I Love Paris Cake

I fell in love with Paris after watching the movie Paris When It Sizzles which stars Audrey Hepburn and William Holden. The movie is about a successful  forty-two year old alcoholic screenplay writer Richard Benson (William Holden), who has three days to write a script for his producer. The typist Gabrielle Simpson (Audrey Hepburn) arrives at his hotel to help him. And like a classic love story, along with coming up with  a  story, they fall in love. The movie was written by Claudio Carvalho. 

I loved everything about the movie..from the setting, Audrey Hepburn, the clothes, the cafes by the street, the hotel room, even the dancing in the streets. I admit I’m a hopeless romantic..to a fault sometimes. And while I’m going to be wiser now (as my friend says, “who’s dumber the idiot or the one who fell for him?”), there is a large part of me that cries in almost every love story, wishing, somehow, I could have the same someday.

I often find myself daydreaming about Paris, at least the Paris of my imagination, especially when I need to think of happy thoughts. I dream about when I will be able to go there, who I will go with, where I’ll be staying..and even down to the outfits that I will be wearing. Because of my obsession about Paris, my friend got me a book about Paris, and I’ll admit that I have already planned in my head my itinerary. I also planned (in my head, at least) to take French lessons before I actually go there. I’ve already started by downloading the app, Teach Me French Tutorial on my iPhone. The beauty of technology!

And that is why it was such a treat when my friend asked me to make a map of France cake. It was a butter lemon cake with vanilla buttercream filling and vanilla fondant icing. I handpainted the map on the scluplted map cake and I also made the Paris toppers, namely the flag of France, the Eiffel Tower, wine, cheese and grapes using gum paste.

Someday I will be able to visit you, dear Paris but for now, I’ll tour you in my dreams.

Care Bears Stare

If you were a kid during the ’80s, you would be familiar with these adorable bears.

How can anyone forget the Care Bears? Each Care Bear came in a different color and had a unique symbol on its belly that represented its duty and personality. I used to collect these cute little teddy bears, and that’s why making this project was really fun for me. While I crafted each tummy symbol one by one using gum paste, I would remember episodes from one of my favorite TV shows as a kid.

Care Bears' tummy symbols, ready to be delivered

My favorite part in each episode was always when the Care Bears would bring out their ultimate weapon: the Care Bears’ Stare, in which the collected Bears stood together and radiated light from their respective tummy symbols. These combined to form a ray of love and good cheer which brought care and joy into the target’s heart. Isn’t that wonderful, to be stared with love? If there really was a weapon like that, I’d love to always be on the receiving end.

Care Bears Cookies at the Dessert Table

Happy Father’s Day to the BEST DAD!!!

My dad loves playing golf. When he’s not working or playing with his grandkids, he’s at the golf course. And what better way to express how much I appreciate him than with golf cupcakes?

The toppers I made are things found in a golf course, like a golf cart, a golf club, a golfer, a sandtrap and the hole with the flag.It was quite a success with my dad! He ate 3 cupcakes in one sitting.

Happy Father’s Day to the best dad in the world, my Papa!