Sunday Favorites

It's been a somber weekend as my YeYe (paternal grandfather) finally passed away after suffering a set of serious strokes 3 years ago. He never got out of the hospital bed since the strokes. I'm fortunate to have been able to spend time with him about 2 years ago when I went back to visit, and I'm glad he's probably had the chance to say goodbye to everyone at this point and vice versa. We will certainly miss him, but I hear that our family back in China is able to focus more on the positive things we want to remember about him at this point. I'm sad not to be able to attend his funeral, but my dad's on his way back now and will bring the best wishes of all of us who can't make it. As I was just telling my friend, I'm doing okay but I've still lost so few people close to me that it definitely hits me still. Just the concept of having someone being gone forever (no offense to anyone who is, but I am not religious) is still so difficult to grasp. I think I'm more sad for my little sisters growing up without our grandparents than for myself. I'm sure we'll keep their spirits alive through stories though =).

On a happier note, I felt like this would be a good time to restart my Favorites posts and focus on some joyfully beautiful things that are in our world. As pretty as my picks are, I don't just post them for looks.  I save the works that inspire me from all sorts of artists to serve as a constant reminder of what's possible to make with our mind and own 2 hands if we just set the mind and heart to it. As you surely have noticed, I've developed quite a passion for cake decoration in the last year, and I need to remember to practice practice practice to hopefully reach the level of these artists I admire one day. As usual, I hope you feast your eyes on these wonderful works!

Stunning Wedding Cake with Glittery Stripes and Peony Flowers by The Cake That Ate Paris

Vanilla Tea Photograph from Alicia Buszczak (Stylist)

Baking Ingredients Photograph from Ingwervanille

AMAZING Nautical Wedding Cake (Photograph by Green Tree Photography; Cake Artist Unknown)

Chicken Rice Noodle Soup from My Cooking Hut

Baklava Bars from The Pretty Blog

Pomelo Drink from Sarie Magazine

Bruleed Baked French Toast from Bakers Royale

Wedding Dress-Inspired Gold Lace Wedding Cake by Blissfully Sweet Cakes

Feather Flower Brooch by Jewel Box Ballerina (Tutorial can be purchased from her Etsy store)

Chinese New Year Cake by Bloom Cake Co.

Paper Quilling Art by Yulia Brodskaya

Strawberry Whole Wheat Tart from Inside the Bag

Peacock Wedding Cake by Sugarbelle Cakes