Call Me Cupid

Hola Baykahs!
I am so excited to tell you that last week was our BEST WEEKEND EVER at tsp. We had an unexpected HIGHEST SALES DAY EVER on Saturday, and we followed it with a HUGE Sunday and HUGE Monday. I'm guessing that this year not EVERYONE gave up sweets for their resolution. It has been such a huge morale boost to all of us to have so much support from YOU!!! So...THANK YOU!!!!!!

Speaking of HUGE SALES...the biggest day of the year is RIGHT around the corner: VALENTINE'S DAY. THIS year I am doing my absolute BEST in trying NOT to run out of packaging...because what I have learned EVERY YEAR since I have been a professional baykah is that you can only sell as much as your PACKAGING allows.

Every year I tell myself I will order ENOUGH boxes to fill up...and then of COURSE I either forget or just run out of time, and I'm suddenly OUT of boxes for the holiday. BUT NOT THIS YEAR. I just spent $750+ on packaging to TRY to ensure NOT to run out at tsp. And guess what else I did?? I got RED BOXES!!!!!!

This box will fit either six or 12 mini cupcakes depending on the insert. I can't WAIT to see them all piled high ready for your Valentine. I'm going to start using them on Friday, 2.10, just in case you want to give your sweetie some EARLY sweets.

Of course I do realize that I just jinxed myself, and I will most certainly run out of boxes now. OH WELL.

But wait, THERE'S MORE! We also decided to create mini cupcake cakes that you can order for your beloved!!!

You can choose the flavor and colors!! I would recommend ordering this NOW because space WILL fill up and then you'll have to wait until AFTER Valentine's Day. Which is cool, too....we'll be here.

Yes...Valentine's Day is a commercialized holiday created to generate sales during a typically dull period during the year (after Christmas), but I JUST DON'T CARE. I love LOVE! And if I can help you show YOUR love how MUCH they mean to you it makes me HAPPY!! Every day should be Valentine's Day. Don't ever let the one you love QUESTION how much they mean to you. Show them every day how much you love them...and if that means buying them mini cupcakes every day SO BE IT.

I know I'll be showing MY love how much he means to me EVERY DAY....but I'll be giving him cookies.

See you next Tuesday,

KG

There is a Limit to the Amount of Potato Chips I Can Eat

Hola Baykahs!

My counter girl called in sick today, so I'm keeping this post short and sweet....or long and sour (depending on if customers come in, and I need to help them).

You see...a bakery is LITERALLY a crew of people all collectively trying to give YOU (the customer) our best work EVERY SINGLE DAY. In my mind you are only as good as your last baked good. If your cookie batch stunk yesterday...then YOU STINK AT BAKING. BUT, you  have to get up and try your hardest AGAIN and try to push that bad day or the LOOMING MOVING OF YOUR HUSBAND out of your head, so you can get the cookies JUST RIGHT.

Is this a little tough? Yes...but that's what this business IS. Customers are coming in every day expecting greatness, and that's what I expect from myself AND my crew. I expect them to be as happy about being here as the customer. THAT'S THE KEY: HAPPINESS.

It's been slightly more difficult to be "HAPPY" these days, especially with ME, but I'll be honest...once Richard LEAVES, and my new normal life becomes NORMAL I'm thinking I'll feel a little more HAPPY. But until then...there is a pit in my stomach....and no amount of cookies or potato chips (my true food vice) can fill it (believe me I've been TRYING to eat my way happy).

I have to go clean my bakery now. A counter girl's work is never done.

See you next Tuesday.

KG

I Love My Husband MORE Than Cupcakes

Hola Baykahs!
It's a brand new year. 2017. So far so good....

But I'm sure I just jinxed it.


AND WITH THAT LAST SENTENCE I DID JINX IT.

I wrote that sentence 24 hours ago...it's now Wednesday. I just completely lost the time to blog yesterday.

It's ok...my life isn't that interesting right now anyway.

