It all started with a boob cake...

Tonight I decided to write about...  My cupcake story.

So, if you are a friend of mine or my sister Katie, you have probably heard the word "cupcake" come out of our mouth at least once a day for the past oh...  month.  We have recently been preparing for what has been the the BIGGEST cupcake order our little kitchens have ever seen in this history of Cloud 9 CaKery.  What is this huge project you ask?  Well, let me tell you a "little" story. 

In 2010, Katie and I went to a wedding.  We saw a not so beautiful wedding cake/cupcake display and afterwards we discussed and thought that dang, we could really do better than that and maybe make a little money.  Later that fall, we took a cake decorating class at the college as something fun to do with Mom and Becky.  Our cakes weren't fabulous but they were fun.  We got to learn how to use the decorating tips, how to make the cakes more moist, what to use in frostings to make them color darker or lighter, etc.  It was something that we still use to this day.  After the class we made a couple of cakes for Christmas and for our kids' birthdays but nothing major. 

THEN, a friend of mine had posted that her husband was having a big birthday on Facebook.  She wanted a "boob" cake and wanted to know where to get one.  She was desperate she didn't know where to go.  No one was answering, everything was costly, nobody had a clue where to go.  So, I chimed in.  "I might be able to help but no promises, I've never done one before!"  Well, let the excitement begin.  I made that boob cake and the party was a success.  After that my brother-in-law wanted one and then my daughter's birthday came and she wanted a doll cake.  MAN, cakes were HARD!  I was going to have to start charging more and I needed help.  FAST. 

So, I recruited my sister.  It was originally her idea to even DO the cupcakes in the first place.  So I essentially stole her idea and ran with it, then asked her for help in getting it going off the ground. 

I had originally started calling the business Cutee Cakes.  When Katie joined up we decided to make the business more about both of us.  We thought that when you take a bite of your cupcakes you feel like you are on "Cloud 9" so then we added that.  Then we decided we didn't want to be a bakery because we weren't selling bread or muffins or cookies or anything.  We were a cakery!  Also, since the letters for both of our first names were in "cakery"  We spelled it like this...  "CaKery"  We capitalized and accented the C and K in CaKery so that people would recognize it was OUR business it was our idea.  That spring and summer we started doing special orders.  We did weddings and baby showers and birthday parties, everything you could think of.  Then, we took on a whole new adventure.

That fall Katie and I started selling cupcakes twice a month at the Scottsbluff Winter Farmer's Markets.  Holy cow.  Our cupcakes were an instant hit.  We were sweating from the beginning of each market for about an hour and a half in and then we would sell out or almost sell completely out and finally get to sit down.  People would not get enough of the cupcakes.  We would try different flavors every week. 

I think at the end of this past year we had invented 37 different flavors, we haven't had time to count how many new flavors we did this year.  We have done The Scottsbluff Winter Farmer's Market for the past three years.  It is always a great atmosphere around the market on Saturday's we enjoy the crowd. 

Then, Nebraska Life Magazine called.  We were like.. what the WHAT??!!  We did an amazing interview for them!  We had fun doing the pictures with Jessica and WE WERE IN A MAGAZINE!!

During the summer months, we usually take somewhat of a break but we take some special orders if time allows.  Once in a great while we did a summer downtown market, but the elements do not get along well with our cupcakes! 

The next big thing on our radar is The Cattleman's Ball of Nebraska.  About a year ago, a chef at The Steel Grill was mentioning that they were thinking about bidding out to help cater this event.  In conversation, I jokingly mentioned that they should hire out the dessert for the event and that Cloud 9 CaKery would cater.  Well, about 2 months ago guess who called??  Never did I ever think we would get this gig.  Was I scared?  HELL yes!  Did I think we could do it.  Oh yes, never a doubt in my mind have I thought so.  We only have a couple of speed bumps but we will just slow down the pace and get it done by deadline instead of early!

Now time for the sad part of the story.  In July, I will be losing my partner, my best friend, my sister.  Katie and her family will be moving out of state.  She may decide to carry part of Cloud 9 CaKery where she moves to and I fully intend to carry on my part of Cloud 9 CaKery as long as my time will allow.  I am intending to go back to college in the fall and without my partner here our orders may be harder to fulfill.  As of right now I intend to continue the Farmer's Markets in the fall because that really is my favorite part of our business.  If it gets to be too much because of my homework or schooling, obviously my education will come first, but this business is too dear to me to just drop. 

So, for now I'll keep it going.  It will not, however just be mine.  I am keeping it open to Katie and myself.  I owe a lot of the business to her and maybe someday she'll move back, we never know. 

Thank you everyone for your wonderful, amazing support of Cloud 9 CaKery over the past three years.  We appreciate all that you have done for all of us.  We will post pics of the cattleman's ball soon!!