Monkeys, Meetings, Major Projects

"Step out into the Sunshine, Sally!" ~ Ellie Mixter-Keller

I know, I left you hanging -- RUDENESS! So my meeting went pretty well. The health inspector was very kind to me, informative, suggestive -- positive even. I have to do a few things that I was hoping I wouldn't have to (like put in a 3 compartment commercial sink and buy a commercial frig) but nothing that can't be simplistically overcome and should be items I can find used. What I appreciated most about my meeting was the fact the entire time he was telling me what I would need to do, he understood and aligned himself with MY goal -- "the bare minimum in cost to bring up to commerical use". After all, we're making cookies and cakes, not serving seventeen course dinners! Thankfully I had been a professional baker for so many years prior to this and have worked in all types of kitchens -- from the Hyatt Regency Hotel to a little gourmet restaurant that seated about 60 people -- so I was clear what was really needed to do some great baking. And it's not a lot! Thankfully Vladimir (health inspector) also knew and appreciated this fact. Good meeting.

Then I went across the street to see what the Town of Genesee needed to get this going. OK, so it's a lot, but not compared to many other municipalities, I'm sure, and it will take a bit to get all of the approvals, but again, not anything that couldn't be overcome. Seems like my suns are aligning (I'd say stars, but, well, suns seem more appropriate coming from me doesn't it?).

On Friday, I had the first date. You know, with that lady that I thought dropped me like a bad first date? Oh stop thinking what you are thinking! It took me four months to get this meeting and there was NO way I was going to cancel now (and besides, I scheduled it a full week before my decision to open the Sweet Shoppe). Now, I must admit, the night before I strongly considered cancelling. I was afraid that it would confuse me, derail me, throw me off my new course. But it didn't. I was so pleased to meet her (such a lovely woman!!), honored that she made time for "little ol' me", moved by what I learned, and touched by having known her. She taught me what I was doing wrong in my job hunt (it is SUCH a different world out there now in this economy) and I was happy to have some answers to my burning questions. She also sent me such a lovely email after the meeting, that I feel I must share it with you as I simply adore people who show up like this in life!

I so enjoyed meeting you Tracey. This is a huge leap of faith. You have so very much to offer. It is NOT you but the conditions we are in. It requires you learn some new skills, and I know you will get there. There are wonderful people in this town who could really use someone like you. Your church, chamber of commerce, old school chums are already predisposed to like you and want to help you. Figure out what you want, what you need to take you to the next step on the path and ask them-they won't disappoint. After all, I bet you have been helping them for many years! Feel free to rattle my cage for further help as needed. Happy to Link you up with others who can help. Get away from the computer and step out into the Sunshine Sally! Not so bleak out here in the light! ... you just need to give yourself permission to be open to the NEW and get over the fact that the old way is done. Change is for the good, jump on the wave.

Step out into the Sunshine Sally! I just love that! That is going to have to be my new life motto!! And I'm not confused. I may have a little of my ego back from this meeting (something that has slowly been torn down for the last several months), but it's coming back I tell you! I thought about all the conversations I have had lately about the bakery and about the business world. And while I want to do both, the corporate world isn't calling me but a batch of my homemade Snicker Bars is! (and yes, I DO make them and yes they are unbelievable!!)

Had this cute cake to make for my cousin this weekend. I know, right?! Her son turns one this month and she had my big ol' Italian family over for his special day. In our family, the party goers get one cake and the one-year old gets his/her own to "enjoy". For the record, "enjoy" also rhymes with "destroy", but either way, it's all good! :o)










Also this weekend, we headed into the home stretch of Caroline's Bronze Award Project. Thought I would send some pictures of just SOME of the books we've collected so far. It really is amazing though isn't it? I love when people come together to make a difference. Simply love it. We wrap it up in about two weeks and she still has her school to collect from (about 300 kids), her neighborhood collection at her Waterford house (about 5 times more houses than we have here in Muktown), the bins at our local libraries and at her Daddy's and Uncle's work place(s).


Did I mention I love when people come together to make a difference?

