Today was a pretty great day!

Today was a continuation of Saturday.. Loads of baking with the addition of Mom making sheet cake which included the cutest fox dressed in none other than fox hunting attire... I watched her bring this little man to life with precision and I realized that there are certain instances in which fondant lends itself in the most helpful and most wonderful way. So many things have taken place in the last two months! We signed our lease for our retail space and kitchen in The Plains and I cannot wait until we open next month! I will be adding a few new items to our Farmers Market fare, mini pecan, sweet potato, pear, lemon chess and maybe a truffle pie. I have already begun taking croissants to the market and they have been well received so bialys and Demi-baguettes are on the way. I have got to really commit to a menu for the bakery,wow, we are opening a space already! We left our jobs a matter of months ago and here we are making plans and buying equipment for our bakery which will open in October...which is only a few weeks away. I have a bakery of my own... I don't work for someone else building their brand but instead I am working next to my mother as we build our family business and our own brand, Sweet Intentions... No can say that this isn't the right time, it's always the right time when you are ready to pursue your dream. Small business is the backbone of the American economy, we are the true job creators, and we are face to face with our clients aka fans who want great tasting baked goods....and don't mind driving to get them. I am elated by actually living out one of my dreams, it gives me something I cannot truly describe at this time... Except that it constantly leaves me exhausted and warmly content. I am in the right place doing one of the things that I was put on earth to do...I feel so blessed..I see my abundant life manifesting all around me...

Texas Sheet Cake, Homemade Oreo Cookies and Graham Crackers....... YUM.

Each day brings new distractions as well as new triumphs! We are moving into a wonderful new place in the growth of our business. Sweet Intentions has it's first large order, 700 chocolate cupcakes.... Plus 4 new clients as well as the new Noble Gourmet shop that will have two weekly deliveries...things are moving along incredibly well, and I feel great. I will be making a Peach Slab for the market as well as Shaped Sugar Cookies decorated in honor of the 4th of July, this should be pretty fun, decorating sugar cookies...I have some new projects that I'll be tackling in the upcoming weeks and I cannot wait! It reminds me of when I was a child waiting for December to arrive so that I could bake and make as much candy as I wanted and Christmas is by far my most favorite holiday! The Plains won't know what to do when the see what I will providing....except LOVE IT ALL!!

Today I started my working day by ordering a ten pound box of white chocolate chips... I am moving past buying chips by the bag at the local grocery store and am instead finally buying in bulk.. Things are changing steadily in a great way and I am doing my best to not stand in the way and be crushed by the fruition of a dream shared by my mother and me. I know that I am perched precariously on the precipice (I LOVE ALLITERATION!!!!) but there is no abyss. This is were I am meant to be, every day has led to this new beginning... And I am ready! Each Sunday at Archwood we share our baking with Northern Virginia and it gives me such a warm feeling to watch our customers taste the Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies or Chocolate Cupcakes and to know how much they love what's in their mouths. It makes me so happy when they almost immediately refuse to take a sample but proclaim that NEED 6 to 10 of an item because they trust us and they KNOW that whatever they choose at our stall will be good. These are relationships that we have nurtured... It means something special and divine to know that these patrons love our product and that they will come to the market each week to buy from us and that they will follow us quite happily to our new location. Sweet Intentions is the place to be!

Ice Creamy Dreams

I am from a hellishly hot spot in Texas and being there in our stall at Archwood was a true reminder of my time in San Antonio. All day all I could think of was how much I hate wearing khaki pants and also just how amazing it would have been to have had a lemon ice or blueberry cheesecake ice creamy goodness with buttery chunks of Graham cracker crust... I was losing my mind at my most sweaty moment.... My mouth was dry, my contacts were sticking to my eyeballs and I wasn't getting any cooler... Not until I began telling my Mom that we should surely make ice cream from now until the summer is over.. I must have said ice cream and fruit lime - aids a thousand times over the course of our afternoon at the market and looking back now I see that the promise of a chilly treat was majorly comforting.. I talked over the possiblity with our neighbor and for a split second I could see her take in the cool breezy goodness a cup of ice cream provides. She began to inform me that last season one of the vendors made sorbet on site! I felt immediately hopeful by the prospect that we'd be able to pull this off with people who would be more than receptive! Even now as I sit here in the beauty of air conditioning I know that we are about to gain a few more fans, a few lovers of cool, sticky and sweet refreshment.... I cannot wait to see their faces... The comfort and cool heads that will now browse a little longer, converse a touch bit more with those around the green barn...and most importantly they will be transported back in time to a day much cooler and possibly celebratory. Whichever memory shimmies to the top I will be happy to be apart of it...

Divine appointment is what I call it!

