Exciting News
Hey everyone! HAPPY FRIDAY! 😀 Hope you have fun things going on this weekend. We’ve got an air force dinner tomorrow night and a valentine’s getaway on Sunday- should be bueno 😉
So I thought going to 105degrees was just going to be something I did for fun.
I’ve always adored cooking and creating healthy dishes, but never really considered the fact that it might eventually be an actual job. I’m very fortunate in the job factor because they’ve always been areas that I didn’t considered to be actual work because they were so much fun. It always blew my mind that while I was teaching dance (back in the day), and now teaching aerobics classes and training clients, I was actually making money, too. Working at 105degrees was a very similar experience.. the thrill of working in the kitchen and creating beautiful and healthy dishes was more amazing that I could ever imagine. I couldn’t wait to get there every day, and was kind of bummed when I had to go home at night.
When I got back from school, I was tinkering with the idea of creating an online bakery so I could begin to sell macaroons to the family, friends and bloggies who had requested them. (I’d do it for free, but the ingredients aren’t cheap!)
The first thing I did was consult the health department to see if I could get certified to sell the goodies from my house. The answer was a big Southern-twanged “no”, as I didn’t have a commercial kitchen and also have two fur babies.
I talked to some people in the community, including my friend the Juice Guy (at the Main Squeeze) who said I could use his kitchen at the juice bar to make my raw goodies and sell them online and at the juice place. Winner! Except that the health department doesn’t allow shared kitchens. Fail.
So I kind of put the bakery on the back-burner (even though I have the website ready to go, and just need to press “publish”), and kept trudging along doing the fitness-y things that I love.
Along with the usual, I started making raw lunches as a personal chef to one of my clients.
I’ve also made them quite a few macaroons 😀
While I was taking lunch over last week, my client’s husband asked if I had looked into any more spaces to make my raw goodies, because word started to get around that I could make healthy meals and requests were starting to pile up. I told him no… and he offered to build me a space to make my raw and vegan meals and treats.
So here’s what’s going down:
-A high-raw vegan cafe will be opening in two months. It will be take-out based and every day will have a “special” along with raw treats and vegan snacks that we’ll carry every day. Everything on the menu will be gluten-free, soy-free and vegan. The plans have already been drawn up and things are in motion 🙂
-While I won’t own it (since we’re moving in a year), I’ll be executive chef, planning the menus and training employees
-I’ll be able to get certified for my online bakery and make macaroons and cookies at the restaurant to be sold online
I put notice in at the gym and will not be training as many clients as I have been. This makes me sad, but I’ll be training on a contract basis and it’s time for something *fresh and new*.
I’ll still be teaching Zumba 😀
I’ve very excited, a little nervous, and can’t believe that in two months everything in my life will be quite different.
As soon as I get certified for the bakery, I’ll hit publish on the website and let ya’ll know. In about a month, I’ll start taking pre-orders for macaroons and raw cookies 😀
Get stoked, bloggies! Good stuff is coming 😀
xoxo,
Gina
PS. It’s supposed to SNOW in Valdizzy today! I’ll believe it when I see it 😉
273 Comments
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WOW! EXCITING! Can’t wait for it to get off the ground!
Mucho Congrats!! Way to follow your dreams; I will definitely be ordering some macaroonies in the future 😀
CONGRATULATIONS! What an exciting life transition. I wish you the best of luck. I can’t wait to order!!
Congratulations! So exciting. It sounds perfect for you 🙂
Wow!! SOOOO wonderful!! This is amazing, and totally deserved and well-earned. You can bet your zumba bootie I’ll be ordering some macaroons. I can’t wait to hear how this all progresses!!!!
OHHHHHH exited! Does this mean your readers can finally purchase those amazing looking macaroons? pretty please?!!
Congrats!
🙂
B
YES! that’s exactly what it means 🙂
I always read your blog, but don’t comment often, but this is one of those days that I have to say CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What an awesome opportunity for you!!!!!!! 🙂 So exciting!! I wish you all the best!
Jessica
This is very exciting. Congrats on everything Gina! A high raw food cafe sounds amazing. Glad to hear your living your dream!
CONGRATS!!
I am very excited for you, Gina! And I totally understand wanting something fresh and new, as I left my fulltime training job, too. It is so much more rewarding. Yay! 🙂
SO exciting, and I am so happy for you, Gina!!! 🙂
GAAAAHHHHHHHH! so exciting and so incredibly well-deserved! congrats, girl!
xo
OMG! I am SO excited for you! Way to go girl! Whenever you want something bad enough, and are willing to work for it, it will eventually happen. Again, I’m so happy and thrilled for you!
