I LOVE MY JOB

Every time I feel like maybe my mission to open a bakeshop is a silly one and go into one of my "what am I thinking" moments, I receive a wonderful note from a past client. It seems that the universe has a way of reminding me that what I do is what I should be doing. If clients love my products (cupcakes or gumpaste decorations) and are willing to take the time to write such touching letters to me, then I am on the right track. I thought I would start sharing these as they are just wonderful pieces of encouragement everyone should read. I am confident that if you love to bake and create quality cakes or cupcakes or decorations (or anything for that matter), responses like this one just wants you to do it forever. Now mind you, I didn't make the cupcakes for this one. I made the decorations to top her dream cake and cupcakes. 

Hi Paola!

I had the best intentions to send you a note much earlier; however, please know that this email is still every bit as sincere!  Our homemade gum paste snowflakes specially shipped all the way to West Virginia for our snowy destination wedding in February were a huge hit!  Suzanne, who baked our French vanilla wedding cake and coconut cupcakes, did an amazing job of creating my vision which was inspired by your webpage featuring your “snowy” cupcakes.  I never got to meet Suzanne either; we only communicated by phone long distance.  It was a delicious and beautiful cake meticulously decorated with your extraordinary handcrafted snowflakes which made for a very unique wintery confection.  The luminous silver cupcake wrappers along with the silver balls (ordered from you) completed the display!

Thank you so very much for your kindness, enthusiasm, and talent!  Everyone was so impressed that you had willingly shipped the delicate snowflakes to West Virginia.  The cake and the cupcakes with the addition of the snowflakes was the most perfect cake ever and totally exceeded my expectations.  

I am very grateful for your help and wish you much success with your business.  Please know that I am spreading the word!  

J

Ford Cupcake

I was contacted by representatives of Ford to drive one of they new Hybrids. I jumped at the chance! How cool is that? I get to drive a brand new car for the weekend. Woohoo! And what a perfect weekend for this awesome treat as I have cupcake orders to deliver. 

They delivered the car this morning and I felt like it was Christmas in May. I woke up and got on a conference call at 10am. I sat in bed in my jammies yawning through the whole thing. I then strolled out of bed and went down stairs to pour myself a bowl of Weetabix cereal. As I walked across my kitchen wiping the sleep from my eyes, I caught a glimpse of something unusual in my driveway. I opened the door and almost dropped my breakfast. There she was, a beautiful cream colored car. She looks a bit like my vanilla buttercream. The only thing that would of made the moment even better was if they had put a red ribbon on the car with a card saying Merry Christmas in May Paola. I opened the door to my new set of wheels for the weekend and was in awe on how stunning the interior was. It's really chic. Ivory seats accentuated with black. So I am nicknaming the car Cupcake, because when you sit in it, you just feel delicious.

I am taking Cupcake on some cupcake adventures and will let you all know how she does. I'm very excited about how much room this car has. I can put all my deliveries in and not have to make multiple trips. Yippee!

The car, by the way, is the Hybrid Mariner. So gas mileage is going to be a real plus!!!

Yet Another Baby Step

I survived my investor reception. I was a nervous mess waking up on Sunday and spent my whole day swirling like a tornado trying to get everything ready. I must of rehearsed my little speech a million times every time screwing it up and starting over and over. It was bloody frustrating. However I reread all the wonderful and supportive emails all of you sent (and I will be getting that book Carmen!) and felt a little voice inside me whispering "Yes you can". And so the event started, my cupcakes looked good, the pictures I brought of some of my past orders looked amazing and my Business Plans were ready for the taking. Guests rolled in slowly which was a blessing. As each person walked in I got the opportunity to chat with them and rehearsing portions of my speech. Then my wonderful friend Tony called everyone's attention and off I went. He made it so easy for me. I didn't just stand there and vomit my speech out, but rather he had me introduce myself and talk about my company and my products. I love to talk about what I love to do, so my speech went out the window and instead, I told my story. Tony then chimed in with the financial information and asked me questions which were easy for me to answer.  They weren't rehearsed, just simple honest answers to questions I have been answering since I started my company. The evening went on and people took my Business Plans, congratulated me on a great presentation and took a couple of delicious cupcakes to go.

