What have I been up to these past couple of days, besides removing questionable ads from the top of my blog, (Thanks Sarah!)? Like I mentioned before, I have been reading like crazy on below mentioned blog. And getting tons of great ideas! Its about spreading the love people. So I aim to please.
I know my tasty treats are well loved by those who have had them. The problem is getting them to MORE people. The birthday party I did 2 weekends ago, brought me another client for another birthday party, and as I was sitting outside while the boys splashed in the pool, one of the neighbors complimented the cakes from the last party! She said they were SO GOOD and pretty too. She also wished she had known beforehand about me since she had just celebrated all her kids birthdays. I made sure to let her know I do ALL kinds of baked goods, cupcakes, cakes, and PIES! The Holidays are just around the corner, and I do a mean Pumpkin pie, as well as Chess pies!
I also posted an ad on Craigslist. Not that I really think I will get anything from that but at least I am putting it out there. I hope once my website is launched, that will bring in some business. However, I know I also need to find places to pass my goodies out at. Blood drives, openings, anything!!! So if you all have any ideas, please let me know!!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Baking News
Wow, two posts in one day. I have a ton of things going through my mind right now. Oddly enough, they are all bakery related. Putting it on hold like we did was painful. However, 18 days into Hubster being IA has proven to me that we really did make the right decision. I am sure we could have found a way to make it work, but the kiddos would have been put through the ringer I think.
So instead, the kiddos have my attention, and I can take in small to medium orders for birthdays and such. So far, I have completed one birthday order, a cake for twin boys first birthday, accompanying cupcakes, and a cake for their sister's birthday and cupcakes for her as well. From that, I picked up another birthday order. For the end of August, I will be doing Spiderman cupcakes! I am so EXCITED about that! There is just something about getting an order from someone who enjoyed the work you did for somebody else, ya know? Hopefully this will just explode into more orders, they may for the time being, come from our neighborhood, but business is business!
Not too long ago, I stumbled across this blog. It is exactly what I have been looking for. When this whole hare-brained idea formed in my head, I researched and researched online looking for info on how to start, plan and open a bakery. Ya know what? There isn't a whole lot to offer. I emailed bakeries I could find that had been opened by women, or families who wanted to do something different. I asked for advice, tips, hints. ANYTHING. What did I get? Nothing. So when I began reading this blog, I about fell off the bed. Its full of all kinds of good info. And has just got me itching to get back in gear. I have a plan... Oh yes I do. And while I have your attention here, my one reader you... My new website is going to be done shortly I think! I will also have a baking blog. Not quite sure how to run that one. Weirdly enough, I am not keen on sharing recipes, not sure why. But I do want to post about our journey to Bakery-Land. Lots of pics of tasty treats and probably stories of jobs and craft fairs. There have got to be other Chicks out there like me, wanting to open and run their own bakery, with no idea of what to do. Maybe, like Kari I will help someone too.
So instead, the kiddos have my attention, and I can take in small to medium orders for birthdays and such. So far, I have completed one birthday order, a cake for twin boys first birthday, accompanying cupcakes, and a cake for their sister's birthday and cupcakes for her as well. From that, I picked up another birthday order. For the end of August, I will be doing Spiderman cupcakes! I am so EXCITED about that! There is just something about getting an order from someone who enjoyed the work you did for somebody else, ya know? Hopefully this will just explode into more orders, they may for the time being, come from our neighborhood, but business is business!
Not too long ago, I stumbled across this blog. It is exactly what I have been looking for. When this whole hare-brained idea formed in my head, I researched and researched online looking for info on how to start, plan and open a bakery. Ya know what? There isn't a whole lot to offer. I emailed bakeries I could find that had been opened by women, or families who wanted to do something different. I asked for advice, tips, hints. ANYTHING. What did I get? Nothing. So when I began reading this blog, I about fell off the bed. Its full of all kinds of good info. And has just got me itching to get back in gear. I have a plan... Oh yes I do. And while I have your attention here, my one reader you... My new website is going to be done shortly I think! I will also have a baking blog. Not quite sure how to run that one. Weirdly enough, I am not keen on sharing recipes, not sure why. But I do want to post about our journey to Bakery-Land. Lots of pics of tasty treats and probably stories of jobs and craft fairs. There have got to be other Chicks out there like me, wanting to open and run their own bakery, with no idea of what to do. Maybe, like Kari I will help someone too.
