I’m Not Baked…

 

Get baked

For the last few weeks I’ve been working on getting a new business license for Mimosa Cafe, and if you’ve read another post of mine, you’ll know just how aggravating it can be here.

Today I was looking back through a few things when I realized that it’s been a while since I’ve actually baked anything! What kind of thing is this? I’ve been so stuck with the logistics of running a business, that I haven’t been running it!

I really need to fix that. Even if it’s just baking something I’ve never tried before, or practicing more often. I should be baking more, and taking pictures of my progress to boot. That is one of my MC Goals for this year.

This was just a mental kick in the pants to myself. So be sure to check out some pictures and recipe updates soon. ^^

Jam,

Malissa

Is This a Test???

 

You’ve got to be kidding…

You know, I just realized how old-fashioned I am.

I noticed in the process of getting some more paperwork done for the shop and myself, that a lot of the things I want/need are now done with online applications. Normally most people would say, “Sweet, now I don’t have to go looking for bits of paper”, but there’s just something about it that just irks me.

I mean, good grief, I have to look for hours to find one form that I can print to fill out in my leisure time. Plus I don’t like the timers on these new online applications. I’m already nervous about getting my details straight, now you want to time me? What is this, Jeopardy?

It feels like a test…

 

I didn’t study for any test…

That’s what I graduated from high school for dang it!

*Sighs* I guess I have to just get over it and get it done. -_-

Anyways, in other news, I’m making headway on one of my big goals for 2012, which is getting my own physical shop up and running. The hardest part is trying to find a place that’s in a good area and in my price range. I had underestimated how difficult it would be. There was a place I’d seen that is just perfect, but it was already occupied. T .T

I suppose this is why it’s always good to have more than one option or plan. There’s always something to fall back on. If there wasn’t one… well… I’d kind of be screwed.

Plan B (or was it C?) is to try for a place Downtown in Nassau. Applications are going to be reviewed for it in June-ish (the lady in charge’s words exactly) so I still have a bit of time left to get some last minute details taken care of.

If it doesn’t work out I’ll have to go to plan C… or is it D?

Jam,

Malissa

Not Much to Say

D’awwwwwwwww

Well, it’s Wednesday, and normally I would have some sort of post outlining what I’ve gotten done or am planning on doing. Wouldn’t you know it though that some of the stuff I’m working on I can’t show off until it’s all done.
So, to tide you over, please enjoy the cuteness of the Emergency Blog Kitten,
There will be a more sensible post next time.
Jam,
Malissa

Wait… You’re Allergic?!!!

 

Aaaahchooo!

Have you ever known someone with a really weird food allergy, or a weird allergy in general? I know a few.

Like, did you know that there are some people who are allergic to water?

Water!

That’s just odd. Not to mention it’s really inconvenient to live with I’m sure.

I think I might be one of those people. Not the kind who can’t take water, but just as strange considering my chosen profession.

I mean really, who’s ever heard of a baker who breaks into hives when they eat sweets? That’s just so wrong… T . T Trying to explain to people why I can’t have another piece of cake or a second soda is simple enough, but the looks I get are kind of hilarious. The kind of “are you messing with me” sort of looks, because seriously, whose every heard of a sugar/acidic food allergy?

Up until high school I didn’t even have that problem, and neither did the doctors I went to either. They all thought it was an allergy caused by the usual stuff. Something in my home environment. It drove me nuts!

It wasn’t until about a year or so later of suffering through it that I had to go a few weeks without sweets or sweet things. Hives cleared right up! I had ONE SODA and I broke out all over again.

Craptastic…

That’s when I figured it out. I was allergic to the stuff. So if you think about it, it’s really ironic/messed up that I bake cookies and other sweets, and enjoy them as well.

God has a weird sense of humor huh?

What about you guys, any weird allergies?

Jam,

Malissa

D&D and Bureaucracy

 

How to get people to talk to you. Roll a Diplomacy.

