Ello Baykahs-
Happy 2nd Birthday EVE.
I seriously cannot believe it has been two years since I had the BRIGHT idea to open a bakery RIGHT before the complete COLLAPSE of our economy...BUT we made it....or we're MAKING it.
This has been two years of measuring, mixing, scooping batter, frosting, arguing, crying, not sleeping, over-eating, under-exercising, laughing, loving, hating, and BAKING....baking....and MORE baking.
It has been nothing short of a miracle that we are still open. It has been by the collective WILL of the community (and by community, I mean Las Vegas and INTERNET) that we have stayed open. I truly feel like everyone has been rooting for us, and THAT has what has kept me going...kept me up at night thinking of new flavors...kept me thinking about what's NEXT...kept me from going into my closet and NEVER coming out.
The bakery business is NOT for the faint-of-heart. It has truly been (and still is) one of the hardest things I have ever done, and I COULD NOT do it without the help of my family (my ENTIRE family). I really don't know how we could do it without each other, and for those of you out there doin' it on your own: I don't know how you do it, but WAY TO GO! Keep on BAKIN'!!!! (that was for YOU, Porche!!!)
I want to thank everyone who has supported us through this endeavor. YOU really matter to us, and I listen to EVERYTHING you say (even if I don't start baking what you say I should bake...). I count on you for suggestions and tweaks that could make us BETTER...that can give YOU want you want (BUT, I'm still not baking bread...NOT GONNA HAPPEN).
Our goal for Retro Bakery is to become a Las Vegas destination, and that is exactly what is happening. People are literally flying in and driving to us directly from the airport! It's CRAZY! BUT, it's WONDERFUL! That's what I wanted Retro to be: the "I went to Vegas and got these INCREDIBLE cupcakes" place.
I don't want to rule the cupcake world. I don't want a Retro on every corner. I want us to be ONE place where you make SURE to stop at while you're livin' it up in Vegas or THE place to get your custom cake at for the most incredible event of your life. That's it...nothing more, nothing less. I can feel this goal becoming a reality, and THAT is so exciting!!!
The baking business is TOUGH. It is MORE physical than I ever thought. It is more MENTAL than I ever thought. It is a constant source of exhaustion and exhilaration all at ONCE....and I KNOW how lucky I am to be IN it every day...
and I REALLY know how lucky I am to be able to share it with YOU.
THANK YOU ALL for your support now and always!
Laytah.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Silly of Me to Think that I Could Ever Have You for My Guy...
Good Sunday, Baykahs!!!
Happy SUPER BOWL DAY! It's the official day that you can SNACK yourself SILLY, and it's COOL because EVERYONE else is doin' it too!
Let's all PORK OUT TOGETHER! (that's ALWAYS my motto!)
WAIT! Before the feasting begins...let's take a look back at our Cakes/Cupcakes O' The Week. There's one cake that is just PERFECT for today!
Let's start off with one of our STANDARD cakes (available with 24 hours notice). This is a 6-inch Red Carpet cake:
Corpse Bride cupcake tower (topper provided by couple):
It's a TEA POT! (horrible picture, I know...better luck next time?):
A princess topsy-turvy for a 1st birthday:
Our famous Mad Hatter cake (red, black, and white-style):
Lilly topper cake:
Baby Girl shower cupcakes:
And JUST in time for SUPER SUNDAY, a football birthday cake!
Now, the end of this week means ONE THING: the BEGINNING of the BUSIEST WEEK OF THE YEAR (AKA our BIRTHDAY WEEK/VALENTINE'S WEEK). It's gonna be KILLER...and A KILLER. If I don't blog, forgive me....if I DO blog, I'll be SHOCKED! The plan is to BE PREPARED for EVERYTHING...so, of course that means all hell will break loose! Either way, I'll be sure to TWEET everything if I can't get time to blog about it...
Laytah.
p.s. If I don't have a chance to say it next week:
Thank you ALL so much for your support. I get so many emails that bring a smile to my face. I try to answer each one, but if I didn't answer yours: I DID get it, and I AM thankful!!! I couldn't be here without YOU.
