Over this past year, I’ve been making some major decisions in my life. I’ve been putting systems into place and laying out plans and ideas. Today I made 2 major decisions, ordering a large business purchase to boost sales for the holidays and cutting my nails. Now, cutting my nails might not seem like it’s that important, but when you’ve been growing them to look beautiful for 19 years, it is quite a big deal. To me, it is a bigger deal than the business purchase.
I LOVE the show Jon and Kate plus Eight. I tried to not get the Kate post children image – short hair, wearing the same thing all the time, but being a stay at home mom, it makes sense to fall into that rut. Who are you seeing? Where are you going? Who are you trying to impress? No one and nowhere! So why not wear the same clothes that are big baggy and comfortable…if you’re at home all day with kids, it doesn’t matter what you look like. I’ve been trying to not get to that point, but with so much going on in my life getting things done trumps looking like Kimora Lee Simmons. However, I have always kept my nails done. If I chipped one, it was fixed within 24 hours. However, since having my second son, and not having a good support group, getting my nails done is a pain in the butt chore. The last 4 months I’ve broken 3 nails. This month, I had broken 2 and was sick of it. So today I just said forget it. Nail 3 was loosing it’s acrylic so I just pulled it off and cut the nail. I then just cut them all and called it a day. So I am now nail-free. My nail beds are very sore and sensitive to hot water, but in a few days it will be okay. I can’t type for anything so I’ve got to get used to adjusting to the keyboard.
I’m in the mood to just move forward and not look back. I am taking no prisoners and if you’re in my way of progress and success, I’m rolling right over you! It is really hard to accomplish what I’m trying to do with no help. It’s frustrating and aggravating and I totally hate it at times and feel defeated at times, but I let the moment hit me, cry it out and come back stronger with an F-U attitude. I’ve been feeling like that a lot lately as I’m trying to grow my business and need to do things out of the house without carrying my 1 year old with me. If people don’t want to help me out, then when I become a success, they WILL be left behind and cut off and cut out. Don’t come back asking for help, money or a hook-up. If you couldn’t help me when I was down, then you will not be acknowledged when I’m up. Since my mother passed away, I’ve had to fight for my position in this world. Some people have brought me WAY down as I’ve tried to grow and have made me go backwards. I have lived and learned and it will NOT happen again. BUT In terms of my business, NO ONE will get in my way of being successful –unless it is myself. So here I am now, trying to move forward and not look back with my new machine soon on the way and my short haircut and my short nails. As the song goes…I will survive! And if I have to take some people out on the way…oh well! LOL!!!!!
Off I go to decorate some cookies while my babies are watching Diego.
Keep On Keepin’ On!!!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
I haven't Forgotten About You...
I know it’s been such a while since I’ve written. That’s because life has been super busy over the past few weeks. Little Marcus keeps me busy throughout the day. I won’t have any baking orders and then out of nowhere, orders come out of the blue. I start school on Monday. And did I mention that I am trying to get through my business plan to open up a cupcake shop? Yes, life has been quite busy.
I just love my boys! They are the greatest! Alvin who is 3 makes me spend more time yelling at him than I like, but near the end of the day I remember how much I love him and I try to make sure each day ends on a very good note. Marcus has developed this very silly laugh, so even though he is now into temper tantrums and demands to get his way, he still keeps me laughing.
I can’t believe that school time is here. I am taking 2 classes this semester. I am so not looking forward to it. I am worried that the time it takes to study and all will totally screw up my business. Especially being that October – December are the busy months for baking!!!!! UGH!!!!! But I do want to finish what I started and I do want to get my certificate in Early Childhood Education so I’ve got to at least get through these next few months and hopefully stay on track with baking.