Okay, so. I know that lately a lot of my posts have been based on my goal list for 2012. The thing is, I’ve only just realized just how ambitious it is. Which isn’t to say that I can’t get everything on it done, but I’ll definitely have to get in gear if I plan on doing so before the year’s end.

Right now in particular I’m sort of stuck with the bureaucracy portion of getting your business recognized as a legal entity. Pft! I hate it. The form filling and the back and forth between government offices is a really big pain. Then there’s the checking up on their processing and progress after that, because if you don’t bug these guys out here they’ll never get around to it. -_- Oh joy.

I’ve been looking for a kiosk/building to move the business into for a while, and so far I’ve had to cross off my plans A through C. Some places were too expensive, and the others were otherwise occupied. >.< Which sucks big time, but what can you do?

Suck it up and move on to plan D is what.

I’m too stubborn to give up something I’ve had in my head for so long.

Heck no.

Not gonna happen.

Sooooooo, next Monday continues my efforts to get this stuff together. A lot of bus catching, and a lot of walking, but it’s for a good reason.

Funny story though.

I was Downtown to find the offices of the persons in charge of a plaza I wanted to put Mimosa Cafe in. The rent was cheap, the area had good foot traffic and exposure, and it was well kept too.

Score!

The only problem was finding the place… None of the vendors in the area were in the mood to even say good morning (like it would kill them or something, sheesh!) so I pulled a move I learnt in Dungeons and Dragons and every RPG I’ve ever watched my brothers play.

Found the friendliest face and bought something. People are a lot nicer to you once you give them money. After that she was more than happy to lead me straight to the head office.

Guess I rolled high on my Diplomacy.

Anyhow, I’ll keep you guys posted on my misadventures.

Jam,

Malissa

Oven Troubles… Again

 

Oven Adventure Time!!!

Soo… It’s been a few months sine my last “oven adventure”, and just when I thought we were done I get new material. ^^’

Last Thursday – before the long holiday weekend – my magician friend asked me to make a special order for him. Two dozen cookies. So I went to work making those, plus the bribe of two dozen for my family who love sweets almost as badly as I do.

Everything went smoothly and without a hitch! Just perfect!

Sorta…

See, the thing is that my oven only has two racks in it. So the most I can bake at once is two dozen. That means two trips to the oven. This really wasn’t a problem when I had to bake them that Thursday night for Friday morning.

The real trouble started on Friday.

As it turns out, after all my baking the night before, we kind of had no more cooking gas. ^^’ I had used all of it up.

Oops… Sorry people.

I keep forgetting that we need to buy propane for the stove every few months. I mean, I’m usually forgetful, that’s why I wrote all of my goals down so that I at least remember those. >.<

So what I’ve done is set up a mini bulletin board to stick reminders like this on it. Which reminds me, I need to add the note to get gas in another three months. ^^’

I should probably see about ordering a few more racks for the oven… and a gauge for the gas tank so I can have more of a heads up next time.

Probably.

So until next time.

Jam,

Malissa

Looking for Something?

What was I looking for again?

Today I was on the bus stop, jotting down a few things in my note book, when I think to myself: what’s the weirdest search terms ever used to find my site?

So I checked it out today in my site stats, and guess what, there’s some interesting stuff in there.

Here are the Top 5 Strangest Search Terms used to find my website. ^^’

5) Muffins als pokerchips – I’m kinda wondering what they were actually trying to spell on tihs one.

4) Birthisary – I thought only my vocabulary was this jacked up… ^^’ Guess not.

3) Pics of kids chasing ice cream trucks – Why would you feel the need to look for a picture like this in the first place???

2) 2012 apocalypse grocery list – I hope my cookies were on this list to be honest. It’d be cool to be a food staple in an emergency.

1) Tooth screaming – Need I say more?

So… yea. I really wonder what people are expecting when they clink on this blog when they see it pop up with these odd keywords?

