I'm so frustrated. I love baking and decorating but it's so hard to find the time even though I stay at home. I have an 8 mos. old who doesn't like naps right now and needs a lot of attention. Its hard to do anything for more than 5 min at a time! Plus ingredients just start to add up in cost and we're on such a tight budget right now. Does anyone else feel this way? And what do you do?!

Yep, I know how you feel. I have 4 year old twins that are constantly fighting or demanding my attention. Fortunately if I'm desperate I can put a princess movie on and I instantly get an hour of peace. I usually just have to wait until my husband can tend to them to put my full attention into a cake.

As for the cost, whoever you're making the cake for you can ask them for the cost of the ingredients. That's not asking too much and people are usually happy to help. If you're doing icing practice do it on a piece of waxed paper and scoop it off and reuse over and over (for practice of course).

Hugs to you, you aren't alone!

Hi--With a baby--you have your hands full!! You have a reason to feel this way! You need time for yourself! Yes--it gets frustrating for all! GL!

I have to decorate at night or at nap time to do it with my kids-4 and 1.

As for costs, when I am doing cakes for practice or to give away, I just use box mixes and I purchase the PS, Butter and Sourcream at SAMs and it is much cheaper.

Stephanie

I feel for you. I have 3 kids ages 1, 2 and 3. I never get a moment to myself unless it is after midnight. and by that time I am so exhausted that I just forget it. I do alot of my decorating though late at night and when the kids are out for the day (which does not happen to often) I usually have to rely on my DH to help me out but that is a lost cause sometimes. I do the movie thing. I ask the two oldest to pick a movie and if they are interested in that movie they keep watching until it is over, but the 1 year old does not have that kind of attention span yet. But she has naps, so I find the five minutes to myself at any possible time I can get it.

I know what you mean. I have four kids ages 4-8 months and I can't do any cakeing while they are awake. I wait until nap time or until my husband gets home. We are very tight for money as well. I would like to start charging for the ingredients, but I don't know how to figure up the cost of the ingredients. I have been just guessing. I make my cakes from scratch, so how do you figure out how much a cup of flour costs or half a cup of sugar? I know I could figure it all up if I had the time, but I just don't have the time.

I have 2 young kids, too, and I have found that I can bake a few cakes during the day because I'm available while they are in the oven. I do most of my decorating at night when they're in bed. I just have some late nights! But, I feel less guilty this way. As far as the money, as I got better at decorating, my prices went significantly up! I won't do a cake for next to nothing...why would I take the time away from my kids???
I make sure I make money on my cakes and if I won't, I won't take the order. It took me some time to figure it all out!

Julie

Oh yes, a three year old and a two year old. I let the three year old play with gumpaste and paint and there is always the video babysitter! My DH isnt home much to help so I usually have to rely on the methods I mentioned. Im a SAHM so our budget is very tight. I try to buy cake mixes when their on sale and use pudding in them to make them taste better. But it does get expensive. Any money I usually make on a cake goes into more supplies usually.
But lately Ive banged my head against the wall wondering what Im doing wrong because it just seems that everyone else is making two or three cakes a week and are booked for the summer while I have a freebe babyshower cake that Im doing for my neighbors daughter! So I here you!

I'm alone with 3 kids, I know how you feel

Yup, 3 kids here too. I keep fantasizing about what it will be like when they are either at school most of the day or I can just send them outside and tell them I will call them in for dinner!

I'm home with 3 as well. I feel the same way that it isn't worth the trouble-not on the surface at least. Yes, if I was doing this for a couple bucks, I would not be doing this anymore. But I do this because I LOVE doing this. Plus it gives me something that I can accomplish. I feel like I spend so much of my time picking up just for things to get messy again, washing dishes to get them dirty again, doing laundry just to wear the clothes again...I mean what do I really get done? But a cake...I can make a cake. Or try to sculpt a figurine, or try a new fondant recipe and have it turn out. It is the little sucesses that keep me sane.

It certainly can be frustrating! I have a (just) 5 year old, and a 2.5 year old. I try to bake cakes in the day, but always decorate at night. I don't even attempt to decorate whilst the children are around!

