date so you can see how it was used.

If I had loads of money, I would have the monogram on a number of items. But most of all, I would love to have a large tree, cut out of strong plastic, to hang our table plan on - what do you think?

Our monogram

And a few more I liked!

Jennifer Alison Designs
Belletristics

Pink Design

My next cake challenge

2011-12-17T14:14:00.000+02:00

I saw this cake on Oh Darling Bride's blog here and I have decided that I must make one!!

This is my goal for my last cake of 2011. I will be making this over the Christmas weekend. Not yet certain what my colours should be - the pink above, try a blue maybe, or be summery and yellow? Not sure if I will attempt the swirl icing as my piping bag is not great. Excited to make the five layers!

This is the link for the Ombre Pink Swirl cake

So excited! Watch this space!

2011 and the cakes I made

2011-12-16T15:51:00.003+02:00

I have discovered a love for making cakes! Currently mostly the creative kiddies party style creations. But I am eager to get more into flavours and styles. More about what you eat than what you see.

So here are some of the cakes I made in 2011!

This was for MrB's little brother's 18th birthday - an exact replica of his guitar. The cake? Rooibos Chai Latte (dairy free!)

MrB's grandparents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year - how special is that? Inspired by the "Diamond" anniversary, this three tier Vanilla Coconut Cake was my gift to them

A friend at work wanted to treat her mother in law to a special cake for her 50th birthday. This chocolate cake was inspired by her favourite perfume - Beautiful by Estee Lauder

Made from scratch, this Black Forest Cake was a two day process and a gift for MrB's other grandmother. This is her favourite cake and homemade is better than shop bought!

Coffee and vanilla cupcakes for a "Ladies pamper Day" - the shoe was shop bought. These were made the same day as the first bit of the Black Forest cake.

Not a great photo - this was a 25th birthday treat for my close friend. A chocolate cake with black icing, bright pink stripes and all her favourite on top - a Guess bag, a rose, a high heel show and a jewellery stand like hers. The glitter M is for Monique

Looking forward to many more cakes in 2012!! Still deciding whether my talented bridesmaid and I will make my wedding cake....

Any new hobbies you discovered in 2011?

Wedding Invitations

2011-10-19T13:49:00.000+02:00

The time has come to design, create and print the wedding invitations so that we can send them out after the December holidays are over.....

It's a lot harder than I thought. I imagined you just pick your colours, write the words and off you go. Hell, we can print them at home right?

WRONG!!

Now, we are on a budget based on doing this ourselves.... the scary part is, where do we start? So that is my focus until 10 November - to get started. November & December will be spent making, creating and sending.

Any ideas, tips or suggestions?

Wedding inspiration

2011-10-17T13:37:00.000+02:00

With our outdoors, a little bit sea and a little bit bush wedding, we have chosen Navy Blue, Green and White as the colours. I think it feels fresh, pretty and not too feminine (one of MrB's requisites)

What do you think?

Bridezilla

2011-10-15T13:33:00.002+02:00

Yes, a post from Claudz

How Bridezilla have I become? You don't even want to know....

Case 1 - I am harrassing everyone I know, everyone who they know and a few more to help me get votes in a Facebook competition so that I can win a wedding dress! I use to hate people who did this. Until I realised how much money I could save! Imagine shopping for a dress and not worry about the price tag? Not only that, the wedding dress money will be allocated to a BAND! yes, a BAND at our wedding!!!

Case 2 - my friend and her boyfriend break up after a 4 year relationship. What is the first thing that they both say to me? Don't worry, this won't affect the wedding!! Seriously? Am I now that person?

Case 3 - I spend hours on the internet going through wedding blogs, but have neglected my own.

I will try change this and get back into it!! Promise! If nothing else, sharing some wedding inspiration!

i admire bloggers who

2011-08-14T10:17:00.000+02:00

I have realised more and more how difficult it is to be a good blogger. I have decided that there as traits I admire in the blogs I follow. They are

I admire bloggers who -
Manage their busy lives to include blog updates frequently
Who committ to interesting posts
Who have an opinion
Who keep it interesting
Who don't winge all the time
Who appreciate me reading the posts without needing me to comment
Who entertain
Who are honest
Who are themselves

What do you admire?

the balance in life

2011-08-01T06:57:00.000+02:00

So life is about balance right? Finding the balance between work and play. Not over doing the one so that the other doesn't suffer.
I am trying to find balance in my life. Not working too hard, or so hard that I never see my friends. Going to gym so I get my exercise. Relaxing with the kitten or reading my book.

A great example of balance in my life?
going to gym for one hour with enthusiasm for 1 hour. Then getting home to bake a big apple crumble and eating 2 slices!

How are you finding balance in your life?

the wedding update

2011-07-31T16:42:00.000+02:00

Some of my email blog followers have asked how my wedding plans are coming along. So I though it makes sense to do one easy post.

They are getting there

Venue - found a deposit paid! Well part there of. But its ours

Dress - after my previous post, this is still to do. but I kinda know what I want. I gave many more months to keep looking, so why the pressure.

Save the dates? Finishing them off today!!

Decor items - started work on a few mini projects

The result is that we are getting. Slowly, but we are getting somewhere. Time is not being wasted. Projects are being completed!!

Yay!

As soon as I figure out how to post pics from my phone updates, I will add pictures of our awesome luggage tag save the dates

the wedding dress - how do you know?

2011-07-23T15:01:00.000+02:00

So I tried a few dresses. I tried lots of wedding dresses when my bridesmaids and mom was in town. Not one blew me away. They were pretty and I felt like a bride. But none were amazing.
Today I found a wedding dress that may be the one.
I need to decide in this week.
How do you know?
Everyone says - you know. You put it on and its the one.
But what if there is another one out there? Maybe there is a prettier one?
I look good. I could wear it tomorrow.
If I lose weight it would look even better
Its comfortable
I feel like a bride

Its a big decision. And its an expensive decision.

April is far away so we could still look

I met the dress designer. There is only one dress.
But what if?
How do I know?

claudz who?

2011-07-19T07:10:00.000+02:00

This post is an apology to any readers I have left. Sorry that I have been neglecting you. I have excuses and explanations but you deserve so much more. The truth is am drowning under my work load. I spent time scheduling posts which never posted. Our internet access at home is broken and all this has contributed to my lack of activity. So from now I will be adding entries with my BlackBerry. Let's hope this goes better!

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

2011-07-06T08:17:00.000+02:00

Friendship means understanding not agreement

It means forgiveness not forgetting

It means the memories last even if the contact is lost

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

2011-06-29T08:03:00.000+02:00

Wasting energy wishing for something you don’t have while ignoring all that you do have is a vicious mental trap. Grieving for what you’ve lost and for what you imagined that you might never have again is a step towards liberation.