WHY?

Because I'm now on the "MY HUSBAND IS MOVING" Countdown.  Exactly four weeks from today my husband and his packed car will be driving away from Las Vegas to Iowa City, Iowa.

I really don't even want to post about this. I want to be happy and carefree here...but it's ALL I can think about. The holidays and the bakery have been great distractions, but for the next four weeks I will rarely be here. No offense, but I love my husband more than cupcakes. So, I'm going to be spending as much time as possible with him...because we all know when he leaves I will be burying myself in buttercream at tsp.

I've been going through waves of emotions. I was resisting taking down the Christmas tree because I KNEW that was the END of the holidays which was the BEGINNING of the Countdown...and just the thought of taking that tree down made me cry. I'm usually the FIRST person I know to have their tree down (usually on Christmas afternoon). But not this year....Richard wanted it up, so I wanted it up. Until last night...

We took the tree down.

So, I'm now in the phase of "WHAT DOES HE NEED IN IOWA?" His birthday his Saturday, and I ordered him a present that he will most DEFINITELY use in one of the coldest winter states. And Richard has been making his list for stuff he needs to buy/take/order for his new residence. LOOK AT US BEING COMPLETELY COOL AND ORGANIZED...Until I see him and then I cry...and then get mad at myself because I'm WASTING our time together crying.

It's a very painful place to be right now. But...the bright side? I have found the literal LOVE of my life. And even though we have to live in separate places I KNOW he is alive and healthy and committed to US. And that is ALL I can ever want.

Forgive me for not being at the bakery if you come for a visit in the next 28 days (your best chance to see me here if you want is between 6am and 3 pm). I need to be with my love. February 1st I'm all yours....


See you next Tuesday.

KG

17 Wishes for 2017

Hola Baykahs!

Please allow me to stretch out my arms and crack my knuckles. I've been off for two days...things get stiff.

Seriously. I literally did NOTHING for two days, and it was glorious. I actually had time to stare at a television...and eat potato chips. But. now is the time to GET BACK TO IT, and turn on the oven...because it's BACK TO WORK...until NYE, and then I get ANOTHER DAY OFF on New Year's Day!

Speaking of the NEW YEAR. I've compiled a list of 17 wishes I would like to come TRUE in 2017...some are far fetched, some are totally going to happen, and some are true wishes that I can't cross my fingers for ANY HARDER for because I so need them to come true this year. By the way...they are not in any particular order....

#17 I wish for a little more rain in Vegas.
          -We barely get 4 inches a year, but when we DO get rain we get a TON of customers because like I always say, "Rain EQUALS Busy." And tsp. baking company could ALWAYS use some BUSYness...because that means this baykah will be too distracted to realize that the love of her life is in Iowa.

#16 I wish for time to move FASTER
          -This wish is ONLY in regards to the weeks between Richard coming home to visit. Fingers crossed he gets to come home once a month, but I have a feeling those weeks in between his visits will be VERY VERY SLOW...so let's speed that UP.

#15 I wish that I make time to work OUT
          -The plan is to fill my RICHARD-LESS time with work and working out. So...let's try to actually MOVE while staring at the TV instead of just sitting motionless putting chips in my mouth.

#14 I wish potato chips had no calories
            -I would drop 10 pounds in NO TIME

#13 I wish Coke Zero was as healthy as water
          -I would be SO HYDRATED all the time

#12 I wish tsp. baking company would start baking pies
          -This one is VERY close to coming true. In fact, I'm guessing that cream pies will be available VERY soon, and baked pies will be making an appearance around the next holiday season.

#11 I wish I could see George Michael perform
          -This one is obviously never going to happen...one of my only regrets EVER is not going to see him a couple of years ago when he was in Vegas. He never came back, and now he NEVER will.

#10 I wish I could give my crew unlimited hours
          -This is the time of year where sales PLUMMET because everyone goes on diets and is broke from Christmas...so cupcakes and cookies are OFF their minds...at least until February 1. So I WILL be able to give my crew MORE hours...just not in January.