The 'thing' that I can distract them with at the moment is to fill our kitchen sink up with bubbles - they love it! They just stand on a chair and scoop the bubbles from one sink to the other! It keeps them amused whilst I make, then bake a cake! I have to work around them a bit, but I don't mind as they're not under my feet wanting attention!

I also understand where your coming from with money. There are soooooo many things I would like to buy, but cannot! Maybe one day ...!!!

Been there, done that........ and believe me when I say, when you have nothing to do but "bake", you will long for these hectic "kid" days.....

I feel for you as well. I have 3 children (2, 3, and 6) and they do not like competing with cakes for my attention. Sometimes I just insist that they play something alone and the 6 year old helps keep the other 2 occupied, but often I have to work on cake stuff in the evenings or on weekends when DH can take over for a little while.

As far as $, I agree that it's difficult. I read about all of these great things to do and I want to try everything, but I can't continually spend money on this stuff....especially if it's just for practice. I wish I could get more "orders" so I could justify the cost a little bit.

Tellis 12: Where in Cincinnati are you? I am in Milford.

I am a mother of 4 and I am helping a friend out by keeping hers so I totally feel you. But, here is what I suggest...Here is how I got started - when your kids or you are invited to a baby shower, a birthday, etc...instead of buying a gift - it is cheaper to buy ingredients, yes then there is your time (bedtime- if your kids are not on a bed time routine - start now - put them to bed at 8:00 (no later) then there is your time. But, take this "TIME" and practice and use that cake at that party to be an edible advertisment to do more cakes more practice - more $$$$$$
Doing a cake takes a long time - bake it the day before you decorate - then thaw it out 3 hours prior to decorating then - crumb coat - let it sit - play with your kids while it hardens (don't clean the kitchen - NOTHING - play with your kids - Let the crumb coat sit for awhile. Then ice - let it sit for awhile - play with kids. Just pace your self and then leave the decorating for when the kids go to bed.

GOOD LUCK - totally understand

When my kids were little, I'd just lay a dining room chair down across the kitchen doorway to keep them out of the kitchen. Sometimes, he would cry but he would always get over it. When I was in the kitchen, it was the same as if I was at the office. "Mommy is at work now and not available."

I always find it amazing that if dad is in the garage or mowing the yard, that HE never has to stop every 3 minutes because a kid wants some attention, but whatever MOM is doing has to wait; whatever MOM is doing is not important; whatever MOM is doing can be done later..... usually when dad is crashing on the couch with a beer and a remote in his hand.

When does mom get to crash? When does mom get time for herself?

I can't relate with having children, as i do not have any yet, but i do work, and i'm in the midst of planning my wedding. I get so excited when i'm asked to make a cake for an occassion but the time and money does can be a prob... when i see things on sale i grab it... even if i don't have a project planned yet. I get a LOT at Costco you can't go wrong esp. the conf. sugar, and i alway start my decorations in advance. I find that it helps to do a little each night when possible that way i'm not pressured all at once... ..

We just moved and I had to give up my WMI job so I am totally in cake withdrawl! It can be so tuff with the kids so somedays I just skip it! When the kids do help it turns a 3 hour project into 6 so I have to really be in the right frame of mind! I have 4.5 year old triplets at home so I totally feel your frustration. I don't usually sell my cakes (when I do this does not apply) and it is usually for friends and family. I make sure everyone is healthy and hands are very clean. I measure out the ingredients and let them dump them in and we talk about how many more cups of XXX we need and make it a learning process. I have set out a bit of salt and sugar to let them see how each tastes and talk about the difference I usually make at least three cup cakes extra and when it is time to decorate I let them go for it on their cupcakes while I decorate my cake. They know better than to touch Mommy's cake! If it is for someone who is paying for the cake I decorate at night. If the cake is a freebie then my kids get to help! I love the sink full of bubbles idea! Has anyone tried letting them play with MMF and cookie cutters? That is a hit here too!

Mine play with leftover MMF....although I have a 5 year old and 2 older children who don't care to watch the little one. But when they feel as though they aren't going to be such "nice" big siblings I let her sit at the island in my kitchen and play with cookie cutters and straws in the mmf. She loves it..and even eats some of it.

