5, 4, 3, 2, 1!

Having two children under 3 years of age means that there will alas be no wild new year's eve parties for us to send off 2011.  So, I was thinking... how do I make new year's eve a little extra special this year, well at least for me anyway.  Then the idea hit me... I might treat myself and buy a nice bottle of champagne to toast 2011 off in style.

I've been fortunate to try a few French champagnes in my life time.  It is a love that I wish I could indulge in more often.  Below are my top 5 out of the 7-8 that I have sampled in my 30 something years.
Each one invokes wonderful memories - all great periods of my life.

1. Dom Perignon

2. Bollinger - Special Cuvee

3. Verve Cliquot - Yellow Label Brut

4. Moet & Chandon - Brut Imperial

5 Louis Roederer - Brut Premier

And here are the top 5 on my wish list... Yes, they are all very pricey but I hope one day I'll be able to sample all 5 and add some more wonderful memories to my already blessed life.

1. Krug - Grande Cuvee

2. Perrier-Jouet - Bell Epoque Vintage

3. Louis Roederer - Cristal

4. Mumm - Cuvee R. Lalou

5. Dom Perignon - Champagne Rose



I hope whatever you will be doing, that you all have a happy new year and may 2011 be a special one.

Cupcakes Anyone?

I spent a delightful afternoon at a 'Cupcake Masterclass' yesterday at Cupcake Central in Melbourne Central Shopping Centre.  Together with a friend who also shares a passion for baking, we helped bake vanilla and red velvet cupcakes, create our fondant masterpieces and - my favourite part, pipe mounds of decadent butter cream onto our freshly baked creations.  Not only did they look pretty impressive but they tasted amazingly good.

Sheryl, the owner of Cupcake Central is quite inspirational. She left her life in IT and took a risk to follow her dream and it has paid off with two cafe/bakeries, the other being in Hawthorn.  She uses the finest ingredients she can find and you can certainly tell the difference when you taste her cakes.

So, if you'd like to spend an afternoon learning the fine art of baking and decorating cupcakes and of course come away with eight of your works of art and a beautifully presented case full of everything you will need to bake a dozen Devil's Food Cake cupcakes at home, check out Cupcake Central's website for workshop dates or just stop by and have a coffee and a cupcake or two.

Fancy Stationery?

Most women have a weakness for shoes.... For me, its bags!

Mainly because my feet are so small I can never get the shoes that I want in my size.

When this stunning Envelope Clutch caught my eye from Tiffany & Co, I was instantly sold.




Made of grain leather with palladium-plated solid brass hardware and the famous Tiffany Blue lining, I'm hoping Santa will be leaving this little number under my tree come Christmas Day.

Macarons

Who doesn't love a macaron with their coffee?

Nestled between speciality shops and cafes in Melbourne's Hardware Lane is La Belle Miette.  Melbourne's first specialist macaron shop, they are a small patisserie with over 15 gourmet flavours to choose from including: Moet et Chandon and Blackcurrant, Caramel a la Fleur de Sel and Cherry Blossom & Sake.

If you're in town doing a bit of Christmas shopping, stop by and sample 2 or 3 of these delicious treats or take them away in one of their beautiful packaged boxes.

Twelve Days of Christmas

As I excitedly flicked through my Dec/Jan issue of Donna Hay Magazine I came across this divine garland. 

The Twelve Days of Christmas have been stamped on each of these delicate ceramic hearts and joined together with festive red ribbon.

At $235 each you may think that they are quite expensive, but only 50 have been hand made.

So if you've fallen in love with these romantic Christmas garlands, be sure to hurry to Donna Hay's General Store as soon as possible!

Christmas Is Just Around The Corner!

Whilst I love to bake myself... I am no way close to being in the league of 

Natasha from Amelie's House.  Her gingerbread houses are the best I have ever seen.

Based in the UK, a baker, artist, designer and illustrator, Natasha also makes and hand paints cookies, cupcakes and cakes - including birthday and wedding cakes.

Have a look at these masterpieces below and be sure to check out her blog.



Welcome

Hi Everyone,
Welcome to All Things Nice.
I wanted to create a blog full of all the wonderful things I come across on my travels, via the internet and through friends and family.  I hope you enjoy the collection of beautiful things as I find them and share them with you.

Isy