The breakthrough....

You get to that point when you don't know why you decided to start a business/project.. or even relationship for some. 

You're POOR... in finance and in spirit.. everyone gives really unhelpful, mostly well meaning advice and almost certainly someone who thinks they know everything is breathing down your back. 

#stress

But you believe in what you started, you see the vision and you press on.... then it happens.... FRUIT!

You feel like you can measure your own success.. somehow... you're satisfied, motivated and empowered.

You still get things wrong, still making it up as you go along.. still getting awful, annoying and well meaning advice.. but you're no longer poor in spirit because HE moved your mountain....

On to the next challenge!

To get to know more about the cafe I've just opened check out it's blog... 

Incredible chilled... Great food... Great people.. Great journey!

Autum wardrobe

Can you put an insta collage on a blog? Is that against blog rules??? 

I was doing so well this morning, I took some change for the bus as I'd left my purse at work.. (My new cafe!) got to the bus stop.. Waited a WHILE, got to the bus and was FLIPPING SHORT!!!!! 

So I had to run home (in heels) get mo' money (B.I.G style) and now I'm waiting at the bus stop again... No longer feel fresh and excited lol...(feet hurt) It's raining and my fro is turning ginger in the rain.... And fuzzy..

ANYWAY it's time to face that summer is no more and we must consider our wardrobe... 

Today I wear SUMMER DRESS+ WINTER JUMPER (and heels of course!)

 Just looked across the road And Music Bar had become a Tesco express *random*

Macs are soooooo autumn transition! Every year! 

Anyone wanna get me some windowlene or some newspaper... Mirror is a bit 😷

Morning fun!

#cakegirl

120 Cupcakes, Comedy and Minions

Having recently moved into a new kitchen it was incredible working of a team of lasses to get ready for Comedy Mania at the Flyover Portobello!

Usually I'm stressing all by myself in a tiny kitchen but this week we were able to create some really lovely cupcakes, make great contacts and use fairy lights (oh my days, pure excitement!)

 Art work by my boyfriend @sweetnessdj (I cant draw to save my life)

 Triple chocolate!

 Minions watching comedy!

 Minions say HI!

Carrot Cupcake

#yum

This weeks radio session!

Yellow and Green eye shadow... was feeling tropical.. cant waste the 29 degree weather now can we!

#naturalhair #africalshellearrings #littleblackdress

Shoes, couture crowns and fashion forecasting

For the last couple weeks I've been working on opening this Cafe... having to cut out my other jobs and neglect my shopping needs (boo!).. however THE LORD PROVIDES and someone kindly sent me four pairs of shoes, randomly! Perfect size for the shapes of the shoes... I always think when your wearing a shoes that shows  your toes, if you can get away with it, one size bigger is always better than having your toes hanging out the front... that's always tragic....

Ta da! Todays wear with a faux leather blue zebra print skirt and white cupcake Tee'!!

I had the pleasure of visiting SHARON ROBERTS, a new couture crochet artist who is quietly creeping into the UK fashion scene... hand crochet'd hats, gloves, scarves and the like can be yours to purchase in the near future!!

This hat is called SERENITY a sy-fy inspired high fashion crown... perfect for the upcoming Autumn/Winter switch over.... the degrees may decline rapidly and we can all be prepared... look out for me sporting my SERENITY!

And finally... we all know that Pharrell has been a huge celeb crush for me frOm a young age.... but this is crazy.. prophetic fashion.... even at 7years old I was dressed and ready to go for his Daft Punk ventures.... this is evidence that you can trust a CakeGirl to satisfy your fashion queries....

 :-)

5th and Mercer by LaLa and Jason Bolden

You may remember La La as hostess for the finals dance competition in YOU GOT SERVED some years back! According to Instagram, 5th and Mercer, her clothing label have launched a line on Shop Bop, a shopping site similar to ASOS, Boo Hoo and the like....

I'm not a huge fan of the MJ looking pants bottom middle.. especially with those heels but theres definitely something cool and fresh about this wee collection and you should have started to plan you A/W13 wardrobe by now... next week I'll show you some MUSTS and INSPIRATIONS for your potential wardrobe... WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT 5th and MERCER?

