My sweet tooth’s telling me it’s been a while since we had something on dessert. Meet Darna Aminuddin, the gorgeous producer-turned-founder of Pinkies Cupcakes…

Pictures courtesy of Pinkies Cupcakes.

From film to fondant – I’m guessing there’s a very interesting story here. How did you start out?

I was in the Television Commercial industry for 8 years, but I’ve always loved cupcakes – eating them and baking them! In the beginning it was always a way to de-stress but I started to think that if I ever retired from the Commercial industry this would be something I’d definitely want to do. And so it got to a point where the industry was really tiring me out and I decided to leave. and I guess I left my first love – film – to pursue my second love – food!

Tell us more about your products and services. Do you specialize in smaller events or would you also work on a larger scale?

We make cupcakes for any occasion from personal consumption to baby showers, parties and specialty themes like Halloween and Christmas. At the moment we’re concentrating on smaller events, though I do have my sister Nada on board as a creative consultant and taste tester. I would love to work on big events such as weddings but I’m going to take it one step at a time and hopefully, I will get round to that. Engagements and hen nights are a sure thing, though.

Pinkies Cupcakes has earned a lot of good reviews – and having personally tasted them myself, I say you deserve them. What are you doing different?

I guess you might say for me, taste is more important than anything. I’d rather have a delicious-tasting cupcake than one that’s so lavishly decorated. I’m much more a substance over style kind of person, which is why my decor is a little more simplified compared to some of the cupcakes out there. I always worry that too much decorating will take attention away from the taste. Also, we only use fresh, top-quality ingredients and most of them are imported as well. I don’t use any preservatives and my fondant decor is painstakingly, but lovingly handmade.

What’s the best part of your job?

Working from home! My previous job had a lot of late nights and it’s no different with baking when you have a tonne of orders, but at least I don’t have to worry about coming home late at night, driving by myself, worrying that some nut job is going to tail my car. Also, I work on my own schedule, which leaves me more time to do my personal things (I haven’t been able to do that in 8 years so it’s good to catch up!). But the best part for me is that if I get too tired and need a bit of a rest – I actually can get it.

Words from the wise for our brides-to-be?

“You is kind. You is smart. You is important” – Aibileen Clark, The Help. I guess that’s the best advice that comes to mind from someone who has yet to unleash her inner Bride-zilla! :)

In all randomness: What’s…

…your favourite cupcake flavour?
Ooh, tough choice between red velvet with cream cheese frosting and chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Gun to my head, I’d say red velvet.

…the best food you’ve eaten at a wedding?
Sadly, it wasn’t a wedding that was here in Malaysia but it was at my cousin’s wedding in North Carolina. They served low country boil, which is basically sausages, shrimp, potatoes and corn boiled in spiced crab stock served on a bed of pilaf rice and steamed asparagus. I had to change out of my dress so I could eat some more!

…the strangest request you’ve had?
Nothing strange so far, unless you take into consideration some people who don’t pick up their orders and tell you to just “fridge it for them” till they are able to pick it up. That was two days after I had made the cupcakes. But I guess that’s part and parcel of starting out and working from home.

…the worst thing to see at a wedding?
Awkward speeches.

…your idea of romance?
John Cusack in Say Anything, boom box held above his head, playing Peter Gabriel’s In Your Eyes, serenading the girl he loves outside her bedroom window. Of course, if that ever happens to me, I’m sure my neighbours will be calling the cops.

Hungry? (wink). Drop Pinkies Cupcakes a note by visiting their Facebook page xoxo

Say hello to Debbra Lee, owner of Bisou

When it comes to celebrating, it seems that history would dictate that a cake should always be in the midst. And although modern weddings may have evolved to become destination do’s or garden soirées, one thing’s for sure – we still love to cut our cake (it’s your first task together as man & wife!). While there might be many wedding cake vendors around, Bisou Bake shop founder Debbra Lee decided to make life a little easier for the bride by offering a fab collection of ‘ready to wear’ wedding cakes that are easily customised to suit a wedding theme, and most importantly tastes good.

Today, we speak to her on wedding cakes and how she makes life as a mum, wife & entrepreneur -
a piece of cake *wink*.

You’re an overall supermum. The million dollar question would be… how do you do it?