#9  I wish my house could clean itself
          -I know this one is dumb, but the thought of deep cleaning my house right now...and throughout this year...is just daunting.

#8 I wish I had two days off in a week
          -This one is most DEFINITELY happening, but probably not for a while. The plan is for me to actually be able to NOT go in to work for two days...like a REAL job. This will allow me to maybe not need wish #9 because I will have time to clean my house.

#7 I wish to come up with a new cookie flavor that I have never thought about before
          -I've been wracking my brain about new flavors to introduce for 2017, and cupcakes are somewhat easy. Cookies?? NOT SO EASY. So, I hope I get a SHOT of inspiration and come up with something rad for my cookie case.

#6 I wish my husband would stop taking random pictures of me
          -my husband has this habit of taking RANDOM pictures of me doing dumb stuff...like THIS

He thinks it's hysterical. I think that I couldn't look any WORSE in these shots. YIKES.

#5 I wish my oven would stop burning me

          -I just got ANOTHER burn today, and this one is WAY worse than any I've had before. As fun as it is to get tattoos over them after they heal, it is getting a little PAINFUL.

#4 I wish I could spend more time with my girls

          -I was so lucky to have my babies over the holidays, but it just reminded me how much I MISS them. With Abbi being in college and now having her new job I barely see her...so I would love to have more time with her and Lucy before I BLINK, and they are both adults.

#3 I wish UberEats would extend their 8-mile radius for delivery

          -As of right now you have to have your delivery within 8 miles of tsp. HOPEFULLY, they will realize that people all over the valley could use a delivery...and would probably pay more.

#2 I wish I could stop aging

          -With my husband's birthday looming right around the corner, I would REALLY like to stop the hands of time from pounding all over my face. I tell you...this past year has put some SERIOUS lines on my face...so it can stop now. CALM DOWN. I got it. I'm OLD. You don't need to keep reminding me with new wrinkles to find in the mirror. 

#1 I wish my husband wasn't going to Iowa

          -This is the BIG ONE. I can't believe I only have 30 days left with him....I know he isn't DYING or going FAR FAR AWAY, but I REALLY love going to sleep and waking up with him every day...and the thought of really only seeing him 12 times in the next year REALLY breaks my heart.

That's it, Baykahs. Here's to SOME wishes coming true in the next 365 days. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! May 2017 bring you as much joy as 2016 brought for me. It was a truly magical year.

See you next Tuesday.

KG

         

All I Want for Christmas is...

Hola Baykahs!!

I can officially say that I am DONE Christmas shopping...kind of. I have a couple of little items to pick up. But I'll tell you something...THIS YEAR WAS DIFFICULT. I had LITERALLY two mental breakdowns in different stores this year.

The first breakdown came when I was buying a certain Christmas gift for my husband. The gift has SOMETHING to do with his orders to MOVE that he just received. I am mentally prepared as much as I can be for his eventual departure on February 1, but as I was looking at his gift on the shelf I just lost it. I started crying and crying...He really is leaving. And as I sat there trying to get my Christmas "perfect" for him and US, I just felt so helpless. I can't do anything. He can't do anything. We just have to SUCK IT UP. So, that's what I did. I stopped crying, paid for the gift, and went back to work.

The second breakdown came when I was finishing up Christmas shopping for the girls. FULL DISCLOSURE: I'm still not done. But I was walking the aisles looking for toys for Lucy, and then it hit me: this is probably the LAST year Lucy will be excited to get toys for Christmas. My BABY is too old for toys. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN??!?

Yes. I know. TIME MARCHES ON. But this year I feel like time is marching ON ME.

I'll get through it...blogging about it really helps actually. It's just hard looking BACK and being sad, AND looking FORWARD and being sad. So, I'll just stay in THIS MOMENT, and continue living every day like it IS my last. Because right NOW is the time that I cherish the most...because TIME is marching on...I mean LOOK at theses faces....

