We're skating on thin ice......

Well, the kids were home today for another snow/ icw day!!!!!!!!!!!!! Luck ducks only went to school 2 days this week. I am hoping that they do not have to extend the school year, ugh.
I was kinda bummed last night went we got the call @ 9pm saying that the schools were closed. I had today mapped out. I was going to head to the craft store (one of my favorite places) and then to the mall to find an interview outfit/suit. Yep, fans of Harmony, I have an interview on Wednesday of next week with a confection company (yeah!). I also had an interview last Friday with another local food company. I will be back to developing new products in no time. Honestly, I did not think that things would be moving this fast but heyI am not complaining.

Did not accomplish much today, just hung out with the kids and watched musicals. From Annie, to Grease to Hairspray, my day was full of singin' and dancin' .

Would have been nice if Chaka were home to enjoy the festivities but my baby is working his tail off. I am so happy for him b/c he loves his job and his boss loves him.

Anywho, I did not want to be a stanger. We just got back from gymnastics practice and I had a second to myself.

Have a good nite and stay warm and safe....we slid most of the way home b/c the roads are now covered with ice so be careful. Catch ya mañana

JUST CHILLIN' (literally)

Well, folks, this week has been full of nothing but ingredient ordering, cupcake tree/ tower shopping and being at home with the kids (they were off Monday and today was their 5th snow day). A wamer climate is looking really apealing right now.

Here is an update on Harmony:

For now Harmony is a thriving home based cottage bakery. The storefront has been put on hold. We simple have not been able to find an affordable space or the support to get things up and running. I have also done some major soul searching over the past month and a half. I have had moments where I have said "I can do this" and then I have had moment where I have said "now is not the time, you have a new baby(now 10 months), you have just reached the peak of your professional career and your family's financial future needs you to work, I also kinda miss working in the food industry (shhhh don't tell)!" BUT THIS IS YOUR DREAM !!! you say. Yes, it"our" dream and it will be realized.

I have always been a big dreamer and achiever which is why I must defer this dream for now. I gotta do HARMONY right. It is just not enough to get the doors open, it has to be done right and on my terms. I feel very passionate about being "great". Everything that I have ever done has been done on my terms and I have to do this on my terms.

So what next..........

Continue to grow Harmony on a part-time basis pushing special events and weddings.
Hit the farmers marekt circuit this April to October.
Land a few business accounts
Continue to network and get the word out about my services (no one is offering over 20 varieites of cupcakes to clients in the Nasty Natti)

So that is the plan. It could change as things develop..........

Also, I have started looking for a JOB is corporate America again. I know, I hear the gasps. But hey we gotta pay the bills. We budgeted for me to be home for a year and take a stab at my dream and be home with Z-man. I am so grateful for this time b/c my other 2 babies were in daycare at 6 weeks and this KILLED me. It is b/c of our planning and teamwork that we could afford for me to be home. But hey the bank account is dwindling and I am about 2 months away from hitting (my panic button- Chaka is a beans, rice and card board box kinda guy - I am NOT). We also have a huge chunk in the Harmony fund that will continue to grow (thanks dad!)

So fans of Harmony, what do you think? I am not selling out or giving up. A girls got to do what a girls got to do. I have learned so much and, in a way, I am so much wiser, stronger, and happier than I was this time last year. I have a solid business plan, a great business coach and a huge network of folks that have kept the orders coming. I also have events booked in March, April and May so I am here to stay.

Will I conitnue to blog, ummmmm yep, maybe not everyday but at least once or twice a week! Harmony is still alive - we are an LLC with a tax id and I am still taking orders!

Well, I am out for now. Keep the support coming......this is all apart of the journey.....thanks for sharing this part with me........I look forward to sharing the next chapter with you.

Peace

Just cupcakes...........

No words today, I am fried.............

Just pics of some of this weeks cupcake orders. I am baked and I am off to catch up on my household chores. There is a sea of laundry waiting for me upstairs. More tomorrow.......need rest...........