Organisation! I have a diary and am very strict with myself.  I only work when my daughter Jordan is at school or in bed.  Otherwise my job is “mum”.

Having graduated with a degree in statistics – did you ever foresee that your love for cooking would become a career?

Nope, I never ever dreamed I would be doing what I am doing now!  But I’m glad that I am, as my first proper job was in stockbroking.  Imagine, if I had not lost my job due to the 1997 Financial Crisis… I would be a corporate. I’m very happy doing what I do as I have the best of both worlds, I get to be a mum and stay healthy while designing and coming up with recipes for new cakes! Such fun!

Tell us about your “ready to wear” cakes.

We started the wedding line as we were getting requests from our customers for their favourite Bisou cake to be made into a wedding cake for them.   So it really has been a customer-led addition to our usual line of cakes.

Our wedding cakes are very affordable, and we are able to do this through a sort of “ready to wear” line of cakes that can be customised to match the colour theme.  There are 5 designs, which we feel offers something to suit everyone, from pretty daisies to the tiniest forget-me-not.

Starting at RM900 for a 6kg 3-tier cake, the ordering process is so… simple!  Choose your cake design, then the colour and finally the cake flavour.  We also do pretty iced cookies, cupcakes and mini-cupcakes that match the cake and are perfect as favours.

Did you have a nice wedding cake when you married?

We had a very pretty wedding cake (it was an extremely simple 2-tier cake with a pink hibiscus on the top).  Unfortunately, the hotel lost it after we cut it… so I never got to eat it! So perhaps not such a good story to tell, haha.

What kind of trends are you seeing in wedding cakes nowadays?

I believe that more and more couples are looking for real wedding cakes. Be it a 3-tier traditional wedding cake or a cupcake tower, they want to eat their cake!

Cupcakes are still a huge trend at the moment and as we are the cupcake specialists, we do lots of these. From customized cupcakes stacked on tiered wedding cake stands to individually-boxed cupcakes as wedding favours – they are so versatile!

Your partner in life and in business – is your husband! Is it difficult working together?

Yes, Macland and I work together but we are also married and are parents to our daughter Jordan!  We do a lot of stuff together but we also allow each other to time to do things on our own. For example, Macland plays his football and basketball while I go to dance classes.  We share many or the same passions (food and sport!) but more importantly we have similar views on life, so working together is easy in that we have the same visions on how we want to run our businesses.

We’ve all heard that marriage is a lifetime of work. What’s your secret?

We have fun!  It is about having fun and laughing together.  Communication is really important; if we upset each other we talk about it.

Lastly, as a mum who manages to do it all – do you have any advice for our brides out there planning to start a family soon?

Enjoy the time with your husband before you get pregnant and before your baby arrives.  Once a child enters the picture it is no longer the same… it is fun and rewarding, but the dynamics of the relationship with your partner does change.

* For those of you still on the hunt for the perfect cake or cupcake, feel free to contact Bisou via their LWB page or  website for more information. Right, feeling hungry now :)

Decorative Light

Oh my, where do I begin? The possibilities are endless! You could have candles along the aisle all the way to the altar. Use them as centerpieces, with or without accompanying flowers. Dress up your guestbook table. Light up the garden without flipping a switch. Put them in candelabras, float them in bowls of water, cover them with hurricane glasses, stick them in sandbags, jam jars, your wedding cake – anything, really. Especially if you’re planning on an evening, outdoor ceremony, trust us – the candles are a must.

A colourful idea from More Than Light

Originality

Want something unique? Check out these rainbow flames from More Than Light. They use coloured oils in glass jars, and you can even opt for similar lamp versions instead. Jazz up your reception and choose the colours that go with your wedding theme. Cute – we loike :)

Scented Candle Tins by Lily Flame

Scent-sational

My first scented candle was a gift from my sister-in-law. One whiff and I was hooked. I can’t imagine the sensual and romantic impact of an entire hall filled with scented candles. You could even consult an aromatherapist on the best fragrances to perfume your reception with, as we know different scents have varying effects on people. Of course, there are no-brainer options – such as the sweet-smelling creations from Lily Flame.

