It Ain't Easy! But Nothing Worth Having Ever is!

         It's been a while since I posted  but later you will see why.  The last time I wrote I was nervous over my application that I sent in to register my dream, CupCake Luna, as an LLC.  Well weeks have passed and I am so happy to announce that I was approved and now have in my possession my Certificate.  A step closer to my dream.

          Yet another step... On the weekend of December 16th I was approved as a vendor at a new Farmers market that opened up just 10 minutes away from my home.  I had tried weeks earlier but she was not accepting any new "cupcake" vendors as she had 2 active, 1 on the way and 1 on a
waiting list.  Farmers markets from what i can tell are not big on too ,much competition for their
vendors so I understood why she didn't accept me right away.  Instead of letting this defeat me I just
thought, well let me come up with something new, not available at this market.

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that I did a little "research" at the FM.  Dressed as just a regular patron : P

I shopped around to check out the "competition" as well as to see if it had a good amount of traffic.

      So what I found was two vendors, who sold regular cupcakes and one also sold cookies.  So
determined to be accepted without a waiting list I started brainstorming   They required photos of my
products with the application so I got to work.  I made cake shooters, cake in jars and pies.  I emailed
the lady in charge and explained that although I was a cupcake company that I wanted to showcase
my other products at the market. I sent her all my photos and paper work and right away she accepted me! She loved the photos and was excited about the new products. I got to work... bought the tent,
chairs, table, displays, banners and signs.  I already envisioned how my tent would look, how the
table displays would be full of bright Christmas themes, and the displays would vary in size and
height. I wanted people drawn to the tent, to stand out and have their curiosity pull them towards me.

But God had different plans for me that day.  I was battleling a cold all that week, I prayed that I would wake up fine on Saturday so I could spend the day baking and sell on Sunday.  Saturday morning arrived and me and my youngest were still sick, I had to cancel. 

Sunday feeling better I realized my daughter was way too weak for a simple cold and I rushed her to the ER.  As I explained her symptoms they ordered a blood sugar test and it confirmed their 

suspicions. My baby had a blood sugar level of 800! Most people go into a diabetic coma at 600, so 

this was truly a miracle, God was protecting her from Brain damage or even worse, death. 

She made it just find but now my 6 year old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. 

My world crashed, a surge of confusion, pain, anguish and guilt overwhelmed me.  I had to now put my dreams aside and focus on my little girl and learning all I had to, to keep her alive and living a healthy life with her now insulin dependency.  So that's what I have been up to since my last post. In 

this time I have had so much to think about, how can I alter my dream to help others with this condition or others. I also did a juice fasting which led me to become a vegeterian.  It's made me be more aware if what I feed my family and what I want to offer my customers, a healthier choice. So  I am now focusing on learning as much as I can about vegan and gluten-free baking. I will still offer my other treats just with a better healthier variety of ingredients.  I purchased this book to help me get started and familiar with the vegan way.

BabyCakes Vegan Cook Book

So stick around, this journey isn't over yet! The only failure is in giving up! It's not how many times you fall down but how you get back up each time and that should always be stronger and wiser. I do believe that good comes out of bad things but only if you BELIEVE in Him! And trust Him fully even when things are not going as planned! 

Fear Not For I Am With Thee!

It's time, I can no longer postpone this. I think it's maybe the reason why I never tried making a business out of this sooner.  Yes the want was there, but as soon as I looked at all the paperwork and legalities I set off running! It can be a very scary process, at least for me it was.  So I've had the LLC application filled and printed for months but fear kept me from mailing them in.  I don't know why, seems silly, but I guess this time it's, go BIG or go home  and that's the scary part.  

As I check the paperwork, which is only really three pages, for the hundredth time for any mistakes' the feeling starts.  I take a deep breath, fold the sheets and start writing the address on the envelope. My heart is racing and I'm having second thoughts... 

"What if I can't do this?" ...

" Can we afford this right now?" ...

"Will I make enough profit to pay the yearly charges that come with owning an LLC?"

I place my application and check in the envelope and seal it.  As I stare down at it, still terrified this might be a mistake I whisper "In the name of Jesus".  Almost immediately the fear subsides.  I am learning that in order for my dream to come true I need to trust in HIM.  It is very difficult to let go of our problems sometimes and just give them over to God, trust me I struggle daily with it but it's the only way.  We cannot do it alone, if we try, we will fail. In order to walk in his path and receive His blessings we need to learn to just let go and let him take control. 

So now I wait for my Certificate of Status to go on to the next step which will be registering with the IRS for an EIN.  I am glad I finally took that step, I know it won't be easy but I can rest upon HIM and know it will be okay!

 : )

"Fear Not For I Am With Thee" - Isaiah 41:10

The Sign....

So off I set on this new adventure.  Although I have been cake decorating for about 15 years now, it has been off and on. Birthday cakes for my kids, friends, family with no monetary reward just in the name of  creative expression.  But now I'm in my thirties and I start analyzing my life... Do I LOVE what I do everyday? Do I wake up feeling I am living out my purpose? I prayed on this and asked God to give me a sign. If I was destined to be a teacher, which is a very rewarding career, then to fill me with passion for it but if cakes is what I should persue then to give me a sign.  That's when everything starting falling into place.

The book... A friend tagged a page on FB about cakes days after that prayer, as I entered it I noticed they had a contest to win a book " Starting a cake decorating business from home". Originally printed and sold in the UK, an American version was now available.  Needless to say that I didn't win the book but I quickly found it and purchased it on amazon.  As I read the book, more things starting coming together, more and more signs that I needed to pursue this passion. 

I came to the realization that I had never really tried to make a business out of it, but that now with all the technology available and ways to market my self and obviously with the guidance of God that nothing is impossible!    I had the talent and the craft all I needed was the discipline.  So here I am with my goals set and this dream set in motion to be able to do this full time after this school year ends in June 2013 and make enough to provide for my family as I have been all these years.

 

  So stay tuned and see how I, along with His help, make my dream of  having my own lil cake biz come true not only so that I may be fulfilled but to give back and inspire others to do the same! NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS, NO MATTER WHAT! It's never too late!!