When you know...You Really Know! - Page 3

Ok, I'm sure my story will sound bizarre. And it's a journey that got me to cakes. I spent most of my life working round the clock, never time for a "real" life, but I made enough money to help my mother and my sister who was a single mom. My time was spent working, so I was content with little else in my life. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED working. Then one day I had a stupid accident at work and became permanently disabled. Sounds awful, doesn't it? But I knew immediately, in my heart and soul, there was a reason for it AND even crazier, that I would know the reason. Well, now I was home, recuperating the best I could and I meet the love of my life, and we marry. Go ahead a few years and I wanted to take the Wilton classes. A friend was going to take them with me, but at the last minute she had to take a course for her job. Quite shockingly, my husband offered to take the classes with me because he knew how much I wanted to take them. Turns out he not only loved it, he's very good at it. He finds his way to Cake Central and is sitting here reading the night that the concept for Icing Smiles was outlined. We contacted her immediately and said we wanted in. Today I am a state rep. for Icing Smiles and following a path I've been lead to, and I feel so lucky for the outcome of where my life is today. I have absolutely no doubt that God has lead me down this path.

Wow! I've been thinking about this all weekend! I only bake for charity and have often thought about opening up a little bakery - something like how Magnolia's started out. But then I would read all the experienced baker's posts about bridezillas or terrible customers. And quite honestly, while I know I am a good baker, I know I am not and never will be a great decorator. Donating to charities, various cupcakes, cookies and cakes, gives me the chance to do what I want when I want. And it opened my eyes to how really tiring and difficult this skill called "baking" can be. Standing on my feet all day and into the night - I've often wondered how all of you did that every week! I've even had some of my charities offer the use of their kitchens for free to me, but for now I am more comfortable doing things my way - and trying out new recipes etc. I just hope you all keep on posting because I have learned so much from you and I love calling my 89 year old aunt, who used to teach Home Economics long ago, and telling her all the new tricks and tips I've learned from this site!
PS Jason, Welcome to the OC! and when my gluten free friend visits from Simi Valley I hope I can still order a cake from you!

Serena, you've just described exactly how I feel about doing cakes. I've been doing it as a hobby for a dozen years or so, and now do 3-4 cakes per year, with an average of one wedding cake a year for friends. And that's plenty for me. I like designing the cake and planning for it, and I like the finished product (usually), but in between it's a lot of work, and things always take longer than you think they will. Especially all the cleaning up, which is definitely my least favorite part too. Not to mention the stress of driving with a cake in the car, and knowing that if you drop it, somebody's not going to have a wedding cake.

I love doing cakes once in a while, but I would hate doing them for a living.