I know what you mean...but I don't know what to do about it either! Sorry I guess that's no help! I made a cake this weekend. It was an 11x15. I had never made one that big before. When I took it out of the pan and onto the cooling rack it broke into a gazillion pieces. All I could think of was...three sticks of butter...a cup and a half of milk...all those ingredients...pretty much wasted. Not totally wasted of course, the kids ate quite a bit of it, and I was able to use some on the cake I was making, but I had to start all over. I was pretty upset.
I'm a SAHM with 5 kids. I used to give my youngest 2 some playdough and cookied cutters to play with when I was making things with mmf...but they soon wised up and realized it wasn't the same as what mom had. Now I give them some mmf when I'm working. But I agree...most of the work has to be done when everyone is in bed.
Don't give up...it will get better

My daughter has graduated from college and is now on her own, but I do remember those days. When I cooked, I used to keep her in the kitchen with me-she was happy as long as I was by her side. I bought a small plastic pool, (told her it was "her" kitchen) put her in it w/age appropriate toys, fed her in it-gave her samples to taste, sang, danced-anything to keep her occupied while I cooked. As she got older, we graduated to plastic bowls, boxes, measuring cups & ingredients that wouldn't hurt her so she thought she was cooking too. When we were done-I just hosed out the pool & gave her a bath and she couldn't wait to show off what she cooked! She has been my cooking companion ever since.

As far as cost, there are several ways to save money. Wait until cake mixes go on sale & buy a bunch, or buy generic brands. Walmart cake tastes the same as any other boxed cake & is half the price. They also carry a lot of other generic baking ingredients which are all worth a try.

Many will argue, but if you really need to save money, buy some of your ingredients at the dollar store. Try the flavorings at 2 for $1.00, most people can't taste the difference-but it depends on who you're baking for. They also have jams/jelly, baking powder/soda, utencils, aluminum pans, off brand wax paper, plastic wrap & a bunch of other things that are potential money savers.

If you bake a lot-or want to, try Gordens Food Supply-no membership fee and they sell large quantities at good prices-If you don't need or can't store large quantities, think about splitting them with someone.

Thrift stores, Salvation Army & garage sales are great places to find cake pans, bowls, cake keepers, mixers and just about every non-food baking item you can think of. Try buying odd shaped bowls/casserole dishes for different shaped cakes instead of splurging on expensive cake pans.

Some of the best time savers I learned are from CC. Making & decorating a cake in one day was killing me-I was frustrated, couldn't think, couldn't come up with an idea and rarely could I finish it. I'd end up with that I could care less attitude. What I started doing is spending a day just baking cakes-wrap them up well and freeze them. I'll have anywhere from 2-8 cakes on hand at any given time. If I'm just baking for my husband & I, I don't decorate an entire cake. I use one of the cakes from (2-8 or 9 inch pans) tort it and it's just enough for us. Saves tons of time too.

I spend another day making icing. I make vanilla & chocolate in different consistancies-mark the bags and freeze them. I save at least a double batch of white bc for another day of fun.

The reserved batch is for coloring. The last day is spent making a huge selection of colors so I don't waste time while decorating to stop & color. The best tip I got from this forum is:
http://forum.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=38404&postdays=0&postorder=asc&&start=0
from "newlywedws" I can't tell you how much this well demonstrated fantastic tip has helped me.

All this doesn't have to be done in consecutive days-do it whenever you can find the time. So when you are ready to decorate a cake, everything you need is right on hand-your cake, your icing, and any color you need for decorating. I've found this way is relaxing, & I do a better job because I'm not on a time line. Decorating should be fun and something you enjoy doing, especially if your doing it for a hobby. If you feel it's becoming to stressful, take a break for a while and start back up when you feel ready. Buy ingredients as you can afford them and when you have stocked shelves, try to do it bit by bit and see if it works better for you.

I wish you nothing but the best of luck and hope you can find a way to continue your passion without frustration.
Gail

Thank you so much ladies! You're so wonderful. thanks for letting me vent. Some of the suggestions on saving money are great. I'm so glad I found this site!

