RANT 102

Hello Lovelies,

Pardon me cos I have come to RANT....

Why can't employees be truthful in dealing with their boss. I mean it is annoying, very annoying, and the worst part is when they get caught, the lie they come up with is EPIC.

So I caught my staff stealing my cutters for cake decorating. There my cutter was, right in her purse... and then I asked her, what are these cutters doing in your purse and then she goes.... I was going to tell you, I need it to decorate my birthday cake at home. Am like what????? you were going to ask me but already put it in your purse. Abi, shey na me dey mistake say, you will ask before you take ba.

Anyway, she didn't get fired... well not after her whole family don call me taya to beg.....

Have you caught a staff stealing from you before...please share your experience.

Have a Caketastic Week....

xoxo...

TRADITIONAL AND RECEPTION CAKES

Hello Lovelies,

How has your week been?? am sure we all are looking forward to the Holidaysss... sobs... am working on Monday though :( Wondering why??? I have a paid job and also run a cake business. Not easy but God has been my help and have got wonderful family and friends who encourage and support me 100%...Love them so much...muahh.

So this post is to show you the traditional and wedding cakes have done so far...not much but I love every minute I spent in making them look as pretty as the customer wanted. Enjoy...

To place an order email yelashcakes@gmail.com or call 08188636751.

Have a Caketastic day...

xoxo...

CHOOSING YOUR WEDDING CAKE/BAKER

Hello Lovelies,

Am sure we all enjoyed the holidaysss....

This post is for brides that do not have an idea on how to decide on their wedding cake. Often times I come across brides that have no idea on what they want for their wedding cake. In Nigeria, we believe the usual standard of wedding cake is to have 3 tiers or more (one for the couple, bride's parents and groom's parents). I wonder who came up with that myth but that has been the norm in our society today.

When choosing a wedding cake, a bride should consider the following:

• The Design/Color: Brides should know the design and color they want their cake to be. I personally love working on white cakes (my opinion) however a bride can decide to have the enter cake in the color of the event.

• Know your Baker: This is highly recommended. Do a research, look for bakers that you feel can work with your design. After you may have done your research, narrow your search down to 3 bakers you who want to handle your wedding cake, contact them to book a meeting (which most brides don't do). If you can't meet up with the baker, send your sister or a close friend you can trust to pick the best. Brides may also consider a baker via referral (referral is mostly practiced in Nigeria).

• Budget: Set a budget for your wedding cake. This is highly advised. However do not set unrealistic budget. Do not go to your baker with an elaborate cake idea with a budget for a 10 inch birthday cake. That's a no no....

• Flavor: Wedding cakes in Nigeria are usually fruit cakes covered with fondant icing and this is because they keep well due to our kind of weather. Brides are changing things up now by asking for sponge cakes rather than the norm however most bakers will recommend fruit cakes because it can be baked weeks before the wedding to allow time for decorating. But for sponge cakes, this has to be baked a day to the event which puts a strain on the baker.

• Take Notes: Whenever you discuss with your baker, always take notes so that you have records of the things you and your baker has agreed on.

• Secure your Date: After you have found your baker, discussed and agreed on the color/design and price, you need to secure your date with a Deposit. This should not come has a surprise when you are asked for a deposit from your baker. Paying a deposit shows a commitment which the baker has to fulfill and you know your cake will be ready or your big day (however balance is usually required 2 weeks to your wedding).

• Communicate: Do not stop communicating during and after you have chosen your baker. Make calls or send emails If you have any concerns or issues; it is always good to inform your baker in good time to avoid an itch free transaction.

There are a few more things that you need to consider however in my own opinion , I think the ones listed above should take priority when choosing a wedding cake/baker. I hope this helps every bride.

Have a Caketastic week...

xoxo...

MY LOVE FOR CUPCAKEsssssss

Hello Lovelies,

Anyone that knows me well will know I have a special thing for cupcakes. Cupcakes are very easy and pretty straight forward to bake, any amateur could bake and decorate a decent cupcake.

This post is all about my cupcakes. Here are a few pictures on cupcakes I have made so far... Enjoy. Click here for cupcakes recipe.

To order send an email to yelashcakes@gmail.com or call 08188636751

Have a Caketatsic day...

xoxo...