Do Nothing Day
I feel like since the Hubster left, it has been non-stop GO GO GO! Today is really the first day I have been able to sit down finally I think. I love being busy, I think it helps the time go by faster. Although considering it feels like he has been gone for about 3 months, instead of only 17 days. We have had playdates, grocery shopping (which is quite the feat with 3 kids!), some cake baking business, and hunting and purchasing a King size bed for our room. That happened a lot faster then intended. But being the self proclaimed Queen of Craigslist, I scored a pretty fabulous deal! You know how when you find something and even if you weren't completely ready to buy something, you really have no choice because the price and item are so amazing?? That was this bed. Solid carved head and footboard, leather insets, recessed lights, and HEAVY. Of course, I didn't even think about the fact that I would need to buy all new bedding. Queen bedding does no cover a whole lot on a King! Hubster loves what he can see on the tiny pic I sent to his cell. I think he will love it even more in person.
Today, to quote Phineas and Ferb is a "Do nothing Day". Albeit, not a long lasting Do Nothing Day. I got a surprise call from one of my Girlies who is in town! I have known her FOREVER it seems. I was her Jr High leader when she was Oh, 12... And now she is in her 20's and a recent Nursing Grad! I am so proud of that girl! Anyway, she is in town for Lollapalooza, just like last year. And we get to hang with her tomorrow morning. Which means a nice little clean-up around the house.
We do love visitors though, and now (once I get motivated to put it back together...)have an guest bedroom with a lovely queen guestbed!
I may even bake a pie...
Today, to quote Phineas and Ferb is a "Do nothing Day". Albeit, not a long lasting Do Nothing Day. I got a surprise call from one of my Girlies who is in town! I have known her FOREVER it seems. I was her Jr High leader when she was Oh, 12... And now she is in her 20's and a recent Nursing Grad! I am so proud of that girl! Anyway, she is in town for Lollapalooza, just like last year. And we get to hang with her tomorrow morning. Which means a nice little clean-up around the house.
We do love visitors though, and now (once I get motivated to put it back together...)have an guest bedroom with a lovely queen guestbed!
I may even bake a pie...
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Well That Explains A Lot
I had called my parents last night to chat about their heat wave. It was 103 yesterday in Portland, thats normal for a lot of places. However, since Oregon is not one of them, most homes don't have central air! SO thankful for our nice mild summer. Which I have to say we are rather deserving of since we living in Florida for 4 years! No wonder I love it here! Is it strange that I can't wait for it to snow? And poor hubby is sad because he will miss our entire winter. TJ asks daily if he can pray and ask Jesus to make it snow the next day.
In the course of our conversation, my Dad was thrilled to hear I had picked up a job to make birthday cakes and cupcakes for a party. I was telling him about my plans on decorations for them, although I know I have a long way to go in learning how to do all the really awesome things so many cake decoraters can do. My dad then proceeded to tell me that his Dad, my grandpa, was a CAKE DECORATER! He worked in a bakery and decorated the wedding and birthday cakes. News to me! Not to mention 3 of my dads 4 sisters are artistic, and his Great Grandmother, (I think) used to sing on the radio!
Its so cool to hear about ancestors and be able to tie in where certain traits and talents have come from.
So which side of the family are your talents from?
In the course of our conversation, my Dad was thrilled to hear I had picked up a job to make birthday cakes and cupcakes for a party. I was telling him about my plans on decorations for them, although I know I have a long way to go in learning how to do all the really awesome things so many cake decoraters can do. My dad then proceeded to tell me that his Dad, my grandpa, was a CAKE DECORATER! He worked in a bakery and decorated the wedding and birthday cakes. News to me! Not to mention 3 of my dads 4 sisters are artistic, and his Great Grandmother, (I think) used to sing on the radio!
Its so cool to hear about ancestors and be able to tie in where certain traits and talents have come from.
So which side of the family are your talents from?
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Yeah, I'm not very good at this
Talk about lax. I have been a bad blogger! And its not like I don't have time to write something, its merely a matter of taking the time to gather my thoughts into something coherent enough people might want to read!
We have had an awesome summer so far. We went to visit family in Texas, and had a blast. The kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves, playing outside, fishing, and even saw a snake up close and personal. As in when we got up one morning, a rat snake had made its way onto the back porch. Hubby caught it in a rubbermaid container, sorry Mamaw! The look on TJ's face was priceless. I guess I should change his nickname to something snake related? All in all, it was a fantastic trip.