As I mentioned earlier, I have decided to open up a cupcake shop. I am searching for grants now to help buy large scale items for baking designs which will definitely bring in more business for me (I can’t say what the items are yet, but they will definitely increase my business). I am also looking to market my business more than just word of mouth and Facebook – thank God for those channels!!!!! I just finished making a butterfly cake. It was my first sheet cake. Why didn’t anybody tell me that a sheet cake is 3 batches of cake batter and 4 batches of icing. My goodness that’s a lot of flour, sugar and butter!!! LOL!!!! My cousin is starting an event planning business of her own and saw my work and is going to put me down as one of her vendors! She then turned around and asked me to make 20 Buzz Lightyear cookies AND an Oreo cake! All by September 4th. I am totally not worried about the cake, but I am a bit nervous about Buzz. I hate doing faces. I don’t think it will be too much of a problem, but faces are the hardest thing for me to do. But I will get through it. I also have to do some back to school cookies and some Halloween and fall cookies. I need to get these done before the season hits and school is here and I have absolutely no time. I did make the dough already, so I’ve just got to get baking and decorating. Then there is the business plan. It’s so time consuming. I haven’t been able to touch it in I think 2 weeks. UGH!!! I hate it when time rolls by like that. I don’t like unfinished projects on my plate. It creates a pile. :-)
Today the boys’ swing was up…then it was down. The directions were so horrible that the boy’s father put the main pole on upside down. So maybe tomorrow the boys will be able to enjoy their swing.
Well, it’s 11pm and I need to get some sleep. I feel like I’m depriving myself. I am so excited about my cake and I’m not celebrating with anything…no cookies, no ice cream, no cake. What a bummer. Have to go to the grocery store tomorrow and buy some ice cream! Then I can celebrate the cake being done and the swing being up. I feel that if I don’t celebrate what I’ve done, who will?!?!?! I like to reward myself with a treat every time I do something big. I used to do it at work when I’d finish a big mailing or some big project…I’d go out for some B&R ice cream. Yummm!!! It’s a great pick-me-up and I feel great about myself when I reward myself. So I’ll celebrate tomorrow…
Have a wonderful night!
I just love my boys! They are the greatest! Alvin who is 3 makes me spend more time yelling at him than I like, but near the end of the day I remember how much I love him and I try to make sure each day ends on a very good note. Marcus has developed this very silly laugh, so even though he is now into temper tantrums and demands to get his way, he still keeps me laughing.
I can’t believe that school time is here. I am taking 2 classes this semester. I am so not looking forward to it. I am worried that the time it takes to study and all will totally screw up my business. Especially being that October – December are the busy months for baking!!!!! UGH!!!!! But I do want to finish what I started and I do want to get my certificate in Early Childhood Education so I’ve got to at least get through these next few months and hopefully stay on track with baking.
As I mentioned earlier, I have decided to open up a cupcake shop. I am searching for grants now to help buy large scale items for baking designs which will definitely bring in more business for me (I can’t say what the items are yet, but they will definitely increase my business). I am also looking to market my business more than just word of mouth and Facebook – thank God for those channels!!!!! I just finished making a butterfly cake. It was my first sheet cake. Why didn’t anybody tell me that a sheet cake is 3 batches of cake batter and 4 batches of icing. My goodness that’s a lot of flour, sugar and butter!!! LOL!!!! My cousin is starting an event planning business of her own and saw my work and is going to put me down as one of her vendors! She then turned around and asked me to make 20 Buzz Lightyear cookies AND an Oreo cake! All by September 4th. I am totally not worried about the cake, but I am a bit nervous about Buzz. I hate doing faces. I don’t think it will be too much of a problem, but faces are the hardest thing for me to do. But I will get through it. I also have to do some back to school cookies and some Halloween and fall cookies. I need to get these done before the season hits and school is here and I have absolutely no time. I did make the dough already, so I’ve just got to get baking and decorating. Then there is the business plan. It’s so time consuming. I haven’t been able to touch it in I think 2 weeks. UGH!!! I hate it when time rolls by like that. I don’t like unfinished projects on my plate. It creates a pile. :-)
Today the boys’ swing was up…then it was down. The directions were so horrible that the boy’s father put the main pole on upside down. So maybe tomorrow the boys will be able to enjoy their swing.