The Unity Candle

Symbolism

Lots of couples choose to light a Unity Candle. Customarily, the mothers of the bride and groom light individual taper candles, which the bride and groom later use to light a tall, pillar unity candle – representing the union of two souls from two families. Let’s hear some vows or music while we’re at it. My favourite part? You can keep your Unity Candle and relight it on anniversaries, or when renewing your wedding vows.

Favours

Come on – who doesn’t love candles? I don’t know any girl who would say ‘no’ to a sweet little candle as a keepsake, and even the guys would recognise its value (especially during blackouts – sorry, wedding memories). You can even have the candles customised with your initials or pictures. Only got plain candles? That’s cool – put them in something nice, like a colourful glass container, wooden box, paper bag etc. It’s pretty and practical.

Accessories

The flower girl’s given you a path of petals, you already have a bouquet, and you’ve decided you didn’t want too many blossoms in the picture. Why not give the bridesmaids candles instead? When my cousins and I played bridesmaids at my sister’s wedding, we made our way into the dark hall with candles – it was simply beautiful, and the pictures looked phenomenal. Who knows? You might even like the effect enough to give your own bouquet a toss!

And if you still need a little more convincing, I shall leave you with this hilarious quote…

“After 29, a girl’s best light is candle and/or moon.” – Fran Drescher, “The Nanny”.

Too good to resist!

Lately, we’ve been seeing a lot of favours in the form of cupcakes, stationery, bunga telur even. Craving for something out of the norm? WGA suggests: personalised chocolates and candy!

Roc Candy, Australia

All Roc Candy is made by hand in their stores.

Design your own candy and order it through their online store. They can deliver straight to your door just about anywhere in the world. My friend gave them as favours on her big day and I have to say, these sweet delights are absolutely divine! Roc Candy sources only the finest ingredients, using essential oils for many of their flavours. What’s great is how all of their candy is vegetarian-friendly, nut-free & Halal-certified. And if you’re not big on sugar, they’ve developed a sugar-free range using the most up-to-date, gold standard, aspartame-free recipes. Pretty sweet, if I may say so.

Get your creative juices flowing and Design Your Own wedding candy. Select colours, names & flavours to suit your wedding’s unique theme. Click on their Pricing page to have a look at the many jars and bag styles available.

Delvaux, United Kingdom

Top: Petit Chocolat, Bottom: Neapolitan

I love how their website is so chic and sophisticated; you can never go wrong with a black background. Their Petit Chocolat chocolates are basically mouth-watering slices of heavenly Belgian chocolate, sealed in a wrapper of your choice. And guess what? They cost as little as 5p each! Their selection of flavours includes milk, milk mint and milk orange. All of Delvaux’s chocolates are gluten-free and are suitable for vegetarians.Your artwork can be sent to them either by e-mail or by post.

All orders with a value over £100.00 (exc.vat) are delivered FREE. Orders with a value of less than £100.00 (exc.vat) will incur a delivery charge of £5.95 (+vat). Please call them at 0800 371 428 for delivery charges for outside of the UK mainland.

Thorntons, United Kingdom

A Thortons shop in Banbury

Sigh, if only there were more chocolate stores back home in Malaysia. Since the takeover of Cadbury by US company Kraft, Thorntons is now the largest, independent chocolate and confectionery company in the United Kingdom. On 3 April 2007, Thorntons set up what is thought to be the world’s first edible billboard, yummy! You have to visit their website for a sneak peak of their wide range of personalised alphabet truffles. Word of caution: enter their site only if you have impeccable self-discipline, or else you’ll be making a trip to the gym, haha.

They deliver to most countries throughout the world and that includes Malaysia! For more information on delivery charges, click here.

By the way, Thorntons will be celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. Woot woot!

Chocolate Graphics, Malaysia

Take your pick!

Chocolate Graphics has been around in Malaysia since March 2005. Even though they haven’t been around for that long, their corporate client list includes Esprit, Johnson & Johnson and Sony. I love how on their FAQ page, one of the questions posted was: does the chocolate taste good? People are so succinct these days. Their answer: “Definitely! The chocolates are made from imported Belgian chocolate.”

You can place your order by submitting their online form or by contacting a Chocolate Graphics team member directly by:

Phone: +(603) 8023 8733 / Fax:+(603) 8023 3119

E-mail: info@chocolategraphics.com.my

Bon Appétit!