WEDDING CAKE DISASTER

Hello Lovelies,

Hope you are having a great week.

Today's post I will be sharing my wedding cake disaster just to encourage any beginner or a cakie person who is still struggling to find a balance in this business.

It all happened when I got a call from the bride's mother-in-law. She had received a fruit cake from my sister-in-law during the Christmas celebrating and immediately fell in Love with my cakes. She arranged an appointment with me and after our meeting she booked me for the big day. I got a call few days after from the Bride who happened to be someone I knew back in Uni. We exchanged thoughts and designs on what she wanted for her day and I was so much excited about making this cake.

Fast-forward to the wedding day, I got to the hall in good time to set up the cake but before we got to the hall, my assistant noticed a slight issue with one of the tier which occurred during transportation. It was something we could fix at the venue so I wasn't worried about it. So we setup the cake, took a few photos and waited about an hour to be sure that the cake had good balance then we left to meet up another delivery for the day. After about 30mins, I got a call from the event decorator...hello is this yelashcakes, your cake has fallen oooo, come back to the hall now and see it.. Errrmmmm, WHAT WHAT, how did that happen bla bla bla bla bla bla bla. Immediately jumped into the car and back to the hall I was. As I entered, I saw 3 tier still standing however the top cake which I had used a seperator to divide had fallen. I was heartbroken, all I could think of was the Bride, she won't be happy with this. There was nothing I could do to salvage the top teir, it was badly smashed that we had to bin it. I said to my assistant, no time to brood, lets figure how to make this 3 tier look good, so we took some roses out and used it to form a bouquet to seat on the top of the 3 tier cake. This time I instructed my assistant to stay in the hall until the event starts proper so she can guard the cake.

Lessons I took away from this cakie disaster: 

• Always arrange with the bride to have someone watch over the cake at the reception. Anyone could have hit the cake table (not intentionally) but I wasn't there to confirm that and nobody owned up to it.
• Always take photos of your cakes after setup. This was my saving grace as I had evidence of the cake standing before leaving the hall.

Here is a picture of the cake

The top part fell off so we had to work with the 3 tier alone.

We all have our fair share of disaster, no business can boast of disaster free, be it wedding cake, celebration cakes, pastries etc... It is our ability to come back from the disaster with a BANG that sets up apart from the lot. As long as you enjoy doing what you do, Keep Believing that your best is yet to come.

Have a Caketastic day...

xoxo..

CAKETASTIC JUNE

Hello Lovelies,

How have you been.... Yea I know I went awol again but am back...hehehehehe

The month of June was month of so many celebrations. I mean some of my Fabulous friends celebrated their Birthdays in June. It was a busy busy busy cakie month for me as i had so many orders lined up ranging from birthday cakes to wedding cakes to wedding desserts..whew..... However I enjoyed every moment I had decorating this cakes. Here are few cakes I did...Enjoy.

To make an order send an email to yelashcakes@gmail.com or call 08188636751

Have a Caketastic day....

xoxo...

CUPCAKE DEAL LIVE ON DEALDEY.COM

Hello Lovelies,

Yelashcakes and Confectioneries cupcake deal has gone live on Dealdey.com. Hurry now to book your box of yummy cupcakes at a ridiculously discounted rate. Click on the link to order yours http://www.dealdey.com/deals/box-of-twelve-tasty-cupcakes-in-four-flavours

Have a Caketastic week

xoxoxo.

DUSTING THE COBWEB

Not sure how to begin...... but am going to start anyhow.

So have started my cake business fully now while joggling a full time job as well...whew.... The internet situation has not encouraged me to write and show my work on this blog but am back now, I am starting to write again and I can only hope I continue (so help me God).

Have done a few jobs so far which includes engagement cakes for lovely friends and am looking to start training courses among other things. So am dusting the cobweb on this blog, its been too long, need to take this seriously. I would try update the blog once a week so as to carry you guys along on jobs done as well as short tutorials for intending bakers and cake decorators.

Have a Caketastic Week

xoxo....

HOME SWEET HOME

Hello Everyone,

I am sure some of you would have been wondering if have gone 'awol'....Nah, thats not the case. I just moved back home (Nigeria) and have been trying to settle down into the naija system, so pardon me for been quiet. Am almost settled now and will be bringing you more videos and post on my cakie journey in Nigeria. Will officially start baking again from next month, so please spread the word as YeLashcaKes is opened for Business. 