Well, it’s 11pm and I need to get some sleep. I feel like I’m depriving myself. I am so excited about my cake and I’m not celebrating with anything…no cookies, no ice cream, no cake. What a bummer. Have to go to the grocery store tomorrow and buy some ice cream! Then I can celebrate the cake being done and the swing being up. I feel that if I don’t celebrate what I’ve done, who will?!?!?! I like to reward myself with a treat every time I do something big. I used to do it at work when I’d finish a big mailing or some big project…I’d go out for some B&R ice cream. Yummm!!! It’s a great pick-me-up and I feel great about myself when I reward myself. So I’ll celebrate tomorrow…
Have a wonderful night!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Catching Up
Okay, it’s been a while since I’ve last written. A lot has happened, so here we go:
My boys have been great. Alvin is doing well at home with potty training, but he’s not doing well at school with it. I don’t have a clue what the problem is. Marcus is the cutest thing ever – next to his brother. He is clearly using signals to tell us what he wants, but he just refuses to talk. He does say up and he tries to say shoe and choo-choo. But that’s about it.
Job hunting still sucks. I went on an interview last week and the hours were long and included weekends. The job itself wasn’t bad, but I can’t work long hours with my 2 little ones and I definitely won’t work weekends when that would be my boys only full days to be with me. So that one went out the window…not to mention one of the positions was commission only and the other was only 55-75k and the 75k was a stretch. So the pay was not up to par with me having additional daycare costs.
Business-wise, things were scarce. I had no orders for the month of August and then all of a sudden I had 2 birthday requests: one for a cake and one for cookies. The cake was a red velvet cake and the cookies were a dozen birthday cake cookies. Everything looked beautiful if I do say so myself. However, the cookies were for a relative for Saturday and the person just decided to not pick them up. After multiple attempts to contact them, they were supposed to get back to me on Sunday. Well it’s Sunday night and I have not heard a thing. They even asked how long would the cookies stay fresh, and would they last a week…why would I want to keep someone’s birthday cookies in my house for a week????? Now I have been very trusting of everyone and not have asked for any payments up front, but after being burned on ordering music cookies cutters and the order was all of a sudden dropped and then me making these cookies and they are now not being picked up I am re-thinking about telling everyone, no payment, no baking. Not of course for those who have come through, but definitely for everyone else. I don’t understand what people don’t get about me not working and that this is a business. I have to spend my money up front and wait to get that money back. That up-front money is money that goes into my children’s mouth. Why do people think that it’s okay to screw people over and have the nerve to think I will get over it??? I didn’t and I won’t get over it. Don’t get it twisted.
My children and I have been very tired yesterday and today. I was in bed last night at 9am and still took an hour nap this afternoon and could have slept longer. It’s 11:00 now, so I am going to end here and get some sleep.
Have a great night! I hope I will too!
My boys have been great. Alvin is doing well at home with potty training, but he’s not doing well at school with it. I don’t have a clue what the problem is. Marcus is the cutest thing ever – next to his brother. He is clearly using signals to tell us what he wants, but he just refuses to talk. He does say up and he tries to say shoe and choo-choo. But that’s about it.
Job hunting still sucks. I went on an interview last week and the hours were long and included weekends. The job itself wasn’t bad, but I can’t work long hours with my 2 little ones and I definitely won’t work weekends when that would be my boys only full days to be with me. So that one went out the window…not to mention one of the positions was commission only and the other was only 55-75k and the 75k was a stretch. So the pay was not up to par with me having additional daycare costs.
Business-wise, things were scarce. I had no orders for the month of August and then all of a sudden I had 2 birthday requests: one for a cake and one for cookies. The cake was a red velvet cake and the cookies were a dozen birthday cake cookies. Everything looked beautiful if I do say so myself. However, the cookies were for a relative for Saturday and the person just decided to not pick them up. After multiple attempts to contact them, they were supposed to get back to me on Sunday. Well it’s Sunday night and I have not heard a thing. They even asked how long would the cookies stay fresh, and would they last a week…why would I want to keep someone’s birthday cookies in my house for a week????? Now I have been very trusting of everyone and not have asked for any payments up front, but after being burned on ordering music cookies cutters and the order was all of a sudden dropped and then me making these cookies and they are now not being picked up I am re-thinking about telling everyone, no payment, no baking. Not of course for those who have come through, but definitely for everyone else. I don’t understand what people don’t get about me not working and that this is a business. I have to spend my money up front and wait to get that money back. That up-front money is money that goes into my children’s mouth. Why do people think that it’s okay to screw people over and have the nerve to think I will get over it??? I didn’t and I won’t get over it. Don’t get it twisted.