And lastly -- Our Women's project (blog and final report) are complete and I have posted our final paper as our last blog if you are interested in seeing how we wrapped it all up. I feel pretty good about it and am happy to have two weeks off to read what I want to read before my next class starts! Wendy Mass, here I come! ;o) Happy Monday!!

A Very Important Day

"Don't just consider what's possible...STAND ON what's possible...CELEBRATE what's possible...CLAIM what's possible, for you and others." ~Marianne Williamson

That's really all I am going to post as today I need to be sure my energies are attracting nothing but infinite possibility! I can not let Molly spend a single minute with me today -- not one. I need to believe in this, believe it is all part of God's intention for me to live my grandest life, and believe I can do it.

So today I will STAND ON what's possible...CELEBRATE what's possible... and CLAIM what's possible.

It's a big day.

Oh...today is the day (actually in just a couple hours) that I meet with the Health Inspector to see if I am right that it will take very little to convert my pretty little space into Sally's Sweet Shoppe (we're going with "ppe" because otherwise it looks like Sweatshop and while I am a very hard worker, I don't want OSHA getting any ideas!!). :o) If that is the case, and that is what I strongly believe to be true, we will be going forward and Genesee Depot will soon have the sweetest little bakery it ever did see!

Time to go claim what's possible!

I Hit Delete

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11

I deleted all of the emails, notifications, etc. Yup, I cut the cord.

My husband and I had a conversation on Saturday morning. Well, he talked, I cried and tried to talk (what's new, right?!) We were both clear that I wasn't doing any one thing well. I wasn't finding a job "well". I wasn't trying to figure out how to make (literally, MAKE) Cookie Concoctions work in a kitchen somewhere (can't be a home kitchen) "well", and I am not OK about being a stay at home (1/2 time) mom, and I can't afford to go to school full-time w/o going in debt which if you haven't notice is a four-letter word and ESPECIALLY to me!

Good times! Thank God I quit my perfectly good job in August! Yes...thank God.

The night before I had talked to a commercial building owner in this sweet little town by us called Genesee Depot. It's as cute as it was when I was a little girl and is the next town over from where we live (7 minutes away). This man, Gary, was one of the nicest gentlemen I've had the pleasure of talking too. Anyway, I told Gary "thanks for the info, this is just a dream...blah blah blah).

The next morning, after my "chat" with my husband, I was also clear that we BOTH felt very strongly that I could run a successful bakery -- that it would be at a minimal risk to our family and that if anyone could do it, I could! We drove to Genesee and he fell in love with the two buildings I had talked to Gary about the night before. We called Gary and asked him if he could drop everything and come right over to show us inside. Far cry from 16 hours earlier when I told him it was just a dream..oh and he'd be there in 20 minutes.

Twenty minutes after he arrived..."Daddy, can you drop everything and come here right now?!"

"But of course I can honey........."

My dad (a general contractor and Master Carpenter my whole life) confirmed my suspicions that I would have minimal construction to make this lovely little spot my bakery. I love when he talks money! ;o) I love minimal even more!

I'm in love. Fully, deeply, dreaming-ly in love. It is the cutest little spot in the cutest little town that gets more than 7,000 cars per day driving right past its doors going a mere 25 mph! Picture it -- parking out front, the bakery open sign flapping in the breeze, the lovely smell of cookies and cakes and cookies and brownies and cookies and caramel corn wafting out of the sun-filled room. Ahhh. Totally in love.

And I shall call it.......Sally's Sweetshoppe or Sally's Sweetshop (haven't decided yet) and run my Cookie Concoctions out of there and all sorts of lovely treats which I have developed the recipes for! And I will build it and they will come.

They will come as they are going in droves past the bakery to get to the major freeway here, as they are going to tour Ten Chimneys Museum (a mere 1/2 mile away), or as they get out of church (less than 1 mile away), or perhaps on their way to Magee Elementary (1/2 mile away) or Kettle Moraine High School (a few miles away), or perhaps just because they heard there was a great, fun, sunny bakeshop in Genesee Depot!

