A few years ago, when I was still living in Colombia, I took a week long training with the Colombian Coffee National Federation where we learned the difference between Arabica and Robusta coffee varietals. During that week we also experienced the different grades of beans and the styles of roast. Arabica coffee is consider the best bean, it is delicate, highly aromatic and it is the bean grown in my beautiful Colombia. I like to compare the production of coffee with the production of wine, or chocolate for that matter. The best beans, or grapes, produce the more distinctive coffee to land product or "terroir" as the french will say, and the roast is the "wine makers touch" the end result is a premium product, be it coffee or wine.
I was quite glad to find a coffee shop here in Denver where the coffee, and its true flavor and nuances, is the main objective, no frills sugary syrups of flavored coffee, which I still can't understand.
The coffee is well balanced, nicely roasted, not too light and definitely not too strong, or almost burnt as many places I had visited.

I had the pleasure of working with a super nice bride who had a clear vision of what she wanted for her wedding. Her choice of decor and the vendor to help her put it together was spotless.

It paid of! her wedding is being featured in Style me pretty's blogs and you can follow the link to find more images... Beautiful job!
http://www.stylemepretty.com/2013/03/14/colorado-wedding-from-laura-murray-photography-bespoke-style-studio/

 This was definitely the year of the sugar flowers for us, not just for wedding cakes but for bridal showers and baby showers, like these cute mini cakes.

 Lovely sugar succulents and roses on this classic dotted cake


and a oh so beautiful sugar magnolia on this modern square cake.
Hats of to 2012 as it was a great year!

 Here are some other wedding cakes we made over the summer, no sugar flowers but equally beautiful!

 These 2 cakes were a lot of fun! Both designed with wood grain in mind - different type of tree of course- and adorned with lovely sugar hydrangeas, roses and tulips.
 For this wedding we also recreated the groom's favorite coffee mug which has a hand painted image of the Colorado mountain range

 This was by far my most favorite flower to make. Its intricacy is in the simplicity of its look and its delicate vibe.
 The ruffly cake and the dessert studded table complemented this beautiful flower very well. Enjoy!

 I loved loved loved this cute cake, the sweet colored sugar flowers were my favorite!

 We had a great sugar flower year and i loved it! Several posts will be dedicated to them

This past spring we had the chance to finally go to Europe. We were lucky enough to visit France and Germany and to see some amazing places full of history and charm.
Our trip started in Paris , Bien sur, arriving at Charles de Gaulle airport which i must admit i was terrified of based on the reviews from other travelers of how complicated it was to get around and how most likely our baggage was going to get lost. Luckily neither one happened!
From the airport we took the Roissybus (for 10 euros each) which took us to the opera house station where we took a train to our destination. Easy enough you might think! and it was until we couldn't find the entrance to the train station and i was forced to "man up" and use my broken french with un homme Parisien... i can only imagine what he was thinking as he was explaining with his 1000 word a minute petit discours where to go and seeing my "deer caught and head lights" look. What would one do without hand gestures!

We had previously arrange a studio apartment in Le Marais, a very historic area of Paris which spreads between the 3rd and 4th arrondissements (districts). I had found it in a vacation rental by owner website - VRBO from Home away
The apartment was perfectly located in a very charming neighborhood with 3 train stations within 5 minute walk, great Patisseries and a mini market. It was tiny but perfect for just the two of us, plus there was a laundromat on the first floor of the next building over which was perfect for us since we had 3 weeks to travel but only one suitcase each.
Every morning we will get freshly baked croissants and Pain au chocolat with dark coffee and my husbands favorite super creamy best ever yogurt. I really don't know what it is but the yogurt in France is awesome!

After arriving at the apartment and settling with the owner out we went. First we had to stop by Champs Elysees to pick up our Louvre Museum tickets which i had order online to save time in line at the museum.
Of course while at the most famous street in Paris we stopped for Le sandwich, a few chocolates from La Masion du Chocolat and some macarons from Laduree.



















We have been looking forward to visiting the Louvre and were equally confused on what would be the "must see" As we are walking around the massive crowds trying to absorb the massive amounts of art and history it hit... jet-lag! We sat down for a minute and realized we have to lay down or it wont be pretty so we did, back at the studio. Fortunately we had arrive on a Friday one of the museums extended hours day and after a power nap back we were!

It was April and on most years it is a "mild" weather month but not this one. It was SO cold! we were wearing all of our winter cloths including underpants. We had one "beautiful" day of mostly sunny skies of course with the every 30 minute rain shower in case we were starting to forget it was supposed to be rainy and miserable.
























But some our favorite memories where made in the everyday life of Paris. On Sunday morning we walked to Le Marche du Bastille. The town was very much alive with the cafes full of patrons having Le Brunch (yes they also steel English words). The market was a perfect way into a day in a Parisians life. We walked away with fresh produce, the iconic bagette, and some great finds such as different sea salts, honey and jams, which we are still enjoying.

























The day before our departure we were looking for a Jazz bar and stumbled upon a Salsa club. Being from Colombia I'm very picky about my salsa but this was Paris and just the idea was fascinating.
We danced the night away in a very very HOT and quite sweaty Salsa club in Paris.


 We loved the romance and quirkiness of Paris and look forward to visiting again someday... I am still dreaming with the Macarons from Pierre Hermes and the long walks and even the rain!


 And of course the hot chocolate!


"La Lettre P..." is a song from the Paris Combo, a tribute to the modern ways of Paris

 This summer was full of beautiful weddings, from elaborated cakes with sugar flowers to clean and simple.
I have been away from writing and publishing photos.
Lets get started with a couple!