Thursday, October 2, 2008
Getting the Ball Rolling
Finally, all of my ducks are in a row. For now, I don't have to have my kitchen licensed, although I may in the future, so I am going to work on getting that ready. I will be going to Nashville for a week, and when I get home, it will be time to get the ball rolling!! I am still the only free cakes chapter in Oregon, but we are well over 100 chapters strong just since the article came out in People just a few weeks ago! Wow!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Facebook It
I am really fortunate to work for a really wonderful company, and have a job that I love, and people who I love to work with. I work for the Marketing Department at Holiday Retirement in Salem, Oregon. Without exception, each person that I work with in Marketing is either Super Smart, Super Attractive, Super Nice or Super Creative (and more). They also let me work there. Here is the thing though, over half of them are also Super Young. Remembering myself at 22-28, I know I was not nearly as together and accomplished as these awesome people are, and it makes me feel Super Old. Not "You kids get off my lawn" old, but more like "Def Leppard is not an OLDIES band" old.
Recently I took a trip with some of my co workers, and in an effort to impress them with how Young and Hip I still am (or not); I was telling them how I recently discovered the wonders of Facebook.
I was turned on to Facebook by my 18 year old niece, and my younger sister. For the uninitiated, Facebook bills itself as a “Social Networking” site. My 34 year old brain wants to ask “What does that even MEAN??” My 34 year old brain needs to shush. I have to admit, Facebook is fun and addictive, plus I can play scrabble online with my sister who lives in Michigan!!!
Anyway, back to my trip. Amy, one of my awesome co workers, who by the way fits into every single category listed above (and is also Super Awesome), explained to me that for her generation, Face Book and My Space (Facebook’s Rebellious Older Sister) are the fact finding tools they use to prove out the latest rumor or gossip. Apparently it goes something like this:
“Did you hear “Gabe” and “Cindi” broke up?”
“Shut UP, they did not”
“They totally did – Facebook it”
After getting my Free Cakes for Kids Website and this blog up and running, my next step is to connect with the dozens of people across the country that are also starting Free Cakes chapters. One way we are able to connect is through the original Free Cakes website. I decided to find out if any of my fellow bakers had started a Facebook Group. I also got very curious to see how many people are using Facebook to drive traffic to a certain charity or cause. My search came up with over 500 such groups. I found groups for hunger aid, AIDS research, racial and gender equality, environmentalism, child advocacy and so many more.
It’s true that many young people are obsessed with Lauren and Heidi and what’s going on in “The Hills”. I tried watching it once. It was 23 minutes of my life I will never have back! I couldn't relate, not even a little. When it comes down to it, though, I have a lot in common with the "Facebook Generation". We share the same goals- to find the place in the world that has a need we can fill and fill it. To find a hand that needs held and hold it. To find a person whose life we can help to change, and in the process find ourselves fundamentaly altered. These young men and women are interested in making their corner of the world a better place to live.
They totally will – “Facebook It”
Recently I took a trip with some of my co workers, and in an effort to impress them with how Young and Hip I still am (or not); I was telling them how I recently discovered the wonders of Facebook.
I was turned on to Facebook by my 18 year old niece, and my younger sister. For the uninitiated, Facebook bills itself as a “Social Networking” site. My 34 year old brain wants to ask “What does that even MEAN??” My 34 year old brain needs to shush. I have to admit, Facebook is fun and addictive, plus I can play scrabble online with my sister who lives in Michigan!!!
Anyway, back to my trip. Amy, one of my awesome co workers, who by the way fits into every single category listed above (and is also Super Awesome), explained to me that for her generation, Face Book and My Space (Facebook’s Rebellious Older Sister) are the fact finding tools they use to prove out the latest rumor or gossip. Apparently it goes something like this:
“Did you hear “Gabe” and “Cindi” broke up?”
“Shut UP, they did not”
“They totally did – Facebook it”
After getting my Free Cakes for Kids Website and this blog up and running, my next step is to connect with the dozens of people across the country that are also starting Free Cakes chapters. One way we are able to connect is through the original Free Cakes website. I decided to find out if any of my fellow bakers had started a Facebook Group. I also got very curious to see how many people are using Facebook to drive traffic to a certain charity or cause. My search came up with over 500 such groups. I found groups for hunger aid, AIDS research, racial and gender equality, environmentalism, child advocacy and so many more.
