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I still love decorating BUT...(a bit of a rant)

post #1 of 43
7/9/10 at 10:11pm
Thread Starter 
I am getting so SICK of the mess! I am a disaster in the kitchen! I am starting a bakery in our garage, but I don't have it yet. I am still using my kitchen for cakes and I am burnt out. I can't get started decorating until after dinner and I get no sleep! Plus, nothing has a place, so I literally spend DAYS trying to gather things for my cakes. I have doubles and triples of certain items because I lost them and wound up buying again. My husband is wasting so much time not clearing out the garage and I physically can't do it. I bake all morning and decorate all night between looking for tools. I am a mother of 4 the youngest 15 months and I need sleep!

What does everybody else do? This is my passion, and the ONLY job I like! I can't stop now! Any suggestions?

I would rather make 1 cake for $150, than 3 for $50 each.

The person who works for nothing will always have plenty to do!

My sarcasm is good-humored. People generally really like me, in person ;-) 

Licensed, inspected, insured, home-based commercial...

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I would rather make 1 cake for $150, than 3 for $50 each.

The person who works for nothing will always have plenty to do!

My sarcasm is good-humored. People generally really like me, in person ;-) 

Licensed, inspected, insured, home-based commercial...

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post #2 of 43
7/9/10 at 10:18pm
Like the rest of us...pray for Kitchen Faeries...(((HUGS)))
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post #3 of 43
7/9/10 at 10:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Annabakescakes

I am getting so SICK of the mess! I am a disaster in the kitchen! I am starting a bakery in our garage, but I don't have it yet. I am still using my kitchen for cakes and I am burnt out. I can't get started decorating until after dinner and I get no sleep! Plus, nothing has a place, so I literally spend DAYS trying to gather things for my cakes. I have doubles and triples of certain items because I lost them and wound up buying again. My husband is wasting so much time not clearing out the garage and I physically can't do it. I bake all morning and decorate all night between looking for tools. I am a mother of 4 the youngest 15 months and I need sleep!

What does everybody else do? This is my passion, and the ONLY job I like! I can't stop now! Any suggestions?



Are you starting a legal home kitchen? It may seem overwhelming to both you and your husband. You probably have a list of requirements for compliance with your state's laws. Having 4 children is a 24/7 job- maybe it will take longer for you to get your business launched. Only you and your husband can determine how much you can handle. You're a braver woman than I am.

As far as your baking tools go, you'll need a good organized space for them if you hope to improve your time management and avoid buying multiple items. If I may make this suggestion, buy a few storage organizers- I have three drawer organizers that are on wheels. It's the only way I could keep my tools, colors, pans, etc. organized. Each drawer is dedicated to particular items. One drawer contains food color, flavors, extracts, spatulas, piping bags- anything to do with icings and flavors. The next drawer contains all of my cutters, the next one molds, the next one fondant tools, and so on. I also divide each drawer by keeping item sets in zip lock bags. That way, when you decide on a cake/icing flavor and design- you'll only have to take out the items that you need. HTH and Good Luck! icon_smile.gif
Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, a touch that never hurts.
Charles Dickens
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Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, a touch that never hurts.
Charles Dickens
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post #4 of 43
7/10/10 at 12:46am
I'm feeling that way at the moment. It's 2:40 AM my last cakes for the weekend are still in the oven, the kitchen is a wreck and I'm on cc....LOL...I'm expecting the "cleaning fairy" to show up any minute icon_lol.gif
everyday is a good day, some are just better than others.
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everyday is a good day, some are just better than others.
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post #5 of 43
7/10/10 at 12:52am
I feel the same way. Like the other CC'er said, get some 3drawer rolling carts. They are the best. I keep all my stuff in there and roll it in and out of the kitchen as needed.
Cake makes everything better!!!!
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Cake makes everything better!!!!
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post #6 of 43
7/10/10 at 4:20am
It will get a little easier when you have your own dedicated space. No more 'finding' your tools because they will finally have a home.

