A New First – NFL Pep-Rally

Last weekend I had my first NFL type experience…and it was awesome!

Saturday morning I woke up nice and early to meet Ally (I had to be at hers for 7am…so yes early for a saturday!). Her other friend was already there, so we got wrapped up and headed to Wembley where everything was being held for the pep-rally type event, the day before the game.

We did stop halfway, at Waterloo, for some breakfast to fuel us for our day and a nice Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte to get us going. Yummy!

This weekend was the Cowboys vs the Jaguars, and it was the first time ever that people were being allowed in to the stadium to watch the walk throughs – for all those out there who don’t know American Football terms, just like myself before saturday (and my knowledge is still limited!) this is the time the coaches and players will walk through their different plays they would use for the game on sunday.

We queued from 8.30 to ensure we were in the 2,000 lucky people allowed to watch, and upon getting in found a seat on the front row!

The first thing I noticed were the poppies which were designed over the seats in Wembley stadium. Look how awesome they look…

We sat down and watched the videos on the screens of the cowboys, music videos and other NFL related things. The cheerleaders came on twice – the cowboys cheerleaders are said to be the most well-known cheerleaders! They were really good, if not looking a little chilly in their outfits 😛 There’s me in 6 layers and them in cowboy boots, short shorts and long sleeved crop tops! 

The commentator did a couple interviews with fans from the crowd which was a nice touch too! The lady he interviewed had come from Texas to watch the game – such a supporter!

The Cowboys then made their way on to the pitch. They did their warm up from the midway line out to the 10 yard line, numerous exercises from heel flicks to side steps and skipping, before splitting into two lines down the side of the pitch and the coaches running through the plays in the middle. It was fab to see, even if in slowed down time, but was over rather quickly. I think overall they were on the pitch for about 20mins.

We then headed out to the carpark where everything else was being held. They had a number of food stalls, budweiser tents, NFL games for the public to play and a stage.

We grabbed a hot drink and headed to the stage to watch the cowboys interviews with the UK commentator. It was great to get to watch this. The coach and several players were all interviewed – all were very pleased with London and the welcome they got. It was great to hear their passion and definitely made it more real – you don’t get this with english football, going to watch interviews on a stage outside.

The cowboys making their way to the stage through the crowd

The interviews on stage

We popped off to get a drink, Ally bought some merchandise from the huge pop-up NFL shop near the carpark, and we met a few more of Ally’s friends before watching the Jaguars enter the outdoor area and their interview.

The Jaguars are London’s official team- they’re the ones you’ll see advertised when London holds NFL events on Regent Street etc. They had great personalities, looked pretty fun and showed just as much passion for the game. They appeared really pleased with everything in London too and said they’d even been out selling poppies during the week! The Jaguars’ cheerleaders also performed on stage before we headed off for some lunch and to escape the cold.

When we came back to the NFL festivities after lunch, we went to explore the games they had. Ally and I enjoyed watching the competitiveness between the guys, while they tried to beat the speed game – a game where you have to hit the button which is lit, of which there are about 10 spread out across a board taller than you and three times as wide..it looked pretty fun.

We then headed to the NFL Lab where again we enjoyed watching others take part – it was too cold, and to be honest I don’t play ball games for a reason 😛 They had numerous challenges, including throws, a vertical jump and a 40yard dash to finish. Again it looked super fun, and if I was to go again (perhaps if a little warmer) I would definitely give this a go!

Unfortunately the cold then got the better of me and I decided I couldn’t be out in it any longer. I’d had so much fun but it was time to head home and warm up!

I didn’t go to the actual game, but that’s my plan for next year!

First up though, Ally is going to get me watching the SuperBowl at the beginning of next year. I will let you all know how I find it.

Chloe xx

Pop-Up Baking Boutique Masterclasses – Brick Lane

I wrote not too long ago about wanting to get better at baking and the pop-up boutique which was coming to Brick Lane (read post). Well it’s here!

Thursday night I was lucky enough to be invited to the launch – an evening of mingling and learning new techniques from Juliet Sear – cake and baking expert, author of The Cake Decorating Bible and Even Better Baking Ambassador.