Thank YOU ALL for listening to my B.S. for 2 years and STILL stickin' around for MORE. You're AWESOME.
Happy SUPER BOWL DAY! It's the official day that you can SNACK yourself SILLY, and it's COOL because EVERYONE else is doin' it too!
Let's all PORK OUT TOGETHER! (that's ALWAYS my motto!)
WAIT! Before the feasting begins...let's take a look back at our Cakes/Cupcakes O' The Week. There's one cake that is just PERFECT for today!
Let's start off with one of our STANDARD cakes (available with 24 hours notice). This is a 6-inch Red Carpet cake:
Corpse Bride cupcake tower (topper provided by couple):
It's a TEA POT! (horrible picture, I know...better luck next time?):
A princess topsy-turvy for a 1st birthday:
Our famous Mad Hatter cake (red, black, and white-style):
Lilly topper cake:
Baby Girl shower cupcakes:
And JUST in time for SUPER SUNDAY, a football birthday cake!
Now, the end of this week means ONE THING: the BEGINNING of the BUSIEST WEEK OF THE YEAR (AKA our BIRTHDAY WEEK/VALENTINE'S WEEK). It's gonna be KILLER...and A KILLER. If I don't blog, forgive me....if I DO blog, I'll be SHOCKED! The plan is to BE PREPARED for EVERYTHING...so, of course that means all hell will break loose! Either way, I'll be sure to TWEET everything if I can't get time to blog about it...
Laytah.
p.s. If I don't have a chance to say it next week:
Thank you ALL so much for your support. I get so many emails that bring a smile to my face. I try to answer each one, but if I didn't answer yours: I DID get it, and I AM thankful!!! I couldn't be here without YOU.
Thank YOU ALL for listening to my B.S. for 2 years and STILL stickin' around for MORE. You're AWESOME.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Can You Meet Me Halfway? Right at the Borderline...That's Where I'm Gonna Wait For YOU
Ello Baykahs-
I write this post with a heavy heart...ALAS, I did NOT meet Clinton Kelly. I DID stalk him for the ENTIRE Saturday night he was here (turns out he was here the whole week, and I'm an IDIOT for not knowing that).
I do have ONE thing that makes it less SAD for me: an email from CLINTON!!!!
Here's the deal:
When we set up the fabulous Miss America cupcake tower, I dropped off an additional box of cupcakes to the event planner of Planet Hollywood (who was in charge of putting on the party where the cupcakes were being served), and I LITERALLY said this to her, "I hate being THAT person, but I'm going to have to BE that person. Could you PLEASE find a way to get these cupcakes to Clinton Kelly? I'm a HUGE fan, and I think you're the only way I have to get them to him. AND, if you don't end up being able to, go ahead and eat them. I promise I won't care."
She told me she understood, and then she said, "Is Clinton the guy from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy?"
"Um. NO. What Not to Wear on TLC."
"OH! I thought he looked familiar."
I then figured it was just a pure CRAP SHOOT at that point. I had made him a box of Hot Chocolate, HopScotch, Chocolate Fountain, and PB&J. I figured THOSE flavors would get his attention....
And then I left...and two hours later I came back for the preliminary pageant that same evening. When we were ready to leave, we stopped by her office to pick up our cupcake tower, and she told me, "He got your cupcakes!"
Let me repeat that: "HE GOT YOUR CUPCAKES!!!!!!!!!!"
I was on CLOUD 9 at that point. I could have been shot, and I wouldn't have noticed. I was SO happy!!! (I really do love this guy!!)
So, then Friday arrives....and we are SLAMMMMMMMED busy. We are SO busy that I had ZERO time to Tweet or even check my email on my phone until around 3:40 p.m....and WHAT DO I FIND THERE?????
A FACEBOOK MESSAGE FROM CLINTON KELLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He wrote that "the PB&J cupcake ROCKED!" and if I could MEET him at the theater at 3:45, I could MEET HIM.
I was DYING!!!! It was 3:40, and I'm about 20 minutes from The Strip (where he was at)....SO, I wrote back and declined his offer.........but thanked him so much for even OFFERING.