I agree with the ppl here. When do the mom's get to crash. I think we should all go on strike. But then what would the DH's of the world do without clean underwear and no food on the table, and no clean dishes to eat off of.
At least if we went on strike we would be able to bake and decorate during the daytime without our eyes being tired and buggy.

nechee
I just tried the strike thing. (I have a 10mo &17mo old, a 16 year old, a 17 year old and a DH who all do very little) You can only let the dishes and cleaning go for so long until the babies need something or it becomes a health hazard . The "big kids" could care less if the have to eat right out of the package the food comes in and they just shuffle their feet so they don't step on any toys. There should be someplace we can just ship them too!

As for decorating I do what Antylucifer suggested. Bake one day (sometimes a few weeks before a cake is needed) and wrap well and freeze. Make icing the day before decorating and keep the little ones on a strict 7:00 bedtime. It is the only way I stay sane.

I still wonder how I do it. I know I say it alot here but I have 3 girls...with one being Autistic. My husband works long hours now and doesn't get home until 12am to close to 2am on Friday. (and he leaves here at 12pm). BUT when he was just doing a 9 to 5...he might as well have been doing 12 hours. Do my girls drive me crazy....of courssssssseee. 9-5(Autistic) and 3...my 9 & 3 yr old fight like they are two old ladies. I start my days very early and go late close to the weekend. My husband thinks I'm some kind of distribution center and can crank cakes out all by myself...30 at a time. Does he help...yep, with adding one more freaking order in for his co-workers...KNOWING I'm booked. His family thinks I should do their friends cakes for free or something...Oh and they didn't take me seriously when I started doing cakes. But ohhhhhhhh they love me NOW! They call all at the last minute too, adding their wanna be free cakes in there. I've been a stay at home mom since my 5yr old was born 'cause she used to have seizures and no one knew why. She doesn't anymore since being diagnosed 3yrs ago. I get most of my work done at night or early morning. I sleep when I can and housework....HA HA HA HA. Kudos to those of you that jungle all of this and keep the best looking house....please pm the secret. I promise I think someone somewhere wants me to drink. And I rarely remember the days without my 4 calendars that I have posted up. So do I feel you....welcome to this world. You've been initiated! The money gets better, practice is the key.

I'm a sahm of 5 (9, 7, 5, 4, & 2) I have a secret weapon (two actually). Video games. We have game systems for the little ones (v-smile)and the older kids have dh's old Game Cube. The ONLY time they ever get to play them is when I'm baking. They sit 10 feet away and I don't hear a peep out of any of them. I then put off decorating until they go to bed at night. My dh works such long hours 6 pm to 6:30am and then he sleeps until about 3:00 every afternoon (it's been 6 days/week for the last few weeks...poor guy is EXHAUSTED). I can't just hand them over to daddy and say "Your turn" so I had to think of something else.

I don't make that many cakes and I don't sell the few that I DO make (just for family and a handfull of friends) a lot of mine are gifts...the rest I just tell them what I need, they bring it and I bake it. I'm not out the cost of ingredients. Nearly all of my decorating supplies were given to me by my mother so I've not had to purchase very many. I'm a tightwad and I have a real problem splurging on cake stuff when there are plenty of little bodies in the house that need to be clothed/fed. lol
Vanessa

I have to say that Antylucifer has given a great reply, I do almost the same thing with planning. But this weekend is driving me carzy... I have to work night in the bakery and at the same time I have to delivere a dessert-cake-table (4 kinds of different cakes) for 135 people for a wedding. Sunday (after work) I have to go to a bigger town 30 miles away to see my brothers new resturant. I can seem to find time to sleep... (and everything has to fit with babysitter and everything)

Guess I have to sleep when I'm old LOL

BTW what does Sahm mean?

sahm means 'stay at home mom' I'm a sahm too. Video games work for a little while. My 3 year old and my 2 year old will sit in front of either the Wii or the v-smile for hours, but my 1 year old (well not quite 1, 11 months) has no idea what a video game is and is glued to my hip from the time she gets up till the time she goes to bed. (thank goodness she goes to bed at a normal hour) My 3 and 2 year old are night owls and are then up early in the morning. So I usually get time to myself about 2 in the morning. But hey I just keep telling myself "they do grow up" And besides they love the baking I do get done. it is just very hard to explain, "no kids that cake is for someone else" when I am selling. I usually have to bake one special for them.