I'm selling cookies & they're better than Girl Scouts

I'm running a promotion for my boutique bakery business, Shortycake Creations. I have set a hefty goal to get 50 orders for my awesome Shamrock Cookies. When I hit this goal, one of the lucky 50 who ordered will win a FREE dozen Easter Cookies! No 50, no Lucky.

Here's how to order: email me your order, ship to address, & email address for the PayPal invoice.  All orders will be shipped by March 10th and must be paid in full before shipping.

So, help a girl stay out of the government cheese line and order some delish cookies, you won't regret it! You can check out Shortycake Creations on Facebook too!

2012 St. Patrick's Holiday

Shamrock Cookie Favors  

3 sizes (must order quantity listed per size):
Small: 24 for $30

Regular (pictured): 12 for $30

Extra Large: 6 for $30

Shipping: $10/1st item, $3.50 each additional (to same ship to address)

Email me your order!

Bridesmaids Movie DVD Party Wrap Up! (aka Wilson Phillips Rocks!)

“You’ve got no one to blame for your unhappiness” if you chose not to come to the party! I hosted a Bridesmaids DVD movie release party on Friday and it was awesome, if I do say so myself. What a great way to have girlfriends get together and just laugh, laugh, laugh.

Shortycake Creations put the party together with sweets, decorations, and setting the house up. My three-seasons front porch was transformed into a French themed bridal boutique, complete with French framed artwork hung on the wall, flowing fabric at every corner and wedding & bridesmaids dresses showcased throughout.

The sweets table looked beautiful with a mirrored centerpiece highlighted by a Gold Canyon hazelnut scented candle flanked by tea light torches. Hung around the room were the totally hip, newest rage tissue pompoms and both the table & bar cart were dressed in matching covers. My wonderful husband graciously volunteered to be the bartender/barista for the evening and did not disappoint. Shots of you name it were flowing all evening and he made some killer flavored coffee lattes (I made the coffee syrups myself; I’ll post a How-to later). For appetizers one of my buffet cabinets was covered with a wide array of Tastefully Simple delicious creations.

The pièce de résistance of Shortycake Creations Party Creation was of course the photo-op setup in the living room: Balloons, black back drop, an official Bridesmaids Logo T-shirt used as signage, and OF COURSE, no Bridesmaids Movie photo booth would be complete without a toilet as the main prop! YES! I had a real toilet in my living room!

From the first guest to arrive laughter filled the evening. We did a pre-movie group photo shoot, passed out a few door prizes, ate yummy treats and drank plenty of libations, then MOVIE TIME!

We voted to watch the unrated version, passed out individual bags of popcorn and pushed the laugh button. From the first scene to the credits there was not a moment of silence and I’m pretty sure a few gals pee’d their pants but were too proud to announce it!

When the movie ended a trivia game about it was played for the main giveaway (this was after we all dabbed the tears from our eyes and touched up our smeared makeup)--A gift basket retail valued at over $80 of Watkins, Gold Canyon Candles, & Tastefully Simple products, and the Bridesmaids T-shirt. Oh, but the party did not end there. Off to the boutique to put on the dresses for our after movie photo shoot! What a hoot and toot that was.

After filling treat bags with extra sweets on their way out and back to their not as hysterical daily routines all guests received Swag Bags complete with Biscotti from Shortycake Creations, Tealights from Gold Canyon Candles, Dip packages from Tastefully Simple, and Body Lotion & Seasonings from Watkins.

I woke the next day sad the party was over and very happy that my bridesmaids’ dresses were finally worn more than once!

Thank you to Universal Pictures, ThinkJam, and Walmart for providing The Mom Standard the opportunity to introduce this hilarious movie to my friends and force us to “break from your chains” of our daily grind and have fun!

Related articles

• Come Pee Yourself at my Bridesmaids DVD Release Party (themomstandard.com)

Look at me, I'm the Bionic Woman Today!

Today I feel like that little robot girl from Small Wonder...remember that show? Better yet, I'm more like the Bionic Woman minus the long feathered hairdo. B is with her grandmother so I'm rushing around getting as much of my pompous to-do list done. I've got about 1.5 hours left and am taking my 15 minute cappuccino break.

It's funny, I've been writing everyday,  yet it's been a few WEEKS since I've posted anything of substance on my blogs. Go figure. What is helping me write EVERYDAY is the book by Julia Cameron, "The Right to Write". If you are a writer (and if you are a blogger, guess what, you're a writer) I totally recommend her book. Every chapter she has an activity for the reader to get in the groove of just getting pen to paper and words from your mind to the sheet.

What else? B did her gift donation drop off at the hospital. It was wonderful. One family was very touched by our tradition. We received a picture of the family with some very kind words. This is the lesson we hope B learns. What better gift? There will be an official follow up post on the whole experience. Stay tuned.

I've still been applying for jobs but I truly don't want to go back to corporate America. I want to write and get paid for it! Of course, the 4 children's books I've written still need to be illustrated...which requires an outlay of money so they are kind of just waiting for our winning mega-millions ticket to come to fruition.