I just loved the people that came, all of which I would be honored to have as investors. So cross your fingers for me as this was one of many little events. But hopefully my raise will happen sooner then later. I just can't wait to open my shop...my Blushing Bakeshop.

A Nervous Cupcake

Yup, I'm a royal mess today. I feel a bit sick, my stomach keeps cramping up and I'm never hungry. I can't keep still but I have yet to nosh on my nails. Why am I so nervous you ask? Well, next week is my investor reception. D-Day. This is the day were I will stand in front of a small group of individuals to tell them why they should open their check books and invest in my little company. This day is the day I have been anticipating for so long. In a tiny restaurant so kindly given to me to use for 4 hours I will showcase my delicious cupcakes (at least I know that my product really is amazing, so hopefully one bite and the check books will open up). But I realize that investors look at the financial side of things. Thank God my father helped me with that. He used to prepare business plans for billion dollar companies, so I know my plan is solid. But yet, I have a feeling that these potential investors may laugh at me. I mean, cupcakes? I'm sure there are high tech companies our there with products that can blow people's minds. And here I am with cupcakes. Although, if people knew just how lucrative this little cake can be. I just recently found out that the two cupcake shops in my area that have been up and running for 1-2 years are thriving. Everyone thought that the cupcake trend was just that...a trend. No sir! They still average 1,000-1,500 cupcakes a day. Pull your calculators out...that's about $72,000 a month (at $3.00 a cupcake)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So for all of you that want to get into the cupcake business... the trend is here to stay. Look at L.A. and NY, cupcakes still dominate. So why am I so nervous? I have the product and I have financial proof that this business of mine is a sure hit. Well, I guess I'm a nervous mess because so much is riding on this one day. I want this so bad it's making me nauseous, jittery and I haven't been able to think about anything else.

I will keep you all posted. If you pray, if you could squeeze in a little prayer while at church on Sunday, it would be very much appreciated.

Have a wonderful weekend!

CLASS SCHEDULE

As I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, I have been taking gumpaste flower classes at Fran's Cake & Candy Supply store in Fairfax VA. For any of you that are in the area and would like to take a class, please find the schedule below. Please note that these classes include everything cake and cookie related:

April 22nd:  GUMPASTE FLOWERS, Lesson 3        7:00-9:00pm                                     $45

B. Keith Ryder's series continues. Tonight's class includes making Stephanotis, Jasmine and Hyacinth Pips. Learn to make these flowers without cutters.

April 27th: TEMPERING CHOCOLATE                    7:00-9:00pm                                    $65

Learn the abc's of tempering chocolate, pipe fancy designs and play with chocolate transfer sheets. Students need to bring a metal bowl, rubber spatula and an offset spatula.

April 29th: GUMPASTE FLOWERS, Lesson 4        7:00pm-9:00pm                               $45

Learn to create a Stargazer Lily in two hours! Intro to gumpaste class or experience in working with gumpaste is required.

May 3rd: FAT BUDDIES                                             12:00 noon- 2:00pm                       $44

Learn how to turn a cupcake into an adorable alligator, elephant, cow, frog, fish and more! All supplies included.

May 6th: GUMPASTE FLOWERS Lesson 5             7:00pm - 9:00pm                           $45

Learn how to make Cattleya Orchids.

May 7th: PETIT FOURS   7:00pm-9:00pm                            $50

Learn to make these stunning little treats. Students must bring cooling rack and cookie sheet

May 13th: GUMPASTE FLOWERS Lesson 6          7:00pm-9:00pm                             $45

Learn to make quick roses.

May 21st: MARZIPAN FRUITS                                7:00pm-9:00pm                              $50

Learn how to embellish your cakes with stunning marzipan fruits.

May 27th: GUMPASTE FLOWERS Lesson 7         7:00pm-9:00pm                             $45

Learn how to make beautiful Peonies in just two hours. Students must have taken Intro to gumpaste or be experienced in working with gumpaste.

June 3rd:  GUMPASTE FLOWERS Lesson 8        7:00pm-9:00pm                            $45

Learn to make an Iris.

June 7th: WEDDING CAKE CONSTRUCTION      12:00 noon - 5pm                         $65

Learn to create a wedding cake.

June 10th: IVY, NOCH ORANGE LEAF                  7:00pm-9:00pm                          $45

Learn to make gumpaste Ivy and Noch Orange Leaves.