Being there also brought to light how much we missed having a dog. Yes, I know, we had a chihuahua and then rehomed it. For some reason, it seems that we have a hard time having a normal pet. Most of our cats have been crazy, our first dog was a half basset, half blue heeler. Bet you can't guess which personality was prominent? That dog was INSANE! There was no potty training that puppy. When we moved to Oregon, Milton went with us, but went from being an inside dog, to an outside dog. Poor thing. It was so sad. So we ended up rehoming him to a farm. Where for now, he is much happier. Then came Bandit. The 5yr old Chihuahua who hated Hubby, and Little Guy. So much so that his M.O. was to continually pee on their stuff. It got to the point that Hubby couldn't leave any thing on the floor for any amount of time. Plus Bandit was living out his little existence under our couch. So off he went to a new home, and oddly enough, he ended right back in Florida.
Where does that leave us now? With a boy cat named Opal, and a St. Bernard named Aigneis. I think we may have finally found the perfect pet. Aigneis is a big floppy girl who doesn't mind when the Princess pulls her ears, or when Little Guy rolls all over her.
The Princess also had her 2nd birthday party. So much fun, we had it at The Little Gym. It was a Hawaiian theme. I can't get over how much she has grown in the last year. Now if we could only get that girl potty trained!
The sad news is that Hubby is at training for 60 days, for his 9 months in Iraq. Completely and totally stinks. We are missing him like crazy. This all means that I will have a lot of me time in the evenings. And have made some plans for things I want to get accomplished. There is a great opportunity for Military spouses to get some money for school. I would love to take some business courses. With the bakery on hold until Hubby comes back, its a great time to get some online classes in.
And while its not obvious here, I love to write. Quite a while back, before the kiddos came along, I wanted to write. I started a work of historical/Sci-Fi fiction, with what I think is a great story line. And yet somehow 3 kids, and 1 and a half businesses later, it hasn't progressed very far. I think I want to work on finishing it. There are also some Bridezilla/Event Planning, Navy wife tales floating around in my head. Which would have to be written in a Nanny Diaries way to protect the innocent and the not so innocent!
As well as working on whatever orders I can get that are bakery related.
Life should be fairly busy for the next year. I think I also neglected to mention TJ will be starting school in a month. Wow.
I hope to write here a lot more often, I will also be starting a Bakery Blog. Lets see how long I can keep that up!
We have had an awesome summer so far. We went to visit family in Texas, and had a blast. The kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves, playing outside, fishing, and even saw a snake up close and personal. As in when we got up one morning, a rat snake had made its way onto the back porch. Hubby caught it in a rubbermaid container, sorry Mamaw! The look on TJ's face was priceless. I guess I should change his nickname to something snake related? All in all, it was a fantastic trip.
Being there also brought to light how much we missed having a dog. Yes, I know, we had a chihuahua and then rehomed it. For some reason, it seems that we have a hard time having a normal pet. Most of our cats have been crazy, our first dog was a half basset, half blue heeler. Bet you can't guess which personality was prominent? That dog was INSANE! There was no potty training that puppy. When we moved to Oregon, Milton went with us, but went from being an inside dog, to an outside dog. Poor thing. It was so sad. So we ended up rehoming him to a farm. Where for now, he is much happier. Then came Bandit. The 5yr old Chihuahua who hated Hubby, and Little Guy. So much so that his M.O. was to continually pee on their stuff. It got to the point that Hubby couldn't leave any thing on the floor for any amount of time. Plus Bandit was living out his little existence under our couch. So off he went to a new home, and oddly enough, he ended right back in Florida.
Where does that leave us now? With a boy cat named Opal, and a St. Bernard named Aigneis. I think we may have finally found the perfect pet. Aigneis is a big floppy girl who doesn't mind when the Princess pulls her ears, or when Little Guy rolls all over her.
The Princess also had her 2nd birthday party. So much fun, we had it at The Little Gym. It was a Hawaiian theme. I can't get over how much she has grown in the last year. Now if we could only get that girl potty trained!
The sad news is that Hubby is at training for 60 days, for his 9 months in Iraq. Completely and totally stinks. We are missing him like crazy. This all means that I will have a lot of me time in the evenings. And have made some plans for things I want to get accomplished. There is a great opportunity for Military spouses to get some money for school. I would love to take some business courses. With the bakery on hold until Hubby comes back, its a great time to get some online classes in.