She's also starring in new black rom com (oh how I love my black rom coms) BAGGAGE CLAIM... soon to be in US theatres!! (she's on the left under Trey lol)

There's much to be said about which heels go with which bottoms... it's not a free for all... I don't care how experimental you are... some laws are essential.. but we can talk of these another day....

Ta for now!

#cakepower

Alter Ego....

The full video is on my facebook.... it is traumatising

#thethingswedoforlove

Love songs.... the 00's edition

Like you - Bow Wow ft. Ciara

 Whatever you want - Christiana Milian ft Joe Budden

Dip it low - Christina Milian

Blog therapy

For all the time I've been blogging... well planning to blog I've finally realised its therapeutic attributes...!

I like to share and thought that blogging would be a great way to show some of my skills in fashion prediction, baking and business and just being able to share my journey and culture with you.

 Having come to a new mile stone in my life whereby I'll be building a lil cafe for an organisation and setting up a CakeGirl Outlet in which this cafe will be my new baking home, with so much to consider I've returned to blogging... THERAPY!

This is my new hat....

I know... It's lethal.. just like me!

OHHHHHHH man.... running a business, working, studying, living..... difficult, time and money consuming and full of many lessons....!  #tinyvent

GROWTH. 

It's okay to be wrong about people you know... guys.... ideas.... ventures... girls... but rectify it! Learn the lesson and move on! There's no shame in making a mistake.. there is however,  shame in not learning from it. 

Sometimes I feel like this... made this cake... clients were very happy... huge shark! Sometimes life feels like this.... the story isn't over though #randomramblings

Spring has officially come. Bin your clothes.

Well maybe not bin... but there's a lot of rubbish you can get rid of....

Having lots of clothes you don't wear folded up in your drawer isn't going to make you feel fabulous... have a wardrobe full of clothes that your'll actually wear, that are current, in good condition and that SUIT YOUR BODY SHAPE (revelation) now that's where it's at!

BIN THE RUBBISH

Sell, swap and customise the rest!

I did just that last night! Got rid of two bin bags worth of clothes... and found some older pieces that deserves a revival...

This is part of my wardrobe now.... there's never a reason to look busted.

Every day is a catwalk....!

This is FUN:

http://www.channel4.com/4beauty/style-me/bodyshapefinder

You can find your body shape and clothes to suit your body shape as well.. If this doesn't do it for you... just google please...!

BARUCH WEBSITE!!!!

BARUCH!!!!!

I'm so excited about this!

I love this brand so much I actually asked to model some of Angela's goods once upon a time....

Hmmmm anyway.... back to the website!!

It's one to keep an eye out for and definitely try to cop something from the sample, I've already made my requests!

What I love about this brand is that it's roots are in West African culture but in a high fashion, somewhat couture way.... I always say if you're gonna do it DO IT!!

Statement clothing!

This is the designer who created my 21st birthday dress.... I said what I liked and left her too it.... AMAZING!!

Some of her earlier work which attracted great PRESS including Vogue, Look and Pride Magazines!

Now it's your turn! Get involved!!

http://www.baruchboutique.com/products

Power to the people
X

WICKED BRIEF REVIEW

I had the pleasure of being taken to see Wicked the other day, (a nice little surprise, I thought we were going to see Oz in the cinema!). 

WOW

WOW

WOW 

WOW

Absolutely incredible... Absolutely faultless.. and as a mystery lover I loved the fact that it was a prequel to the original OZ films... Nothing like a good FEW twists in the story.

These women could sing...

One of the highlights of the night was when the German guy next to me was taking pictures and the usher came almost immediately and made him delete them off his phone there and then.... Military force in that theatre.. you've been warned...

As I've been hiding from performing I've been hiding from the theatre.... but it has re awoken my love.. and as you may have seen in my 'The blogger' page.. This is the year I balance my MA, my business and revive my performing career.

We must never regret we when we could have just gone for it.

See Wicked.

Pursue your dreams.

No regrets... Lots of lessons!!

Women should be able to cook?

Have I just been left in the dark ages or is it still OK for me to be passionate about women being able to cook?

Nothing makes me happier than to cook for my family and friends... Yesterday I threw down some ribs, prawn fritters salad and hand made chips... Yum!!

Oreo CupCakes 

Updating the website.... behind the scenes picture lol...

Something very exciting is on the horizon... DONT WASTE TIME!!

