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Thursday, August 19, 2010

Decisions, Decisions...

Do you ever feel like you are NON-STOP during your days, but then it seems like you still haven't done ANYTHING that day? I seem to be feeling that way a lot lately. For example, today I had planned on baking a cake and doing my practice grooms cake that I have coming up in only four short weeks. I don't normally do a "practice cake" but this one is the first one that's a little more detailed. It's a fire helmet one with a good bit of detail that I've not done before. I also planned on continuing my house cleaning and re-organizing. But what have I gotten done? Well, we woke up way earlier than normal today... 8am. So I was so excited that I'd have the whole day to get a head start on things. But for some reason it's now almost 3:30pm and I haven't gotten ANY of what I'd planned on doing done. Garrett ate breakfast and we went to Wal-Mart to get a couple of things and get some pictures printed for my Dad for his 50th Birthday this weekend.. but the pictures took a lot longer than I'd expected in Wal-Mart and then I had to do some things for the water system which took me a couple hours because it's a pain.. Microsoft Word label documents don't do what I need it to do so it's like re-typing them all the time because they HAVE to be in a certain order. So that has taken up most of my day...which in turn makes me feel guilty because Brandon will come home and wonder what I've done all day.. which makes me feel like crap. But then again, I don't want to complain because I like helping his Mamaw out with the Water System labels. It's not just today though..it seems like that happens a LOT. Like I'm not getting the things done that I need or want to do because I'm too busy tending to other peoples things. That's NOT said in a negative way.. I think I just have too much going on. Which brings me to decisions - I've decided that I need to probably either do cake OR photography because I'm not so sure I have time for both. Especially considering that cakes and pictures are usually a weekend to-do. I LOVE doing both, but am trying to decide which one I like to do more and fly with it. I wish someone would just tell me what to do sometimes. HAHA. Here is a breakdown of both things with the pros and cons:

Cakes - I love baking. I don't like icing the cakes much because I'm not that great at it. It's EXTREMELY time consuming.. sometimes I have to make some things WELL in advance. My hands are usually cracked and bleeding from washing them soooo much by the time I finish all the cleaning up from all the dishes I have to clean from baking, making icing, making fondant, etc. so many times per cake. But the end reward is great - The customers have always loved it from what I hear! So it's rewarding to hear that people love it so much... not only do they look good, they taste good too. I always hear that. I just don't think people fully understand why it's a little pricey to bake and decorate cakes.. I know for sure that I didn't realize how much time and effort it took when I started doing it. I never knew how stressful it could be. But it IS. And it's not cheap to make a nice cake. After all the ingredients, energy and electricity, and water used doing it.. I'm not even sure I come out much ahead... ESPECIALLY for the hours I put into them. I also always feel so guilty because I'm literally in the kitchen for the entire day of decorating and icing day..so Garrett pretty much has to tend to himself and I feel so bad not playing with him. And another part that I'm not liking anymore - Brandon is off on weekends now and since I have cakes to do..we are pretty much confined at home and not able to do much or go anywhere and that STINKS. I definitely don't want to do a cake every single weekend.

Photography - I don't think there are many cons to this at all. I am in LOVE with photography. I still have a TON to learn on taking and editing pictures though. I have so many people that I'm obsessed with looking at their photography and they are such inspirations to me! With doing cakes and tending to Garrett and many other things... I don't hardly have time to pick up my book to learn more about my camera..or edit pictures.. or anything so I can't give photography my full attention like I'd love to right now. Taking a picture is a life long keepsake and such a special moment for many families. Times you can't ever get back. It's "in the moment" and just so beautiful a lot of the time. I'm not so sure I'll ever be as good as some of my inspirations... but I'd love to be way better than I am now!!!

Either or... they are BOTH very expensive hobbies (or jobs). My camera and lenses are extremely expensive but it's definitely a great investment. Cake supplies - I NEVER knew they would have cost me as much as they have already. I think I've spent well over $2,000 for pans, classes, utensils, mixer, ingredients, accessories, cake boards, supports...the list goes on and on. So I hate to give up cake baking because so much has been put into it and I have so much stuff now. Maybe I just shouldn't take on too many cakes right now? But I like to help Brandon out some and put a little extra money in the bank... however, I don't come out too much ahead when I do a cake after adding up ingredients, water, and electricity... not to mention the TIME I put into them. Ahhh... I know, I know.. It sounds like I'm just ranting and complaining and that's not intentional. I just have so much on my mind. I know that there are so many amazing people who already take pictures out there that it'd be hard for me to even compete or get business. But EVERYBODY needs cakes! HAHA! And bakeries (other than Wal-Mart, Brookshires, etc) charge a FORTUNE for their cakes.. I don't charge a fortune. I do know that. Even though I'm sure some think "Why does it cost so much to do a cake??" when I give them a quote... I'll tell you what. If you ever want to know why, choose a cake I've done and make it! Just to see how long it takes you and how stressful it can be! HAHA. My friend, Angie, who I met in my cake course.. We've stayed friends since the classes ended and I'm SO THANKFUL to have met her and us become friends. She and I are constantly calling each other...freaking out..asking for opinions.. because we both stress out to the max about them. But in the end... photography and cakes are both usually rewarding when seeing the end result. I just am not sure I have time for BOTH things, but I LOVE both...

That's enough of that. I'm getting on my own nerves. Hope you are all (all two of you) having an amazing Thursday!!

2 comments:

Amber said...

Just pray about it sweetie! Love u! U will do great in whatever u do!!

Stacey T. said...

Well I definitely don't want to make your decision for you but after talking with you so much and knowing myself the pros and cons of both things I would say to AT LEAST take on less cakes. It is SO awesome to hand over the cakes to the customers and see how excited they are about them BUT for me, I dont know if it's worth the DAYS and LOOOONG nights of stress and work that goes into them. Especially since it takes away from "you and Garrett" time. That was my absolute number one reason for not doing cakes anymore. I felt so guilty seeing Lauren play by herself all day while I sat in the kitchen all stressed and grumpy-like lol! Plus I'm pretty sure nobody liked to be around me while I made one lol!
Since you've spent so much time and money on it (and you are AWESOME at it!) I wouldn't say completely stop making cakes but maybe just do like 2 a month or only if friends and family need them....I dunno!
I just know that you LOVE photography and anything that causes less stress in life is the winner in my book ;) Plus I always hated how my cakes got cut apart and ate in 5 minutes and then were pretty much forgotten.....pictures on the other hand are around FOREVER!