It’s true that many young people are obsessed with Lauren and Heidi and what’s going on in “The Hills”. I tried watching it once. It was 23 minutes of my life I will never have back! I couldn't relate, not even a little. When it comes down to it, though, I have a lot in common with the "Facebook Generation". We share the same goals- to find the place in the world that has a need we can fill and fill it. To find a hand that needs held and hold it. To find a person whose life we can help to change, and in the process find ourselves fundamentaly altered. These young men and women are interested in making their corner of the world a better place to live.
They totally will – “Facebook It”
Monday, September 15, 2008
Just call me Snoopy
So, I have decided that I am a "BIG IDEA" person, and not a "DETAILS" person :)
I am so super excited to get moving on this project. My first stop after work today was to my local cake decorating shop. My plan was to drop in and let them know about my venture, in case any of their regular customers ever had equipment they might not be using anymore, they could give them my card, etc. They told me that in the State of Oregon, I had to have a licensed kitchen in order to make cakes from my home. Surely Not! I guess I thought since they would be free, I wouldn't have to worry about "rules". So, I called the Department of Agriculture, and they are going to get back to me, since they don't have anything specifically stated in the laws.
Then, it was pointed out to me by my husband, who is wonderful, but totally a details person, that I might have to have a label on my food in case there are allergies and so someone doesn't sue me. I'll need to make another phone call about that!
So now, just in case, I am checking out the way to get your home kitchen licensed, and it really doesn't seem to be all that hard or expensive, which is good! And I also need to check out the labeling rules.
My sister lovingly kids me about being "Pollyanna" and always finding the bright side, no matter how much I may have to stretch to find it, and she is right! I think I am also like one of those Macy's Thanksgiving Day Balloons! They are exciting and bring joy, but have to be tethered down by people without hot air in their brains so they don't float away, or cause some kind of major accident :)
So, on my way to bringing joy, I will follow the designated parade route, that way everyone wins!!
I am so super excited to get moving on this project. My first stop after work today was to my local cake decorating shop. My plan was to drop in and let them know about my venture, in case any of their regular customers ever had equipment they might not be using anymore, they could give them my card, etc. They told me that in the State of Oregon, I had to have a licensed kitchen in order to make cakes from my home. Surely Not! I guess I thought since they would be free, I wouldn't have to worry about "rules". So, I called the Department of Agriculture, and they are going to get back to me, since they don't have anything specifically stated in the laws.
Then, it was pointed out to me by my husband, who is wonderful, but totally a details person, that I might have to have a label on my food in case there are allergies and so someone doesn't sue me. I'll need to make another phone call about that!
So now, just in case, I am checking out the way to get your home kitchen licensed, and it really doesn't seem to be all that hard or expensive, which is good! And I also need to check out the labeling rules.
My sister lovingly kids me about being "Pollyanna" and always finding the bright side, no matter how much I may have to stretch to find it, and she is right! I think I am also like one of those Macy's Thanksgiving Day Balloons! They are exciting and bring joy, but have to be tethered down by people without hot air in their brains so they don't float away, or cause some kind of major accident :)
So, on my way to bringing joy, I will follow the designated parade route, that way everyone wins!!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Victory!!
Thank Goodness!!! The site is done, and now I just have to get flyers and business cards and I am all set! I am pretty sure it was my own lack of experience, coupled with my impatience that made setting it up a challenge!
Visit the Website:
http://www.freecakesforkidsalbany.com/
Visit the Website:
http://www.freecakesforkidsalbany.com/
Easy? Really?
Ok, so I have been desiging my Free Cakes for Kids - Albany website for like 4 days now. I wanted to be all fancy and do it myself, so I purchased the services of a certain company which proported it's services to be "Easy". Hmm, either I am technically challenged, or it's not that easy. I am so close to finishing, I am desperately trying to make the fonts all look the same - my latent perfectionism strikes again. *SIGH*
It will be worth it when it's done!
It will be worth it when it's done!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Getting Started
A few weeks ago, I read an article in People magazine about a lady in Georgia named Toni who donates free birthday cakes to kids who might not otherwise get a birthday cake. I was astounded and moved by this simple act of kindness. Immediately, I wanted to get involved!! I have been making cakes for my family and friends for a number of years, and I really LOVE it! I looked up the website mentioned in the article, then emailed Toni to see how I could help. She responded right away, and I have decided to start a chapter of her wonderful charity in my own town of Albany, OR. I am working on a website, flyer's and business cards. I am really excited to get started, and I hope I have an overwhelming response!! If you would like to check out Toni's website, it's the first link listed!
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