At a cake delivery this month, I started chatting with the DJ who was setting up. We started talking about the wedding and he mentioned to me that he was booked just 2 or so months before. He also mentioned that he gave the couple a 35% discount since he still had availability and it was short notice. He said he either got the gig or spent the day watching football.
This got me thinking... how many other wedding/special event vendors did this? Is this something that is suggested on wedding planning sites and magazines? I don't know the answer, but I wonder if that is why I get a lot of "last minute" wedding cake requests.
I guess I am different than a lot of folks out there... I don't give discounts, don't do coupons, or run any promos/specials. It's not that I don't think they are a good idea, but at this time, I think I am busy enough. If I don't have cakes to make one weekend... I am thrilled! That's not to say I don't want any business, it's just an extra opportunity for me to recharge and spend some extra time with my family.
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
It's all about being a "lister"
Some of my friends and acquaintances ask me how I run a business and have two little ones at home with me. The short answer is I am crazy and would need to be committed if I didn't have something other than being with the kids. I was always this way.... I loved to be involved in activities in school, worked several jobs throughout high school and college, etc. Once I graduated college and started working "a real job", I slowed down quite a bit and enjoyed relaxing after working 10-12 hour days, but I still needed to do something with myself while relaxing. I baked, did counted cross stitch, and scrapbooked. If I wasn't doing one of those, I was trying to figure out what I should do next.
When I got pregnant with my first son, I was commuting to Richmond 4 times a week, which was about 9-10 hours in the car, on top of my 45-50 hours at work. I decided I was going to give my career a break and just be a stay-at-home mom. Yeah... that lasted about 2 months... as I started cleaning out closets by listing things on ebay. After that I got involved in some local mom groups and finally started making some mommy friends. Of course, at the same time I was getting phone calls from work asking me to come back. I resisted the first 2 or 3, but not surprisingly, I decided to go back. It was only part-time from home, and I mostly worked during naps. How could I turn that down? Of course that wasn't enough for me... so I started taking cake decorating classes too... and well I guess that is how all this started. At one point, I was running the business and working my "real job". I finally left the real job when number 2 was born, because I knew I couldn't handle doing both with 2 little boys.
So how do I get everything done? It's really quite simple... I make lists... very detailed lists. Everything from sharpening dowels, to putting couplers on bags, to making buttercream and fillings... it all is on there. When I have a spare minute, aka the baby ... er... toddler... is engrossed in something, I dig out the tools I am going to be using, wash a pan or two, respond to emails, blog, etc. I get most things done while Reid naps, and after the kids go to bed, but weekends, federal holidays and after dinner time when Daddy is home to watch them, I try to sneak some hours in as well.
Besides listing, I also TRY to stay on top of things and get ahead... so if I need to batches of buttercream this week and two for next week, I try to make all 4 at one time. I also try to combine like things... so I don't need to dig out and wash tools multiple times. This is also why I don't take orders without a minimum of a week notice. If I already made buttercream for the next two weeks, I now need to dig out the mixer again, the ingredients again, etc. to complete the new order. It's just not worth it for me at this time. I would rather be as ahead as possible and take a day off, than try to squeeze in one more order. I am crazy, but not THAT crazy.
One would think with all this I would be as thin as a rail... but alas... as my name suggests... I am not...
When I got pregnant with my first son, I was commuting to Richmond 4 times a week, which was about 9-10 hours in the car, on top of my 45-50 hours at work. I decided I was going to give my career a break and just be a stay-at-home mom. Yeah... that lasted about 2 months... as I started cleaning out closets by listing things on ebay. After that I got involved in some local mom groups and finally started making some mommy friends. Of course, at the same time I was getting phone calls from work asking me to come back. I resisted the first 2 or 3, but not surprisingly, I decided to go back. It was only part-time from home, and I mostly worked during naps. How could I turn that down? Of course that wasn't enough for me... so I started taking cake decorating classes too... and well I guess that is how all this started. At one point, I was running the business and working my "real job". I finally left the real job when number 2 was born, because I knew I couldn't handle doing both with 2 little boys.
So how do I get everything done? It's really quite simple... I make lists... very detailed lists. Everything from sharpening dowels, to putting couplers on bags, to making buttercream and fillings... it all is on there. When I have a spare minute, aka the baby ... er... toddler... is engrossed in something, I dig out the tools I am going to be using, wash a pan or two, respond to emails, blog, etc. I get most things done while Reid naps, and after the kids go to bed, but weekends, federal holidays and after dinner time when Daddy is home to watch them, I try to sneak some hours in as well.
Besides listing, I also TRY to stay on top of things and get ahead... so if I need to batches of buttercream this week and two for next week, I try to make all 4 at one time. I also try to combine like things... so I don't need to dig out and wash tools multiple times. This is also why I don't take orders without a minimum of a week notice. If I already made buttercream for the next two weeks, I now need to dig out the mixer again, the ingredients again, etc. to complete the new order. It's just not worth it for me at this time. I would rather be as ahead as possible and take a day off, than try to squeeze in one more order. I am crazy, but not THAT crazy.
One would think with all this I would be as thin as a rail... but alas... as my name suggests... I am not...
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Is it time to go to Disney yet?