HOW COOL IS THAT????!?!?!?!?!?!
So, THAT is why I was SO intense about stalking him....he actually WANTED to meet...but I was the one with the NO TIME!!! Can you believe it????
Me either.
I AM TOO BUSY TO MEET CLINTON KELLY?!
Unbelievable.
SO, I took my entire family down to Planet Hollywood after we closed on Saturday (and RIGHT after the pageant ended) in hopes to meet him SOMEHOW. We stood for 3 hours in front of the exit door of the press conference...BUT, no Clinton...or Mario Lopez for that matter....BUT, we DID see almost EVERY contestant in the pageant. So, my girls had a good time seeing them up-close and in their BEAUTIFUL dresses. They really ARE more pretty in person (if you can believe it!).
That was it...my Clinton story.
Better luck next year, I HOPE.
AT LEAST he ate Retro Cupcakes...and said they rocked. I can live off that for a while.
Laytah.
I write this post with a heavy heart...ALAS, I did NOT meet Clinton Kelly. I DID stalk him for the ENTIRE Saturday night he was here (turns out he was here the whole week, and I'm an IDIOT for not knowing that).
I do have ONE thing that makes it less SAD for me: an email from CLINTON!!!!
Here's the deal:
When we set up the fabulous Miss America cupcake tower, I dropped off an additional box of cupcakes to the event planner of Planet Hollywood (who was in charge of putting on the party where the cupcakes were being served), and I LITERALLY said this to her, "I hate being THAT person, but I'm going to have to BE that person. Could you PLEASE find a way to get these cupcakes to Clinton Kelly? I'm a HUGE fan, and I think you're the only way I have to get them to him. AND, if you don't end up being able to, go ahead and eat them. I promise I won't care."
She told me she understood, and then she said, "Is Clinton the guy from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy?"
"Um. NO. What Not to Wear on TLC."
"OH! I thought he looked familiar."
I then figured it was just a pure CRAP SHOOT at that point. I had made him a box of Hot Chocolate, HopScotch, Chocolate Fountain, and PB&J. I figured THOSE flavors would get his attention....
And then I left...and two hours later I came back for the preliminary pageant that same evening. When we were ready to leave, we stopped by her office to pick up our cupcake tower, and she told me, "He got your cupcakes!"
Let me repeat that: "HE GOT YOUR CUPCAKES!!!!!!!!!!"
I was on CLOUD 9 at that point. I could have been shot, and I wouldn't have noticed. I was SO happy!!! (I really do love this guy!!)
So, then Friday arrives....and we are SLAMMMMMMMED busy. We are SO busy that I had ZERO time to Tweet or even check my email on my phone until around 3:40 p.m....and WHAT DO I FIND THERE?????
A FACEBOOK MESSAGE FROM CLINTON KELLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He wrote that "the PB&J cupcake ROCKED!" and if I could MEET him at the theater at 3:45, I could MEET HIM.
I was DYING!!!! It was 3:40, and I'm about 20 minutes from The Strip (where he was at)....SO, I wrote back and declined his offer.........but thanked him so much for even OFFERING.
HOW COOL IS THAT????!?!?!?!?!?!
So, THAT is why I was SO intense about stalking him....he actually WANTED to meet...but I was the one with the NO TIME!!! Can you believe it????
Me either.
I AM TOO BUSY TO MEET CLINTON KELLY?!
Unbelievable.
SO, I took my entire family down to Planet Hollywood after we closed on Saturday (and RIGHT after the pageant ended) in hopes to meet him SOMEHOW. We stood for 3 hours in front of the exit door of the press conference...BUT, no Clinton...or Mario Lopez for that matter....BUT, we DID see almost EVERY contestant in the pageant. So, my girls had a good time seeing them up-close and in their BEAUTIFUL dresses. They really ARE more pretty in person (if you can believe it!).
That was it...my Clinton story.
Better luck next year, I HOPE.
AT LEAST he ate Retro Cupcakes...and said they rocked. I can live off that for a while.
Laytah.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Nothin' I'd Do for You That's TooTough for Me
Hello Baykahs-
This was a TOUGH TOUGH TOUGH weekend.
