I did it! I am beginning on my journey to make my dream come true and today was the first step! I have been longing for a career in the Cake decorating industry for years but the idea of starting from nothing seemed so daunting. Then it hit me...some of the biggest entrepreneurs in today's society started from little or nothing. I have no desire to be big in this field but I do intend on being great! I feel so at peace when I am baking. I know it's what I want to do with my life.
I want to extend my life story to everyone who reads this blog. I was born in Brooklyn, NY into a VERY Italian family. My family came to America in 1981 and brought a whole lot of the Italian culture with them. Growing up, the family was immersed in Italian traditions and customs, especially if they dealt with food. The women in the family were always cooking something wonderful for Sunday dinner (which was at 2PM in the afternoon, by the way). Holidays were all about the food! Some of the most amazing food I have ever tasted has come right from my Mother's kitchen during Christmas or Thanksgivings past. So, of course, I grew up with a love of food but, more importantly, a love of cooking. Once I discovered baking, it was all over. I was in love. The idea of making the sweetest and most delectable desserts from nothing amazed me. To me, it was an art form, an opportunity to create something out of nothing, to showcase my artistic abilities. I played around with the idea of going to culinary school for a few years but then chose a career in Fashion. After 4 years of college for the business of Fashion and almost 2 years in the buying office of a HUGE retail giant, I decided I didn't want to live the rest of my life like that. I wasn't happy going to the same 4 walls everyday and not doing anything creative. There was no spontaneity or reward. But baking was my therapy as I grew more and more depressed about my life. Unfortunately, the idea of pursuing an entirely different career after I had invested so much time in fashion seemed incredibly treacherous. And so, I stayed where I was, comfortable and confused, rather than happy doing what I knew in my heart was meant for me.
I had had enough one day and just quit my job on a whim. I was not going to waste anymore of my time being unhappy. Life is so precious and short that we need to make the most of it, all day, EVERYDAY. Afterall, each day is a gift and not a given right. So I explored my options for a while and decided that, come hell or high water, I was going to become a cake designer. I started reading books that gave step by step instructions on how to make some great cakes, cupcakes and cookies. I became glued to the food network and, just my luck, all these new cake shows started popping up everywhere! I was gaining a wealth of knowledge and was pretty much self-teaching myself. But I had a natural knack for baking so I learned pretty quickly. I put my new skills to the test for my sister's birthday this year. I told her I wanted to make some fabulous cupcakes for her birthday. They were chocolate cupcakes with chocolate buttercream frosting and gumpaste flowers. The finished product impressed everyone. They looked beautiful for my first attempt without any type of legitimate schooling. This was when I knew I could do anything. I posted some of the photos at the top of this blog for your viewing pleasure.
Unfortunately, one needs money to begin her own business so I was forced to go back to a corporate job in the city. As Jennifer Unlimited said, "Every time I close the door on reality, it comes in through the window." But this time, I have a new outlook on life and a new game plan to go with it. I decided to start making sweets and bringing them to work and family gatherings. This way, I could start to get my name and my work out there. I will continue to do this and also donate cupcakes to different bake sales and events. People are not going to be so eager to pay for someone's food if they know nothing about it. I also started this blog and I plan on getting business cards printed up. All these steps will help me build my business.
The reason I began this blog is so potential customers can view my previous work and gain some knowledge about me and my little business. I am all about keeping my customers informed. So please feel free to email me with any questions or requests. I am always willing to try something new in the world of baking. And, of course, as I continue to learn, I will continue to update this blog with new photos. Thank you for your time in reading about my dream...