The Pop-up is reasonably easy to find, it’s located at 12 Drays Walk, Brick Lane but it’s inside Ely’s Yard – the same place as the ZICO Smoothie pop-up.

I turned up at 6.30pm and was greeted by Lucy (one of the team behind the running of the Dr Oetker Baking Boutique). She invited me in, offered me a drink and I started talking to one of the brand ambassadors about the boutique, the layout and what they had on offer.

The Dr Oetker Beter Baking Boutique is set out over the two floors of the shop. On the lower level one wall had all the products which are available to buy, as well as a till area, and a wooden table in the centre with baking equipment on to help create the atmosphere. This is where most people were crowding to mingle and network.

I loved the wall on the left as you walk in – a huge wall which asks you questions and directs you to the chocolate you would most like. I know, all chocolate right? But this was really cool!

Upstairs is where they hold the masterclasses, with a big work bench where all participants can be seated around the outside with the person holding the masterclass on the other side for demonstrations.
Upstairs also had a board where everyone could post their favourite baking tips – I thought this was an awesome idea too! A great way to share knowledge and learn a few cool tricks or new twists.

These are my favourite ones…




After browsing all the amazing tips, I spoke to a few people attending the event as well as those helping to run the pop-up.

A short while later we were all invited to go up and take a seat for Juliet to start her masterclass.

She opened with telling us a bit about herself and that she made Fearne Cotton’s wedding cake!! Just WOW! 

She then went through a few different techniques – making icing roses, robin cupcakes, snowman cupcakes and pigs. She went through the different designs step by step, allowing us to answer any questions we had and giving us some really good tips on how to make the best!

Cutting the icing to make her sugar rose

Using the plastic wallet to squash her petals for the rose

Putting the rose together

Juliet icing on top of a fondant topped cupcake

We then all got chance to decorate and experiment ourselves, using the techniques Juliet had shown us or to freestyle…I’ll let you in on the rose technique too…

Juliet going around the room helping with any queries or questions people had as they worked on their pieces of art 🙂

So here’s the inside information on how to make a rose…

Roll a ball of fondant into a sausage and cut into sections. You’ll need about 6. Make sure your surfaces have a light layer of icing sugar to stop sticking!

Using a plastic wallet (yes from the stationary section), cut down the side and along the bottom, place the pieces inside with enough space between them.

 Cover the pieces of icing with the other side of the wallet and use the base of your thumb to squash the circles. Then use your finger tip to smooth one side of every petal – this will form the delicate curved edge which looks like the outside top edge of the petal. (Photo below doesn’t have the smoothed off edges)

 Open the wallet and peel the first petal off. Carefully stretch the first one out, roll the one side back a tiny bit. Roll the first one to make the centre piece of the rose. Start attaching petals to the outside, overlapping the last petal and each petal added being slightly higher, the thinner edge being on the top – the petals slightly curving outwards, like a rose would. You should keep going until the rose looks even all the way around.

I then iced a cupcake with Dr Oetker cupcake icing to attach the rose.

How cute does this look? They’d look awesome if you used the Dr Oetker shimmer spray over the top too! Slightly wishing I had done this too!

I also made a robin cupcake with the Dr Oetker chocolate cupcake icing, coloured fondant and the black gel colour for the pupils.

I really liked this one! I think I’ll definitely make these again!

I also did a bit of free styling on my last cake. It was so much fun getting to try out the different products, tools and have the help of Juliet’s tips too.

Everyone’s cupcakes looked amazing! Looking around the table it seemed everyone else was having so much fun too. There were some really cute cupcake designs.

At the end we got to take our cupcakes home…

I said goodbye to all the lovely people I’d met, and left with a goody bag with a few Dr Oetker bits and pieces in – Excited to use these!

I didn’t buy any of the Dr Oetker range whilst there the other night, but I will definitely be going back to purchase baking goods before they close. Their products are awesome, they make decorating interesting and so much fun and some of them even help make things easier & better!

I will be putting my new found tips and skills to work this christmas with presents and events, so keep an eye out. I have no excuse not to get back into baking!

What Dr Oetker products have you used? Which are your faves?

Chloe xx