For enquiries and order placement, email yelashcakes@gmail.com or call 08023104177. First 20 orders will be delivered free anywhere within Lagos (Terms and conditions apply).

Have a Caketastic day!!!!

xoxo...

HOW TO 101: BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Hello Everyone,

Yayy, finally I got around making my first video and its on how to make a quick and easy buttercream frosting for cake decoration and cupcakes. There are different ways in making buttercream and this is one of the easiest way to make buttercream frosting.

A little warning though, this is not a perfect video, some mistakes… please don’t criticize me BIKO (please)…

Enjoy. 

Also sharing photos of some cakes I made recently.

Top: Red Velvet cake covered with  Buttercream frosting
Bottom: Vanilla sponge cake covered with Buttercream frosting

Vanilla cake, covered with Red sugarpaste and sugar decorations

More videos coming soon, keep coming back and feel free to leave comments

Have a Caketastic Week.

xoxo...

CAKIE MONTH

Hello Everyone,

Happy New Month!!!! 

This month will be very interesting as I look forward to the cakes I will be making, so I thought I should share a few cakes I enjoyed decorating in April. I don’t know about you guys but when am decorating, am very much happier, i switch to my cakie world with my favorite songs on replay on my playlist. Also my very first video tutorial will be this month (yea, I know have said that before *covers face*) but I promise you, on a serious note it’s this month. Anyways enjoy viewing the pictures..... 

Red velvet cake for a Twin Birthday

Red velvet cupcake for a Hen-do

Vanilla and Red velvet Handbag cake

Coconut and Vanilla cake for a church anniversary

Feel free to drop your comments and questions, I would respond as soon as a I can. Hope this month brings to you every good thing you all deserve.

Have a Caketastic month

xoxo....

RANT 101

Hello everyone,

Ermmm, pardon me as this is my first rant on this blog. So I got a cake order last week Thursday and I was sent the details as well as a picture of what the client wanted. Immediately I sent a reply back that it’s too short notice to get some things  I would need for the cake, thus I cannot achieve the exact replica of the cake and the response I got was a sad face and a go ahead from the client. I have an habit of messaging my clients before I start baking to double and triple check the order (especially the flavor) and I asked do you want a red velvet and the reply was I sent you a picture of what I want and I was like I don’t mean the decor I mean flavor and further asked if client wanted vanilla or coconut.

On the day of collection, the client sent me a message saying 'send me a picture of the cake', to which I replied I don’t have a picture of it on my phone because my phone camera is not the best for pictures and the memory card was full so I used my camera and the client said 'send me a picture so I send the rest of the bill (hmmm, meaning if I  don't send a picture i wont get the rest of the bill paid???...jokes). I decided not to respond to the message because I had another cake to finish up so I knew two things will happen, either comes to pick up the cake and balance the bill or Not. And then my buzzer sounded, client sent a friend to pick the cake with my balance and I can recall friend saying the cake is BEAUTIFUL.

Fast forward to some minutes later, I suddenly got a message saying this is not what I asked for; you can keep the cake and money. As much as I like to be professional some people just take the piss. I have worked in customer service for a while now and that sort of attitude does not solve any problem. Been rude or abusive would not get your dislike for a service solved. In this case it didn't because I knew I had not done anything wrong so I referred client back to the messages we exchanged previously.

In every business COMMUNICATION is key, maybe somewhere along the line, I or client may have misinterpreted a message I don't know. But I know a client won’t go into a shop, place an order and ask to see pictures before the rest of the bill is paid. Just because am a Home baker doesn't mean I will sell myself short, NEVER. Have got a day job so if I don’t bake, I would still earn a wage. Baking is what I enjoy and I won’t let anyone ruin that for me.

Here are the cakes I worked on this weekend:

This is the cake that was tagged RUBBISH

To a Lovely Mum on her Birthday

Vanilla cupcake... Click HERE for Recipe

11th year Anniversary of RCCG HOLYGHOST ZONE

The top tier is a Coconut cake and Bottom tier is Vanilla cake

Oh well, sorry to have bothered you with my rant, Hope you all have a Caketastic week.

xoxo...