June 14th: CHOCOLATE BOX                                   7:00pm-9:00pm                          $75

Students must bring metal bowl, rubber spatula and offset spatula.

June 16th: COVERING CAKES IN FONDANT        7:00pm-9:00pm                         $25

Learn to cover your cakes, round or square, in fondant. Also, students will learn how to create additional decorations with fondant. Students must bring:

                  One 9" round cake dummy  (available at Fran's)

     One 8" square cake dummy (available at Fran's)

5 lbs of fondant (Wilton's or Satin Ice/all available at Fran's)

1 pair of inexpensive stockings (not used of course)

1 cup of Crisco

1 rolling pin

8 oz confectioners sugar

June 23rd: GUMPASTE FLOWERS Lesson 10 7:00-9:00pm              $45

Learn to make a Hibiscus 

If you have any questions about the classes, please call Sallee at Fran's Cake and Candy Supply Store: (703) 352-1471

Fun Ideas

I've been a busy little bee these last couple of days. My first "tadahhhh!" is that I will be an official Farmers market vendor for both Kentlands (Gaithersburg) and Potomac. I am so excited about it. What better way to spend two days out of the week then outside meeting new people. Also, I've been experimenting with decorations and I thought I would share them with you. Below is are seashell cupcakes. The buttercream was dyed using gel coloring (Electric Blue). The seashells are made from fondant and then dusted with some dusting colors (Mushroom and Oyster). The sand is actually cookie crumbs...actually dust. I made these for Brides.com as they are working on a Summer Weddings entry. 

The next one I did for a little boys birthday party. Here, the balloons are out of plastic and can easily be removed as they are on a plastic spike. The swirls are edible and made from gumpaste. I now carry them. I just fell in love with them and thought so many people could use them for celebration cupcakes.

My videos should be coming out soon. This is my first time making them, so please bare with me. I'm sure once I have a couple under my belt, the rest should be very easy to do.

Wishing Susan A Fabulous Transition

         This is Lipstick, the baby sea turtle I helped release

I just returned home from a fabulous little getaway courtesy of my wonderful guy. While there we got a glimpse of Susan Boyle's unbelievable performance on Britain's Got Talent. If you have not seen the YouTube spot....please stop reading my blog and check it out. 

I was completely blown away by her extraordinary and pure talent. As one of the judges said, it was an honor to get the opportunity to listen to her sing. 

Anyway, I believe what touched me more, as well as everyone else that watched, is her story. I love a great story just like anyone else does, especially a feel good story. As some of you may know, when Susan was born there were complications and she was without oxygen for some time which lead to minor brain damage. I think she had a rough time in school as people picked on her because of her disability and perhaps her appearance. But she had a wonderful family who embraced her and nurtured her talent. She sang in church and in school plays never believing that it would ever lead to a career. She did it because she loved it. When her mother was 91 years old, she and Susan would watch Britain's Got Talent. While watching, Susan's mother would tell Susan that she could win with her singing. And after her mother passed away, Susan took a leap of faith and entered the contest. 

When she took the stage people started to laugh. There in front of thousands of people was Susan, a 47 year old woman who had never been kissed and lived in a tiny town in the middle of England's north country. She was a bit awkward but honestly, who wouldn't be? But as the smirks and laughs slowly faded Susan began to sing. And suddenly the crowd went crazy. 

Her performance has made her the it girl, why, because she stood up and did what she loved. Not for fame, not for popularity and certainly not to prove a point (maybe for the $100,000 prize though...can you blame her?) but she got the last laugh. 

So our Susan has been launched into a new world, quite unfamiliar to her. Sounds familiar doesn't it? How you ask? Well, like Susan, I as well as many others have found myself starting a new business and entering a new world. Like the baby sea turtles entering the ocean from my past entry. Which by the way I got to release  Lipstick and Horris into the ocean last week (two baby sea turtles, names came from my guy). 

So let's applaud and wish our Susan all the luck in her journey into an exciting new world. May she continue to do what she loves and every moment. And as for all of you who are venturing into the unknown,  whether it be starting a business, starting a new job or adjusting to new circumstances....just do whatever makes you the happiest. Because Susan Boyle did just that and it has opened up her life to so many wonderful opportunities.