My children and I have been very tired yesterday and today. I was in bed last night at 9am and still took an hour nap this afternoon and could have slept longer. It’s 11:00 now, so I am going to end here and get some sleep.
Have a great night! I hope I will too!
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Race Is On
I have been trying to get to bed by 10pm for a few days now, but different things have kept me from doing it. Well tonight, it is going to happen! The race is on! Clothes are washed. Dishes are cleaned. I am ready for bed. I have gone through my emails. And now I’m writing down my thoughts while watching my taped soapes. It’s only 9:17!!!!
My cake for my very last cake decorating class is all set for class. Alvin got to eat his chocolate cupcake tonight and will have some more chocolate cake Wednesday night when my class cake comes home. I even seeded and fertilized the yard and then watered it. I did a lot today and thank goodness I am definitely going to get 8 hours of sleep tonight unless little people wake me up.
So have a good night – because I am definitely going to do the same!
My cake for my very last cake decorating class is all set for class. Alvin got to eat his chocolate cupcake tonight and will have some more chocolate cake Wednesday night when my class cake comes home. I even seeded and fertilized the yard and then watered it. I did a lot today and thank goodness I am definitely going to get 8 hours of sleep tonight unless little people wake me up.
So have a good night – because I am definitely going to do the same!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
A Good Day
After such a crazy week, I wanted today to be a calm day...and it was. The boys and I went to the toy store to buy my oldest a keyboard that he fell in love with at a party yesterday. Both boys loved playing with the train set in the store so instead of going to the mall and playing, they just played in the store. It was great!
After lunch and naptime, we went to visit family and were home just in time for the boys to eat dinner. After I got them ready for bed, I ate dinner and went grocery shopping since my big boy will finally go back to school from getting over his pneumonia.
Since I have my cake class final on Tuesday and my son has been wanting a chocolate cake, I made my class cake tonight and made my son a cupcake out of the batter. So tomorrow night, he’ll have some cake and then after class is over, he’ll have some more cake.
I wrapped up my baking orders for July and had nothing coming for August. But, by the grace of God, I received 3 requests today: one for a cake, and 2 for cookies – all within the next 2 weeks. Thank goodness!!!! I was very worried about August.
Well, it’s almost 11pm. I wanted to be asleep by 10, but I decided to scrub the kitchen floor, wash the few dishes in the sink and mop the living room floor. I’m crazy, but at least everything is clean for me for tomorrow when I will only have one child at home to take care of. Woohoo!
After lunch and naptime, we went to visit family and were home just in time for the boys to eat dinner. After I got them ready for bed, I ate dinner and went grocery shopping since my big boy will finally go back to school from getting over his pneumonia.
Since I have my cake class final on Tuesday and my son has been wanting a chocolate cake, I made my class cake tonight and made my son a cupcake out of the batter. So tomorrow night, he’ll have some cake and then after class is over, he’ll have some more cake.
I wrapped up my baking orders for July and had nothing coming for August. But, by the grace of God, I received 3 requests today: one for a cake, and 2 for cookies – all within the next 2 weeks. Thank goodness!!!! I was very worried about August.
Well, it’s almost 11pm. I wanted to be asleep by 10, but I decided to scrub the kitchen floor, wash the few dishes in the sink and mop the living room floor. I’m crazy, but at least everything is clean for me for tomorrow when I will only have one child at home to take care of. Woohoo!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
One Hell Of A Week
The best laid out plans can go up in ruins when your child becomes sick...
I was planning on starting to bake my 125 cookie order when at 10am there was a call from my son’s school that he had a fever. So I picked him up and brought him to the doctor and they said he had a cold. So I had to stay up until 2am baking.