We gave our lovely Margeaux Saturday off (which she graciously requested over a month ago, so she could go see her family in Texas). WELL, at the time, we weren't that busy......BUT, then the phone started ringing.....AND WE GOT BUSY!!!
WOW. I'm STILL exhausted.
Unfortunately, we were SO short-handed that I didn't get pics of all the cakes and cupcakes we did....just TWO! (I know...I suck).
BUT, here they are! The Cakes O' the Week!
Flamin' 50 birthday cake:
Bullets birthday cake:
I PROMISE to have more pics for next week....HOPEFULLY of my with my arm around a certain man....
I will now try to go down to Planet Hollywood and STALK Clinton Kelly.
Laytah!
This was a TOUGH TOUGH TOUGH weekend.
We gave our lovely Margeaux Saturday off (which she graciously requested over a month ago, so she could go see her family in Texas). WELL, at the time, we weren't that busy......BUT, then the phone started ringing.....AND WE GOT BUSY!!!
WOW. I'm STILL exhausted.
Unfortunately, we were SO short-handed that I didn't get pics of all the cakes and cupcakes we did....just TWO! (I know...I suck).
BUT, here they are! The Cakes O' the Week!
Flamin' 50 birthday cake:
Bullets birthday cake:
I PROMISE to have more pics for next week....HOPEFULLY of my with my arm around a certain man....I will now try to go down to Planet Hollywood and STALK Clinton Kelly.
Laytah!
Friday, January 29, 2010
I'm Miss American Dream Since I was 17...
HERE THEY ARE!!! The Miss America CUPCAKES!!
I want to tell you more...BUT we were at the show until 11, and I got LOTS of bakin' to do...
FYI: I made Red Carpet and Blueberry Pancake cupcakes (RED, WHITE, and BLUE, BABY!)
And those are real roses on the top.
Look at us...we're GIDDY! (Ok. I'm giddy. Bri is DONE with the whole thing.)
Laytah!
I want to tell you more...BUT we were at the show until 11, and I got LOTS of bakin' to do...
FYI: I made Red Carpet and Blueberry Pancake cupcakes (RED, WHITE, and BLUE, BABY!)
And those are real roses on the top.
Look at us...we're GIDDY! (Ok. I'm giddy. Bri is DONE with the whole thing.)Laytah!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Should've Known Better Than Trying to Let YOU Go...'Cause Here We Go Go Go AGAIIIIN
Ello Baykahs!
Today is THE DAY. MISS AMERICA...
I am FREAKING OUT. I haven't slept in two days...I am going CRAZY in my head (I know...hard to believe!). But here's the deal: we're making 100 cupcakes for a tower along with a 6-inch cake on top with the Miss America logo on top. It'll be GREAT, but all I can think is, "WILL IT BE GOOD ENOUGH?"
*FULL DISCLOSURE: My greatest FAULT is my inability to think I'm GOOD ENOUGH. It has been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember. I am ALWAYS second-guessing myself about what I've DONE and if it is GOOD ENOUGH. It has a tendency to drive a person MAD.
I've had the design and flavors picked out for WEEKS, but here we are ON the day of DELIVERY, and I want to changed everything....I think the plan isn't GOOD enough for Miss AMERICA.
MISS AMERICA?!?!?!
Could this day even be happening to me? It is TOTALLY crazy. I'm making cupcakes for MISS AMERICA?? (and the President CEO of the Organization, Art McMaster?!?!). I just CANNOT believe it...no matter how many times I say it out loud, it just doesn't seem true because...I can't POSSIBLY be THAT GOOD.
*FULL DISCLOSURE: I am NOT fishing for "YOU'RE AWESOME, KARI!" comments here. THIS is just how I feel...
I need to get over this. I need to be HAPPY for myself once in a while (as I would be if it were YOU telling me this news). This is TOTALLY AWESOME. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event...and here I am RUINING it for myself because of me being my CRAZY BAYKAH SELF.
*FULL DISCLOSURE: I'm not kidding when I call myself CRAZY. I really am....I just hold it together ENOUGH to pass for sane on most days.
