Cupcake Creations

Lately I've been trying to spend as much time as i can in the kitchen developing my baking and decorating skills. I'm so in love with creating beautiful things that are edible and have spent a lot of time gathering inspiration and ideas from Pinterest and books. I've been experimenting with different recipes, brands of fondant, food colourings and searching for alternative tools and equipment i can use to create different looks. I've even started to make my own cake and cupcake stands and will do a post on this soon. My next project in the kitchen is to conquer a fondant covered cake, I've baked a white chocolate cake and levelled it already for ganache and covering this weekend so if it works ill be sure to post some pics of my success. But for now here are some of my recent creations...

Baking bonanza

Baking has taking over my life for the last two weeks it's all i can think about and all i want to do hence the lack of blog attention. I've secretly been wishing i could quit my job and stay at home to bake all day, i don't even want to sell my baking or even eat it, i just want to create yummy little treats because that's what makes me happy :)
I did a cupcake decorating class last week, it was the first time I've taken a class for any sort of hobby and i really wish I'd done it sooner. I learnt so much and it was really helpful to hear all the tips and tricks from the professionals. I ended up spending way too much money on equipment after the class and spent my weekend playing around and creating, i even woke up at 5am on Saturday morning too excited to get started....I've got a problem i know.
My Pinterest boards have all been neglected apart from my 'Treats' board which has been well topped up with fresh inspiration and designs I'm itching to attempt. I'm planning on taking some more classes to learn different aspects of cake decorating like hand made flowers and figurines but i have a feeling this is going to be an expensive hobby...better not quit my job just yet!

Remember I'm just a beginner and still learning but this is what's been keeping me busy...

Favourites from the week

Some things worth sharing...

{Some of the different cupcakes I've made over the past week. Looking forward to a cupcake decorating class later this week hopefully I'll learn some new tricks}

{What I'm reading at the moment, profiles on young Hollywood fashionistas...a great read with lots of images}

{Scrapbook paper makes everything look prettier}

{A dress for a toddler made from scrap fabric...possibly the easiest dress to make took about 40minutes and there's plenty of tutorials on the net if you Google 'Pillowcase dress'}

{A new packet of scrapbook paper - love these colours. Will show you what i end up making with them in a few weeks...it's a secret for now}

The perfect winter heel

Ankle boots are swiftly becoming the footwear of the season. They're the perfect heel for winter to keep your tootsies warm while still looking on trend. Team them with jeans as a casual look or wear with tights for the perfect way to get more wear out of your dresses during the colder months.
There are various shapes, colours and styles available in a range of different prices from the likes of Number one shoes, Witchery, Country Road, Scarpa, and Kmart.
If your like me and the following celebs and want to keep the look classic go for a simple style that'll work well with a variety of different outfits. There really is an option for all price ranges and to save you the hassle I've done the hard work for you.

{I opted for the Kmart pair, they're comfortable, have a soft suede finish and look just as good if not better than the more expensive versions. They may not last as long but if you're on a restricted budget or you don't plan to wear them everyday then i definitely suggest this pair.}

Celebs putting their best foot forward in boots...

{Ashley Tisdale}

{Jennifer Lawrence}

{Kim Kardashian}

{Olivia Palermo}

{Rachel Bilson}

{Ashley Tisdale}

{Jenny McCarthy}

{Khloe Kardashian}

{Kim Kardashian}

{Ashley Tisdale}

{Blake Lively}

{Mischa Barton}

{Kristin Cavallari}

{Victoria Beckham}

Which look is your Favourite?

Trends for twenty twelve: Animal Print

{Celebs are loving this trend and pulling it off well in leopard, reptile and zebra. Combined with neutrals, brights and bronzed skin this really is a versatile trend}

Animal prints have come roaring back onto the fashion scene of late. From clothing and accessories to interiors and decor, this hot, fun and classic trend seems here to stay. Animal print clothing is a fashion trend that has steadily grown and will continue to be prominent throughout the autumn and winter seasons, branching out from clothing into other areas. The secret to wearing animal print fashion successfully, is to relate the volume of pattern to your personality.  If you are normally an understated dresser, then select just a small printed item. It may be as small as a clutch purse or, it could be as lavish as a designer coat or boots.

Kim Kardashian:

"There are lots of trends I’m really feeling this fall. I shared my favorite purple and blue looks earlier this week, but another trend I am lovvvinggg is leopard print… but don’t overdo it… a little leopard print goes a long way!"

 Some key style tips when trying out this trend:

• Too much animal print CAN be too much.
• Make animal print the statement or focal point of your outfit. 
• If you’re new to this trend, a clutch or pair of shoes can be a great place to start.
• Don’t mix your animal prints – you don't want to look overdone or like your wearing a dress up costume.
• Animal print works back with neutral colours of black, white and tan but it also comes to life with a splash of vibrant red, orange, yellow or cobalt blue (try a vibrant nail polish).
• Never throw out an animal print item. Even if this trend seems to skip the odd season or too, it always comes back. 

