Greetings from Cake Class

I thought I'd send a quick hello from cake class. I'm so glad I finally did this after all these years. Too bad the boys are past the stage of thinking clowns are cool.

Each week, we bring in a cake that we then frost and decorate. This week, I was so busy I didn't have time to make the cake. So I frosted a cake pan instead. The thing is, if I were to wait until I wasn't busy to sign up for class, I don't know that I ever would have. And each week, as hard as it is to get here, I'm always so glad I did. And every time I'm here and seeing how hard the staff works in this little shop, I think about how lucky we are to be able to follow our dreams. We can do anything we want. Like the owner, Michelle did.

Michelle shopped at Carolyn's for years. She loved it there. One day when she was picking up supplies, there was a store closing sign on the counter. Carolyn had been in the process of selling the business to a new owner and then the deal went through. Unable to find another buyer, she was ready to close the shop down.

Michelle made her purchase and went out to the parking lot where she immediately called her husband, a school principal, to tell him about Carolyn's closing down. And then proceeded to tell him that she wanted to buy it. And here's the sweet part...

He thought she should too. That she should follow her dreams. So she did. And Carolyn's was saved.

That was years ago and the little shop is still going strong. And this isn't a romantic tale about how all she does is work with frosting all day and make cakes look pretty. It's actually a lot of hard work. Long hours at the shop and part-time work elsewhere to make ends meet.

But she's doing what she loves and she's filling a void in our community. There's nothing better than the service you get from a locally owned shop.

Which brings me back to class. I'm so thankful to be here. And thankful that all of us can live our dreams. Even if it is a lot of hard work.

P.S. If you love the thought of supporting little shops as much as me, you can always place phone orders from Carolyn's. They ship nationwide.

P.P.S. I have no affiliation with Carolyn's and have not been compensated in any way by talking about their business. I'm just spreading the love.

xo

*    *    *    *

Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

*    *    *    *

Comments

[Leslie @ Orphaned Decor]

I have lived down the street from Carolyns most of my life. Now I have a little shop just down the street from them. I have always been able to go in there and they not only help you find what you are looking for - but also answer any questions that you might have to do with making the cake of your dreams.
I learned to make candy from there and still have the candy molds that I bought there years and years ago. This is a great little shop. I love it.

[Pamela]

How fun! I finally took a cake decorating class a few months ago and I loved it! Let the decorating begin!

[Stephanie C.]

I took the Wilton course and refused to make the clown. I'm not sure why - it bothered me so! But I did get a lot out of the class and I've really enjoyed decorating cakes since.

[Serena]

Hee hee, Stephanie! A cake class rebel! Too cute. :)

[Loree / danger garden]

I am from Spokane and can totally picture this little shop, it is definitely an institution, I am so glad Michelle saved it! Oh and those husbands (or any life partner) who support your dreams, they are priceless. I've got one and I don't know where I would be without him.

[Corrie - Quilt Taffy]

I just teared up a little reading that, & I'm not a teary person :). Thanks for sharing her story. Sweet/smart husbands can make all the difference. I need to take a class. I'm self taught, but sure I could do so much better.

[Barbara Wiggins]

I love this story. In the middle of making my dream into my reality and jumping all in to do what I love...Preaching to the choir!

[PinkGranny]

Carolyn's has been here since I was a little girl and that was a very long time ago. I was so happy to learn she bought the store and happy that she is keeping it alive. Following a dream is wonderful.

I enjoyed seeing your glimpse of cake class, keep up the good work!

[Sarah Beth]

I actually took that class here in ohio a few years ago! Learned a lot! Have fun!

[Melissa B]

How wonderful...I think it's great you are "fitting in" the course, to "wait until" is just not productive. Jump in and enjoy!

The clowns make me smile, so retro and I remember them from my son's 2nd birthday cake.

[Reese]

I took a Wilton's cake class a few years ago with my friend and it was exausting, but fun! Have fun making more and more icing! :-) Happy weekend.

[Melissa]

Thanks for sharing! I'm signing up for the next class in March at Caroyln's! My sister-in-law shared this link about a yummy heart cake: http://iammommy.typepad.com/i_am_baker/2010/02/heart-cake-tutorial.html

I'm hoping I can do it!