Anyway you look at, it was worth deleting my piles of email notifications about jobs that I wasn't going to get anyway and focusing my energies on Sally's Sweetshoppe (or ...shop) :o) I have a call into the health department (that will be returned tomorrow at the earliest) and should things go the way I expect them to with the consultation meeting I am trying to set up with them (to see what I would need to do to bring up to code) you will soon be one of the first to learn of the humble beginnings of a beautiful little bakery in a beautiful little town that radiates sunshine and chocolate from its walls.

And I needed to do was hit delete! ;o)

My Many Moms

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother." ~ Abraham Lincoln

Today I think I shall honor all the wonderful Moms in my life! So many beautiful women that made me who I am today...

Rosie Goo -- my Ma...she thinks she's insane and I think she may be...after all, she did have FOUR daughters to make her that way! :o) My mom had a crappy example of what a good Momma is. I didn't. No matter what she tells you. She taught me to be a leader, to be responsible, to be hard working, to be creative, to be brave, to be a fighter, to never stand for less than God intended for you, to believe in God, and to love my sisters soo soooo soooo much!

Gramma Sara -- my step mom...supportive, logical, and accepting. Mom has taught me value and fun and my Daddy is lucky to have her. She is peaceful and able to sit in stillness and I relish that in her!

Auntie Val -- my other-mother...has taught me that it's OK to be like my dad and if it's not a right angle it's just wrong! She taught me to have pride in myself, to be dedicated and to not take any crap -- from anyone. She loves all 467 of her nieces, but I'm the only one who was lucky enough to have lived with her during my "I'm an adult but it's too hard stage". She taught me the value of story telling and how important it is to a family's history.

Kathy Roe -- another other-mother, my Driver's Ed teacher in HS...Kathy was my other-mother during a very difficult time in my family's life. She taught me stability, adventure, and authenticity -- above all, authenticity. For the last 30 years she has been my friend, my mentor, and has believed in my abilities to do and achieve anything.

Jeanne, Michelle, Rhonda, Peggy and Kelly's moms -- my best friends in HS and I am lucky to have met them and loved them and their mothers. Our mothers protected us, raised us ALL, treated us with respect and loved each of us like their own.

Phyllis -- my Ex's mom...I miss her terribly as I don't keep in contact with her since my divorce (long story and a request by my ex), but on this earth, I don't think there is another human being that I am not related to that I could have loved or adored more. I miss her all the time and say a prayer for her every Mother's Day.

My Sisters (Toni Lynne, Tam, Doli) -- while not my mothers in this world, they taught me how to be a great mom and I have learned endlessly from each of them -- not only in helping to raise them as kids but also because each of them is a fiercely beautiful mother and their children are the luckiest children on the face of the Earth!

Carol Burdick -- John's mom. I've never met her. But I have to think that I would have liked to as she raised the world's most beautiful husband, father and man I have known. And for that, I am thankful and know that I have too learned from her.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you fiercely beautiful mothers! xxooxxooxxooxxoo

Some Pictures of Our New Venture

The packaged goods on Saturday morning...

All the cookies I baked (before 1:00 pm) ready to package!! Go Me!!

My first customers...made me cry! They love me...they really love me... :o)

A mountain of Cake Batter cookies with mini chocolate chips -- YUM!!!

Well of course I made crowns for the Queen's store!!

My Crazy Cookies! Ma'an I'm a lucky gal!

Say Cookie Concoctions...or cheese..whatever.... ;o)

The Full Story

"Do we dare to be ourselves? That is the question that counts." ~ Pablo Casals

I had a funny conversation today. I (recently) changed my profile wording on this blog to be reflective of this exercise in growth I did a few weeks ago. Short version of that exercise - name 3 women you admire, 3 things about them, and 3 reasons why you do. Then you take that and you can SEE for yourself what others see in you AND what is possible for you to see in yourself. So I decided to take those words and make them my Profile Paragraph.

And it kind of makes me chuckle to read it. For while I do believe that I AM that/those things, I also am so many other things (that didn't make the list). And I am really not ashamed or embarrassed by those things. Now, that's not to say that I don't wish I wasn't this or that or less of this or that, but it is me, all me.

So I thought I would take this opportunity to round out my profile picture - here. 'Cuz it's all me too...

