The event’s invitation promised a celebration with desserts and drinks, a curious mix to welcome the holiday season. It also mentioned a surprise.
A Toast to the Holidays! was crafted to usher in the holiday festivities for the friends of Grace Barbers Baja, otherwise known as The Spoiled Mummy in the online world, who is a self-confessed and unabashed lover of desserts and other sweet things.
It is an event from where Grace takes a step back and looks at the little successes made sweeter because of the well-meaning and generous support of friends; at the discoveries made more enjoyable because of the generosity and talent shared wholeheartedly; and at the encounters with so many people who’ve become new friends, collaborators, partners, and conspirators for an inspired and meaningful year.
It is a day for thanksgiving, as much as for celebration, to mark this year of milestones. For Grace, one significant thing to note is the development of her alter-ego: the entrepreneur who has successfully launched a childhood dream, the line of home accessories and scents, aptly called Grace Home.
The Kirov Model Unit in Rockwell Center was the stage for the afternoon’s thanksgiving celebration.
First, the expected: a showcase of desserts laid out for sampling and for the guests’ enjoyment. These sweet treats, from cookies to cakes to crepes and ice cream, take their place on elegantly styled tables. The tasteful restraint in presentation only enhances the well-curated list of favorites, personally selected by Grace, The Spoiled Mummy herself. These, she says, are some of her favorite desserts.
These treats are paired well by some choice drinks (specialty coffee, tea, and bubbly— choose what you please, or all) and a few delectable savories as well.
And then, a charming spectacle takes place: Cakes and Cocktails Appreciation by Erwan Heussaff and Carmela Villegas-Agosta. The pair’s half-hour interactive talk demonstrates the preparation of cocktails with desserts (and vice versa). It is an unusual concept for a holiday party, which suddenly makes sense upon the realization that there is a proper way of pairing desserts with drinks after all.
And then the surprises keep coming in; a raffle of a few favorite things spoils guests throughout the day.
Finally, to talk about what was unsaid in the invitation… This, take note, is the highlight of the entire event. The main occasion is the debut of the latest Grace Home product. This new Grace Home Candle in Vetiver, Blood Orange and Almond is a response to the need for something new and special this holiday season. Our hostess, Grace Barbers Baja, has embraced her entrepreneur’s journey with much appreciation, happily noting the wonderful reception of her first Grace Home products, to which she knew a special follow-up was just as necessary.
All Grace Home products are on display and for sale for the perusal and enjoyment of guests. The beautiful setup, with its natural elements and sophisticated details, is all prepared and thought of by The Spoiled Mummy for Grace Home—or vice versa, as there is simply no way to separate one from the other.
A Toast to the Holidays! attempts to present the multifaceted life of a creative and passionate mummy in the simplest of ways: by the gathering of family and friends, enjoying each other’s company, and simply taking pleasure in life’s little indulgences. Because, as we all know, life is always made sweeter and better when we are surrounded by sumptuous desserts!
A Toast to the Holidays! is made possible through
the generosity of friends of The Spoiled Mummy and Grace Home.
CANAPES
Jindi Brie Cheese, Artisan Cellar Door
Cinco Jotas Jamon Iberico, Artisan Cellar Door
Chorizo Ibérico y Manchego Dip mixed with Garlic Confit, Art of Pie
Caviar Pie, Art of Pie
Foie Gras, Macaroni and Raclette Verrine, Le Petit Soufflé
Porc Kebab on Miso Bourguignon Demi Glace, Le Petit Soufflé
DRINKS
Ruggeri Argeo Proseco, Artisan Cellar Door Premium Pour-Over Coffee, Refinery Iced Salted Caramel Latte, Refinery TWG Tea, courtesy of La Creperie
CAKES AND COCKTAILS APPRECIATION
Cocktails by Erwan Heussaff (Crisp on 28th) Cakes by Carmela Villegas-Agosta (Crisp on 28th) Blood Orange Mai Tai
Pistachio Nog
Rose-Strawberry Fairy Cake
Citrus Fondant au Chocolat
DESSERTS
Crupcakes, Cupcakes by Sonja
Tres Leches Strawberry Cake Cups, Cupcakes by Sonja
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries Ice Cream, Fog City Creamery
Orange and Almonds Ice Cream, Fog City Creamery
Gâteau Mille Crepe in Salted Butter Caramel, Matcha Green Tea, Chocolate, and French Vanilla, La Creperie
Manchego Parmigiano Reggiano Cheesecake, Le Petit Soufflé Strawberry Watermelon Cake, Le Petit Soufflé Compost Cookies, The Bald Baker
Orange Miso Cookies, The Bald Baker
Banana Loaf, The Bald Baker
The Grace Home Chocolate Decadence Cake, The Flour Girl Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries, The Sweet Life by Ange Ombré Cake, The Sweet Life by Ange
Pastel Rainbow Cake, The Sweet Life by Ange
Rose and Vanilla Grace Cake, Scout’s Honor
Dark Chocolate, Strawberry, and Sea Salt Monster Cookies, Scout’s Honor
Coconut Pie, Wildflour Café
GIFTS
Crisp on 28th Gift Certificates
Stellina’s Lemonade
California Crunch Cassava Chips
SURPRISES
La Prairie Gift Packages
Beyond Yoga Gift Certificates
VENUE
Kirov Showroom, The Proscenium, Rockwell Center
Flower Arrangement, Te Amo
The first Grace Home Candle in Rose, Talc and Basil found its way into many homes filling spaces with its remarkable, long lasting scent.
