Will Sign Autographs Later :o)

I've said it a zillion times, my customers are amazing! And I'll say it again here! Truly fascinating how the circle spins around.

One of my customers (who just had a stinkin' adorable little girl) that comes in pretty regularly asked me, out of the blue, last week if she could write an article for the Waukesha Freeman about Sally's! Now, up until this point, I have declined such offers for fear of growing too fast and not being able to do/continue to do a good job. But we are coming up to our one year anniversary, we have Megan now who can work 1-2 days per week, and it's time. That PLUS the fact that just one day before, I wrote on my To-Do list to call the newspapers (that very day of course) to ask them to run a story for our one-year and you can just imagine the sparkle coming from my heart when I said "Yes!"! But that's the way God works in my life. In fact, that is exactly the way God has always worked in my life

So here it is -- the article that introduced Sally's to a whole bunch of new customers (already) and what I hope will continue to do so. Shannon -- thanks for writing about our sassy little bakery! I, we, appreciate you so much and you honored me with your words!

GENESEE DEPOT BAKER SEEKS TO CHARM SWEET TOOTHS (darn right I do!!) by Shannon Venegas

Things Coming Back to Normal...or whatever that is!

Well, the two week "drought" is past. Life at the bakery is back to normal-ish. I'm glad that I am able to talk to the veterans in the area about business and compare notes. It's helpful (though still yucky) to know that the area businesses also are happy the last two weeks are over. So slow was it in Genesee, that the restaurant across the street did, on a Saturday, what they normally do on a Monday! Buh-Bye last two weeks...hello new week!

I have completed some very big projects this past month and am preparing for the next big steps to grow the bakery. I haven't done one single thing to advertise our business (except my perfect $30 flag) and that needs to be the next steps I take ... slowly and with intention. I want to make sure that our little bakery continues to do a good job and that means that you have to be intentional about how fast and in what direction you go.

I would love to work with more businesses to make their events fantastic. For instance, we have this great Bed & Breakfast in Wales (The Pedlr's Inn) and I need to get in there to chat with Dee about how I could help her make her guest's stays more memorable. Does she need decorated cakes for birthday celebrations? I would love to continue to use the bakery to touch people, cuz I really think that is why I love baking in the first place.

Maybe you have an idea for my growth? I would love to hear it so that I can put it on my Ideas for Possibility list. I have a description under that title that says -- It will require a suspension in your disbelief. I like that! So true and so important to remember!

The Purpose of this Blog

I'm not a "goal" person, but, I do need to be aligned with my mission or vision. With that, my blogs have been suffering because of my lack of said purpose. I think that may becoming a bit clearer for me here, on Sally's blog.

My customers made me think of it really. They are, and always have been, genuinely interested and caring of the success of the bakery. I tell them stories or facts or information. So then why is it that I wonder what purpose my blog serves. Why is my blog not speaking to more folks the way I do in the bakery...frankly, authentically, engaged. And there, all the while, it's right in front of me.

So Day One of serving the mission if this blog........

It's been a slow two weeks in the bakery. Last week I understood why (Ten Chimneys was closed for tours), but this week I haven't a clue why, and since we've not been open a year yet, I don't have any sales records to compare to or possibly find excuses in. I was most thankful this week for the many cake orders and also for a huge dinner roll order (for a wedding). That was our salvation this week. One of the other business owners called me earlier in the week to see how we we're doing because she was so slow. I was pleased to be able to tell her that we we're having a good day, but then, I think that I "jinxed" it! Uggh! We even had one of, if not the, slowest Sunday on record.

Well, here's to brighter and busier tomorrows! And also to finding purpose.

Depot Daze!!

Genesee Depot Daze

Read all about it!! :o) FUN FUN FUN!!

Genesee Depot Daze

Hey! If you're not doing anything...we'd love to see you for our first annual DEPOT DAZE!!! How fun is this?

Lemonade Stand

Scavenger Hunt

Meet the Waukesha Sheriff K-9 unit 1 - 3 pm

Wales-Genesee Fire Truck and Ambulance Display 10 am - 2 pm

Sew a Pillowcase for Tornado Relief

BIG BASKET Giveaway

Sidewalk Sale

Sidewalk-Chalk Drawing Contest

Kettle Korn

Face Painting

Bean Bag Toss

Spicy Burrito Eating Contest @ 1 pm Winner gets (2) front row Brewer tickets!

Grill Out & Live Music 10 am - 2 pm

Event Sponsored by GABE

Genesee Area Business Exchange

For event information, please contact Mary Jo at (262) 617-4209

Good Energy

The community is all a buzz! We haven't been open a full year yet, so I am not used to the ebbs and flows of our community, but I am rapidly being brought up to speed. On a beautiful day, people are all over the community - walking, experiencing, chatting, buzzing. We all send each "guest" to each other's shops and we do so proudly. People keep walking past my big ol' window and I keep noticing them. I need to stop doing that so I can keep baking, but for now, I can't help but notice all the energy.

Speaking of energy...I am a huge Oprah fan. I love her authenticity and her quest and stand for greatness. A guest of hers gave her a quote that she put in her dressing room so that she would notice it before each show. It reminds her to be mindful of the energy she brings to her arena. I have always believed in that exact teaching and even more so now that my stage has expanded. Some days it's easier than others, but overall, I am very mindful of the energy I put out in the world and especially that which can be considered "captured" within my four aqua walls.

There are days that I don't feel that I can possibly bring Sally Sunshine's best out, but it just takes one beautiful customer to help me be mindful of that energy check. Last week, Sunday actually, it was a young lady, about 10 or 11 going to tea with her mom. She was coming to get a little something to hold off their hunger and she said to me "how will choose something...you made so many great looking things"!

I love her energy. :o)

Ten Chimneys...an evening of regality!

Yesterday, my husband and I were the invited guests of Ten Chimneys to take the official tour. I was SO looking forward to doing this. I have lived in this area for most of my entire life including during the time that the home's famous occupants lived there during the 70's and 80's, and NEVER been to see the estate. I have customers that come from literally all over the nation to come do the tour, but I, who lives and has lived a mere 7 miles away has never done "the tour".

Why is it that we struggle to be tourists in our own towns? What a hidden, beautiful gem and right under my nose! Well, THIS YEAR I will NOT be embarrassed to talk to all my customers in the bakery who are going TO or coming FROM the lovely estate tour of the summer and retirement home(s) of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne! Let the story telling begin!

Now this may be just a bit of a problem in the future. You seeeee, I LOVED my tour, the stories, the house(s), the stories, the history, the artifacts, the stories....and NOW I have so much TO talk to my customers about...great. Now I'm never gonna get any baking done! Folks might as well come in and start talking to me about the play Wicked! Dang, I can see it now -- chat, chat, talk, talk.

Still so glad I went....It felt like an afternoon of royalty. It was a regal way to spend an afternoon! And may I just suggest that if you've not done the tour, you spend an afternoon in our backyard and enjoy this glorious piece of history when royalty walked amongst us.