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!

Its Friday Im in love

I love with the fact that i am starting to see what all this fuss was about. The walls are studded. ( I think that's the term?) I have made sure to leave my "mark" on the walls just so from 100 years from now people know what this space held. The one thing that i do find rather odd, is that even though there are plans for the construction and everything has been drawn out, things are still changing. All the options of this and that, and in true Ashley form I ALWAYS seem to pick the more expensive option. Story of my life. Oh and both the cupcake contractor and I have learned to keep the door closed while working so we actually get work done! I am impressed with the number of individuals that have stopped in the talk and inquire about the business as well as fill in the background of the space, but really we need to get this work done! I am more than happy to have the neighbors in after we open :-)

 

If you build it, they will come.

After too long of a pass since that last blog update and almost, a screaming rampage these past weeks, I can tell you that we indeed HAVE OUR BUILDING PERMITS!!!!!!!! Yay!! I'm my opinion, this has taken waaaaaaay too long to get the permits, but alas we have them and building will start immediately. Well if i have anything to say about it, it will. However I am guessing that the bakery shall sit until Monday. I will give the cupcake contractor time with sister cupcake and mommy cupcake and then... HE WILL WORK. There are not many times in a girls life when the role reverse and the dad is working for the daughter. So I will make sure to use that power wisely. For now I will enjoy the calm before the storm. because baby.... get ready to rumble.

STIR CRAZY!!!

As the days pass and pass, i am starting to go a little bonkers that we have yet to start the build out. I swear if the building permits don't get issued by early next week, there will be one angry cupcake in your midst. We are now waiting upon the schematics of the HVAC system for the engineer that is being installed. Once we have those, cross our fingers, we should have the permits. SO THEY SAY....

I know i have said it before but this process has the speed of a sloth!! All I want is to get going. Cupcake Contractor says the same, seeing as he has better paying paying jobs waiting for the bakery to get built out. I just don't get why this is so time consuming. I will just add this. I don't understand a 9-5 job mentality. I am by no means saying that it is bad, I just don't relate. I often put in 16 hour days between my 4 jobs and opening the bakery. I try to get back to everyone that needs me to get back to them, I send out proposals that need to be sent out, and I defiantly don't do it half assed. It has been trying for me to not call up people at 9:30 pm when I am driving home from my work day and ask them where my info is. I NEED this info to get started people. like a month ago. lets go!!! And I will say that we can kiss a JUNE anything opening goodbye. We are looking at July folks.

The Rise of Cupcakes | Read the History of Cupcakes, oh and my Opinion of Course!

 Enojoy this little homage to the start of Cupcakes. They indeed are what started this whole whirlwind of business, but they are not the only thing that will be on the MENU at Miss Cupcake Boutique bakery. As I have said to people who ask about the business When they ask about the name Miss Cupcake. Miss Cupcake is a persona, not the menu. I have a strong feeling that if you want a business to be profitable and have longevity in Milwaukee, you must offer more than just cupcakes. Yes Cupcakes are fabulous, nobody knows that more than me, Oh, and my dear friend THE CUPCAKE QUEEN ; But Milwaukee as we all know in fashion and food trends that we are not the first to be in the groove, and people here are classic and traditional (I mean that in the sincerest way, being a Wisconsin girl myself, born and breed). Not only would you be limiting your customers to just that one sweet little treat but, you would be limiting your profit ablility. Example. I like cupcakes so i would go to a cupcake shop. Joe Smith may not like cupcakes, so if you only serve cupcakes, you wont get him throught the door. BUT if you sell more than just cupcakes, Joe Smith just might be your new best customer. Thats the business girl in me talking, say what you will but those are my thoughts. So, Enjoy the timeline about cupcakes below! There are some very FUN and informational facts. Cupcakes arent just a sweet little treat... they have a big history

                                         The Rise of Cupcakes | Read the History of Cupcakes

The answer is NO

No, No we do not have the permits yet. No I am NOT happy about this. Really, I am trying to stay calm and be understanding as to why they keep saying, oh now we need this, oh and this, oh and more $$. Well here's the deal. I WILL pay the money, I will turn in what you need. Lord, I would give you my first born if I had one to get these Damn permits if I could!! The worst part about this whole thing is there is not list of criteria for us to follow to hand in to the Village. We asked numerous times, and called, and called again to confirm that we have EVERYTHING possible that they would need to approve our application for the permits. And sure shit, they call us, tell us they need more money AND that they need more information about the venting system. I don't understand why this keeps happening. Why is there not a master list of things that they KNOW that they will need to see from the business owner. Seriously, how do they not have a list!?!? That list, would be helpful for not only us business owners, but also for themselves so they know that they are acquiring all the needed info to do their jobs accurately. This process is so inefficient I cant even believe it. Who does a girl have to blow know in this city to get some permits.