And while its not obvious here, I love to write. Quite a while back, before the kiddos came along, I wanted to write. I started a work of historical/Sci-Fi fiction, with what I think is a great story line. And yet somehow 3 kids, and 1 and a half businesses later, it hasn't progressed very far. I think I want to work on finishing it. There are also some Bridezilla/Event Planning, Navy wife tales floating around in my head. Which would have to be written in a Nanny Diaries way to protect the innocent and the not so innocent!
As well as working on whatever orders I can get that are bakery related.
Life should be fairly busy for the next year. I think I also neglected to mention TJ will be starting school in a month. Wow.
I hope to write here a lot more often, I will also be starting a Bakery Blog. Lets see how long I can keep that up!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Ugh!
So I woke up this morning to my boys fighting in the hallways. Not terribly concerning mind you, just not how I like to be awakened. They of course had to come fill me in on the injustices they were suffering at eachothers hands. In other words, Little Guy had a toy (The Princess's stuffed kitty) that TJ did not think he should have. Really? This is what you woke me up for?
I shooed them out so I could get dressed, stepped out of the bedroom, only to be bombarded with a lovely tale of the how they just watched the cat throw up in the kitchen. Are you kidding me?!
I am so ready to head back to bed.
On a happier note, I have been pretty consistent in working out for going on 5 weeks straight now. My body is definitely starting to change for the better. Although I wish it would tone up all at once, instead of this area over here, and then the backs of my arms, maybe this area of my hips... Makes it just a little more difficult to gauge progress, ya know?
I shooed them out so I could get dressed, stepped out of the bedroom, only to be bombarded with a lovely tale of the how they just watched the cat throw up in the kitchen. Are you kidding me?!
I am so ready to head back to bed.
On a happier note, I have been pretty consistent in working out for going on 5 weeks straight now. My body is definitely starting to change for the better. Although I wish it would tone up all at once, instead of this area over here, and then the backs of my arms, maybe this area of my hips... Makes it just a little more difficult to gauge progress, ya know?
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Not Up To Much
And I don't know if that a good thing or not. Life has been good around here, don't get me wrong. However, since making the decision to put the bakery on hold for a year due to hubby heading overseas shortly, I kinda feel like I have stalled out. Craft fair season is more of a winter thing here. And while there are a few here and there, I am just not out there at the moment. Its a little frustrating. There are 2 things I fear right now: 1. That because we have to wait, my dream will slip away. 2. Everyone will think I am fickle and crazy and keep having these grand schemes that never pan out and I will just flit from "hobby" to "hobby" as I get bored.
It doesn't help that I am limited when hubby is gone. I have seen how the kids are affected by deployments, and the thought of me working and never being home doesn't sit well with me. So much comes into play with that, having to go into the city to bake, and then the actual event. Finding and paying a sitter.
So I overcompensate in the rest of our life. Not that its a bad thing to be involved with the kiddos. We play, and go to the park. Have playdates with friends. I clean the house, and bake all the time. How does one balance all this?! Can I do craft fairs and Farmers Markets, and somehow still be home with Train Junkie, help Little Guy learn to listen better, and watch The Princess grow up? Can I find the time to grocery shop, be active in the Fall at TJ's school, get Little Guy involved in hockey, and Princess in gymnastics and dance, get the kids to church, visit friends and family, and do Renegade in December? Not to mention continue to work on getting out of debt, scout out a new location for a bakery, and possibly find our first house to move into next year! So much for not being up to much!
It doesn't help that I am limited when hubby is gone. I have seen how the kids are affected by deployments, and the thought of me working and never being home doesn't sit well with me. So much comes into play with that, having to go into the city to bake, and then the actual event. Finding and paying a sitter.
So I overcompensate in the rest of our life. Not that its a bad thing to be involved with the kiddos. We play, and go to the park. Have playdates with friends. I clean the house, and bake all the time. How does one balance all this?! Can I do craft fairs and Farmers Markets, and somehow still be home with Train Junkie, help Little Guy learn to listen better, and watch The Princess grow up? Can I find the time to grocery shop, be active in the Fall at TJ's school, get Little Guy involved in hockey, and Princess in gymnastics and dance, get the kids to church, visit friends and family, and do Renegade in December? Not to mention continue to work on getting out of debt, scout out a new location for a bakery, and possibly find our first house to move into next year! So much for not being up to much!
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