So this is normal...

We bought a house a little over a month ago, and by the grace of God, cupcake orders have been very light. Otherwise, I would have gotten nothing done and gone crazy at the same time.
With this new found free time, I've been able to do things that I haven't had time to do in so long. Like clean...a room other than the kitchen that is.   This weekend I was especially free to be, what I discovered I missed A LOT, a "normal" mom/wife. Now clearly that is a blanket statement, but you know what I mean. In a life of cupcakes and cookies, ideas, decorations and flavor combinations, I took great pleasure in doing a load of laundry. I love my cupcake life, but I throughly enjoyed having time to hang my family pictures and put together a night table, and change my sheets and read to my kid. I miss these moments.
Hats off to all of the "normal" moms, and to the momtreprenures as well.

Oh where do I begin...

I feel like Babycakes Couture has grown by leaps and bounds since I last blogged. I have truly missed it. In the beginning the thoughts and ideas came so easily to me and I had spare time to devote to proper posts. These days, time is not on my side. If anybody knows of a way to get more than 24 hours out of a day, please let me know.

Even with the lack of spare time, the ideas and conversations that I want to have with you have always been there but I never seem to get around to creating a post. I really want to be better and I am truly going to try. I have lots of things that I could blame for the lack of blogging that would really get me off the hook. Namely, looking for, and buying a house and then moving... that's a biggie. Then there's the Cupcake Smash which I entered and lost. I'm still mad about that. And then the abundance of orders I've been blessed with recently. Building a brand is hard work and I am having a ball doing it.

So with that said, here I am typing a blog post. I hunkered down and I'm doing it. Well, I did it, because I think that's all I've got for now. But, I'll be back...

Healing Hands...

I had hand surgery on January 16, 2013. Hand surgery when you're an artist is a scary thing.
What if the doc hit a nerve?? What if I could not longer use my hand?? Mind you, this was a minor surgery for Carpel Tunnel Syndrome; something that has been pestering me for the longest time. The more I cupcake, the more my hand and arm hurt. Hopefully in the coming days and weeks, I will begin to feel that the surgery was worth it. As of right now... eh, not so much. My hand is still sore and stiff and with my nerves waking up I have random "sparks" as I like to call them. They hurt! I do see progress though.

Today I baked my first batch since the surgery. It was so good to hear Penny (my mixer) purr and smell that sweet Babycakes scent in the house. It's been a while.Only one batch of blondies today, and it's a good thing because by the time I was half through the icing I started feeling the sparks. Baby steps I guess. I have a bouquet due on Friday so I best get it together.
The next test is piping... the real work.
Wish me luck!

This is my life, as a cover girl...

“The very best moment in any long journey that makes your dreams come true, comes not on the day you realize they have, but on the day you realize how little they matter compared to loving the adventure they've inspired.”

Oh my goodness how true a statement that is. I had one of those moments yesterday. I’m not one of those people who has dreamt their whole life of being this one thing. My dream has changed so many times over the years and is still changing everyday. At almost 33 I am still figuring it out. Starting and running a new business is a difficult thing to do. This thing I call Babycakes Couture Sweets kind of just came to me as a gift from The Universe and I am doing the best I can to nurture it and help it grow just as I have done and continue to do with my children. In many ways starting a business is like having a baby. No one tells you how much of an emotional roller coaster running a business can be. Last week was probably the most trying time for me in my journey thus far. From smiles to tears to complete bliss in knowing that I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing. Lots of emotions for one week. Who knew cupcakes could make you cry.

To end my crazy week, I spent Sunday morning in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art surrounded by people who came together for the purpose of peace, love and healing. I had the honor and pleasure of being a vendor at the 10^th Anniversary Yoga on the Steps event. This event sponsored by Living Beyond Breast Cancer is held each year to promote healthy living and the healing properties of yoga. I can’t think of any place I would rather have been. 1500 people on the art museum steps participating in a yoga class while Kirtan is played and live musicians perform to focus the energy. It was an awesome experience and I can’t wait until next year. People were so happy to be offered a free cupcake or tiny sample of cake. The smiles and the thumbs up and the “Best cupcake ever!” responses I received were worth more that any money I could have been paid for those cuppycakes.