You got me flipping and flopping!!!

Well fans of Harmony, the universe is truly on my side today. I got the schedule for Nalah's big meet and she competes on the 7th NOT the 8th (phew). I was really feeling guilty about the possibility of missing my baby's FIRST meet and now I do not have to worry any more.

Today the kiddies were home. It was kinda a lazy day until this afternoon when I had to rush Nalah-B off to practice.

I am baking for an early AM delivery so I am out for now.

Have a nice nite.

Still no spell check and you know that I am the worlds worse speller...........

Shower Me with your love....Shower me with the love I've been waiting

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!!!!!

Ok, I am guilty of being a once a week poster. I never thought that I would be too busy to blog but the last week has been CRAZY. I have only had a few min. on the computer each day which has been torture.

The past week I have been sick...well...sick again and now I am getting better by the min. I have also had MANY cupcake orders. YEAH!!!!! I will post pictures once I find time to upload them to the computer.

Here is a quick update:

Good news first: Remember the HUGE event that I was bidding on, I got the gig!!!!! I had to submit 2 rounds of samples, attend 2 planning mettings and then I had to submit a formal proposal. I beat out 2 other bakeries and the hotel's catering department where the venue is being held. I am elated to say the least. This will be MAJOR exposure for Harmony. There will be over 300 of Cincinatti's Who's Who at this event (yeah I feel the pressure but I know that I will rock it). I will tell you more about it as the time approaches. The date is March 8th and I am already in planning mode b/c it is less than a month away.

Bad news: The date is the same weekend as Nalah's big USGA meet in Kentucky. I am praying that she is scheduled to compete on Friday or Sunday so I can be there. Otherwise I will have to miss it (ugh). I sware the work/ life balance issues never go away. My mom is flying in as my backup/ standin and we will make a huge deal the entire weekend.

Well, I gotta run, more orders to fill and the kids have a 4 day weekend so I am officially on the clock non-stop now until Tuesday.

Oh, I almost forgot........if you are going to Vegas (and I know some of you are going soon) stop in and by a dozen or so cupcakes at Retro Bakery (you can find the address on Retro's website). Retro opened this week and we Supermom's have to support one another! Kari and her hubby are the owners and they truly rock!!! When you stop in, please tell her that Claire the baking scientist sent you. I plan on making it out there before the year is over.

I am out. I will try not to be a one weeker again, but hey life is really crazy right now.

I am out.

I saw the light but it passed me bye....YEAH!

I have actually been in bed since my last post. I thought that I was going to see the light at some point. My body ached so bad that it hurt to wiggle my toes. The good news is that no one else has gotten my bug. I am feeling better just in time for Amari's mother's breakfast at his school tomorrow! I was definately feeling the mother's guilt b/c he begged me to get better this morning as he left for school. I also missed last year's breakfast b/c I was on the road traveling for my job. So I was in healing mode all day today and I am about 85% better. All you mom's know that 85% is the same as 100% when you have kiddies.

Up for tomorrow:
Plan for Saturday's order - I am working hard to secure the final bid for a HUGE gala for an organization's 55th Gala. They have been pretty demanding and VERY critical so we shall see if Harmony makes the cut. It could be big if we do make the cut. The gala will have over 300 people in attendance.

Anywho, I am out for now. I have to clean myself up so I am presentable for tomorrow.

Who coughed on me????????????

Not I said the prince!

Not I said Z-man!

Not I said the king!

It was I said Nalah Princess Butterfly!

Well, fans of Harmony, I have the dreaded Nalah-B cough but worse. We share everything in this house...... The chills hit me late yesterday but I just put on a sweater and ignored it. By the time Chaka got home from work I was wiped. I have been in bed off and on all day. When Z-man slept, so did I. I think he maybe fighting something too. He slept over 4 hours this morning. I hope we do not pay for this 2nite.

Man, you don't realize how important breathing is until you can not do it freely...............

I am back to bed since life goes on whether I am sick or not.

Stay well and warm.