“The first candle was inspired by my present journey to motherhood,” shares Grace Barbers Baja, founder of Grace Home. “It represents who we are as women, as mothers—that we can be strong, independent, and empowered, while still being feminine and delicate.”
The response to the debut candle from the Grace Home line has been encouraging, finding its way to both new and loyal customers. And while there is some kind of fulfillment from a successful launch of a home line, Grace realizes that a second scent is expected, if not necessary.
“I collect and love candles myself,” she says. “I also can’t have just one scent forever. I like trying and mixing different scents, finding out which works best with my mood or my space.”
So six months after the first candle, Grace reveals that she has been working on a new candle for many months now—and one that is something remarkably different from the first. “It’s subtler and more gentle” Grace shares, but definitely “not any less potent than the first one.”
The second Grace Home Candle is formulated with the essential oils of Vetiver, Blood Orange and Almond. This one takes a more restrained approach, offering a scent that is fresh, calming, and discreetly sweet.
It is decidedly unfeminine too; Vetiver is a favored element in fragrances for men. And yet, this Grace Home Candle has found the balance that appeals to both men and women. The formulation combining Vetiver, Blood Orange, and Almond is designed for those who appreciate a more neutral and earthier scent that is also both stimulating and uplifting.
Vetiver, a tropical grass, signifies a woody earthiness, reminiscent of an afternoon immersed in nature. Vetiver essential oil is credited for being very grounding and calming—a natural relaxant.
Blood Orange is considered to be one of the finest dessert oranges in the world. Its fresh citrus scent is uplifting and stimulating. Blood Orange essential oil is commonly attributed as a natural sedative, anxiety reliever, and mood lifter.
Moderating the two previous scents is Almond, a scent that is both warm and comforting. It adds to the balance of the candle’s formulation with its sweet, buttery notes.
All Grace Home Candles are made of fresh, hand-poured beeswax that is all-natural and produced from harvested honey. Beeswax candles are the oldest kind of candle that people have used since ancient times. Beeswax is costly to produce because it takes 100 pounds of honey to be able to gather 1 to 2 pounds of beeswax. This makes every candle the product of a very patient and careful process.
Beeswax candles are notable for having a completely clean burn; they emit none of the black smoke that other candles give off. What they do release are negative ions that purify, cleanse, and improve the quality of the air in the room. As a natural ionizer, they can relieve stress and boost energy and alertness levels. Beeswax candles are also hypoallergenic, perfect for people with environmental allergies and sensitivities.
These candles have a high melting point that makes them last much longer than lesser-quality variants. Additionally, a beeswax candle’s light burns stronger and brighter.
The Grace Home Candle in Vetiver, Blood Orange and Almond comes in a beautiful and specially crafted amber-colored glass jar.
In June 2015, Grace Barbers-Baja invited a few friends to dinner. Known for hosting events in her home, Grace is one who enjoys minding the little details, knowing that these make a world of a difference in her guests’ enjoyment. In most of her dinner parties at home, she tries to include a little surprise element here and there, much to her friends’ delight and amusement. This to her, is her own way of making the night more fun and memorable.
The surprise for that particular evening last June could not have been more unexpected. It was the reveal of Grace’s childhood dream: her new role as the founder of a fledgling venture, Grace Home, made up of a few but well-curated little luxuries for the home: a premium hand poured beeswax candle, custom designed room fragrances and quality paper and stationery products. And now, almost six months after, another surprise: the second candle from the Grace Home line has been unveiled in a special thanksgiving holiday event, A Toast to the Holidays!
Grace Home products are now available through the website www.thespoiledmummy.com and at selected trunk shows and pop-up events.
Grace Home Candle
Specially formulated premium candle that is made of hand-poured, all-natural beeswax and essential oils. It gives a completely smokeless burn, burns brighter than other candles, and has a high melting point so it lasts longer.
In two variants:
Rose, Talc and Basil invokes a very feminine charm that combines the notions of romance and motherhood. Comes in a clear glass jar with a customized and natural marble stone cover that serves as the candle’s coaster and snuffer in one.
Vetiver, Blood Orange and Almond is earthy, uplifting and energizing; one that integrates the natural elements of freshness, calmness and relaxation. Comes in a specially crafted amber-colored glass jar.
Grace Home Room Spray
Made of fragrance oils sourced directly from Grasse, France, the capital city of fragrances.
In two specially formulated scents:
Talc and Vanilla is a sweet fragrance that is delicate, calming, and pleasing to the senses. Olive and Milk is a light and fresh scent that is cheerful, comforting and yet very relaxing.
Grace Home Paper & Stationery
Premium quality wrapping paper. Specially designed holiday gift-wrapping paper in shades of pink, grey, and white. Comes in 4 designs and in bundles of 12 each. Available only during the holiday season.