Pharrell did it Funky

So cool.... So very cool.

Book us!

Standing Tall!

Day Heels, Night Heels and Heels!!

Get them out ladies it's not just for the shorties, there for EVERYONE!! 

I wear them most days, turning most heads as I'm already 5"8 but it makes me feel just that little bit more special!

Here are some certified examples:

Top Shop £62

(Inspired by watching the Matrix on TV last week, I now go by the name INFINITY)

Dorothy Perkins £38 

(Red EVERYTHING is in, work that hot dress or two pieces suit, it's needed!)

Office £60

(Managed to cop the last size 6 in the shop lol in BLUE. I had to... my trainers need some heels too!!)

Post lent blogging!

After a refreshing 6-8weeks of no social networking, reflecting, meditating, praying and planning; I'm back with a new energy!

It's so important to give yourself breaks, recollect, refocus and then continue because as great as social networking might be, it's so much more fruitful to do the work than write about doing the work #word

This was me.. only I'm not sure she's talking to Jesus. I was lol.

Ireland day 3: My home, cakes, beach and family

Had some carrot cake for dinner (that's lunch over here)..... I didn't finish it... Unfortunately a 2/10 :-(

Soooooo! (To make up for someone else's baking tragedy) I made some wee cupcakes for my family, namely my wee cousin.. Pirates and princesses! Lemon flavoured, tangy, sweet and delicious... Granny is a dedicated fan lol! 

We went for a walk in Newcastle... So peaceful by the sea. I really believe that no matter how much we try to elevate ourselves, build our own empires and prove our superiority, the earth will always be able to prove God's superiority over us...

Ireland: day 2 Politics, History, Cake and Custard

My Protestant family living in a Catholic area... My British family living in an area with unsettled republicans...

My grandad said the McCombs (family name) started with a man who came over, built his house on a hill which was attacked by Catholics. He went down to the priest and told him, if they come back he'll shoot them all. So I did some research.. Turns out that the first McComb came over in 1607 from Scotland for the Ulster Plantation. Another record says a Mr McComb led a mob attack against a Chapel and then later went mad. Perhaps part two to my grandaddy's tale....? 

Amazing chapel in my town...

My second cousin started a business with a chip van then opened a chip shop! After 15years of business he opened AJ's Diner, a successful diner is Crossgar which us in it's 10th year of successful business. I've never been there and it's had less than 60% of the tables full... An inspiration and a lesson for the future journey of my business and other endeavours. My 70-something yr old great aunt still works there (at her insistence) though she is well looked after and wants for nothing... Hard work, perseverance and family commitment seem to be the lesson for today.

If you ate with me you'd realise that it runs the family to serve more food than is necessary... You may also notice the Cake and Custard... My grandma taught my mum to bake and my mum taught me...

The food was incredible, generous and there are some clear reflections of this service in CakeGirl. It runs in the blood, seemingly...

Lent... CakeGirl down time!!

I've given up twitter and Facebook for lent this year.... I just needed a break.
The moaning.
Bragging.
Drama.
Attention seeking.
Status' like "in a meeting" ...... So what!! It doesn't make you a tycoon mate. #leaveityeah

So yes, as you can see, I needed to get away from it for a bit.. Take some time to re-evaluate, recuperate and get creative outside of social media....

DON'T BE SCARED TO TAKE BREAKS... WE'RE BUILT TO HAVE DOWN TIME IN ORDER TO RETURN BETTER AND STRONGER!

So I'm in IRELAND, seeing my grandparents.... Getting to know more about my history... Resting my mind from studying/CakeGirl/work.... And ummmmm yeah taking a well deserved break.... I'll blog some of my journey as Ireland is such a great place and my grandparents are epic.

Northern Ireland by the way ;-)

Truth be told.... I just didn't want to get so caught up in building my empire and forgetting to live... We're all at risk of becoming that 'in a meeting' person...

Prosperity will come with hard work, commitment and regular rest.... Remembering to live, cherish my family and reflect.

This is me when I was young....just thought an image would be helpful...

So. She wanted a home made messy rainbow cake..... That's exactly what she got!

So this was a birthday commission... I had so much fun making this cake, I'm a big supporter of the homemade look.... Sweets, sprinkles, icing and 8 layers of gorgeous sponge cake!! 

It's where it all began.... YUM!