First time poster, long time reader. I was hoping it would be your own restaurant/cafe! This is amazing and I’m so happy for you! Congratulations!
rita!
thank you and thanks so much for saying hi 🙂
xoxo
yah!!!!! so happy for you!
Congrats!! That sounds so exciting for you!
you’re so amazing, and this is such a wonderful opportunity…congratulations girl!
That is so AWESOME!!!! Way to follow your dream girl. I too am following my dream of becoming an RD and hopefully writing my own cookbook with healthy goodies I make for my daughter. Keep up the great work!!!!
that’s amazing!!!
so happy for you!!!
was this restaurant/cafe in the works? or something else you inspired!! what a great opportunity!
no, it was something i had thought of a little but wasn’t planning on since i couldn’t find a space.
CONGRATS!!! That is so exciting!! Definitely something that suits you perfectly. I can’t wait to read about it all along the way!
So so so pumped for you Gina! Things are finally falling into place!! 🙂
Congratulations beautiful girl. This is a very exciting step to a very exciting future!
Now I just need to get myself down to GA so I can try out the new cafe!
yes you do, little lady 🙂
Congrats! I cant wait to buy some macaroons.
I dont understand who will own the Cafe/bakery if it’s not you?? Are you working for someone else?
yes, the couple who are building it for me (and financing everything) will own the business.
congratulations!! that is awesome. Can’t wait till they’re online!
YAY!!!! And the best part??! WE GET TO BUY MACAROONS!!!! Woohooo!!
Oh yeah, the other stuff for you is awesome but, yay for us!! 😉
I was so close with my guess! Congrats!! Can’t wait to taste some raw cookies 🙂
Congrats! That is very exciting, best of luck. I can’t wait to buy some macaroons!
WOW! Congratulations, what a fabulous opportunity 🙂 I am VERY excited and happy for you!
That is amazing news. Wishing you the best.
And you’re moving?
yes, we’ll be getting stationed somewhere else next spring. so i have 1 year left here 🙂
That’s so exciting, congratulations! I admire the way you’ve been able to turn your passions in to means for living (i.e. making $, paying the rent, etc.). I hope some day I can do the same!
u will!!!!
That is so amazing! Congrats!
OH MY GOSH! That is such awesome and exciting news!!! Super super congrats!! And now the whole world can experience your macaroooooons! 😀
congratulations! so exciting!
That is so exciting! I’m sure youlll be a big sucres!!
WOW congrats!! i’ve been reading your blog for awhile now and am inspired by your meals… i’m still in that raw/vegan transition period. definitely put me down as a macaroon customer!!
SO SO happy for you! Wish I could come work for you too 😉 I know your business is going to be a HUGE success!
if you and josh ever want to relocate, let me know! i’d hire you in a sec 🙂
Awesome news! It’s so great to do what you love. Speaking of which, when you are ready for branding and web assistance, that’s what I love. And my team would be perfect for you because we’re already in the minds of your target market! (Being the healthy, green, workout people we are.)
Check us out at http://www.rdesignonline.com
awesome, thank you!
BIG Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow! Congrats! This is so amazing! 🙂
Hooray! That’s kind of what I thought might be going on (well you getting your own spot) but didn’t want to say anything in case some didn’t guess (or I was wrong!). This is so exciting! I will definitely be asking for some macaroons and cookies!
WOW Gina! That is so great!! Congratulations!! Can’t wait til you open the online bakery! 🙂
THAT is so exciting!!!! Congratulations!
that is soo awesome!!!! a huge congrats to you!!! and i cant wait to get my hands on some of those macaroons 🙂
What an amazing opporunity!!! Congrats and best of luck! I’m so excited to hear all about this adventure!
Yay!! I am so happy for you!! I can’t wait to place my order!
Double (no!) Triple YAY!!!!
So happy for you! CONGRATS 😀
Congratulations!
I’m dyin’ to get my hands on those macaroons — so I’m totally stoked for you to start sellin’ em! LOL
i am 100% driving down to valdosta in two months… congratulations! this is wonderful and i am thrilled for you.
that would be awesome!
Congratulations! You will do awesome with your new venture I am sure! I wish you nothing but great success.
So happy for you! Can’t wait to follow this new journey AND try this macaroons for myself!