....not a care in the world. Just happy. But REALLY look at this picture. It's from 10 years ago. I know it's hard to notice ANYTHING but my weird hair, but take a look at what's behind me. A HEART-SHAPED FLAG!!! How prophetic is that??? Truly amazing.

Merry Christmas, Baykahs. I wish you a holiday full LOVE and TOGETHERNESS.

See you next Tuesday.

KG

I've Made a List, and Checked it TWICE!

HOLA BAYKAHS!!!!!!

'tis the season to be BLOGGING and SHOPPING! This is actually my FAVORITE blog post of the year because I LOVE LOVE LOVE finding unique gifts...and this is my USED-TO-BE-ANNUAL-AND-NOW-IS-ANNUAL-AGAIN GIFTS TO GET OR GIVE post!

FULL DISCLOSURE: I don't have ANY time to shop, so I ALWAYS shop online. And I use THIS post to show YOU my favorite items I have found to GET or GIVE for yourself OR your loved ones (because we ALL shop for ourselves when we shop for others). This year is a little different because my budget is virtually NOTHING...so I won't be getting or giving any of these items myself. But it sure is fun to SHOP and DREAM online...and not spend any money.

Here we go....let's start with the ornaments!

I LOVE to give ornaments for gifts, since I collect them myself. I usually purchase three or four to represent things that have happened that year. And THIS little collection of four was just too cute! It REALLY represents the decor of tsp. PERFECTLY:


GLITTER BALL ORNAMENTS!
Black and white and DISCO!?!?! How can I NOT love these? So perfect for this year ESPECIALLY.

MR. & MRS. ORNAMENT
Of COURSE I am getting an ornament for our wedding year. This one isn't EXACTLY what I have on my tree, but it is super cute.

Now on to FUN STUFF!


GLITTER TACO PURSE!?!?!
I SO WANT THIS! I mean a glitter taco purse?! Who DOESN'T want this?

GLITTER MUG
This gift is PERFECT for my brother in law, Cesar.

VW VAN LEGO SET
Yes. This is insanely expensive, but Lucy LOVES Legos. This is a perfect gift if I had tons of money and shelf space to keep it on.

RAINBOW IN MY ROOM!
Ok...this one I might actually BUY! It makes a rainbow anywhere!! I love it.

NEON STATE ART
I LOVE this...especially for those of us in Vegas because nine times out of ten the person you meet is NOT born here.

CLOCK

This gift sums up EVERYTHING about this year...

Ok, Baykahs. I'm ALL SHOPPED OUT. This year I am more aware than EVER that time is precious, and I plan to spend every moment I can with the ones I love. 

See you next Tuesday.

KG

Happy Birthday Dear Cake Ninja

Hola Baykahs!!

Another Tuesday is here??!?!?

YUP!

Well, Week 3 has been the BEST WEEK SO FAR!!!!!!!

Of COURSE it was the best week so far. I shared your blog on Facebook!

And BOY DID YOU SHARE!! This blog had more views this past week than it EVER HAD (and that included the OLD blog views too!), so THANK YOU!!!

FULL DISCLOSURE:
I have started and stopped typing out this blog over 10 times for the past five hours!! We have been SLAMMED today all thanks to YOU spreading the word that we are OPEN!!!! In fact, I am now typing this in the kitchen instead of the front of the bakery (like I had been) because I'm just trying to get a little space to myself because we are so busy in the front!

So, this post will be short and sweet and a little EXTRA sweet because it's just a shout out to Kim Chew...my cake ninja. Because it's her 30th birthday today. Without HER tsp. would be a lot less fun and with NO CAKES. SHE DOES THEM ALL!!! AND THE CUPCAKES NOW, TOO!!! She's amazingly talented, and we are SO LUCKY to have her.

SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KIM CHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for ALL YOU DO!

See you next Tuesday.

KG