Its setting in

I was wondering when this day would come, or if it would ever really come, but i think it is here. Well almost. And by "this" day I mean, the day that this would all "set" in that this is really happening. It is really happening that i am going to soon, be opening the doors of my Bakery to the public. You may be wondering why now? Well, as of this morning and technically last night, It was my last scheduled shift at the bar. So that would bring me down to technically no jobs, from just 2 months ago 5 jobs. However i am still a massage therapist and am taking my regular clients. But non the less is am jobless in the fact of having the luxury of being paid by someone else. I did feel this before two months back when I stopped working at the clothing boutique, but at that time the timeline for the bakery was still up in that air a bit. But now... Well we are literally just about 2 weeks away and this is coming up to D day. This week the contractors come in for the final work and then I need the inspectors to come through and then I, in hopes get the green light.... and you get your sweets

Now coming back to the "setting in" that this is happening. Gee, how do i even go about starting to explain this. Hmm, well i guess i have always or at least for the last 8 years have been a work horse. I love to work. If it makes me money, I'm there. If i have plans to do something fun, well i probably canceled that to make a few extra bucks. Why am i like this? I have no clue. I feel guilty when i am not working. Clearly there is something wrong with me... or is there? Yes I do know that I am driven to succeed, but where does this not working guilt comes from, i do not know. But anyways bringing back to the topic at hand of why i am here spilling my guts out at 4 in the morning. So tonight was my last night at the bar. I love the bar. I loved working there, i loved the people, i loved the atmosphere, and i think most of all, over the years i love the comfort. Tonight i feel that a bit of that has died. Much like when people look back at their yearly years and think wow... it was so care free and fun. So as i was counting out money at the end of that night, i thought about the times i went to the HB by myself for a drink when i just moved to bayview. Then i thought about how i met all the people i work with at the bar. Then i got to thinking about other good times, and the not so good times that some of the people there got me through, and just the comfort that the Highbury had brought me all these years. They are my family in a sense. * note i did not cry* SHOCKING!!

So yes as of tonight, it feels for sure that one chapter of my life has come to an end, and another giant one is just beginning, and i can honestly say that for once, i am scared. I am scared that now, leaving all my jobs behind to finally embark on my dream, I have no idea what is to come. I truly have after looking back over the last few years and especially that last few months, i have sacrificed a lot. MY time, my friendships, my money, my lifestyle, everything, all for a dream that i hope, I HOPE will be ok. So at this point it is the now or never moment. I can taste it. Pun intended. I am just weeks out from opening my dream to the public. So let it be known and how conflicting is this, I am petrified. I am PETRIFIED to fail, but in the same breath, i know it will be ok, because it may not always go as planned, but it happened the way it is meant to happen for me. In the end, that way, turns out to be what it should. I cant help but think that there are good reasons that it has taken me 5 years to open this bakery. It was always the goal, and sometimes it was me standing in the way of it, but time aside it is about to happen. Holy balls.

RollerCoster Baby Baby

Eek, it has been some time since I have been able to update you on the new happenings of the Bakery! Last week was i would have to admit one of the most draining weeks I have had since the construction began. I was ripped and pushed and smothered in stress and and toppled by to do lists, and completely bombarded with emails and calls. Now that may not sound like it was so bad, but when you are at your wits end and you are trying so very hard to balance everything on this plate, and keep the peace; I finally broke down. I called mama cupcake and I cried. And Cried, and cried. I just felt so defeated. I could not stop everything that was coming my way, nor could I afford for it to, I just felt that I have been trying so hard to keep all of this in motion, and keep clients happy, an it just wasn't enough. Now I normally don't let my feelings or stress around me get me down, but this time i think it was unavoidable. As it always does, the cry kind of hit my reset button. and here we are at this week. Let hope I don't have another one of those weeks.... we are so close to being done with construction I can taste it.

A mothers touch

After an afternoon of painting, I called Mommy Cupcake to talk to her. I had done some work on the outside of the bakery and I wanted her opinion. She quickly asked where I was with "the tone" saying "maybe you should go back to the bakery and sit there for 7 mins and see what happens". I obliged, and soon enough she turns the corner with mama Sandy (My moms best friends, and like my second mom) and a car full of plants and flowers!! Now let me do a little rewind her for you. Weeks ago I sent her a text with this picture just saying HELP! She told me I had nice weeds. This may all seem a little hokey to you, but if this tree and planter area is going to be by my bakery, it can NOT look like this. The funny part, is just around the corner there is a buetiful big planter full of flowers done by the Village. I would have thought that seeing as this was on Village turf that they would also do something with it, but no. Which brings us to last week, when I was at the bakery and noticed that the area was clean of weeds looking vary nice but bare. I can remember thinking "huh! the Village MUST be doing something, look how nice and cleaned out that is"....