We went through a crazy week with my sister and nephews. Like real crazy. A very wonderful lesson was learned...sometimes when people say they want help, they still may not be ready for it. The other lesson we learned? Never reply to any one's request for help! Seriously, I had 2 full blown panic attacks in 4 days and our life was in the process of being completely uprooted. Sometimes, if you love someone, you have to let them learn on their own. Pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps can be the best help out there.

This past Sunday we went to Comic Con. It was AWESOME! Of course I'll post all about it this week. Talk about a great family activity. My daughter has talked about it everyday since. You don't need to be the stereotypical comic book enthusiast to have a great time at Comic Con. Trust me!

OK, my 15 minutes are up. Time to decorate some cookies, paint a second coat of chalkboard paint on the wall, work on September's Pre-School lesson plans, make a picture frame jewelry display, sew some felt food, clean the house, and jog 3 miles!

xoxo

Shortycake Creations Cookies

Don't push your luck, Order Today! Shortycake Shamrock Cookies.

Today is the last day to place an order for Shamrock Cookies!

Click Here to Order!

Stay home and shop!

Why deal with hurried, rude customers and cranky cashiers?

All your Holiday Gifts can be purchased from the comfort of your pj's while supporting Small Business at the same time!

Here's a list of great companies with awesome products!

Kimberly Demetrio, Independent Watkins Consultant #390284

Michelle Matzke, Gold Canyon Candles

Lynn Pluth, Tastefully Simple

Jeri Falejczyk, Mary Kay

Shortycake Creations

Small Business Saturday November 27th

Mrs. FruGal: Small Business Saturday November 27th:

Being a small business owner and having worked my career at family owned businesses it's not needed to say I have a fondness for entrepreneurs and the self-employed.

This Friday is Black Friday, as you go out in the masses and spend your hard earned CASH (better not be using your credit cards!), set a little aside to support your local Small Businesses on Saturday. For more info, go to the Small Business Saturday Fan Page on Facebook!

Shortycake Creations

Independent Watkins Associate #390284

Last Days for Giveaway Entries

Heads Up! There's only a few more days to enter the Shortycake Creations $25 Gift Certificate Giveaway AND the $25 Watkins Gift Certificate Giveaway! There are low entries so the odds are pretty good! :-)

Click here for updated details on both!

Click here for the original post with details.

And the DominicksJ4U GC Winners are...

Thanks for participating in my $25 Dominick's Gift Cards Giveaway!

Here are the winners of the 4 gift cards, so please email me your full name & address and I'll get them in the mail on Monday!

1.  Carmen Tibbs

2. Emma Harlan

3. Janna DiVito

4. Mari

Casey, my BBF, since you don't have a Dominick's around you but I think you rock and deserve something, I'll be emailing you a Gift Certificate for my boutique baking business, Shortycake Creations! You can use it any time, any occassion!

(Make sure when you celebrate your win you let everyone know you won from The Mom Standard! A little positive PR is always nice. )

Just Wait

Patience is a virtue. Of all virtues, this one I lack. This month has been a difficult one on the Frugal, SAHM, Baking, and Independent Associate front. Not for lack of trying or losing interest, but from feeling I was missing something in this journey, there was more I should be doing, I questioned the path I was on.

Every morning I wake with a song in my head. I'm an odd bird like that.  This month everyday the song has been "They that wait upon the Lord..." [Back note: yes, I was raised very "religious" one day I'll explain, until then just roll with me]

Everyday I have felt like I was stuck in one spot, not going any direction, just proceeding through the motions. Adding the same song over and over, everyday, all day long, I finally decided it was a sign and to heed the suggestion the big guy upstairs was giving.

Just wait. Let the whirlwind I so love being part of happen around me while I am still. Quit searching and trying to be a step ahead of myself.

This weekend I reaped the rewards from "waiting" I didn't know were promised.


The rest of the song's verse is "...shall renew their strength".
Today I woke renewed, with the path well lit knowing I'm doing what I am supposed to be.

It's ok, it's for me

Hanging out with B. She wants a cupcake. I tell her NO! She screams something in toddler-ese, vulgar I'm sure, and goes upstairs.

A minute later she comes down the stairs with 2 cupcakes. She looks at me with a smile and says "Here, for you Mommy" as she walks away eating her cupcake.

Shortycake Giveaway!

This Saturday July 31st is the final day to enter the

Shortycake Creations Cookie Theme Contest Giveaway!

Entries close at 9:00pm and the winner will be announced by 11:59pm. 

Click the link for more contest details!

Shortycake Creations Cookie Theme Contest

Work, Mom, Guilt

OK! Hi, I'm KimD and I am a Full-time, Stay-at-home-Mom who is also a Work-at-home-mom. There, I said it.

Back Note: Let's learn another KimD created word: SWAHM: Stay Work At Home Mom-an "in limbo" mom trying to balance both staying and working!

Here's the deal, I get a little nauseous when I say it. Yes, there are some "issues" about this that I'm addressing with my Happy Helper and I have the utmost respect and awe for the women who from the gate chose to be SAHMs, but just me calling myself a SAHM makes me disappointed in myself! Mind you, I had a SAH mom growing up and couldn't imagine life without one. I know, f'd up, right?