If you guys have any equally weird or just plain freaky search terms that people used to find your blog/site. Please share! It’s hilarious reading this stuff.

Jam,

Malissa

Oh, and P.S. to all my readers in Nassau. You may have missed the first mini giveaway last week, but keep an eye out for the next one. See if you can catch it this time round. ^^

Easter Baskets?

 

Mmmmm, want one?

So, today’s post is way late this week. My bad. >.<’ It’s been a weird week so far, but I’m getting around it well enough.

Easter is coming up soon, and with that there’s always Easter baskets! I’m thinking of making a few this year with a couple of yummy treats. So I should be practicing a few recipes I haven’t done before, and a few oldies will get dusted off.

And of course, I’ll have to make them all pretty for the occasion.

Here’s the best part though. I finally have a card reader that I can use. So now I can share all my baked pretties with you guys. ^^

See you guys later.

Oh, and P.S. I got a few new cookie cutters last Saturday (at the fabric store of all places!) Here’s a pic of what some of them look like.  Gonna test drive these babies too while I’m at it. ^^

Jam,

Malissa

 

Stuff…and Some Things

 

Stuff and things, and things and stuff...

Hey you guys. This isn’t going to be much of a post this week, just an update.

I’ve been pretty lazy these past few weeks when it came down to my own business. Not with the posting, but with getting the things on my to do list done. I had a bit of drama last week at my job that kind of made me refocus my attentions for a while, but I think I’m back on track now!

Since I’ve been more mindful of my budgeting habits this year, I’m finally able to get around to getting some much needed supplies for the shop. I’m not going to show anything just yet (take that suspense!), but be sure that I’ll be updating you guys when I have everything finished up. ^^

I’ve also started with planning the garden picnic I’ve been aching to have for the longest, but more on that later too.

So yeah… this has just been one huge teaser post. ^^’ Sorry about that.

Jam,

Malissa

 

Are You a B*****ing Person?

 

Are you B-ing today? ^^

No, no, not that! I mean Budgeting! But yeah, I thought it too. ^^’

When I was in that college Culinary program for work-study, there was one thing I had perfected, and that was budgeting.

You see, my paycheck wasn’t that great. After the government took out National Insurance (which is the Bahamian equivalent to income tax I guess) I wasn’t left with much. Particularly when I had to take the bus, take care of personal expenses and help with house bills. I had barely enough to go out to the movies with friends exactly once that week… as long as I stayed disciplined with my spending.

It was a hard lesson to learn.

The only other employment I’d had to that point was during the winter and summer months while I was in high school. Back then, I didn’t have much to worry about.

Nowadays though, my notebook/day planner has notes on what I can spend that week, or what I need to set aside for certain goals.

So just what does the B word have to do with the shop, or business in general?

Nothing.

But the word Budget has quite a bit of weight to it though.

When I first started out, setting a budget enabled me to control my spending, and increase my savings. Savings that I could use for a nice nest egg for the bakery. I mean, it’s how I got all my supplies to date. No need to stop now.

There are a few things to keep in mind when setting a budget. This isn’t everything mind you, just the stuff I find are most important for me to remember.

1. Be realistic! Keep track of your spending for a week or two to see what you really spend and can bare to cut back on. That way your projections are a bit more accurate.
2. Stick to it! There’s no point in setting out a budget if you won’t bother to keep at it. It’s worth the effort. Just think; if you save $50.00 a week for 4 weeks, you have $200.00. That’s a good bit of change. You might actually be able to save up for that trip you’ve been wanting to go on after all…
3. Give yourself an allowance! It sounds kind of dumb, but this is what makes it easier to stick to the budget in the first place. Plus, I don’t mean an allowance for your bills and regular expenses. I mean money you have to just do ANYTHING with. No matter how silly or mundane it is. This is for you, just you. This is based on a rewards system that I may explain a bit later, but I feel that it helps a lot when your fingers feel like reaching for your savings.

So yeah… do you b*****?

Jam,

Malissa