Kid, Cake, Something

Beginning Again

Sacha — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:09:50 +0000

Things are never exactly what they seem. I’m just going with the flow here, so it is what it is. I’m trying to save money to go on Pilgrimage to Haifa, Israel. And, by save, I mean create it out of thin air. So far I’ve raised about $850 worth of pledges by promising to bake things. I’ve raised $250 worth of actual money by actually baking things. Hopefully the other $600 will be coming soon.

Yesterday was less than ideal productivity-wise, but I got through it and the world is still here so I think it’ll all be ok. This afternoon I’m supposed to take care of a neighbor’s kid for a few hours. I haven’t been outside yet and I find that a bit frustrating, but I’m waiting for my oatmeal to cook and I’m wishing I had someone to go to the store with me because I get tired of being alone on these days I don’t babysit. I have to walk down to the co-op to return some milk jars and pick up a few ingredients.

Alright, I’ve started the new face of my blog. I’m now going to eat oatmeal and start my day with an intention to smile.

The Life of Pie

Sacha — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:55:51 +0000

Alright. Despite my silence, some things have been happening. Yesterday I made a few phone calls and even went and checked out a potential kitchen space. It seems to be a bit of a mystery how I’m going to bake anything legally with the amount of money I have. I think I could spare $100/month if I keep eating potatoes. :o) There is that whole nightshades thing… but, you know, the Irish Potato Famine happened to them, not me. Right?

Ok, I’m mostly kidding. I’ll keep looking and I’m sure something will happen. In the meantime I’ve decided to do some more crafty things – bookbinding specifically – to try to increase my income a bit and also to increase my sanity. The lack of creativity in my life is a problem I can really no longer overlook. Baking is good, but sometimes there’s no one to eat it and then it’s a waste.

I don’t know if I mentioned it, but my sister is going to buy me a food processor! The last time I was making pie crust I remembered that she said to let her know what I wanted. So, I did. Sure, I can make it by hand, but a food processor will be handy in so many ways. My housemate may feel otherwise when we have yet another item to fit into the kitchen, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. For now, I’m looking forward to easy pie crusts and chopped vegetables.

I’m making bread with the kid I babysit today. I’m working late, so we’ll have plenty of time for letting it rise. In fact, I should get ready. It’s almost time to go!

Punch Down. Let Rise.

Sacha — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:08:30 +0000

Alright. So, first of all, I was contacted by an accountant (in response to my CL post) whose office offers business start-up and incorporation assistance as well as basic accounting services. They’re equally, if not more, difficult to get to… but they have the added bonus of being close to my aunts and being women, which just feels more comfortable to me. So, we’ll see what can be done with this.

I also found out today that the kitchen I planned to use is no longer available to me. The combination of increased business during the holiday season and the prospect of additional inspection effectively ruined the deal. I’m actually fine with it because… Well, I’m not entirely sure why, but part of it may be that on some level I felt like I had to stick with them – because they were offering it basically for free – despite the fact that there was really, if I were honest with myself, insufficient space. So, now I’m on the search for a kitchen that meets my needs financially, geographically and… cubically? Wish me luck!

Weighing and Wanting

Sacha — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:42:51 +0000

As I believe I mentioned, I was supposed to call that attorney today. In fact, it would have been nice to call him yesterday but I had second thoughts. Then last night I thought to myself, “Sacha, be honest with yourself. It will be a LONG time before you can afford to actually pay an attorney. You have an opportunity to get legal help without paying a dime. Isn’t it worth it to you to get things going when you have the chance? Don’t pass up an opportunity when it’s put right in front of you!”

After an argument like that, how can I refuse? Still, I think I need to sit down and figure out what I’m really doing here. I mean, to be honest, no, it’s not worth it for me to take 3-4 busses and walk through the rain to spend a few hours typing up legalese in exchange for someone helping me with paperwork that will create for me extra work and expense. You can see the optimism just oozing out, can’t you?

I think it may be time for some personal reflection. If I’m going to be making sacrifices, and I surely will have more than this, I need to be certain that they’re worth it. I want to have a vision of where I’m going and what I want to achieve… and why. THEN I’ll be ready to work hard for it. “Because it feels right.” just isn’t cutting it anymore.

Dough

Sacha — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:23:06 +0000

I will start by saying that I had no idea an attorney made so much money. How is this fair? I make $12/hr. and, although I do often think my time is worth more than that, I make more hourly than a lot of people in entry-level or minimum wage jobs. Yes, I do believe that people who put more effort into being trained for their job should make more money. However, the fact that someone makes literally twenty times more money than me… That just seems extreme.

