In 2012, I became a mother. I was transitioning from an hourly employee to a salaried position, all while working very long hours. Thirteen months later, I took a significant risk and left my job to concentrate on motherhood. A few years on, as my son was preparing to start Preschool, I wanted to start a small venture for myself. Before becoming a mom, I wasn’t particularly crafty, wasn’t a great cook, and didn’t know how to sew. So, I turned to YouTube and learned to crochet through videos. I enjoyed it, even though it was time-consuming, required a lot of sitting, and reading different patterns wasn’t always easy—especially with sizing! Ugh, but I managed! I ran a successful Etsy shop and built a solid customer base on Facebook. I used my son as a model, particularly for a beanie that resembled your favorite TMNT! It was helpful for age-appropriate items, and for the rest of my orders, I relied on the internet for accurate measurements from Newborn to Adult sizes. It didn’t help that I held my crochet needle and yarn very differently from a typical crocheter, so that took some adjustment. Anyway, my son eventually reached an age where he either expected the impossible from me and a roll of yarn, or he just wanted a standard beanie. I had a good customer base, but I outgrew it as quickly as my son did.
I wanted to start a small home-based business! What should I do next?! I began my market research and tried making dog treats, but soon realized I needed to get my recipes tested, and I didn't have the funds for that. However, I started enjoying being in the kitchen. I knew I couldn't and wouldn't dare to become a caterer or private chef, as I was just learning to cook for my family. Funny, not funny—okay, funny. I discovered the Cottage Food Acts in Colorado and began exploring healthy, subtly sweet snacks. I've never been much into sweets. Growing up, for my birthday, I didn't want cake and ice cream, so my mom would cut up some angel food cake with fresh strawberries and kiwi, topped with whipped cream. That sounds so good right now! These tiny balls of delicious flavors were a hit back then, thanks to Pinterest. I've always been one to "follow the rules." Alright, alright, I might have broken a few rules while growing up and maybe even as an adult, but hey! We only live once! I didn't want to add any protein powder, which would make my snacks ineligible to sell from my home kitchen. I went back to do some market research and found that flaxseed has many benefits, such as being a great source of fiber, helping kids and adults feel fuller longer! Also, 1 tbsp of flaxseed has over 1 gram of protein! See why I wanted to use this ingredient in my energy balls!? I created many different flavors, from basic Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip to Mint Chocolate Chip, and even experimented with Banana Bread made with dehydrated bananas, another great source of fiber. I even learned how to make my own Almond Butter! I aimed to create an appealing healthy snack.
As I was making progress with my energy balls, I also experimented with various trail mixes, flavored nuts, mini muffins, and cookies! What kind? Chocolate chip cookies, naturally! I wanted to quit because they melted; I knew something was off when the dough was super sticky. Store-bought dough definitely didn’t look like that. However, I persevered. I wish I had kept track of how many batches it took to finally perfect the recipe. Living in Colorado, I often faced challenges with baking due to the altitude and dry weather. The recipe would either turn out wrong, or I’d end up adding too much flour. Terrible idea! Eventually, I mastered it, and once I did, it was full steam ahead! I began signing up for vendor shows, including those at my son's preschool, to get my name out there. Social media became my greatest ally at the time. I focused on muffins because my previous attempts at frosting had been failures, leaving me discouraged. I remember making my son’s cake for his 4th birthday party. Although I baked the cake from scratch in the shape of the number 4, I used store-bought frosting. I know, judge me if you must! I did what any mom would do and avoided having to buy a cake. I also tried making some cupcakes and frosting for my friends and my son's class. The cupcakes were amazing and moist, but the frosting resembled heated marshmallow puff rather than fluffy buttercream.
So, back to more research. I read more online and watched additional YouTube videos. One afternoon, I gathered the courage to try again. Unbelievable! I grabbed a spoon to taste the frosting—it was too good to be true, but it wasn’t! After several failures, through trial and error and persistence, I finally succeeded! YA BUDDY! Once I mastered the frosting, I felt more confident to create fancier cupcakes. However, I avoided decorative sugar cookies. I lacked the steady hand and strength for that task. Sure, I crocheted, but that was therapeutic for me. I also wasn’t sure about making decorative cakes. Again, I am not a crafty or artsy person. How could I fulfill a customer’s vision for their special occasion? I experimented and only accepted orders I felt confident I could execute without disappointing the customer.
In 2017, I truly began to ramp up my baking of various sweets. The energy balls, trail mixes, and flavored nuts were no longer on the menu. My main focus was on cookies, muffins, and cupcakes. I sought ways to make them as healthy as possible, such as using applesauce instead of oil or reducing the sugar content. It's all about finding a balance with sweet treats! I was quite successful and began to receive numerous bookings for custom cupcakes and some cake orders. My confidence was growing. Then came 2020, the so-called best year ever. Just kidding! The world shut down, orders started to decrease, and customers wanted items for less, which I understood. Some customers even canceled their orders. I needed something more financially stable. By the end of 2021, I had to secure a full-time job, and although I continued baking cakes and such on the side, it wasn't as lucrative as before. Eventually, I focused more on my full-time job and stopped taking orders.
In 2023, I unexpectedly lost my father, and just 15 months later, my mother also passed away unexpectedly. I might write another blog detailing my relationship with them and how they influenced my love for food, but balancing family responsibilities has made it challenging to return to my passions. I've sought therapy, read numerous books, and received encouragement from friends and family. However, it's not the same without my two biggest supporters, who always backed my business endeavors, being here now. This is why I'm pursuing this again. My parents always wished for me to do something I enjoy, and as long as I love it, I have a great chance of success. I want to share my passion for baking with all of you and hear your delight as you savor a sweet yet salty cookie or a moist cupcake that leaves no waxy residue on your lips. I aim to share my love with my community. I "Bake It Sweet," with love. Thank you for all the support! Until next time! Hugs and love!
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