Some subtle and affordable ways I've added this trend to my own wardrobe ...

{If your afraid to try this trend then start out with something small or off the body like a thin waist belt or a clutch purse}

{Animal print shoes are a subtle way to sneakily incorporate this trend into your everyday look - I'm loving my 'Sidekicks' they're super comfy and convenient, i almost felt as though i forgot to put shoes on when i was at work today}

{A scarf is an easy and affordable way to add this trend to your wardrobe as well as keeping you cosy and warm during the colder days to come}

Something Extra...

{Try a vibrant red or orange nail polish - the contrast adds nice visual interest to your outfit}

Have you tried this trend yet? 

I'd love to hear how you wore it.

Favourites from the week

My last week of holidays was filled with birthday celebrations, days out shopping, a trip to the hair salon, pottering about the house doing usual house things like washing, cleaning and a bit of organizing in the kitchen. In between all of this i've captured a few things that have inspired, excited and impressed me...

{Black}

At the moment I'm reading 'Black' - a beautifully simple hard covered book that explores the history of black in fashion, society and culture in New Zealand. The result of a collaboration of 11 authors, curated by Doris De Pont, it looks at why we wear black, Maori perspective on wearing black, black in the Victorian era, the influence of New Zealand sport, the black singlet as a cultural icon, black in New Zealand cinema, cultural politics of wearing black and much more. I love the simplicity of this book, it's vague title, mono-toned and embossed cover couldn't escape my curiosity...i had to see what was inside.

{ Theobroma Chocolate Lounge } 

 I couldn't resist these beautifully hand crafted chocolates while out shopping, they were almost too perfect to eat. They came from a cabinet with hundreds of chocolates and it honestly took me about half an hour to decide which ones i wanted, they all looked amazing and they were delish!

 

{Liners and sachet from Home Scents}

 I'm big on scents and fragrances, when something smells nice it's a million times better in my books. This week i lined all my drawers with rose and pomegranate sheets and hung this pretty little sachet in my wardrobe to keep my clothing smelling fresh and clean. I've also had scented candles burning throughout the house this week and I'm in love with vanilla fragrances...i feel a new obsession creeping on!

{New cosmetics from Lancome}

For the past 10 years I've been using Revlon cosmetics, purely due to the fact that when i started wearing make-up i was a student and Revlon was the only decent brand within my price range. Now that I've matured and earn better money i decided it was time to start taking better care of my skin and have opted for a better quality brand of cosmetics. Wow what a difference a few dollars makes i wish I'd realised this earlier. I mentioned in my last post about having a consultation at the Lancome counter and was really impressed by their service and products, they pay great attention to detail, the consistency and texture is smooth and weightless and their products smell like fresh flowers. Spending more money on better product was out weighed by the free gift with purchase (brush set) and the Lancome club membership with great rewards to look forward to

{Sidekicks Heelin' good}

Possibly the most convenient accessory a girl can own...ballet flats that fold up into a cute little purse that can be thrown in your handbag, desk drawer or glove box. They come in fashionable colours and prints in size small to large (5-11) and cost around $25 depending on where you get them. I was surprised to find mine while killing some time in the local Paper Plus bookstore and knew as soon as i tried them on i had to have them. I tried them out in the weekend while on a girls night out in town, they fitted perfectly into my snakeskin clutch and were such a relief at 2am when i could no longer handle my heels. They are so soft on the inside and feel like your wearing little socks, the elasticated edge means they fit snugly around your foot and wont lose their shape. Now I'm trying to convince myself that i don't need the snakeskin pair. You can find them online at Just us girls boutique.

Complement your complexion with colours

 Yesterday i was lucky enough to have a make-up consultation with the very knowledgeable staff at the Lancome counter to colour match foundation to my skin and find out what products i should be using to achieve the best possible look. During my consultation the Lancome staff discussed different complexions with me and shared some secrets on how they determine if a customer suits warm or cool tones. They showed me a little trick they use when trying to match their products to a customers skin, it involved alternating a pink and orange swatch next to the face to see which one compliments best and i was surprised to see how obvious the difference was. They also identify skin tones by checking what colour jewellery a customer is wearing, i had noticed that certain colours of gold looked better on my own skin and as a result i choose to wear rose gold which is better suited to warm skin tones. I'd never really given any of this too much thought before and just purchased make-up that i thought looked decent and worn clothing that i liked the colour of or had previously had compliments on.
This discussion sparked an interest in me and rather than forking out for a consultation with a colour analyst which can be very pricey I've done my own research and found some great resources, tips and tricks to share with you and help me step out of the confines of my dominantly black wardrobe.

Check out the video below from 'Elea Blake Cosmetics' for some tips and tricks to help you determine the best colours for your complexion regarding clothing and cosmetics.

The 12 colour charts categorised by Jeanine Byers Hoag (certified colour analyst). Can you determine what colour you are?

Hope you found this as helpful as i did.

I'm a Warm Spring What colour are you?