What does all this have to do with starting my business? Well, when I decided to go forward with incorporation I started reading up on things and realized if I try to do all the paperwork by myself I’ll get bogged down and not do it. (This is where it’s good to know one’s self.) So, I decided to find an attorney. Knowing I couldn’t afford one, regardless of their rate, I posted an ad in the barter section of CL offering a variety of skills I possess. I received a response from an attorney who needs some typing done. The catch (about which he was oblivious, of course) is that it will take me an hour and a half to get to his office – including between 20-30 minutes of walking. It wouldn’t be so bad if it were April, but in Portland in November I’m likely to be soaked and freezing by the time I get there… not to mention that I’ll be spending three hours traveling every time I go.

So, we’ll see. I’ll sleep on it and call him tomorrow. Apparently he works all weekend. Right now I’m feeling a bit sick and tired, so I’m heading to bed. Inspection in about two weeks!

Proofing Myself

Sacha — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:59:55 +0000

You know, when I set out to have this blog that would follow me as I learn and through the ups and downs of start a baking business, I forgot one little detail: I only have my perspective. So, when I start to get discouraged and consider changing my mind about the whole baking thing, I’m not going to be very motivated to update a blog about it.

Luckily, progress has been made! Today is a the Birth of Baha’u'llah, a Baha’i Holy Day, and last night we had the celebration. While there, I met someone new and happened to mention that I had been considering starting a baking business. I told her of my name woes and she solved them for me! No, she didn’t give me a name. She educated me.

Apparently, I can start my corporation (because I do want to be incorporated and not just have a sole proprietorship) with whatever name is easy (Sacha’s Corporation, perhaps?) and then I can get my licenses and insurance, advertise and whatnot with that name. When things start rolling or when I decide I want a better name, I can file a DBA with my fancy-schmancy bakery name and all will be well in my little world. I believe an example of this is the fact that Kraft owns Nabisco. You buy a box of cookies with Nabisco on it, but if you sue them you’ll really be suing Kraft… not that I plan on being sued, but you get the idea.

So, with that, I’m off to research the formation of a corporation here in Oregon and will let you know what I learn and how things are going as soon as I know… hopefully no later than tomorrow.

The Best Baked Plans

Sacha — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:20:14 +0000

Alright, first of all, I take back what I said about the $20. No work today either. Now, keep in mind that I did actually quit my second job so I’d have time and mental space to start this bakery business in the first place. So, I am determined to make it happen! Anyway, I won’t need money until I have a name. So, first things first.

I started more seriously brainstorming (namestorming, if you will) yesterday about a name. First, I made a list of my target market populations (moms, cafes, etc.). Then, I made a list of some words that described things and ideas that would appeal to or be valued by them. To that list, I added words that I value and which appeal to me. This list was about 25 words long.

Next, I went to the thesaurus and looked each word up, adding appealing synonyms to the list as I went along. (I only looked up synonyms for the original list.) Then I got hungry and made some dinner. :o) However, today I plan to go back o this list and choose a few of them that really appeal to me as possible elements of a name or as feelings I want to convey with the name. After that… we’ll see.

I also decided to be more serious about writing a business plan. When I decided to really go for it and take action on starting my business, it was more along the lines of doing what felt natural than actually having much of a plan in mind. Until yesterday, I really hadn’t put much thought into who might buy my baked goods, where I want to be in six months or a year or how I foresee my business developing. I still don’t have very concrete or thorough answers to these and many other questions I’ll need to answer in writing my business plan, but at least I’m making some progress in that direction.

Today is the day to start being more creative in trying to make some money.

Wish me luck!

So Long, Fair Cake!

Sacha — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:22:08 +0000

It may not be as obvious to anyone else as it is to me, but I’ve missed a couple of days. This is partially because I didn’t feel I had anything to say and partially because I’ve been sick. On Tuesday, you may remember that I was supposed to meet with the owner of my potential kitchen space. Unfortunately, I haven’t been feeling well so I ended up going in a little later in the afternoon than I would have otherwise and he was already busy with work. Then this morning, just as I was trying to give myself the suck-it-up pep talk so I wouldn’t miss my own workday, I got a call saying I wasn’t needed today. So… I was allowed (as though I wasn’t before) to be sick and rest, which is why I’m going straight to bed after this.