No... this is not my 4 year old talking... it's me... I am a Disney fanatic. My family first took my younger brother and I when I was in 4th grade and if I remember correctly, we went again when I was in 6th grade, 9th grade, and my senior year of high school. I then went with a bunch of friends my senior year of college for spring break. I can't tell you the specifics of each trip, but I remember collecting a flag, pin and postcard from every country in Epcot. I remember going on Spaceship Earth 15 times just because we could. I remember eating at the restaurant in Mexico. I remember loving everything and not wanting to leave.
After I graduated college, I spent my "vacations" at work, literally. Not that I didn't take any time off, but when I did they were a day or two here or there and didn't go on an official vacation. Once I met my husband, we started vacationing in Vegas (another love) and the Outer Banks with his family. I had almost forgotten about Disney, but occasionally I would try to convince my husband's family to take a trip to Disney... without any success. My first child was born in 2007, and I knew I would finally get back to Disney!! Of course, I kept hearing my mother's voice telling me that a child should not go to Disney before the age of 5 or 6 so they can remember the trip.... 2012 seemed like a century away.
In 2009, I got pregnant with my second child and I made the executive decision that I was going to throw caution to the wind, ignore my mother's advice, and go to Disney, pregnant and with an almost 2.5 year old in diapers. I think my mom thought I was nuts, but I didn't care... I wanted to go to Disney. My family couldn't have been too upset with my decision as they came with us.
We had a great time and Aaron loved it, but would he remember anything from the trip? A month or two after we were home, we went to Carlos O'Kelly, a Mexican restaurant that is in a "temple-like" building and he asked if we were going to go on the boat ride... for those of you who aren't familiar... there is a boat ride in the Mexico pavilion in Epcot. Not bad for a 2.5 year old. In the months following, he has referred to the Dumbo ride, not liking the Pirates of the Carribean ride, the Muppet 3-D movie, and the Toy Story Mania ride. I am sure he doesn't remember everything from the trip, but he sure does remember some of the highlights... again... not bad for a 2.5 year old (He is a very unique child... his VBS teacher said he is a man stuck in a child's body... and that is probably the best way to describe him).
So after the baby was born in Feb of 2010... I decided we were going back to Disney... again because I wanted to go back. Aaron would be in his final year of preschool in 2011-2012, so fall of 2011 seemed perfect. We asked around and heard that the beginning of November is a great time to visit Disney... so I was sold (and it's our wedding anniversary as well!). Of course, we are now taking a 20 month old in diapers and a 4.5 year old, but there will be 5 adults accompanying them, so it should be manageable. I don't know if Reid (the baby) will remember anything, but he recognizes Mickey Mouse already and loves to be out and socializing. I know he will have a blast, and everyone else will as well.
It's getting closer (less than 2.5 months to go!) and everyone is talking about the trip, making plans, reminiscing previous trips, ... so can it just get here already?!?! And yes... I am a very impatient person...
After I graduated college, I spent my "vacations" at work, literally. Not that I didn't take any time off, but when I did they were a day or two here or there and didn't go on an official vacation. Once I met my husband, we started vacationing in Vegas (another love) and the Outer Banks with his family. I had almost forgotten about Disney, but occasionally I would try to convince my husband's family to take a trip to Disney... without any success. My first child was born in 2007, and I knew I would finally get back to Disney!! Of course, I kept hearing my mother's voice telling me that a child should not go to Disney before the age of 5 or 6 so they can remember the trip.... 2012 seemed like a century away.
In 2009, I got pregnant with my second child and I made the executive decision that I was going to throw caution to the wind, ignore my mother's advice, and go to Disney, pregnant and with an almost 2.5 year old in diapers. I think my mom thought I was nuts, but I didn't care... I wanted to go to Disney. My family couldn't have been too upset with my decision as they came with us.
We had a great time and Aaron loved it, but would he remember anything from the trip? A month or two after we were home, we went to Carlos O'Kelly, a Mexican restaurant that is in a "temple-like" building and he asked if we were going to go on the boat ride... for those of you who aren't familiar... there is a boat ride in the Mexico pavilion in Epcot. Not bad for a 2.5 year old. In the months following, he has referred to the Dumbo ride, not liking the Pirates of the Carribean ride, the Muppet 3-D movie, and the Toy Story Mania ride. I am sure he doesn't remember everything from the trip, but he sure does remember some of the highlights... again... not bad for a 2.5 year old (He is a very unique child... his VBS teacher said he is a man stuck in a child's body... and that is probably the best way to describe him).
So after the baby was born in Feb of 2010... I decided we were going back to Disney... again because I wanted to go back. Aaron would be in his final year of preschool in 2011-2012, so fall of 2011 seemed perfect. We asked around and heard that the beginning of November is a great time to visit Disney... so I was sold (and it's our wedding anniversary as well!). Of course, we are now taking a 20 month old in diapers and a 4.5 year old, but there will be 5 adults accompanying them, so it should be manageable. I don't know if Reid (the baby) will remember anything, but he recognizes Mickey Mouse already and loves to be out and socializing. I know he will have a blast, and everyone else will as well.
It's getting closer (less than 2.5 months to go!) and everyone is talking about the trip, making plans, reminiscing previous trips, ... so can it just get here already?!?! And yes... I am a very impatient person...
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