Work. I love it. I love anything and everything having to do with business. I have 2 degrees in business and will one day have my doctorate in business administration. I do have an at-home biz that I envision growing gangbusters and not actually be out of my home. I get a warm fuzzy feeling thinking about getting back out there in my expensive business attire, having meetings, closing deals, forecasting, planning, and implementing. I miss wheeling and dealing. I  miss the challenge. I miss the money!

Mom. I love it. I love stopping everything I'm doing when I hear her feet hit the floor in the morning to get ready for our "Good morning baby girl. Did you sleep well? Did you have any dreams?" conversation.   Our morning cuddle makes whatever crap is in store for the day a bit more bearable. I love being here when she delights in something new. I love being here when she gets hurt and needs a hero. I love being her best girlfriend. I love the giggle-fests we have daily. I love hearing her say "Mommy".

Guilt. I've got it! When I first transitioned into being unemployed (back in January) I focused obsessively on Shortycake Creations...like 24/7. My husband almost held an intervention! For those weeks B was a cranky mess and it's because I didn't give her the attention she needed. So, I sat down and marked off blocks of time that are work hours and family hours. I've stuck to it mostly, but as B is getting more and more interested in things the guilt of me sitting here at my computer creating promotions, editing pictures, returning emails, confirming orders is growing larger than my business! I can't even get into the guilt of not contributing to the family finances...that's a whole other gotta-get-a-grip-around-it-with-my-Happy-Helper issue!

So, it's Wednesday. It's supposed to be my No work, all about B day. I have orders that need to be finished by tomorrow night. I have a cupcake promotion I need to work on and get it ready for August 1st. I have another business op I want to get up and running. I have a zoo membership that has not been used much this summer. I have bills that need to be paid. I have dishes that need to be washed. I have a 2 year old who needs lots of lovin. I have a headache!

Am I the only SWAHM out here? Is this just a phase I'm going through? Somebody PLEASE intervene and put me on the straight and narrow!

I hear footsteps, gotta go!

KitchenAid & Oster Love!

Two appliances I have strong, teetering on creepy, feelings for: My Kitchen Aid Professional 600 stand mixer and my Oster bread machine.  Why the love?

I have been spending more and more time in my kitchen...cooking, baking, cleaning, repeat. Our No Spend Challenge this month has helped increase my quality time in front of the stove and Shortycake Creations creations are in more demand (yeah for me!). Back when I first started dabbling in Shortycake Creations I was burning through 1 hand-mixer monthly and it took 4-ever to make royal icing. That stand mixer cut my time by 75% at least, saved on me stockpiling hand mixers in the basement, and gave me time while it is running to change out the garbage bag. (see below about that one). 

The bread machine. LUV it! I hate buying bread...I'm an ingredients reader and if there are more than 5 ingredients that don't include chocolate, pudding, or ice-cream, then I cringe and get all OCD about buying it. The bread machine has freed me of my freakness. Flour, water, oil-I never use butter, just good ole Olive Oil, sugar, yeast. That's it. Dump it in, push the button and 3 hours later a 2 pound freshly baked loaf is ready to be devoured! Yum. (I actually made 2 loaves today: Cinnamon Raisin and a French Loaf.)

Let me tell you the things I hate in my kitchen. I'm sure you are on the edge of your seat waiting for this. The very pricey (thank heavens we got it as a wedding gift) food processor-yuck, double yuck. It's way too difficult to clean and in all honesty, operate. Too many pieces for me. My hubs uses it a ton more than me...but I'm the one washing it after every use! My other hatred is for my garbage can. "What? How can you hate your garbage can?" you ask? It's a love-hate. I've had it since 1993 and it's still in great shape.  It's also one of the last kitchen items remaining from my undergraduate days.

The hate part comes in here: the lid mysteriously disappeared (OK, I know my hubs may have 'accidently' thrown it away), it always has to have the bag changed...like at least once a day I'm filling that thing up, and it has to sit out in the open in the kitchen. My kitchen is about the size of a shoebox...really, not exaggerating on this one. Almost 100 year old brick bungalow-kitchens were an afterthought. So that's why I hate my garbage can.

As I was typing this non-contributing-to-the-wellness-of-society post, that Swiffer commercial with the ousted brooms and mops sadly looking in at their replacements started ringing through my head. Now I'll be singing "love stinks" in my dreams!

Wordless Wednesday

Shortycake Creations: Pink Ribbon Cupcakes

As you may know, I have a little baking business (well, I'm trying to turn it into a big baking business...baby steps, baby steps).  These cupcakes were for a "Thank you for donating" Cancer Walk party. I think they turned out quite pretty, if I do say so myself....which I just did.

Shortycake Creations: Pink Ribbon Cupcakes: "Do you have a special event coming up? Shortycake can match your theme!Email Shortycake Today!"

Pavlov Response?

It's a thundering and raining here today! The storm decided to be B's alarm clock. First thing she says after "Good Morning, oh thunder" is "I want Ice Cream".

How this correlation was made is beyond me, all I know is that today I will try and Pavlov her into sleeping when it storms!

Ice Cream Cone Cookie by Shortycake Creations