The joy of giving

Christmas may be near but this does not mean that wedding planning should grind to a halt. If you are busy filling up those Christmas stockings, then take advantage of this festive season to prepare gifts for your bridal party too.

Here at WGA, we’ve not stopped doing the two things we love best; weddings and shopping. Whilst salivating over Anya Hindmarch’s recent collection (especially since our interview with Anya Hindmarch, Malaysia), we’ve come up with our very own ‘Bridal Party‘ gift list. Scroll down and find out! We’ve got gift ideas for everyone; from simple gestures to thank your bridesmaids to gifts for both your mothers, or even if you just want to treat the most important person of all – you, the bride, of course!

1. To thank your ‘very patient’ bridesmaids, ’Especially when you were bride-zilla!’

A little something for being the bestest friends in the world!

2. To the best man and the groomsmen, ‘For behaving at the wedding!’

Laptop bag, glasses case and even a bag for their cables and chargers!

3. To thank your maid of honour, ‘For always being prepared!’

For those 'I can count on you' moments

4. To both your sisters, ’For all their hard work behind the scenes!’

Sisters are like your best friends and your best family rolled into one!

5. To thank both your mothers, ‘For throwing you the best wedding ever!’

For all the blessings in the world!

6. A little treat for yourself, something to remember ‘the best day of your life’!

Stunning evening clutches to dress up your wedding gown

Finally, an anniversary gift from your husband (in the years to come), ‘For when you actually share a ‘life‘ together…’ Okay, this may be too far stretched, but how adorable are these?

My brother's present to his wife, on their 2nd wedding anniversary.

The fabulous world of Anya Hindmarch

WGA recently spoke to Shea Pin, the MD of Anya Hindmarch (Malaysia), who was responsible for bringing Anya Hindmarch to the shores of Malaysia and was kind enough to share her success story with us…

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I was trained as a barrister in UK and practiced law for 20 years in Malaysia. When I turned 40 a few years ago, I felt  there was a passion I must fulfill… and that’s business. Coincidentally I met a friend who told me about a business opportunity and it turned out to be high-end fashion retail, and I thought, ‘Wow, why not?’

Shea Pin, MD of Anya Hindmarch (Malaysia)

Why did you choose to bring Anya Hindmarch to Malaysia?

The biggest challenge working in the fashion industry is to find the right brand that you truly believe in. The AH brand is always about beautiful craftsmanship and exceptional quality but all with an element of understated elegance and often with a subtle hint of humour. Despite its huge global success, it retains the special appeal of a niche brand and is not part of a group which makes it more unique and personal.

What was it like working with Anya herself?

It has been a great JOY working with Anya and her team. Despite her world-wide success, she is very humble, truly lovely and kind. She makes me feel like a friend more than a business partner and has always shown support in every way she can.

What is your key to success?

Success is a relative and subjective term and carries a different meaning for different people. I never feel truly ‘successful’ although many people have told me I am! I set very high standards for myself and never stop to search for higher standards. So I would say the key to success is having the right attitude and determination, working hard is essential but working smart is critical!

Work hard, but play hard too!

How do you strike a balance between work and life? (Shea Pin is happily married with two daughters whom she refers to as ‘the Angels of my life’)

It’s always hard to find a balance but I stick to the mantra of ‘working hard is a daily dosage for personal satisfaction but having fun in life is just equally tempting.’ I am still searching for the best way to balance life but I often discover that setting the priorities right is always a good start and all great things will just follow suit, I guess you call that the law of balancing!

Last Words:

WGA would like to express our special thanks to Shea Pin, not only for taking time out of her busy schedule to share her story with us, but also giving all the women out there, the courage to find their dreams and make them come true!

*Look out for our next post on WGA’s best picks from Anya Hindmarch’s collection for you and your bridal party!

Happy Christmas shopping, all!

Keep to your theme

If you have a distinct theme then keep it mind when you’re buying your wedding favours. I once attended a wedding where both the bride and groom were Middle Eastern and the wedding favours were these really exotic looking mini oil lamps wrapped in beads, so pretty! Of course if your theme is more general then you have a lot more freedom of choice.