I was exhausted on Tuesday because my little ones get up at 6am. Thank goodness I had my girlfriends daughter to help me the next day with the boys because my oldest was sick and the baby was having a horrible day and screeched and cried most of the day. So I was interrupted the entire day. I was able to get all but 40 cookies covered with icing before I had to make icing for my cake decoration class that night. I was able to get back from class and finish the cookies before 1am which was good.
Wednesday I was able to do the details on my cookies and let them dry. I sent the boys with their father to the mall for a solid hour so that I could get work done. My son was not getting better and he broke out in a rash on his body. I took him to the doctor to find out after quite a few tests that he had pneumonia. So we go his prescription and he went to bed. He was still coughing all day and all night, so we were both exhausted. I baked my friends wedding anniversary cake that night and it came out beautifully.
Thursday I spent the majority of the day icing the cake and covering it with fondant and making the roses. Once I finished the cake, I moved on to bagging the cookies. Because my son had a follow up appointment on Friday morning my cookies now became due on Thursday evening…talk about adding on the pressure. But somehow, I was able to deliver the cookies around 8:30pm and that was one large project down. My cake was now resting so that was project 2 down. Now I can finally get some rest. I celebrated my mad week and my baking accomplishments by opening up a small bottle of champagne with my dinner.
Friday TGIF!!!!! My son finally had some spunk in him. My cake was done, my cookies were gone and I was able to get some sleep. I ran a bunch of errands that morning and for the afternoon, I brought the boys to the aquarium. They had a great time. I met with some new friends to discuss potential business in the future, and also dropped of the anniversary cake. My clients loved the cake. I was so happy. They cut into the cake minutes after I left and called me immediately to let me know that it was delicious.
Today, Saturday, I brought the boys to story time at the bookstore and after lunch and naptime, we went to a birthday party of my son’s classmate. He had such a blast. He was happy and bouncing around with his school buddies. The baby had a good time too although he mainly stayed near me. I got them home, fed, bathed, and ready for bed. I ate dinner and then made a batch of promotional cookies (not for anyone in particular, but to get people to see what I can do and possibly order them). I will ice them at my leisure this week.
People say that God only gives you what you can handle, well I can apparently handle a whole lot of chaos, because this week was full of it. I will appreciate my week off of baking and relax…oh! I just remembered, I have my final exam in my cake class on Tuesday…darn! I have to bake another cake for class and make icing for the class. Oh well. I will tackle that on Sunday and let everything sit for Tuesday.
It’s 11:00 and I am going to go to bed. Tomorrow I will update my business blog to reflect my new goodies. I can’t wait to post them! Good night.
I was planning on starting to bake my 125 cookie order when at 10am there was a call from my son’s school that he had a fever. So I picked him up and brought him to the doctor and they said he had a cold. So I had to stay up until 2am baking.
I was exhausted on Tuesday because my little ones get up at 6am. Thank goodness I had my girlfriends daughter to help me the next day with the boys because my oldest was sick and the baby was having a horrible day and screeched and cried most of the day. So I was interrupted the entire day. I was able to get all but 40 cookies covered with icing before I had to make icing for my cake decoration class that night. I was able to get back from class and finish the cookies before 1am which was good.
Wednesday I was able to do the details on my cookies and let them dry. I sent the boys with their father to the mall for a solid hour so that I could get work done. My son was not getting better and he broke out in a rash on his body. I took him to the doctor to find out after quite a few tests that he had pneumonia. So we go his prescription and he went to bed. He was still coughing all day and all night, so we were both exhausted. I baked my friends wedding anniversary cake that night and it came out beautifully.
Thursday I spent the majority of the day icing the cake and covering it with fondant and making the roses. Once I finished the cake, I moved on to bagging the cookies. Because my son had a follow up appointment on Friday morning my cookies now became due on Thursday evening…talk about adding on the pressure. But somehow, I was able to deliver the cookies around 8:30pm and that was one large project down. My cake was now resting so that was project 2 down. Now I can finally get some rest. I celebrated my mad week and my baking accomplishments by opening up a small bottle of champagne with my dinner.