On another note: If I loose the opportunity to be featured on Bobby Flays new show for the food network because of this, well lets just say NOBODY is safe.

For the love of PERMITS

It almost seems too good to be true.Tear. Today the cupcake contractor has informed me that he will be picking up the building permits tomorrow morning!!!!!! Ahh! I cant tell you how good it feels to finally know that we have the permits and that we can get to building. This does come with a big hesitation however.Im sure you are thinking how can this be? Well, let me give you a bit more of the fat of the matter. Lets start at the beginning of finding this space. I was set on not being in Shorewood. I didn't want to be in the area for fear of what I had heard from residents and other businesses trying to open there. I did not want to succumb to the "North Shore hauteur" If you live in this area please know I mean this in the kindest of ways. So, while on the hunt for the space with my broker Marianne (whom is amazing for not only finding my space, but for also putting up with my extreme girlyness) she made sure to include a space in Shorewood. I was sure that I was meant to be on Downer Ave, ie the old Lixx location (swoon) But! that space was not only not only unaffordable, it just did not feel right along with other spaces on that street. Marianne, showed me spaces as far north as Fox point and down as far as the Third Ward. The spaces were nice and OK, some immediate nos, but in my heart there was only one spot for me. The very spot I plan to open up in; the spot that I knew I had to have. I soon got over my airs to being in Shorewood, and now I know that Miss Cupcake was meant to open its very first retail Boutique Bakery in Shorewood. I had heard some stories about it not being easy to open in Shorewood and I would listen, but think in my head " Oh that wont happen to me, they have been great to work with" Well people, let me tell you.... As much of a pleasure as it has been working with Shorewood to open, it is DIFFICULT!! I am in no means pointing the finger at just them, or them in particular for this matter. Everybody is just trying to do their jobs. But for goodness sake can't we find a way to do this more efficiently?!? EXAMPLE: We have to pay for the building permits, totally fine with that. I get it. This is how the Village makes its money. But to tell my contractor that they need more money for an examination fee?!?!?!? Ummm isnt that part of a permit fee? And or why would it not be? EXAMPLE 2: I need a permit for my sign. The sign that is to hang on the side of the building to let all you know where the beloved Miss Cupcake will reside. I have to get a permit ($$) for the sign. I then have to submit an application ($$) for the design review board to review the sign. This is also another fee. Yes, a fee for the village board to look at my sign and aprove it and give me a permit that I have to pay for. Thats not all. Ok so we are at the sign permit, and the review board application fee, oh yes! The sign that was designed for Miss Cupcake Boutique Bakery is gorge. However... the sign is flag mounted which means that the sign will hang over the sidewalk. Alas it will be 9ft above, but it is still over the public walkway, so I need to get what they call a special privilage permit ($$). I also will need a permit for my tasteful sandwhich board sign outside to show specials, and another permit for outdoor seating. That brings us up to a grand total of so far 5 $$$$$ permits. While on the phone the other morning with the village, I asked the sweet dear that I have nothing but love for over at the village, if they have a punch card frequent shopper program for permits. Buy 5 get one free?!?!? She laughed and said absolutely not. So before I hung up the phone with her I told her it was nice speaking with her, and that I had to get to harvesting from my money tree because they must think I have one for all these fees :-)

On a side note: I think that when the bakery is open, I will deliver a beautiful triple chocolate cake to the Village of Shorewood. I will call it Death by Permits Cake.

Permits shmermits

It is now May 7th, and I have yet to have anything besides some demo happen at the bakery. I should probably be a little aggravated, which I am! but, at this point in time there is not much that I can do. The next step to move forward is in the hands of Shorewood Village... We are waiting for the building permits. Until we have those there is nothing to be done at the space (SAD FACE).