Buy in bulk

If your guests are numbering in the hundreds (as is in the typical Asian wedding) then you can save loads of cash if you buy your wedding favours in bulk. Find a supplier offering what you’re looking for and place your order. Buying in bulk has been proven to be cheaper and if you’re planning on being economic with your expenditure, then there’s no two ways about it!

Think green

Going green is the newest trend in wedding planning nowadays and it wouldn’t be a bad idea if you considered a green wedding or at least green wedding favours. Think favours made using recyclable materials or placing ornamental plants as your centerpieces, which can be taken home by your guests after the wedding.

Buy something practical

You don’t want to be getting something that your guests will chuck into a corner once they get home so how about getting a practical gift? If you’re having your wedding outdoors and you know the weather will be warm, then a fan or something to help cool them off is a nice idea. Food is always a practical favour and has always been a favourite at weddings because it’s yummy and it is my belief that everything yummy is practical.

There you have it folks, no need to worry about what you’re gonna get as wedding favours now. Always keep in mind that whatever favour you’re considering is something you yourself would be happy to receive at a wedding. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to shop! :)

Back in 2002, Grant Thatcher realised there was a huge gap in the market when it came to travel guides for the stylish traveler. After all, not everyone is built for backpacking and some of us like it a little more plush, a little more… luxe.  So armed with an idea and a vision, he created LUXE City Guides, which has now become the staple for those who want to be ‘in the know’. With guides that cover destinations all over the globe, which tell you where to go when it comes to food, fashion and entertainment, it’s no surprise that these days, everyone needs a bit of LUXE.

Here’s our 5 mins with Grant Thatcher, founder & editor of LUXE City Guides:

There are many travel guides on the market, what makes LUXE City Guides so special?

First of all our guides have a sense of humour – a first for travel guides! But most of all we tell it like it is and we are not afraid to have a point of view. We tell you the best of the best and leave the rest. Not got a best friend in Seoul? Leave it to LUXE to show you around town.

How does LUXE find the best places in town?

We employ not only a local editor on the ground that knows the city inside out, but also we take the advice of around 20 stylish contributors who live and work in the city. We then send in our own editorial team to check out personally all the suggested entries. No other guide on the planet does this!

Tell us about LUXE online.

You can purchase your LUXE City Guides through our online store at www.luxecityguides.com . You can easily look through hotels, read in-depth reviews and book a room through our beautiful LUXE City Guides hotel & villa collections. How glamvenient is that! Don’t miss our blog, www.luxetasy.com which posts about the things that have caught the gimlet eye of our editors around the world.

LUXE also has mobile guides available! Good news for my Blackberry…

Yes, good news indeed. We have just launched Luxe City Guides mobile.

10 of our cities are now available in app format to download to many handsets including iPhone, Blackberry, Samsung and Nokia. And we are just about to launch 10 more!

The Legian in Bali and Ca' Sagredo in Venice are in the Luxe City Guides

WGA is all about weddings – how can our readers use the guides?

Our guides are perfect for use as wedding favours and they are perfect for weddings in foreign countries. A lot of customers order them to send out with their invitations to guests. Then of course our range of beautiful box sets are perfect wedding gifts and we offer a full customization service.

Each guide has a beautiful cover. But what lies beneath?

Up to 24 pages crammed full of hundreds of listings of the best of the best of a city.

The WGA Quiz

Best Spa in Bali: Ayana resort

Best bars/clubs in Hong Kong: Sugar, East, Sevva

Best shopping haunt in Melbourne: Christine

Best resort in Phuket: Trisara

Best (romantic) restaurant in London: La Poule au pot (classic old timer French) + guaranteed bedroom olympics!

Last words: OUR LAST WORD IS ALWAYS TTFN (Ta ta for now)!

* So there you go WGA readers, whether you’re planning a dream honeymoon, have a destination wedding to attend or is in need of some wedding favours – a LUXE City Guide should steer you in the right direction. Enjoy!

And on the upside, you don’t have to wade through traffic, park and what not… but simply shop as you please with the click of a mouse!

Here are our favourite picks:

Beach Wedding

Beach weddings tend to be smaller, more intimate affairs which in turn require a more personal wedding favour. Here at WGA, we like the ‘Fairytale picture frame’ where you can place a nice photo of yourself and your spouse-to-be. Plus it’s memorable and your friends and family will always be reminded of your wonderful wedding!

