Ilayda Isabel'in 1.yasgunu pastasi :) Isabel Ilayda's 1st Birthday Cake

Gectigimiz hafta, son derece buyuk bir keyifle, cok yakin dostlarim Yesim ve Bora'nin guzeller guzeli kizlari Ilayda'nin 1.yasgunu pastasini hazirladim. Bir onceki sene buyuk bir kar firtinasi Washington DC'yi esir almisken dunyaya gelen sevimli Ilayda'nin dogumgunu pastasi konsepti icin Yesim bu yuzden kar tanelerini secmisti:) Mavi ve beyaz renklerin hakim oldugu pastayi hazirlarken cok buyuk bir keyif aldim. Kaplamasinin daha da lezzetli olmasi icin ufak bi supriz de yaptigim bu lezzetli pastadan bir tane misafirler icin, bir tane de ozel olarak Ilayda'nn kendisi icin hazirladim. Yesim'in son derece ozenli bir sekilde hazirlamis oldugu partiye katilmis olmaktan da son derece mutlu oldum.  Dogum gunun kutlu olsun Ilayda, iyi ki dogdun:) Daha fazla fotograf icin Butik Tatlilar kismina bakabilirsiniz.

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Last week, I worked on my close friends Yesim and Bora's daughter Ilayda's 1st birthday cake. Ilayda was born during the big snow snorm of Washington DC last year, therefore, Yesim chose the "snowflakes" concept for the birthday cake:) I enjoyed very much while preparing the cake which was blue-white in color. I prepared one for the guests and one fo Ilayda alone. I also made a small trick to make the fondant taste even better (my little secret). I also enjoyed the birthday party very much which was decorated very nicely by Yesim.  Happy birthday Ilayda, I wish you a very happy year:) For more images you can look at Boutique Desserts section.

Got any plans for Valentines Day? :)

According to the shopping schedule-we all know what this means- the nextmilestone is the Valentines Day :) Apart from the shopping experience, I would like to point out some very unique suggestions for you and your loved ones to share during the month of love for those of you who live in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area! Please visit Culture and Arts section of Chez Elif for details. I believe Valentine’s Day is a special day that should be celebrated with anybody that is important to you, who touches your life and will be next to you no matter what happens.

Happy Valentines Day!

Some highlights from my suggestions, for more please visit Culture and Arts :)

Most Romantic Restaurants in the Washington, DC Area (from About.com)

Looking for a romantic restaurant to celebrate your special occasion for this Valentines Day? It always feels easy to pull out these names but when it comes to our busy schedule it becomes a problem in the last minute. Therefore I referred to one of the most reliable websites for this decision; about.com and here are their wonderful suggestions below. These special restaurants have great food and are among the best restaurants and the most popular in the region. They are all expensive and require reservations. Be sure to call ahead to make a reservation at least a few days in advance. For the list please see Culture and Arts:)

Or, you might want to experience this special night at the Potomac;

Take a romantic cruise and enjoy a night of dining, dancing and live entertainment, while cruising past the beautiful views of Washington, DC. Make a reservation on the Odyssey or the Spirit of Washington.

Or, try an adventurous Valentines Day this year with Terrapin Adventures

 
On February 12^th and13th between, 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. be at the

8600 Foundry Street Savage, Maryland

. Special adventure package for couples is $75/couple includes three hours on the zip line, giant swing, high ropes course, and climbing tower with free hot chocolate, Hershey kisses and gifts from the merchants at Savage Mill. For more information you can call (301) 725-1313

Or, attend a wonderful concert at the Kennedy Center

Be with Chris Botti at the Kennedy Center PBS favorite and Grammy Award-winner, jazz trumpeter Chris Botti will perform at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Valentine’s Day, Monday, February 14, 2011. Botti, who has become the largest-selling American jazz instrumental artist, gained four No. 1 jazz albums since the release of his 2004 CD When I Fall In Love.

Or, laugh a lot at this Valentines Day at All Stars Comedy Club

Be at the All Stars Comedy Club fir their Valentine's Day Show. Enjoy a night of laughter with stand-up comedy featuring three professional comedians from HBO. Special packages are available to add dinner and a hotel room. The Club is located in Arlington, Virginia. Reservations are required please call (410) 212-3568 OR (703) 739-7377.

Also, before the Valentines Day you might want to enjoy Giselle with the Mariinsky Ballet

Please visit Culture and Arts for more information.

Yeni lezzetli ve sevimli kurabiyeler yaptim! / I made more delicious and fun cookies! :)

Gecen hafta cok sevdigim arkadaslarim Uli, Laura ve Anna ile bulusmaya gitmeden once kendime hakim olamadim ve onlar icin renkli mi renli sevimli mi sevimli badem aromali kurabiyeler hazirladim. Sizlerle paylasmadan da edemedim. Daha fazla resim icin Butik Tatlilar kismina bakabilirsiniz. Sevgiler :)

Elif
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Last week I wanted to bake delicious cookies before going to our get together with my dear friends Uli, Anna and Laura:) They were almond flovored, colored and fun cookies. I couldn't help myself but share with you all. For more images you can visit Boutique Desserts section. All the best:)

Elif

Isik'in Atolyesi / Isik's Atelier

Yeni bir yilda hepinize tekrar merhabalar. Acisiyla tatlisiyla koskocaman bir 2010 yilini arkamizda biraktik hatta yeni yilimizin ilk ayini yariladik bileJ Cok guzel ve mutlu gececegine inandigim 2011 yilindaki ilk yazimi canim annemin el emegi ile ortaya cikardigi enfes  tablolarina ayirmak istedim. Sanatci genlerimi kimden aldigim boylece su yuzune cikmisken kendisi ile cok gurur duydugumu soylemek istiyorum. 

Herbiri birbirinden canli ve harikulade olan bu tablolar icin blog’umda ayrica “Isik’in Atolyesi” isimli bir sayfa olusturdum. Simdiye kadarki calismalarinin yani sira bundan sonra  uretecegi diger calismalarini da burda sergilemeye devam edecegizJ Eger cok begendiginiz bir tablosu olursa bana isikertekin@gmail.com adresinden ulasmaniz yeterli J

Isik Ertekin kimdir?

1958 yilinda Gonen’de dogan Isik Ertekin iyi derecede Ingilizce ve Fransizca bilmektedir. Calismalarina once ahsap boyama ve vitrayla baslamis olan sanatcimiz, daha sonra calismalarini yagli boya resimler uzerinde yogunlastirmistir. Pek cok eserini bu blog’da Isik’in Atolyesi bolumunde gorebileceginiz Isik Ertekin ‘e isikertekin@gmail.com adresinden ulasmaniz mumkun.

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I would like to say Happy New Year once again before starting my very first blog in 2011. We officially ended 2010 and are almost halfway thru the first month of 2011 already! I wanted to spare my first blog of this wonderful beginning to my beloved mother’s exceptional paintings. I would like to point how proud I am with her who is abviously the source of my artistic genres J

I created a special page for her paintings labeled as “Isik’s Atelier” where I will not only present her completed artworks only but also will share her ongoing paintings as well. If you come across to a painting that you love so much -as much as I doJ -you can contact me via isikertekin@gmail.com

Who is Isik Ertekin?

Isik Ertekin, who is fluent in English and French, was born in 1958 in Gonen, Balikesir, Turkey.  She started her artworks with wood painting and stained glass studies after which she focused on oil paintings. You can see almost all of her artwork here in this blog under Isik’s Atelier section and you can contact her via isikertekin@gmail.com