Friday, September 7, 2012

Ladytroupe Sweets first Market Day

I did it! Ladytroupe Sweets debuted at Market Day today and it was so much fun.  I have been planning and working on this for quite awhile so to have it all come together and see it as I imagined was so wonderful.
mini Bella nut pies (pecan pie)

Apple hand pies 
I detailed some of the baking over at Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice.  Please go check it out.  I really thought I was going to be running around like a crazy lady this morning but I wasn't and can I tell you how proud of myself I am?  Really proud because sometimes coordinating baking and running a house, cooking dinner, making kids school lunches, and basically being a Mom can be tough and I totally pulled all that and Ladytroupe Sweets off this week with style.  I think it helped that I tried to be super organized.  I had lists about what to make what day, how many the recipe would yield, how long to bake everything, what to put in the oven first, etc. and it all really helped.
People seemed thrilled that everything looked semi-professional with my little white pastry bags, stickers and business cards.  I was happy with how it all came together.  I love the baskets and the vintage table cloth and how all the pretty little pies, scones and cookies looked sitting there on the table.  For me, having everything look pretty means just as much as everything tasting delicious so it was a win-win for me today.  Maybe someone was looking down on me from above to have everything come together without a burnt batch or a forgotten ingredient, but I'd like to think it was all my preparations that helped it go well. Or maybe it was a bit of both.
the classic chocolate chip cookie
Can I tell you a secret about all this?  Today was the first dollar (well, Ethiopian Birr) that I have ever earned doing something that I enjoy.  Really!  I've had plenty of jobs and even the start of a career before I had our first child and never once have I felt the amount of joy as I did today when I accepted my first $1.50 for a beautiful little pecan pie that I had shaped and made with my very own hands.  I cannot tell you how much this makes me smile.  I thought I might be one of those people that just never really knows what they want to do with themselves as a grown-up (other than be a mother-I did know that).  I was OK with this.  I feel completely overjoyed, even energized by the realization that I just might have found my "thing".

It's tough not to receive any immediate feedback on what people think or how everything tasted.  Justin did pass on a few compliments from people who ate their purchases straight away at the office that afternoon.  I only hope people enjoyed everything enough to come back next time!

All in all it was a fantastic market day.
cranberry white chocolate almond scones 

21 comments:

ALICIA said...

It's all beautiful Sara! Nice work! Love the mini-pecan pies. xoxo

pdxkatie said...

This is fabulous! and I am so touched by the joy you felt in finding your niche!

Emily Joy said...

sara! Yay finding something that you truly love is a gift and a joy and never really "work." I get it!

Daniela Swider said...

Go you, Sara! Everything looked amazing - the cookies/pies, the presentation, the cook!!! So thrilled for you finding what you want to be when you grow up!!!!

Emily said...

That is wonderful, on so many levels! I think it is amazing to be able to figure out what makes you happy, and going for it. Then to be able to make money doing it! I know we only know ach other from blogs, Facebook and such, but I am so proud of you. Is that cheesy? Either way- You are my hero!

Melinda Renee said...

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!

Heather P. said...

Congratulations Sara, I know this has been in the works for quite some time, and I am really proud of you! I wish I could taste everything, it all looks so delicious.

Megan said...

Congrats big sis. I am so proud of you. Keep at it. Love you tons. Got my shots today. Can't wait to see you in 3 short months.

Sara said...

Thank you all so much! It's not cheesy to be proud of friends-at least I don't think so. It's wonderfully heart warming to know you are all rooting for me.

I do wish I could share all my homemade treats with all of you. I'd love to hear your suggestions and preferences! Some day right?

I cannot wait to have my sister Megan come visit. Meg-I hope the rabies series doesn't suck too much. You know Lucy is a rabid lap sitter so be sure to get it=)

Bfiles said...

congratulations, it all looks beautiful and delicious!! So glad for you.

Anonymous said...

Ah ha! Finally got to get on the computer and so happy to see these photos!! Everything looks delicious and beautiful and I'm so so so happy for you!! What a wonderful feeling to do work you enjoy doing and I sooooo hear you on the doing it while also juggling running a house, mothering, cooking, taking care of everyone, etc etc. You are a super woman no doubt! Hope you get to kick your feet up tonight and relax in the happy satisfaction of a job well done!

Becky said...

So glad it went well!

Sweet Athena said...

This is great news, sounds like a successful day! That is so sweet to hear about your first pecan pie.

On a different note, Sweet Athena was hoping to do some collaboration with you, but I couldn't find a contact for you on your site. If you are interested, you could email us at sweetathenadesigns at gmail dot com. and we can chat more.

Again, congrats!
Jess

Sara said...

Hi Jess, On the contacts tab is my email. I'll go ahead and send you an email though just in case you can't see my contacts section!

Thanks again, everyone for all the encouragement. It was great to celebrate this weekend. It's been awhile since I could treat my family to a meal out!

Chelsea said...

I love it! You have a great eye for making everything look tasty and beautiful, and the arrangement is great, too. Your apple hand pies remind me of what Harry Potter's pumpkin pasties must be like.

Mommy said...

How wonderful! I think it's absolutely amazing to see someone so thoroughly enjoy what they are doing...I'm glad this could happen for you.

BTW--your scarf looks fab ;)

AND my burning question: how in the heck do you stay so tiny with all of those delicious treats around that you make??!!

Sadie said...

Congratulations! Sounds and looks like a smashing success :-). This alone should dramatically increase bids on Addis!

Natasha said...

Yum -- everything looked delicious and pretty! My favorite are the mini pecan pies.

Sara said...

We love Harry Potter so your comment Chelsea about the pumpkin pasties was awesome!

HA! I think the fact that I'm still nursing my 11 month old helps burn some calories. That and the fact that just living at this high altitude burns more too. This should be reason to bid on Addis as well!!!
I've been doing some tasting here and there to make sure it's yummy but I didn't get to eat much of what I baked for Market Day. Now the cinnamon rolls I made the other day is another story=)

Natasha-those mini pecan pies are delicious and so pretty! I'm so glad you think so as well.

Anonymous said...

Wow! This is so awesome. Your baked goods look amazing. What/where exactly is the market & is it for locals?

Sara said...

Amanda-The market is every Friday from 12-1:30 ish at the parking lot of the US Embassy in Addis Ababa. Anyone is welcome.