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Mom's birthday is coming up next week and I thought of giving her cupcakes instead of the usual cake. I think it's nice to divert from the tradition and set off something new and exciting. There are limited cupcake bakeries here compared to New York but hey, I found that they are as good as it should be; moist, rich and delicious.

Among the typical vanilla and chocolate cupcakes, red velvets are the closest to my heart. For one thing I love the colour and the cream cheese frosting, to die for. I'm not a big fan of butter cream and that explains why I prefer cream cheese.

I found this delicious recipe that you might love. It's by Paula Deen and you can never go wrong with it.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons red food colouring
• 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•  

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1 pound cream cheese, softened
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• Chopped pecans and fresh raspberries or strawberries for garnish

This spring/summer is all about vivid prints, colours and textures, so we can expect to see plenty of eye-catching pieces emerging on the high street. Don’t worry if you prefer your colours a little more muted, however – another huge trend for summer is pastel shades, and particularly pastels that melt into one another.

Tie-dye has staged something of a comeback in keeping with the 80s/early 90s grunge trends that have swept the high street, and swirly shades of pink and mint green offer a softer, more feminine update on retro psychedelia.

So, to stay on-trend, stock up on block colour pieces or, if you’re feeling brave, neons: these look fabulous next to tanned skin, and could well become a weekend staple. For the working week, however, block colour dresses or striking separates look sophisticated and professional. To mix things up a little, try teaming two clashing pastel colour block pieces together for a welcome antidote to the usual greys and blacks of office wear.
Of course, if you prefer statement prints to plain pieces, you may be in luck. Perhaps the most all-encompassing trend this season is Aztec, Navajo and tribal prints. These bright, busy patterns blend geometric shapes with chaotic colour, and are best worn boldly on knitwear or skirts.

This may sound a bit much for the office, but these prints are summery and joyful, so if you’d like to introduce a little fashion excitement into the workplace, they’re perfect. Alternatively, for a more subtle nod to the trend, the high street is flooded with beaded cuffs and earrings in eye-catching turquoise.

Investing in a new summer wardrobe can be an expensive business, but there are ways to ensure you get the maximum amount of style for your buck, such as rewards cards from American Express. With an American Express Gold Card  you can earn reward points on virtually every purchase, so next time you find that must-have piece for summer, you can spend guilt-free in the knowledge that you’ll reap some fantastic rewards later!

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It's not very often that we see a balcony as stylish as this. I figured that if I have a space I would decorate it similar to it. I love how the owner mixed textures using furs and tweeds and added a pop of colour using pinks and greens. It might look a bit feminine at first but because of the grey tones it balances it out.


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