The energy I felt in that space was the perfect topper to my crazy super emotional doubt filled week. Today I awoke more certain than ever that I can do this. I can reach my dream even as it changes, and I will be great! We all tell ourselves stories about how things are going to go and what we will do, but it doesn’t always work out that way. But that’s the point… we are in charge of our stories and if the plan changes rewrite that sucker! I’m in charge… I’m in control, of this anyway.

I could not have realized any of this, or even gotten through yesterday, without the ever present support of my AMAZING friends and family and the BEST husband in the whole entire world. Seriously, he is the best.

"You will find, as you look back on your life, that the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done things for others."- Henry Drummond

This past week I had the opportunity to donate cupcakes to families at the Ronald McDonald House here in Philly. A few months back I saw Bakerella's Burgers and Bees  post and I thought they were so cute; but when would I have the opportunity to make burger cake bites? Well, now, that's when. Once I thought about it a cake ball would be a bit too much to go on top of a cupcake, so I made mini burgers with mini vanilla wafers and chocolate. They came out so cute that I broke out into a dance. The mini burger dance if you will. My daughter was thoroughly embarrassed. I was in love with them and I immediately started thinking of other tiny foods I could make.

Though I didn't get to be there to see the kid's faces when they saw those tiny cheeseburgers, I was satisfied with how much fun I had just making them. They were so cute! I have since rediscovered an old obsession; I love tiny food replicas. 

My mom reminded me that when I was little I would collect those magnets that looked like slices of pie and doughnuts, etc. I think I'll have to revisit that hobby. Thanks Mom.

                                                                                                                                  

Don't they look yummy?

 

 

After realizing my old/new hobby I found this awesome shop on Etsy, and they even had a cupcake!!!

Until next time :)

It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you...

Without a dope beat to step to.

Hey!!!!!!! I'm back!!!!!
Wow January really. I think that's the longest I've gone without blogging. I been busy with orders and, in case you haven't noticed, the new layout!!! Makeover courtesy of a Mammalicious friend of mine ;) So, how do I look?
The blog has moved to a new address, but the old address is now my new website! I am so excited to finally be putting the finishing touches on everything. I promise to have the pictures up by tomorrow, but if you want to check me out anyway, I welcome you. I  hope my followers will join me here, and I invite newbies to come along as well. Next post I promise to share the things I've been working on. I've been having a ball!

Visit the new site and please leave us a love note! We'd love to hear from you!
Thanks for reading.

Fascinating Find...

WARNING: This post has absolutely nothing to do with cupcakes.

I don't know about you, but I love to watch infomercials and QVC. I watch, but I never buy. Especially those too good to be true products that will make your life easier in some way. If they're so great, why can I get 5 of the for only $19.95? Huh? Explain that. I just don't trust them, and I'm not in the business of wasting my money. One particular product that always catches my attention is those velvety magic hangers that are supposed to give you twice the space in your closet... you know the ones. The sales woman is so believable and it seems like they really do magically give you more space, but how? That's why I never buy. 

Well, the other day I was in Ross, and low and behold there they were, in all colors. Except pink :( There was a pack of 20 hangers for $7.99. I picked them up, felt the velvety smoothness, and read the label and put them down. I still didn't believe they would work. I walked around some more and on my way to the register there was another bin filled with more hangers. This time there were smaller packs (10) that were $3.99. I quick grabbed a pack and hurried to the register before I changed my mind. $3.99 was a reasonable waste if they didn't work and a steal if they did, so I bought them. SUPER DUPER STEAL!!! These things are awesome! I used them last night when I put the laundry away. I was amazed by how much less space they took up. How'd they do that? I don't care... all I know is I'm going back for more! And cardigans don't slip off; amazing! Hopefully they will have pink; although, I think I want them all to be the same color. We'll see. And I'll get the black ones to do the hubby's side. Me first though :)

 See the difference.... 8 hangers and some of them have 2 items on them. I can't wait to get more!