Longest week ever...

It's only been a few days since my last post, but it honestly feels like it's been a couple weeks. Last week was a busy and emotionally taxing week. We lost a family member this week as a result of a car accident - my father's fiance. It is completely devastating and hard on us all, but I worry about my father the most. They were genuine soul mates, and absolutely perfect together. And she was taken much much too soon. I am grateful that he got a few last days with her, and she was able to communicate in a way with him - but it's just awful. This whole week I've been thinking about him -- about my sister that was able to visit and help (they live quite a few states away) -- and about how fast something like that can happen to anyone. Thinking about my own life and family. It's made me appreciate that we've chosen to live like we live - spending almost all our time together being a SAHM and homeschooling family. Too many of us, probably all of us at some point or points in our lives focus on money and things. None of that goes with you once your gone. Your kids won't remember that you made six figures a year....they'll remember that you weren't home. I want to build memories with my kids...not things. Yes, more money would be fantastic and "easier" and if someone were just handing it out, I'd take it in a heartbeat. :) Having less money just means being more creative with our time and resources we do have. So, be sure to appreciate what you have already, let go of grudges and resentment, and take that extra time with your kids and spouses.

On a good note with the business, had quite a few orders for cakes and jars. It was a lot to do, but it all turned out fabulous. I love when my customers are happy!

This was a cake for a little girl's baptism and I *love* how the design turned out. :) Scroll work truly is probably one of my favorite things to do. It turns out so nice on fondant!

This one was actually for my sister Alex - she officially turned "old" in her eyes. Hahaha, right! When I turned 25 she did not let me live it down -- even my birthday bag said 30 on it. I tried out a new recipe. Calling it Berry Vanilla -- it was 3 layers, 2 mixed berries and 1 vanilla with vanilla buttercream and raspberry filling. I heard it was yummy and refreshing! The design you would call ombre I guess (it's fairly popular for a lot of things right now) and I colored the layers to match. Unfortunately, I had to leave early and missed the cake, but my sister got a picture of the inside. Can't wait to see!

NOT a year later.... :D

Progress! It hasn't been a month since my last post, YAY!! What's been going on lately? March is a busy month for family/friends birthdays, so we've had a lot of cakes to make....and a lot of parties to go to! I got in a creative order of some cupcakes for St. Patties Day - Rainbow colored inside and I chose to spray and sprinkles the frosting in GOOOOOOOOLD!

Unfortunately, it looks more yellow in the photo - but in person it was definitely a metallic gold. I also had an order for a bachelorette party that I got to have some free reign with and I did a corset design. I'm currently obsessed with the pearl looking sprinkles!

March was a pretty good month - nice variety. In addition to the above I had a fun LEGO cake, a pretty sweet Wonder Woman torso, and TONS of jar cakes went out. I still haven't been able to really get a good picture of these yet, but it's butter cream, cake, and add ins layered in an 8 oz. jar. Very convenient for on the go cake eating! And great for shipping out for far away birthdays!

April is going to be a little slower, which I'm kind of looking forward to actually! May is going to be busybusybusy. Birthdays, a wedding, graduation and Mother's Day all in May. Lots of booking already and it's just little ol' me making, baking, and decorating!! I'm excited, but I know it will be stressful. It REALLY makes me want an actual bakery. Have the staff do the making and baking so I can concentrate on the decorating -- which is my true passion! Someday.....

(If anyone is looking to anonymously donate to the cause of my bakery - just let me know! Hehehe...)  ; )

Playing catch up!

Okay, so I have quite a bit to catch up on that's happened. Still new to blogging and it's not the first thing I think of to do in my spare time. I must say there is something beneficial to it...mentally...emotionally. Being back to my job as the stay at home parent and my husband officially starting a new work schedule (often random hours - 2nd and 3rd shifts) --- I'm back to having mostly children to talk to. I adore them, I do, but adult conversation is greatly missed some days.

I've had some fabulous cakes over the last few weeks. Valentine's Day was busy enough this year, and I can't wait for next. I made some great rose cupcakes that were beautiful --- SUPER thankful for the 1M tip I finally bought! If you decorate and don't have this - get it. Also, my favorite cake order for the season was a heart shaped cake with some scroll work on the sides. Which turned out beautiful. I also used a pearl red airbrush spray, but I really wasn't impressed with it. In fact, none of the pearl sprays have really been worth it yet. They usually just end up kind of wet looking. HOWEVER, I have yet to try the spray on fondant....so we'll see.

Oh, and an update on the sugar free debacle. I found some better recipes - but the new ingredients basically broke even on the order. They still weren't fabulous (still ended up a little dry), but they worked. Lesson learned: I will not be making any future orders sugar free. Sorry, but it's just not my expertise. :)

I have some more great pictures coming. I just haven't uploaded them yet! So keep an eye out. I'm going to attempt to do a MUCH better job of updating -- hopefully at least once a week. Let's be honest, it can't get much worse. Once my youngest starts doing a better job of sleeping on his own, that should help too.