In 1990, I was a successful Vice President of a prominent Credit Union branch in San Diego. I had just been named, "Business Woman of the Year," by the American Business Woman’s Association (ABWA). It was at that time I thought, "I should be happy with my status in life - but I am NOT." I realized that I wasn't happy with city life, I wasn't really utilizing my creative skills in the financial industry and I had always longed to be back in the mountains of my early childhood years. So, I packed up all that would fit into a tiny U-Haul trailer and moved to beautiful Lake Almanor, California.  I love it just as much, if not more, than that very first day when I got out of my car, breathed in the clean, fresh pine-filled air and proclaimed to the mountains, "I am home!"

It was years later in 2004, when I was the Elections Specialist for our county, that I realized I wanted to pursue cake decorating. One of the gals was about to have a baby girl and I gave her a baby shower. Since the shower was to be a "Princess" theme party, I began looking for someone that could create a castle cake for the event. Not being able to find a single person that could do this for me, I decided to do it myself. So, with the help of my mother, we put together a castle cake.  Now when I see pictures of it, I think it's pretty funny looking, but it was fun and challenging enough to where I fell in love with the whole process and I was immediately hooked on absorbing all I could about this art medium. I soon started looking at books and magazines, and then, Wow!  Eureka!!!  I stumbled across the Cake Central website.  I have been addicted ever since.  There have been too many times to count, when I have stayed up on the CC site all night!  I would leave the computer chair with a lot of great ideas, new techniques, recipes, fun forum interactions and totally numb from the butt down!  Well worth every moment and the risk of dealing with non-functioning body parts! LOL!!  I have learned more from the CC site than any other source or resource.  Definitely a cake decorator's Utopia!!!  I have met soooo many great people on this site and feel quite blessed to have become a part of this family.

I love cake decorating because I can artistically express myself in a way that is so very unique and others can enjoy it, as well. I like to say, "I make incredible edibles!"   I believe that people want to celebrate in a unique and creative way. They are tired of the same old cookie-cutter, look-a-like cakes that have no flair or dynamism. I encourage people to express themselves in cake, making their special event the talk of the town! They can accomplish this by personalizing their presentation and this is where I come into play. I try to create a dream cake to be as "individual" as they are. 

I believe that my dearest CC friend, Tuggy, sums it up so perfectly, "The only limit is your imagination!"

Thank you EVERYONE for all your ever-present inspiration and dedication!  I love Cake Central!!!

Deborah Housen

Cakes Unleashed!! 

Located in the Beautiful Sierra-Nevada Mountains of California