I’ll be meeting with Mr. Potential Kitchen Owner sometime soon, but there’s no rush as I still don’t have a name. In the meantime, the remainder of that chocolate cake I made the other day will have to be enjoyed by my housemate as my doctor has instructed me to avoid sugar, dairy and wheat until I’m feeling better… Are there any other ingredients in that cake? Too bad, too. It was pretty good if I do say so myself. (… and I do.)

On another interesting note, because of my lack of work today, and adding in the money I spent on the doctor, it looks like my savings may be something more like $20 rather than the $100 I mentioned before. Time to get (more) creative!

Minding My Own Business (Name)

Sacha — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:08:51 +0000

So, last night I got home about the time I wanted to be going to bed, but still stayed up another three hours to work on making a book I’d promised to the two year old I babysit. Of course, he didn’t remember anything about the book or the promise, but there’s always the chance that he might have. Anyway, I said I would, so I did it. I was pretty happy with the way it turned out (minus a bit of frustration at my spending so long binding it just to end up having to use crayons to color in the pictures) and started thinking maybe I’ll make a few more this week.

What does all this have to do with starting a bakery, you may ask? Well, pretty much nothing, actually, except that I have no idea what to do with myself at this moment. I have no name. Without a name, I can’t register my business or apply for a license… I think. Actually, I guess I should check on the license, but it doesn’t seem logical to apply for a license without a business name, in my opinion.

I did bake a cake today! I threw it together in about an hour when I was reminded by my neighbor of a secret plan we had to make a video of ourselves celebrating the birthday of someone we both happen to know randomly from before we met and with whom neither of us is really close or in much contact. Makes perfect sense, right?

Anyway, tomorrow will be more productive in relation to baking. I’m meeting with the owner of the bar where I’ll be baking to talk details. I suppose I could actually be figuring out labeling in a more concrete way. I could also be systematic about coming up with a name. Making a list of things to do would be good. Ok, I’m going to make a note to do that in the morning. Right now I’m going to bed before midnight for the first time in too many days!

Nutrition Labeling Exemptions

Sacha — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:43:23 +0000

NOTE: The information contained in this article is my interpretation of the laws. I think I’m a pretty smart cookie, and it seems pretty clear, but I have no legal background so please read the laws for yourself before taking action based on them.

I don’t know about you, but spending hours reading through pages of repetitive, detailed legal jargon on my computer screen is not my idea of a good time. Still, these things must be done if I ever hope to sell a birthday cake to a mom I’ve never met.

My knowledge of exemptions at this point is limited to what I know to be directly related to me, but if I become aware of more I’ll let you know as I find out. For now, here’s what I’ve learned:

Nutrition label information (as in, the chart) is not necessary if:

annual gross sales of all products (food and non-food) do not exceed $500,000 AND…
annual gross sales of food do not exceed $50,000 AND…
no nutritional claim has been made on the labeling or in advertising about the product.

OR if:

the food is prepared only for immediate consumption (as in, on site – not packaged for individual sale) or sold directly to an establishment (restaurant, food cart, etc.) only for immediate consumption AND…
no nutrition claim has been made about the product.

OR if:

the food is processed and prepared on-site, but not for immediate consumption AND…
the food is not offered for sale outside of this establishment AND…
no nutrition claim has been made about the product.

OR if:

the food contains insignificant amounts of all of the nutrients and food components to be listed on the nutrition label (calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals) Details on nutrients can be found in section (c), about one quarter of the way down from the top of the page. AND…
no nutrition claim has been made about the product.

OR if:

the food is shipped in bulk form to be used for the manufacture of other foods or to be processed or packaged at a different site (which would, presumably, not be exempt from nutrition labeling)

OR if:

the food is meat alone and meets certain criteria. I’m skipping a few points here because they aren’t applicable to bakeries, but the details can be found on the same site.

OR if:

the packaging has a total surface area available for labeling of less than 12 square inches. Please read details in subsection (j)(13). AND…
no nutrition claim has been made about the product.

There are other exemptions to the full nutrition information label, but which include a different kind of label or a modified label. All of these are listed on the same page where I found the points I just mentioned. I’m not listing those because they aren’t full exemptions. I also remember reading something about who has to apply for exemptions and who doesn’t. I’ll see if I can find it again and add it when I do.

Look here for the official laws and to read about details. Mention of these exemptions are made in the first section. The actual exemptions are about three-quarters of the way down the page in sub-section (j). Good luck!