A little more in depth info on this permit hold up. I guess you can say it started with me. Yes yes I admit that I did throw a kink in the plan when after this giant waste of space stage was removed, the contractor (my daddy* but note It makes me feel like a small child having to reference my daddy so much so contractor it is*) and I measured the space as to where walls and my cash wrap and bakery cases were going to be. Yeah, well about that... the space I swear shrunk overnight, and the layout that was designed was NOT going to work. So , I sent contractor daddy back to the drawing board. Literally. Really, the guy still draws all of his plans by hand. Amazing talent? YES! Timely and efficient? Not so much. (I swear i will have to buy the man one of those cad programs to use to draw, but he just got email last year and that sends him into a tizzy. Give a man an email address and he insists that now he would be able to reinvent the Internet... I told him to leave that to Steve Jobs' people.) With the new plans done, and his extreme persistence for perfection the first go around, we just were able to turn in the plans to the village inspector last week. After tirelessly going back and fourth since last December, we have tried to get the exact needed specifications for things. Some issues have been answered, some have yet to come to light, and right now our hurdle is we are hoping to get the building permits straight from the village without the need to send the plans to the state WHICH could take weeks. WEEKS!! That is time that I DO NOT have. So if you all can. say a little prayer that these permits come this week. We need to get this show on the road if you catch my drift.

The morning of the lease signing. * Real Footage*

ok time to add even more personality to the blog. the following video is of me driving down to the lease signing at the space. Now, i the morning i was taking care of the loose strings and things were going well, and i did not feel nervous at all... Well thats what I thought! I cant help but laugh at myself in this video. I was SO nervous! Good thing this is all documented.

And now for the post Lease signing video... I was a bit more relaxed. That may or may not have something to do with the bottle of Veuve Clicquot that was popped open shortly after the ink dried.

Location REVEALED!!!

3801 N Oakland Ave Milwaukee is the place to be. Well if you are Miss Cupcake Boutique Bakery that is! Yes, I have decided to finally reveal the location of the bakery. I was a little worried that it would be too soon, but hey, why not start a little bit of buzz early. After all, i wanted to open the bakery for all of you to enjoy delicious bakery, so if you don't know where it is... you cant come by!

Bobby WHAT!?!?!

Talk about exciting!!! Awhile ago I was told about an opportunity to email the producers of a new show that Bobby Flay (the famous Chef) was doing. It is a show about the more personal side of opening a business (just like what this blog is all about!!). I just got a call today! The producers are interested in staying up to date with my opening of the bakery! I have to keep them in the loop, and if it works for both MISS CUPCAKE and Bobby's schedule... well kids lets just say Miss Cupcake might have a few minutes of fame on the beloved Food Network!!!!

Yes yes its true...

Just last week, i signed the lease to the perfect spot for my bakery!!! Can you believe it?!?!?!? It has been years in the making, and it is all about to happen. Nothings says welcome to your new bakery like toasting with cupcakes and Veuve Clicquot! Cheers. Here is to a crazy couple months to where i open the bakery doors!! Clink Clink

And the waiting... and waiting

So, good news and bad news. Want the bad first? I am still hammering out the last details for the future home of Miss Cupcake. Good news THERE WILL BE A MISS CUPCAKES BAKERY!!!. Yes Yes i know, you already knew that right? Wrong! When opening up a business every day can bring a piece of news that could break the whole deal. Thankfully lately the decent to good news keeps coming. However, if you think you can avoid the tedious bull-shit (please excuse my language) you my dear are mistaken... So i thought we were all on our way to signing the lease and getting in the doors, when the brokers came back with requests for more documentation. In my hunger rage i quote " This would have been nice to know i needed last WEEK!!!!!" My dear broker had to calm me down yet again ( :-) he he) So in the mean time so you know i am ready. I want to provide you all with delish bakery, but alas we must wait yet again for the finalization of the deal. But let me tell you... you will know!!! I will be shouting from the roof top!!! Well actually no, roof tops and heels don't really go together but side walks heels and Champagne do!! Woot Woot!

This pretty much sums it up...

I will be baking a German Chocolate Cake this evening...