A Thing Of Beauty Is Definitely A Joy Forever

What you see here ladies and gents is a limited edition NARS Bento Box containing two highly pigmented shades of lipstick; the red - Kabuki (like the dramatic Japanese dance) and the pink - Sakura (the Japanese word for Cherry Blossom which is a flower often found in East Asia).  Included is a Kabuki lip brush made from Wisteria, for precise application.

Sold exclusively at London's Selfridges at £95 a pop (yes you read right!), I fear I shall never get my frost bitten mitts on this object of desire!  Unless of course, I rob a bank which would be completely unsuccessful since adrenalin and I definitely do not mix.  My other option could be to hang out at the Selfridges NARS counter like a bad smell until they give me one and have me escorted off the premises, which would also be a bad idea because after pulling a stunt like that they may put a life long ban on my butt!

*sigh* One can but dream

... till next time ...

Remembrance Sunday 2010

As I sit here writing my blog for the week, the coverage of 'Remembrance Sunday at The Cenotaph' plays live on the television.

Remembrance Sunday is a day that the UK remembers the victims of The First  and The Second World War.  A service takes place on the 11th of November in Whitehall at The Cenotaph.

The Festival of Remembrance, held annually since 1927, came about because of the release of thousands of scarlet poppy petals from the roof of the Albert Hall as a representation of those who have died in combat.

The Queen and The Royal Family attend the service, as well as members of Parliament and a number of veterans who march past The Cenotaph to music played by a military band.  It is a grand but emotional affair.

During the First World War, countless people died in the fields of France and Belgium.  The fields in Flanders turned red because hundreds of Poppies that appeared there. 

The Canadian poet John McCrae wrote a poem called 'In Flanders Fields' which drew people's attention to the poppies.

The widows of dead soldiers decided to raise money by selling paper Poppies for a donation every year around the beginning of November.  The money raised by the collection was used to help families affected because of service in all wars - not just the World Wars.  This tradition still stands and Poppies are generally worn annually until Remebrance Day on 11th November.

Love At First Bite

I've heard nothing but good about the tempting treats that make The Hummingbird Bakery so popular but I've never had the opportunity to witness the beauty with my own eyes.  That is until my bonne amie generously decided to buy me two of my very own cupcakes.

Maybe I should just brief you in on what The Hummingbird Bakery is all about - it first opened on Portobello Road in 2004 making American cupcakes and pies. Since then, they have opened two more stores in South Kensington and Soho and there's even a Hummingbird Bakery cookbook.

Anyway, where were we? Ahh yes, cupcakes. When I saw the white paper bag stamped with baby pink hummingbirds my eyes grew wide with interest. Pour moi? Really all for me? Nobody had ever bought me cupcakes before and the fact that they were from this popular bakery was a bonus!

I carefully slid a knife along the pretty sticker seal and was greeted by two perfectly presented Black Bottom Cupcakes - made up of a dark chocolate sponge, a cheesecake centre and a cream cheese frosting.

Now people who know me well know that I have a particular dislike to sweet treats that contain cheese - thus ruling out cheesecake and cream cheese frosting. However, completely unaware of the ingredients, I sliced the cupcake into two to share with my sister and...I was in Hummingbird heaven. The frosting was as smooth as silk and the sponge as soft as cotton candy. It was absolutely delicious! After devouring every last crumb, I started to get a slight aftertaste of cheese and asked my sister if she could taste the same. True enough the frosting was cream cheese and the sponge had a cheesecake filling - I never thought I'd say it but honestly it was scrumptious!!!

My bonne amie may have achieved something nobody else ever has - she might very well have converted me into a cheesecake/cream cheese frosting lover - only time will tell. But my opinion on the Hummingbird Bakery's Black Bottom Cupcake? It was love at first bite!