Chinese Wedding

There are a few cute things to choose from in the Asian category, but since Chinese weddings mean inviting half the town – I’ve chosen a favour that is funky yet affordable. These ‘Double happiness boxes with a gold bow’ make great packages which you can pop some chocolates or sweets inside of. After all, what do we like to do at a Chinese wedding? Eat & drink!

Western-styled reception

Though it is quite popular to opt for cupcake favours nowadays, I think candles also make a cute option. Weddingkarren.com does carry quite a few candles, but the ‘Happily Ever After Carriage Candle’ is my favourite… and at least it is inline with weddings!

Cute wedding favors

How about you guys tell us a lil bit about yourselves and how you met?

J: We met over a messy crab-eating dinner in good ole’ Port Klang about 10 years ago. Ben was working in UK at the time and was back on holidays. We didn’t hit it off, in fact we were so ticked off with each other, we didn’t want to have anything to do with each other!

B: Until today, I still don’t get why we were so ticked off with each other. We didn’t even speak to each other. Jo thought I was obnoxious and I thought she just had a bad day. It was anything but love at first sight.

J: As fate would have it, we met again on 11th of September, 2001 – that’s right, on the very day of the 911 disaster. We were seated next to each other while watching a play at the old Actor’s Studio in BSC and started receiving text messages through the night about the towers collapsing. It was then that things started to take off. Funny how it took a disaster to bring us together. LOL.

B: Actually, the back story to that was a mutual friend of ours actually set me up for a blind date with someone else that night. Turned out we hit it off instead.

How did you guys first discover this common passion for cupcakes?

J: I don’t know if we have a “common” passion for cupcakes. We have a common direction, a common goal and a common desire to achieve in business. Cupcakes came along because I love to bake and we saw an opportunity when we discovered a lack of beautiful and delicious cupcakes in Malaysia… and the entrepreneur blood in us, pounced on it.

Who was the genius behind the idea of starting a chain of cupcake stores?

J: Me!

B: Me! Well, it never started with this grand plan to open a chain of stores. In fact, we started small by setting up a booth at the weekend flea market at the Curve shopping mall – just to test the market. One thing led to another and before we knew it we opened a retail store. Having said that, we knew of the immense opportunity and the potential of a new market blossoming and felt we had a good chance to be one of the pioneers of the cupcake industry. So there was always this dream of having created a brand that could span across the country but it never really felt real until we opened our first retail store.

J: I think it was just a natural progression. We expanded as our level of maturity in business and minds expanded.

What goes on in the kitchen that makes your cupcakes so scrumptious and special?

J: That’s spilling the beans, don’t you think?:)  But if you really must know, it’s the love & joy we put into making those crazy, yummy cupcakes.

B: And you can see it and taste it. For instance, there is a certain style to which we frost some of the cupcakes such as our signature Fatal Attraction and Back to Basics. And it can be painstakingly tedious because everything is crafted by hand. Imagine frosting almost 1000 of those cupcakes everyday. You’ve got to love it to do it well! And it’s because we’re crazy about our cupcakes that we put in the best ingredients. Consumers can tell right away if you’re using good stuff – its in the smell, flavour, texture, mouth-feel & aftertaste.

So how does one order cupcakes for their wedding?

J: It’s very simple. Pick up the phone and call me (Jo) on 012-2101840 or email me at joanne@cupcakechic.com.my. We’ll sit down with you and discuss your theme and dream up the most beautiful cupcakes for your special day.

Finally… what else can a bride use cupcakes for apart from cupcake towers?

J: Cupcake wedding favors is a popular one. Hen’s night or Bachelor’s night are also good occasions for cupcakes. Save the date cupcakes are picking up in popularity (handing out a little sweet treat with your invitation).
A more recent one we did was for the games you play on the bride and groom at the wedding banquet – I believe the bride and groom had to eat the cupcake with their hands tied together…. A kiss was inevitable.

So there you have it folks! If you’re interested in having mouth-watering cupcakes on your wedding day or any wedding-related occasion for that matter, make sure you check out Cupcake Chic in our Little White Book. Or log on to www.cupcakechic.com.my for more info!