...I'm (also) impatient, quick to react, obsessed with lists and fantastic fine point pens, think way too much about what I do wrong, am too loud, have a whiny voice, paid $10,000 to have a full tummy tuck and then gained 50 pounds in other places, hate loud music IN my ears, am too naive, don't tell my husband, daughters, friends, parents and sisters enough how much I love them, can't jump -- no really, not AT ALL, I can't wear high heels anymore (since the $10,000 surgery) which sucks and makes me look fatter, never really could "play" like a kid, have to do 14 things at one time because I can't sit still, and I hate fruit in anything but my hand.

That was my funny conversation today. No, I didn't tell this person all of that, I just thought of it all while she and I were chatting about profile wording. OH, and sometimes I'm not a good listener and fail to own that and apparently pretend to listen while in reality I was apparently building another list instead of honoring the person speaking to me. Ma'an, I make my own a*& tired!

But what I thought about most was, why don't our profile paragraphs read like this? After all, is it so daring to be our true selves?

Ma-ther's Day

"Honor Yourself" ~ Terri, Bone Sigh Arts

We celebrated "Ma-ther's Day" with my daughters yesterday. That's what we call it since they call me "Ma". And I just thought I would brag a little about what I got! :o) Because...I SO LOVE IT! I am so excited to have it. I am so excited to be reminded by wearing it!

Thanks Daddy and my Sunshine Girls for my special present and thank you Terri for making it for all of us beautiful women to wear! (PS Now, I know you know where to get your own, but just in case...3Sisters) :o)

Why Do I Do Laundry?

"Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this."



Happy Random Ramblings Friday! I took the girls to school this morning and came home to find BigEarra happily snuggling on my freshly dried laundry. So special. Especially since now I will have to rewash the whole load of John and Annie's clothes since they are both allergic to cats. Good times! But you gotta admit, it is stinkin' cute as heck!! :o) He is so darn loveable, how can I possibly be upset. All he wants is love and worship! Good thing laundry is my favorite (yes I have one) chore. Or else he'd be in big trouble I tell you!! I'm not really sellin' that one to you, am I? Well, it IS my favorite chore...........

Heard from one of my past customers today. When I was at Horizon, we built their stores (Christopher & Banks). By far my favorite customers!! They ran an organized, uncomplicated store with fantastic people working for them and did this rare thing called "getting out of our way so we can build it". Such great people! Such smart business folks!

Well, Chris was just checking in on me to see if I have ended up anywhere yet. I should really tell him to read my blog! :o) But he did give my ego a HUGE boost today (and after 4 + months of NOT having anyone interested in hiring (or interviewing) me, I needed that!). He said "Well you hang in there and try to maintain a positive attitude. I just can’t see someone with your skill-set and enormous personality held down for much longer. And as a FYI – I know how great you are." Well thank God! 'Cuz really, I was starting to wonder if I made up my entire work history story!! And I'm pretty sure he wasn't calling me fat....... I mean my PERSONALITY really IS enormous! ;o) Hee Hee

That's it for today's observations. I'm off to bake some beautiful Queen Shortbread Crowns. I can't wait to see how pretty they turn out. Pray for a wonderful experience for us tomorrow as I introduce my cookies from their new home at Three Sisters' Spirit at the big Art Crawl in downtown Waukesha! How fun is this gonna be!?

Have a Sunshine-y Day today!!

Molly Got Her "A" Kicked!

"They can't censor the gleam in my eye." ~ From the book of Moxie, Charles Laughton

Well, I'm 6 days into my new adventure. For 6 days, I've been working on Cookie Concoctions and been wishy washy about it as well - even applied for a couple of jobs. Of course I have (you say). I'm breathing right down the neck of fear...or rather, it's breathing down mine!

But today I realized that the Six of Hearts card was right. I am surrounded by a community that is standing for my success in this adventure. SURROUNDED! People I don't even know are using their energy for my success! And the women that have shown up to support me are nothing shy of amazing! Isn't it nice when we raise each other up to greatness?