Bringing it back to last night now. I was shocked that she came down to plant! Mommy Cupcake has been working like crazy at work and long hours to boot, so I did not want to ask her to do any planting, as she already had so much to do. But alas, here were the moms ready to plant. As she was bringing the plants out I said to her " Mom! how nice of the Village to clean out the planter area fo you right?!" Her immediate reply with a smile "UMM NO, that was me. When you went to the ball game the other night, I came down without you or your dad knowing and cleaned out all the weeds with either of you knowing. Im pretty sneaky arent I?" Ha!! Well YES YES you are mom. Not only was her secret mission a a sneaky success, the end result is beautiful and GREATLY appreciated. So when you are in the area, take a look at Mommy Cupcake's secret garden. It makes the neighborhood that much prettier. Enjoy! I certianly will.

Thanks moms! Love you xoxoxo

So hot yet so cold

HVAC men are in the bakery!!! Very unexpected but welcomed visit.

It's ELECTRIFYING!

Woot Woot! After what seemed like too long of planning and prepping and talking, and re-discussing,  Today the electricians started. I NEVER thought that I would be so excited to talk to and see electricians working, But I am!! Being the daughter of a builder, seeing these men at work was normally nothing but eye candy (well that is if they were young and hot :-) SNAP!) But this time around, it is my bakery they are working on... its a little more business. I must add that when the electrician (Adam) had a question he yelled outside by contractor daddy and I  " Hey boss! I got a question for you" I Admit I immediately smiled and replied " huh, boss, That's got a nice ring to it". I could hear the ever so familiar giggle of my father right behind me.  With the electrical starting to go in we are that much closer to a final product. Like I said above, when you are not the contractor, it is difficult to understand why build outs take so much time. After I voiced that concern with contractor daddy, he said " well honey, the planning and prepping is the time consuming hard stuff. Without a plan and prep, when it comes time to build out it would be a Shit storm" I concur. Planning and prep is good, but it just seems to take too long. But then again I'm sure that when I tell him that he needs to wait until the cake is cooled before I get to ice it and then slice him a piece, he thinks THAT  takes too long. So I guess, to each their own.

Big day! Not only did the electrician start, contractor daddy and I took down the awnings from the front on the building. Oh I am OVER joyed. the building looks so grand and inviting now. Those awnings covered up such a beautiful part of the building. See for yourself!! Oh and enjoy the clip of the electricians and Contractor daddy taking down the first awning. I was hoping for an America's Funniest Home Videos moment, but alas that will wait for another day.

I will be sure to post all of the before and after shots for you to really get the feel of how much will/ and has changed. Makeover!!

 Oh and on a side note: When dealing with tradesmen is electricians, plumbers, HVAC guys... keep them happy! And especially on hot days  like today's 98 degrees; keep them hydrated. Poor Adam was sweatin' like a whore in Church! So i went out and bought a fan, water, powerade, granola bars and one of my faves honey roasted peanuts. I did this not only to be nice, but he is working on my job. If he gets too overheated, or dehydrated, or hungry... well that means he will leave. ANNNND if he leaves, that mean no work is getting done. Catch my drift... I scratch your back, you scratch mine. I also think that it helped my cause when i asked him if he can put in another outlet for me in the rest room because there was none. He questioned and when i told him it was "Just in case" for my curling iron he laughed, but he did it! But seriously, contractor daddy no outlet in the restroom... come on! You know me by now, a girl has got to impress!

All in a days work!

Finally. Finally I feel that things are really changing and the bakery is in full swing build-out. I was there this week working on the outside scraping and sanding the iron work in the doorway. It was a dirty job, but someone had to do it! Here is some VERY VERY unattractive proof that I don't just sling frosting all day. I want to be part of every step in this build out. When I look back, I want to be able to say that I knew exactly what was going on every inch of the way. You can't fulfill a dream without sweating a little.

One Word... GROSS!!! Look at the lines not only from the gloves but my safety glasses!! Ick poo!

Please, when you come into the bakery after it opens, feel free to tell me how nice the iron work looks by the door.

Lookin' good

Look Shorewood! No awnings!