Sunday 4 November 2012

Lulubelle's Cakes...

Today I was lucky enough to be invited to pay a visit to Lulubelle's Cakes, a beautiful boutique cake shop in Canford Cliffs and sample one of their gorgeous cupcakes in a jar!

You definitely can't miss the amazing shop front in all its pink gorgeousness! When I walked in I was greeted by Katie who chatted to me about the different types of cupcakes Lulubelle's makes and the cupcake decorating workshops they offer (I definitely have to get myself booked on one of those!)


The interior of the shop has a lovely vintage feel with a beautiful white stand displaying sweet treats and cupcake boxes. There was also a lovely line of jars containing coloured decorations and cupboards full of beautifully decorated cakes.




Everything in Lulubelle's is freshly made and they take everything they make from the kitchen at the back of the shop through to their workshop area to decorate so you can see the cupcakes being iced and pretty decorations being made.

Lulubelle's standard menu consists of twelve popular flavours named after their favourite people.

In the photo on the second shelf down front row you can see (L-R):

Poppy - which is an almond cupcake topped with jam and vanilla frosting
Savannah - a lemon cupcake with lemon curd and coconut frosting
Esme - a vanilla sponge cupcake topped with pink frosting
Keira - a banana cupcake with a layer of toffee and a vanilla frosting

Bottom row (L-R)

Millie -  a vanilla sponge with vanilla frosting
Ollie - a coffee cupcake with coffee frosting (my favourite!)
Archie - a chocolate cupcake with creamy chocolate frosting



Lulubelle's can send their Cupcakes in a Jar anywhere you want by first class post. All you have to do it chose your cupcake flavour, provide them with the name, address and a message for the lucky person and the date you'd like it posted and they will do the rest!

I tried the "Digby" cupcake which is a rich chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting. Inside, I got a lovely caramel surprise! The cupcake was decorated with a chocolate star on top and was presented in a cute glass jar with a pretty pink ribbon around the outside (I almost didn't want to open it as it looked so pretty!)




When I opened the jar the first thing I noticed was the amazing cupcake smell (the smell of baked goodness!) I made sure I put the spoon all the way down to the bottom so I got the full flavour, the frosting had a lovely texture, it was so creamy and the cupcake with the caramel inside was the perect combination as it was so moist. 



As well as all their amazing regular cupcake flavours, Lulubelles create a series of monthly special cupcakes which all fit a theme, past themes include an ice cream theme throughout August where they showcased cupcakes based on lollies such as Twister and Fab. In September they created cocktail cupcakes including Pina Colada, Bucks Fizz and a cupcake called The Screamer which contained coffee, cream and Baileys (yum!) .

This month the theme is "Like Grandma Used to Make" and they have designed a set of Lemon Meringue Pie, Apple Pie and Custard and Rhubarb Crumble cupcakes (check out the top shelf of my photo of the cupcake cabinet to see the Apple Pie and Custard and Rhubarb Crumble cupcakes!)

Also, keep and eye out for Movember themed chocolate toppers and Christmas themed cupcakes coming soon!

As well as cupcakes, Lulubelle's create bespoke wedding and celebration cakes, take a look at their celebration cake gallery to see what they have designed. The majority of their cakes are bespoke one off pieces and many customers trust Lulubelle's to create a cake that their family/loved ones/friends would love.

Lulubelle's also have Christmas covered with their Christmas preview party on Tuesday November 13th where they will be unveiling their Christmas range of cakes and homebaked treats over a glass of mulled wine!

Check out their Facebook page - Lulubelle's to contact them to arrange to drop in!

I know I'll definitely be visiting again!

Saturday 3 November 2012

Christmas at Prezzybox...

Although you might not want to admit it just yet, Christmas is fast approaching. Christmas is my favourite time of year, I love it when it starts to get dark on my way home from work and when the Christmas lights and German market start to appear in town....however, with todays busy lifestyle, how do you manage to fit in all that Christmas shopping that needs to be done? Well, this year I'm going to be getting everything online. Although I will miss the late night shopping evenings at my local shopping centre, I won't miss the crowds and last minute panic buying!

I've found a great website called Prezzybox where I can get everything I need all in one place and get it delivered straight to my door!

I always like to be a bit different with my presents and get something that I know my family wouldn't normally buy but also things that I know they would use. As my sisters are both at uni and I live with my husband, we can all get together at Christmas and have a laugh. I've bought my sister these moustache straws (I hope she isnt reading this!) and I know we'll be using them and taking silly photos with them for the rest of the day!

Although they do lots of novelty gifts (which I love) they also do experience days like tea at Harrods for two and a F1 racing experience day (which my husband would love!)

As well as being able to find gifts for my family, I've been able to make a wish list of the things I'd like so that my family knows what to get me!

Two items definitely on my wish list are,

This cake pop maker kit :


and these silicone cupcake moulds, perfect for all my baking!



Delivery is only £3.95 for standard or £5.95 for next working day and because the items come by courier you can track them and have piece of mind that they will be with you in time for Christmas.

Whatever kind of gift you're looking for, whatever age or personality you'll be sure to find something at Prezzybox!