3 days to go...

Another year has passed, another year older. In 3 days, I'll be 36. 

Yup, 36. How the heck did I end up here so quickly anyway? I can remember turning 17 so clearly, and jumping on my parent's bed, that very morning, 19 years ago. "I'm 17! I'm 17! I'm 17!", I screamed so excitedly.

Will I be doing that in 3 days time? 

I think not.

What I will be doing is visiting the biggest and baddest book sale, the world has ever seen! It's going to go for 63 hours straight, from Friday Dec 7 at 6.30 a.m. to Dec 9 till 9.30pm. We are supposed to going on Friday night some time and hopefully the  Big Bad Wolf Books are going to worth the trip. My uncle reckons he will be bringing a pallet, and how he plans on transporting this home, I have no idea.

December also is the time when I reflect on the year that has passed, and remember all the good and the bad.

2012 has been a hell of a year, with loads of major changes in my life. I for one, am calling KL my home now, after having being away for 15 years. It's been a struggle in the beginning to adjust, and honestly I am still adjusting to living at home again. But, as they say, home is where the heart is. 

I've left Sydney behind me, after being there for 12 years. It's had it's up's and down's, and certainly left a big dent in my heart. But, I am stronger and only looking forward to great things to come.

As Paolo Coehlo once said, "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it." 

This is so true. KL is proving to be just that. All I need to do is, to get to it, and I believe it will happen. 

2013, look out! I am a coming!

 

The Polka Dotted Sunglasses

My friend L and I, have known each other since Form 1. If my memory serves me correctly, that will be since 1988. That's right - 1988!! So what's that? 2012 - 1988 = 24 years! Unbelievable!! We were just talking at dinner the other night, that it MUST be a mistake. The millennium years have all been a blur, and it almost feels like it never existed. We feel like we are still in our twenties, and approaching the big 4.0 soon, is JUST not possible. 

Anyway, it was her birthday the other night, and we celebrated with an amazing Thai dinner at Celadon@Pavillion. It was a lovely gathering of L's nearest and dearest, with a few who could not make it, unfortunately. Nevertheless, it was a fun-filled night with lots of good food, wine and most importantly, great company.

For L's cake, I tossed around a few fashionista ideas like handbags or shoes, pretty pink colours, and all the things she loves most. Then a week before the party, it suddenly struck me - L had these really cute black and white polka dotted sunglasses by Lulu Guinness. It was perfect. 

I'll put it on her cake! Not many people can carry off sunglasses like those, but L certainly can! So I got in touch with her partner, R, and immediately he emailed a couple of photos of the sunglasses, on the sly.

He also included the case that it came in. And it was so pretty. I loved the design and the pretty lilac and white stripes. Easy-peasy. A cake design was right there before my very eyes. 


So I began work immediately. The sunglasses were constructed first, out of black gumpaste in 3 separate parts, and left to dry for a week. Then it was just a matter of cutting out tiny white polka dots and sticking them all over. To get the "shiny plastic" effect of actual sunglasses, I brushed on cold mirror gel all over and left it to dry. 


When the cake all came together, I was so pleased with its results. I couldn't wait to take it to the party and see L and R's face!

Here are a few snippets from the party, as well as the inspiration behind the cake (stolen from R's FB page, I hope you don't mind)! Shame on me, it only occurred to me after the party that I should have taken lots of photos of the party and food, to contribute to my new blog! 

Birthday girl blowing out the candle

There's L with them on (doesn't she look fab?), with her partner, R.

The girls, plus their offspring (that's me, on the left, sitting down) :)

Ze Cake!

Ze original sunglasses and case.

I hope you had a great birthday weekend, Liz! x