I'm just in FULL PANIC MODE right now. THANK GOD this is the ONLY order I have today, so I can actually RELAX and FOCUS on the cupcakes. BUT, that could be a bad thing too....
THERE I GO AGAIN....
STOP!
ok...I leave for delivery at 3:30 p.m. PST
I PROMISE to post pictures. I PROMISE to TWEET live from the event (I got four free tickets to the last preliminary pageant tonight), and I PROMISE not to be too crazy about not being good enough.
BUT, I can't promise about freaking out about what to wear because OF COURSE I think my clothes AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH.
OOPS. There I go again...AGAIN.
Laytah.
Today is THE DAY. MISS AMERICA...
I am FREAKING OUT. I haven't slept in two days...I am going CRAZY in my head (I know...hard to believe!). But here's the deal: we're making 100 cupcakes for a tower along with a 6-inch cake on top with the Miss America logo on top. It'll be GREAT, but all I can think is, "WILL IT BE GOOD ENOUGH?"*FULL DISCLOSURE: My greatest FAULT is my inability to think I'm GOOD ENOUGH. It has been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember. I am ALWAYS second-guessing myself about what I've DONE and if it is GOOD ENOUGH. It has a tendency to drive a person MAD.
I've had the design and flavors picked out for WEEKS, but here we are ON the day of DELIVERY, and I want to changed everything....I think the plan isn't GOOD enough for Miss AMERICA.
MISS AMERICA?!?!?!
Could this day even be happening to me? It is TOTALLY crazy. I'm making cupcakes for MISS AMERICA?? (and the President CEO of the Organization, Art McMaster?!?!). I just CANNOT believe it...no matter how many times I say it out loud, it just doesn't seem true because...I can't POSSIBLY be THAT GOOD.
*FULL DISCLOSURE: I am NOT fishing for "YOU'RE AWESOME, KARI!" comments here. THIS is just how I feel...
I need to get over this. I need to be HAPPY for myself once in a while (as I would be if it were YOU telling me this news). This is TOTALLY AWESOME. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event...and here I am RUINING it for myself because of me being my CRAZY BAYKAH SELF.
*FULL DISCLOSURE: I'm not kidding when I call myself CRAZY. I really am....I just hold it together ENOUGH to pass for sane on most days.
I'm just in FULL PANIC MODE right now. THANK GOD this is the ONLY order I have today, so I can actually RELAX and FOCUS on the cupcakes. BUT, that could be a bad thing too....
THERE I GO AGAIN....
STOP!
ok...I leave for delivery at 3:30 p.m. PST
I PROMISE to post pictures. I PROMISE to TWEET live from the event (I got four free tickets to the last preliminary pageant tonight), and I PROMISE not to be too crazy about not being good enough.
BUT, I can't promise about freaking out about what to wear because OF COURSE I think my clothes AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH.
OOPS. There I go again...AGAIN.
Laytah.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
You Pick Me up Like a Whirlwind. You Put me Down Like a Whirlwind
Ello Baykahs!
Happy Weekend! I have had one WHIRLWIND of a week, so I am OFF TO REST!
Enjoy the Cakes O' the WEEK!
Sock Monkey birthday cake (she is a swimmer, so the monkey has a swim cap on!):
Vegas wedding cake:
6-inch topper cake for a baby shower tower:
Comic Book Birthday cake:
And the BIG DADDY of the WEEK:
The DAMASK wedding cake (it's royal icing on fondant):
This is Brian and Margeaux's MASTERPIECE. It was a truly beautiful cake.
OH how I love my day off...
Laytah.
Happy Weekend! I have had one WHIRLWIND of a week, so I am OFF TO REST!
Enjoy the Cakes O' the WEEK!
Sock Monkey birthday cake (she is a swimmer, so the monkey has a swim cap on!):
Vegas wedding cake:
6-inch topper cake for a baby shower tower:
Comic Book Birthday cake:
And the BIG DADDY of the WEEK:
The DAMASK wedding cake (it's royal icing on fondant):
This is Brian and Margeaux's MASTERPIECE. It was a truly beautiful cake.OH how I love my day off...
Laytah.
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