I haven't even publicly issued my website yet, or "officially" started selling and I already have Rhonda Kay, Pedro, Lisa, Auntie Lisa, Kelly, and my girlees tweaking it, making suggestions, creating new ideas, proofing it, adding to it! Lisa helped me come up with my "logo" concept (now just need to get it done by a graphic arts person). Kelly has offered to take all the cookie pictures for me! Ross has helped me get my website going (such a patient teacher). My husband is already selling the idea to people! And all it's cost me so far, is some cookies and $51 to own my domain. Ma'an! How great are these people in my life?

Add that to the fact that Rhonda Kay has already been talking it up to everyone at her work and told me how proud she is of me...My cousin Melissa sent me an email to wish me Good Luck and that she couldn't believe no one ever thought of this before...My sister-in-law Jennifer sent me an email congratulating me and thanking me for reminding her to be all you can be as God intended you to be...Kelly has added some great ideas to my business venture...Merry Me might be my biggest fan already and she hasn't even tried one yet...Terri doesn't even know me at all and is truly excited to see me succeed and buy cookies from me...My Auntie Lisa wants to know where she can buy my cookies (and caramel corn) :o) ...Chelley already wants to place an order, OH, and she bookmarked me!...AND I think my daughters are going to explode with excitement and they can't wait for Saturday!

But the best part so far has been this morning when I went to my Dad and Mom's house to drop off the first little Cookie Concoctions package (ever made) and tell them of my decision to start this business. My mom smiled so big that I think she hurt her cheeks and my dad did not have ONE fatherly thing to say except "OOOOOOO honey"!! Not one negative anything. (Thank you God) Molly was SO expecting it -- she was ready even. But we slapped that Bag in the face and said "uh-uh...honey, not today"! We aren't gonna play Molly's games right now! It's an amazing (and rare) feeling when you get to kick the butt of your negative little voice...when you get to win...when your real voice gets to be louder than "Its" voice.

Don't get me wrong. It is still going to be a bit of a struggle not to make the money that I am accustomed to making, not to go to work for someone else, not to lead people, not to help customers with deep, important issues, but I'm ready to create a life so outside of any box I may have colored that nothing else seems more important. And it's OK if I miss those things. I missed baking when I was building houses too.

I will be linking my new website to this shortly. I just have a few more things I want to do before I can. Thank you to all of you who have raised me up. I feel it and I know you will continue to do so. And thanks for helping me kick Molly's a..... :o) She deserved it! Know it all.

So Much to Do!!

"I am still convinced that a good, simple, homemade cookie is preferable to all the store-bought cookies one can find." ~ James Beard

Sing it from the mountain tops, James!

I have been working pretty hard (pretty fun is a more authentic word) to get ready for the release to the public of Cookie Concoctions. Shopping, dough making, pricing, recipe fine tuning, websites, "uniforms", business cards, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. Geepers! Who knew making cookies required all of this?! Well, I did actually. I just had to go back into the recesses of my Professional Baker mind, do a few technology updates, and get to it.

I'm excited for Saturday! Saturday is the big Waukesha Art Crawl in downtown that Dani/Three Sisters' Spirit asked me to be a part of. I have no idea what to expect, so I just have to do my best to produce what could be sold that day. Again - no idea. I think we should think of it as an adventure into the unknown, only no dangerous fall, scary creatures, or stark ending. Now that's an adventure I can handle!

I also want to have my website up and "good enough" to present a lovely first impression along with all the basic business stuff. I get that it will evolve and become better, but for now, it's a bit of struggle for me as I am used to having the idea and telling the team of my vision and THEY execute it. Good lesson, I guess! Wow, an adventure and a life lesson! And I thought I was just selling cookies!

I wish you all could be there on Saturday. I'm making my (soon to be) famous Cake Batter Cookies and some beautiful crown shaped shortbread cookies (in honor of the Queen and all of her royal customers). I think they are going to be so beautiful! I hope you will come out if you are in the area (and of course I EXPECT all 354 of my closest relatives who (all) live in Waukesha to be there)!

This could be the start of something big...and at the very least, it's the start of me doing things that excite me, scare me, and challenge me again. And sometimes, that's all you can ask for...unless you have a friend that bakes really good, simple, homemade cookies!