Red Velvet Candy Cane Cupcakes

Last Saturday night, I went to a Halloween party for one of my best friend's birthdays....as fate would have it, she was born on Halloween, so Halloween parties are kind of her thing....this year it was a Zombie Apolocoypse.  I went as a zombie nurse...obviously...what Halloween party would be compete without one!

In years gone by I might have been inclined to make Halloween themed cupcakes....giant spiders or the like, but this year I decided that the "treat" side of "trick or treat might be a little more appropriate for my friend....while she makes an amazing "prom zombie"....I think in real life is is a lot more prom queen and a lot less zombie...so I made her these....

They are red velvet candy cane cupcakes (coz red velvet is her favourite kind of cupcake)...and then had them delivered to her office this morning so they would be fresh for her day at work....coz no birthday is ok without cupcakes at work...even when I don't live in Cape Town anymore!

Lex,
Happy Birthday my precious friend! 
Thank you for a fantastic party on Saturday...loved it!  I hope that you are absolutely spoiled today and appreciated every second of this day for the amazing person that you are :)

Lots of love to you
xxx

Chocolate Star Cupcakes for Gwyn

The time has come to say goodbye to our friend Gwyn (who is going to join our friend Gav in Hong Kong...he's her boyfriend).  Sad as I am to see her go, I am excited to their new adventure! :)

Gin my friend, enjoy the new adventure....I'm jealous of all the things you're going to see and do....not so much of young minds that you are going to have to educate along the way! ;) Keep a mattress ready for April...I'm coming to visit!  Love you friend xx

Bride and Groom Cupcakes

Last night my friends Leigh and Scott got engaged - I have known them both since varsity days (when they started dating)...such AWESOME news!  Very stoked for them! :)

This morning (when I popped around to hear all about the proposal story...moonlit sea view, little bench on balcony, flowers, balloons scattered everywhere....just so that you are all getting the romantic vibe here) I took theme these little bride and groom cupcakes.

Congratulations Lee Lee and Scotted Dogg!  I am so stoked you guys and wish you all the happiness in the world in your years ahead together

x

I love Cape Town Cupcakes

I thought that my last weekend in Cape Town deserved something special - a little something to celebrate the good times in a great town with awesome mates - so in typical Niki style I organised a little themed dinner party...Le Dolce Vita - The Good Life .

Dinner was outside on the balcony at our old faithful, Rick's Cafe.  Everybody came in black and white, and upon arrival all the girls donned some pearls and red lipstick and the guys put on some very tasteful taches.  Good food, good friends, the perfect Cape Town summers evening....what a flipping great time!  

Thanks to all my bests that came and shared the good time - I'm gonna miss you moles madly next year!

xx

I Like Cupcakes

Today is my last day at Ogilvy and so I thought it would be nice to make some cupcakes for all those people who have made my time here so great...I have had some awesome times in this building and I am going to miss you guys madly!  Thanks for the laughs and learnings - I'm sure I will see you around though this word of advertising is nothing if not small! :)
xx

Mini Flower Cupcakes

Happy birthday to my friend Emma!  I can't believe that it has already been a year since the last one (See those cupcakes here...baked before work the morning after our office Christmas party...good times!)

Apart from the cupcakes, Em received a special rhyming birthday card from some of us girls in the office - made me laugh when I read it, so thought I would share...

Em Dog,
Happy Birthday you HOT saucy minx, here's to a great day and a few drinks! 
Enjoy your weekend away, it will b e so romantic, from what we have heard, Muz is quite GIGANTIC.
Thanks for being so special, and such a super mate, we'll love you forever - we just think you are GREAT!


Love us
xx


Happy birthday my friend - I hope you have a fantastic day!
xx

Animal Cupcakes....it's a zoo out there!

These cupcakes belong to my friend Gwyn - it is her birthday today, and being an animal lover I thought she would appreciate the little animal characters on top of the cupcakes.  Admittedly, the Lion needs a little bit of work, but I think the Elephant and the Rabbit are pretty rad!

Happy Birthday Gin....I hope you have a fantastic day my friend.  Cheers to you for 25 great years - will  have a drink for you from Durbs tonight - sorry I'm missing you dinner!  

Lots of love to you moley girl :)

xx

Love letters from the USA

Much to my delight this package was waiting for me when I got home today...it was a birthday surprise from my Best....Erin...from all the way in Nevada!  YAY!  Thank you so much for the beautiful gift my friend, I LOVE IT!!  The apron is so cute (as you can see I've already tried it on :) ) and you know how I feel about Hot Tamales!!!

You are a gem my friend and I miss you terribly!  I'm gonna find an excuse to bake with my new apron asap!
Lots love
xx

PS: If there is someone out there in cyberspace from Hot Tamales....how about you hook South Africa up with some of the goodness....or you can just send some cinnamon my way....I'm not phased either way really :)

Birthday love for Lex

I woke up on the 31st of November feeling very hungover after a rather large Halloween party (thank you Bakes) and made these cupcakes for my friend Lexi's birthday lunch.  What a fantastic day!  Good food, good friends - you know the rest! :)

Happy birthday my Lex, thank you for an awesome lunch.  Love you lots.
xxx

Their Love Is Here to Stay

Last Saturday I had the privilege of attending a pre-wedding breakfast at The Vineyard Hotel for my friends Jared and Hannah.  They are getting married in the UK in December, and as most of their South African friends will not be able to be there for the ceremony, they had a pre-wedding breakfast here in Cape Town.

Beautiful venue, beautiful table settings - really lovely words from the special people in their lives - all in all, a fantastic champagne filled morning!  After such an awesome pre-wedding celebration, I can only imagine what the real deal will be like....wishing you guys all the best with that one...you can be sure that I will be wearing my white wrist band and thinking of you on that magic day!

xx

Happy Birthday almost ex-pat

Happy Birthday Jarrie - I hope that SA flags serve as a reminder about where you need to end up eventually...we're gonna miss you when you go friend!

It's a summer kind of cupcake

There is no better place to be on a sunny weekend in Cape Town than somewhere in Camps Bay!  A chilled braai with mates in the sun, with some wine....and a cupcake (of course)!  What a rad weekend!  Thanks Caitlin for the delicious steak...the best ever...bring on summer and braais all the time!

My best friend is getting married!!!

My best friend Row got engaged last week Wednesday, and so I was VERY excited when she and her fiancé Chris came back to Cape Town so that I could hear the story in person and give them their congratulations cupcakes!

You can see in the picture above the book that Chris proposed with - such a cute and romantic story (Wenz you lucky girl!), as well as the engagement notice from the newspaper in PMB, and then the cupcakes that I made for them to celebrate their happy news.

Congratulation Wenz and Chris....very excited for you both!  Wishing you many happy years in your shared future together! :)

xxx