Back to Baking

So if you know me you know how much I enjoy baking. For a while I had dreams of opening my own bakery, but I knew I needed more experience baking professionally so I could get a better idea of  how a professional bakery is run.  So I emailed The Cocoa Bean (a local cupcake shop here in Provo) and told them they should hire me because I could be an asset to their bakery; and they did! That was in February.  Since then I've been baking mostly on Friday and Saturday mornings. (so I only need to get a babysitter once a week for a few hours) It's worked out really well schedule-wise. The only down side is waking up SUPER early.  I have to be there at 5am, so I'm usually up by 4:15, some times earlier. It's rough, but my body is use to it now.  I don't crash at 3pm anymore. It's been a fun job and everyone that works there is great! I just wish I was faster at what I do there.  I can be so impatient with myself.  I want every thing to come easy as quick as possible.  I know it'll become second nature some day, and I'll speed up, but it's hard to be patient. I'm trying hard and I've definitely improved a lot. I feel really good about my frosting technique and my ability to handle all the tasks I have to do every day (baking, prepping cupcakes, decorating/frosting, and all the drink we make up at the front of the store).  Speed is my only issue.  I'm really grateful for the opportunity to be baking in a bakery again.  It's really hard work and a lot of multitasking, but I do love it.  I feel so proud of my work there and love seeing the cupcakes I worked so hard on displayed in the shop!

The Cocoa Bean really does make the best hot chocolate in Utah County and even though I get a free drink every shift, I still crave it on my days off! So every once in a while I take the kids in to get some.  They're always excited. Hot chocolate is their favorite!

Normally I wake up at 4:30 but this day we had a huge order, so we came in even earlier.  It's amazing I ever make it to work considering how much I'm not a morning person! This cupcake is a Samoa cupcake, and brand new to the shop.  It's amazing!  The caramel cream cheese frosting is my favorite part.

Just some more of my "work" at the shop. It's such fun and rewarding work. (and delicious!)

After working a shift I'm usually really drained.  Being up that early and on my feet working hard for 7-9 hours, depending on the day, is exhausting.  Usually when I get home I just sit in the car for a few minutes, catch up on social media on my phone to relax, and then go in the house for my full time job...motherhood!