Some cleaning tips: Keep a wet washcloth with you at all times. Wipe down the counter after everything you do. Pour p.sugar in the mixer, turn on mixer, wipe counter. Crack eggs ... wipe counter.

Lay big sheets of parchment or wax paper on the counter to 'catch' your dirty tools .....measuring cups, mixing spoons, etc. Then all you have to do is throw away the paper, leaving a nice, clean counter.

Do you have cooling racks with legs (i.e. Pampered Chef)? I used these a LOT .... a home and in the shop. Great for having a place to lay tools but still leaving you counter space under the racks, so my counters weren't as cluttered.

Assembly line things: Have icing made ahead of time. Pre-fill 2-3 decorating bags. Then on icing/decorating day, you just line everything up and go. No mixing,mess making, etc. A really great time saver!

And enlist hubby in taking care of the kids and taking care of dinner! Are you actually cooking and cleaning up a dinner on cake days? Hand him a 20 dollar bill and point him to the nearest KFC! And remind him that when it's HIS kids, it's not called "Helping" ..... it's called "Doing"! icon_twisted.gif
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Cake Cutting Guide: http://cateritsimple.blogspot.com/search/label/cake%20comb
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55969028@N00/
www.cateritsimple.blogspot.com
http://debiswritingcollection.blogspot.com/
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post #7 of 43
7/10/10 at 4:31am
I second everything Indydebi says!
clean up as you go, and put a piece of paper down to catch all the mess makes a huge difference..
And also having the icing in bags/already colored is another thing that makes it easier.
icon_smile.gif Happy Baking and Caking!
Jodi
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post #8 of 43
7/10/10 at 4:43am
I 3rd what indydebi says! Bake 1 day and prepe to decorate then do that on another day. I have a habit of baking cakes and freezing them. Ready for me when I need them. It will come don't worry. We all have days like that. Good luck with your new business!
I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
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I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
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post #9 of 43
7/10/10 at 4:57am
Well, I feel for you. You must be tired and feeling a little discouraged but don't despair!

I have 3 kids and remember having the same struggles. Organization was my lifesaver.

Like Indy sez:


Clean as you go.

And, baking and freezing ahead is a must. We bake everything the week before for the week ahead so that by Wed. or Thurs. a.m., its all in the freezer. That goes for the icing too.

You can prep. decorations, Gum Paste flowers etc. too ahead of time. Do them while the cakes are baking.

Get some help with the kids. If your hubby too tired, enlist friends, relatives. Your only other option is to slow it all down and take less orders until you have your space ready.

Don't burn yourself out and get it to the point where you hate what you do. It will all happen...you just have to be patient! Your job will not go away.

Wishing you all the best. And some sleep.

Anna
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post #10 of 43
7/10/10 at 5:15am
on clean as you go:

this includes washing.

I just toss all the dirty tools in the measuring cups, empty sour cream containers and then once batter is in the pan, fill the mixer bowl with hot soapy water and it all goes in there -- in short order EVERYthing is clean.

oh and a further hint on counters.

while washing all those tools -- i don't rinse them immediately. I lay them wet and soapy right back on the counters where they drip soapy water all over the counter.
after everything is washed, then rinse (and use old cooling racks as drying racks!) and wipe down the counters which is so much easier since they've been soaking with the soapy water on them.

looks a frightful mess in process but so much easier.
Keep on cakin'!
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Keep on cakin'!
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post #11 of 43
10/18/10 at 12:28pm
Thread Starter 
I never got a notice that anyone replied to this thread! I have finally just cut way back on my cakes. It is so hard to tell people I can't do it, I am such a people pleaser! I am doing cakes every couple of weeks, rather than every week, and trying to keep it down to 1, though I had a last minute order last week that I did, and I have two this week, but one should be easy, it requires very few tools, just a rolling pin and an x-acto knife! Yay! The other is a shoebox and gumpaste shoe, so tools will be needed...