We had another great Sunday at Archwood, so many new people loving our products as well as all of our repeat customers coming to show us love and heap proclamations of success on us. I am looking forward to bringing some refreshing items to our customers,the heat is in full effect and I would live to be able offer our visitors something to help them cool off and bring them sweet relief. Sunday, May 29,2011, marks the day that we were offered a retail location for our business. Peyton of Peyton's Place, came by and tasted our wares, she loved everything that she brought to her lips. When asked where she'd like to see our bakery she replied in one of MY buildings, come to my shop when the market closes, I'd love to show you the space that has just become available. We quickly packed up and made the three minute drive to her shop and marveled at how quaint the area looked,the feeling of the place we had just driven to was buzzing with potential and possibility. We didn't know what expect but after walking thru the adorable furniture shop... A sense of comfort washed over me, almost as if there was recognition in a way, like minds and intentions all converging in the same space... Whatever it was it felt good. We made our way to the soon to be vacant space and I fell in love with the look of it,splashes of blue everywhere and an unmistakably charming vibe... I could see a sign with Sweet Intentions written all over it! I stepped inside of the building and I could actually see counters and beautiful baked goods under glass... I could even see a couch and a
few tables.. I saw so many things and it felt somewhat right. We have been planning on opening
a location in two years but this spot.. There is something that is just right about the whole
thing, Peyton and her husband Kenny, The Plains, the butcher shop down the street.. Even the
timing. I don't feel any fear. I know that right now I am in the right place and I am doing exactly what I am supposed to do. This is an amazing feeling..

Week three at Archwood Green Barn

First off I cannot believe that I actually used the wrong name for the Green Barn... Archwood not Archer Wood, well I have corrected my mistake... This Sunday will be another fun one I can feel it, we will introduce a few new items to our line up... rolls with cream cheese vanilla bean icing and Strawberry Cream Cheese pound cake...We'll still have cupcakes and our Triple Chocolate Cookies W/pecans... I'm having such a great time making items that people really want to eat. It's exciting making even this temporary form of food art, I receive great pleasure knowing that I might make something that transports them to a new place or even back in time to a great scent induced memory...I love the possibility of feeding someone's soul in a way... Archwood Green Barn... Thank you!

Opening day at the Archer Wood Green Barn Farmers Market

Today has been quite magical! Sweet Intentions is a reality and we are growing our business in an extremely fun manner. It is beyond rewarding to hand over a sample of something made by hands to a new client who knows nothing about me but is intrigued by the cinnamon pouring from our stall.... My mother and I had a wonderful time talking with our new clients, I look forward to serving my community in a way that has been severly lacking! I am so elated to work with the vendors at the market. They made me feel as if I am in a place I truly belong.. I couldn't be happier to have found them. I am so proud that we have followed thru with this idea. I am inspired by everyone I have come into contact with as of late and I think it will only get better..I feel so unbelievably free,I know that it has been only a week since leaving my previous job but it's such a distant memory. I actually have energy, I feel so good each morning when I get up, as I cannot wait to start my day. It's like finding your bliss and capturing each moment as it comes. I feel so blessed each day!

The countdown has begun

I am so excited to finally be at this point, we have only a few days until the Farmers Market finally opens for the 2011 season. This is going to be a great year for Sweet Intentions LLC. I feel as though I have been offered a great opportunity to do more than just feed people's bellies, it will be great way to transport them to a place of gastronomic happiness... Who doesn't like to eat something that reminds them of childhood memories... I love it, I love the look on the faces of people who taste my food and are reduced to making just sounds as they try to piece together a sentence. It reminds me of eating at my grandmother's house... There were always so many great smells that poured out of her kitchen, I could spend my entire visit with her standing next to her at the stove...you could taste love and comfort in every bite you took.

Lots of things to do today!

We have to head to the state capital to care of some necessary business... It's always much more satisfying to look people in the eye rather than conversing via the phone or in emails. It was amazing to see our work officially being verified and made legal! I am so excited to live one of my dreams, it's so much better than seeing it only when I sleep or when my friends and I share reverie... 2011 is still moving along extremely well... I am looking forward to seeing where the creative culinary process takes me... Tomorrow will be a great day to make Spicy Doughnut Muffins... Sweet and wholesome organic sugar, all natural all purpose flour... Saigon Cinnamon sugar and freshly grated nutmeg... I can almost taste them now...

Today is a new day!

Today is my first day of the freedom to be myself in life as well as professionally. I feel such a sense of relief and excitement as I jump in with both feet! I have a few thing s to prepare for my non traditional Easter meal.... My babyback ribs are in their spicy beer brine... The chicken is marinating and I need to put my artichoke and spinach dip together...it's going to be a nice relaxing day.