Friday TGIF!!!!! My son finally had some spunk in him. My cake was done, my cookies were gone and I was able to get some sleep. I ran a bunch of errands that morning and for the afternoon, I brought the boys to the aquarium. They had a great time. I met with some new friends to discuss potential business in the future, and also dropped of the anniversary cake. My clients loved the cake. I was so happy. They cut into the cake minutes after I left and called me immediately to let me know that it was delicious.
Today, Saturday, I brought the boys to story time at the bookstore and after lunch and naptime, we went to a birthday party of my son’s classmate. He had such a blast. He was happy and bouncing around with his school buddies. The baby had a good time too although he mainly stayed near me. I got them home, fed, bathed, and ready for bed. I ate dinner and then made a batch of promotional cookies (not for anyone in particular, but to get people to see what I can do and possibly order them). I will ice them at my leisure this week.
People say that God only gives you what you can handle, well I can apparently handle a whole lot of chaos, because this week was full of it. I will appreciate my week off of baking and relax…oh! I just remembered, I have my final exam in my cake class on Tuesday…darn! I have to bake another cake for class and make icing for the class. Oh well. I will tackle that on Sunday and let everything sit for Tuesday.
It’s 11:00 and I am going to go to bed. Tomorrow I will update my business blog to reflect my new goodies. I can’t wait to post them! Good night.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
A Toast To My Friends
What is your definition of friendship? Who do you call your good friends or best friends and why? People tend to use the word friendship very loosely…
I have a good amount of girlfriends, but I only have a couple of good friends/best friends. My girlfriends are women who I know and who know me. I don’t spend a ton of time with them. I might not even spend my weekends with them, but they are supportive, helpful, funny, and they are good listeners.
My good friends/ best friends are less than a handful and are the people I go to first with good news or bad news. They have been there for me through awesome times and God awful times. They are not only people I can count on, but they are people I can also turn around and help. I can give them advice or input and not have to sugar coat it. I am a no-nonsense person, so they have to be able to take it from me straight – not that I would be mean or anything…These people are the first people that come to my mind when I want to do something special for someone or help someone out. I would not be able to stay sane without these people.
This past year has brought me a lifetime worth of struggles. Through these times, I have definitely learned who my friends are. The people who said they would do something and have kept true to their words. People who I can call on and they answer back with no delays. People who not only have supported me emotionally and mentally, but even a few who have helped me financially – not with actually handing me cash, but by pointing me in the right direction when I was at a crossroads to enable myself to prosper to become the best me which turned into cash. These people stayed with me until I saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
So to those very good friends of mine, you know who you are, I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me: listening, encouraging, helping, guiding I love you for it all.
Cheers to my very good friends, I hope that I am and can continue to be as good a friend to you as you are to me.
Love you!!!!!
Thyjuan
I have a good amount of girlfriends, but I only have a couple of good friends/best friends. My girlfriends are women who I know and who know me. I don’t spend a ton of time with them. I might not even spend my weekends with them, but they are supportive, helpful, funny, and they are good listeners.
My good friends/ best friends are less than a handful and are the people I go to first with good news or bad news. They have been there for me through awesome times and God awful times. They are not only people I can count on, but they are people I can also turn around and help. I can give them advice or input and not have to sugar coat it. I am a no-nonsense person, so they have to be able to take it from me straight – not that I would be mean or anything…These people are the first people that come to my mind when I want to do something special for someone or help someone out. I would not be able to stay sane without these people.
This past year has brought me a lifetime worth of struggles. Through these times, I have definitely learned who my friends are. The people who said they would do something and have kept true to their words. People who I can call on and they answer back with no delays. People who not only have supported me emotionally and mentally, but even a few who have helped me financially – not with actually handing me cash, but by pointing me in the right direction when I was at a crossroads to enable myself to prosper to become the best me which turned into cash. These people stayed with me until I saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
So to those very good friends of mine, you know who you are, I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me: listening, encouraging, helping, guiding I love you for it all.
Cheers to my very good friends, I hope that I am and can continue to be as good a friend to you as you are to me.
Love you!!!!!
Thyjuan
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