I have been trying to clean as I go, but there is so much to distract! Also, we are trying to save money for our property tax bill. The rolling drawers are an awesome idea, but just not in the budget right now. I did have to get a HUGE roll of freezer paper for anther project, so I plan on using some of it to cover my counters.

I feel better, but I can't wait until everything has a place!

I would rather make 1 cake for $150, than 3 for $50 each.

The person who works for nothing will always have plenty to do!

My sarcasm is good-humored. People generally really like me, in person ;-) 

Licensed, inspected, insured, home-based commercial...

Reply

I would rather make 1 cake for $150, than 3 for $50 each.

The person who works for nothing will always have plenty to do!

My sarcasm is good-humored. People generally really like me, in person ;-) 

Licensed, inspected, insured, home-based commercial...

Reply
post #12 of 43
10/18/10 at 1:00pm
When I started doing cakes on an army base in Germany, my husband would come home from work and say " I've got a couple more cake orders for you" and I would say "for when?" He'd say " I'm taking them into work with me in the morning" Never mind that I had spent the whole day baking cakes, so I could spend the whole night decorating them! Guess who learned how to frost and do borders on cakes? Put your hubby to work! I'm sure he benefits from the money you bring in!
We never touch others so lightly, we do not leave a trace.
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We never touch others so lightly, we do not leave a trace.
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post #13 of 43
10/18/10 at 1:10pm
Thread Starter 
My husband has made pearls and colors my icings and fondants for me! I let him know that I consider the time he spends with me "caking" as quality date time! He can make a border better than my mother, but has never put one on a cake, just practice. He even put about 300 pearls on a cake for me while I made grooms cake!

I would rather make 1 cake for $150, than 3 for $50 each.

The person who works for nothing will always have plenty to do!

My sarcasm is good-humored. People generally really like me, in person ;-) 

Licensed, inspected, insured, home-based commercial...

Reply

I would rather make 1 cake for $150, than 3 for $50 each.

The person who works for nothing will always have plenty to do!

My sarcasm is good-humored. People generally really like me, in person ;-) 

Licensed, inspected, insured, home-based commercial...

Reply
post #14 of 43
10/18/10 at 1:48pm
I have been trying to clean as I go, but there is so much to distract! Also, we are trying to save money for our property tax bill. The rolling drawers are an awesome idea, but just not in the budget right now. I did have to get a HUGE roll of freezer paper for anther project, so I plan on using some of it to cover my counters.

I feel better, but I can't wait until everything has a place![/quote]


I too can not afford the rolling drawer bins, but would love some! In the meantime, I use boxes to store things in. I use empty shoeboxes, a couple of the cheap dollar store clear containers (approx $1-$3 a piece) old cleaned out mayonnaise jars, huge ziplock bags, etc. And, I make sure to label everything so I can go directly to what I need.
HTH. Good luck!
Michelle C
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Michelle C
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post #15 of 43
10/18/10 at 2:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by indydebi

...
And enlist hubby in taking care of the kids and taking care of dinner! Are you actually cooking and cleaning up a dinner on cake days? Hand him a 20 dollar bill and point him to the nearest KFC! And remind him that when it's HIS kids, it's not called "Helping" ..... it's called "Doing"! icon_twisted.gif



Like I always say, you don`t BABYSIT your own kids! icon_rolleyes.gif (I really hate it when a man says he`s babysitting his kids. It`s called parenting. The babysitter puts them to bed, does her homework, calls her BFF, gets paid and leaves when she`s done.)

This is a great place to say .... I LOVE MY HUSBAND!! He cooks, cleans, does laundry, supports my caking, and is Mr. Mom all weekend while I`m at work. thumbs_up.gif
Always be sincere ... whether you mean it or not!

Everything slows down with age ... except the time it takes for cake to reach your hips!!
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Always be sincere ... whether you mean it or not!

Everything slows down with age ... except the time it takes for cake to reach your hips!!
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