I got da berry blues

Just a quick post. It is crazy busy over here. I am preparing for the big Jack and Jill event this weekend. This is the big even where Harmony Cupcakes beat out several other local bakeries including the Sheraton in Sharonville where the event is being held. All of my specialty ingredients are here but I still have a trip to Sam's Club or GFS for sugar and butter. I am excited but nervous about this event. The planning committee was really hard to please and I do not want to disappoint. They put great emphasis on elegance and I just want the customer to be satisfied. I ordered a cupcake tree that holds 300 cupcakes, and I am spending the next 2 days decorating it. Keep me in your thoughts. I will be sure to take pictures for you.

My mommy is also coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She has not been out to visit since May, which is the longest we have gone without seeing one another.

Anywho, I gotta get Nalah-B off to gymnastics practice.

More to come soon.

Oh, I almost forgot......the cupcake pictures are from last week's pretty in pink strawberry and I got da blues order. They were a huge hit at 53rd Bank!

Gimme some sunshine.......PLEASE!

I never really knew how weather can effect a person until recently. The past 2 months have been brutal in OH. It has been cold with lots of snow and freezing rain and very little sunshine. I have always loved winter but I am so ready for spring. This is the first time in my life that I have honestly longed to live in a warmer place. My hubby keeps telling me that the weather has not been so bad and I keep saying, where have you been living over the past month or so????

The last 2 months have been really depressing. Perhaps it's b/c I have deferred my dream and decided to go back to corporate America. Don't get me wrong, I love developing new products, working with customers and working with food. I just don't play the political game well. I believe in being ethical and rewarding hard workers who play fairly. We all know that corporate does not work this way. So why am I going to go back you ask?? It is a necessary evil. Could we make it on Chaka's salary alone, ummm, probably. But we would not be able to continue to get ahead and save for Harmony. So, in order to achieve my dream, I have to take this path get to Harmony. I also believe that the kids need to be a bit older before I start this business so they don't suffer as much.

So what is up for today. Cleaning and laundry. I have been a bit of a bum when it comes to house work this week. I have had too many other things to do.
Well, I am going to sign off......

Silence is Golden

Well, Fans of Harmony, I have been a little silent for the last few days. I have been swamped with LIFE stuff. From interviewing and baking, to preparing for my big event next weekend, I have not had ANY computer time. Each week is becoming more an more packed. Z-man is also VERY mobile so I can not sit at the computer while he plays with his toys any more. We gates off the family room. At first he was so excited to be inside his own space but now he has figured out that we have pretty much caged him in the family room. As soon as I open the door to the gate he speed crawls to make a quick escape. If he makes it out he is elated but when I close the gate before he makes it out, he begins banging and shaking the gate while babbling at me. He is very persistent........



Here is a little Harmony news:

I ordered the cutest chocolate fans to top my chocolate cupcakes for the big event that I am doing. They are very nice. You can find them at http://www.pastrychef.com/ under ingredients. They are a little pricey put my client insisted that we use them. Hey, if they are will to pay then I will do as they say. I have also not been able to find medium blue foil cupcake wrapper in the US. I found a supplier in Australia but the liners would not make it here in time for next Saturday. I did find some really nice navy and white cupcake liners that will go great with the sliver liners that I have to use.



My 2 interviews are done and over with. I guess you can say that I am one of those people that loves to interview. I don't get nervous, I just have a good time. I know it is a bit odd but where else is it ok to talk about yourself for hours. We will see what happens. I will know something by early next week on both.

Well, I better get to getting.

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...........