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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I am SO excited for you!!!! And I will DEF be ordering some of your ‘roons when you get the online store going 😀 I can’t tell you how many of your ‘roon give away’s I’ve entered hoping and praying I’d be the lucky one.
You rock girl! And good luck!!
That is AWESOME news! Congrats…when things are meant to be they always fall into place!!
Congrats for following your dreams. Can’t wait to see pics of the new bakery. Wish I lived down the street.
Wow! I’m really proud of you….may sound cheesy but I am!!! I cannot wait to order roons!!!
Way to go! Such a great way to turn your passion into your career. Check out Small Business Grants and Programs- if you did decide to take part ownership you could get Diversity/Minority Certified and get special financing and programs.
wow, good to know! thank you 🙂
Congrats! That sounds very exciting.
OMG I CANNOT WAIT TO ORDER! CONGRATS! I am so excited for you and know you’ll do incredible. I can’t wait to read about the progress. Wow, just so exciting! You’re truly inspirational! I seriously love how you make the most of every situation. Congrats congrats congrats! (ps – im obv just a reader haha but feel like i know you from following you for over a year!)
thanks melissa!
😀
Congratulations! That is so amazing! I can’t WAIT to order some of the macaroons I am always drooling over on my computer screen.
A huge CONGRATULATIONS!!! That is so incredible Gina…be proud, be psyched! You are fabulous!
Turns out Valdosta isn’t so bad after all?! Look what doors have opened and how you have made the most of your situation!!! You should be so proud of yourself, really. It’s so easy to let your location situation get you down and you’re a real inspiration!
I knew it would be something like that! How very awesome!!!!! Doing something you love and getting paid to do it is amazing!
I’ve often thought that when I get tired of being a lawyer (I don’t want to do this for the rest of my life although I love it right now) I’ll open up my own bakery/cafe! It’s been my dream forever!!!!!!
For now I’ll live vicariously through you! 🙂
That is big news! I’m so excited for you! Congratulations =D
This is amazing! I was guessing you were going to be doing some kind of take out delivery service, but this is even better! Congrats!! Your raw meals always look so amazing:)
That is SO exciting! What a fabulous life step. Isn’t it great when you actually ENJOY going to work?! 😀
This is so exciting! I will definitely be ordering some macaroons 🙂 CONGRATS!
AHH this is SO exciting! Congrats times a million…I can’t wait to order as soon as you set this up!
Congrats girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So happy for you!! Its so great when you find your love/niche in life and you are amazing!!! It will be alot of work but fun!!! U love it so that makes it so great!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!! SO happy for you!!!
Katie xoxo
That is SO SO exciting!! Congrats on your new adventure 🙂
Congratulations, Gina! This is so exciting! 🙂
You are SO inspiring!!! Congratulations and good luck on this exciting endeavor! I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds for you =)
Oh my goodness that’s AMAZING!!! You’re such an inspiration, following all your dreams. I can’t wait to watch your journey!
Congrats!!!
OH MY GOSH i’m so excited for you!! i think you’re amazing, and no one deserves this more!
i can’t wait to order some macarooooooons!!
I can only repeat what everybody else is saying. your life is more than inspiring to me.
What a pity though that I live a few thousand miles away in good ol’ Germnay…Is there any chance you’ll also offer free shipping…? 🙂
All the best for you!
i’ll see what we can do 🙂
i’d love to send you some roons!
Yeah, congrats. You are one lucky girl. I will say I was a little disappointed. I was so sure that recipe would be posted. Oh well, ordering will be on my list of things to do. Good Luck and enjoy.
Congrats girly!!!
Can’t wait to order the macaroons 🙂 🙂
Congrats! I love how you are blending so many of your passions. I can’t wait to try one of your baked goodies:)
I knew it! Congrats!
Put my name at top of that list mmk?
;p
Ohhhh awesome! I’m looking forward to the day the website goes live! I wonder if we will all crash the server? HA!
AH AH AH I almost screamed when I read this! I’m so excited for you Gina!!! Now I will have to go to Valdosta… seems like your city’s getting better everyday! CONGRATULATIONS!
thank you!!!
come visit anytime- you know you have a place to stay! 🙂
That is INCREDIBLE. Just goes to show you what you can do if you keep working at it! Now I need to make myself one of those inspiration boards, as it seems they actually work… =)
they do work! it’s amazing 🙂
Woohoo!!!! I’ve been curious about what those macaroons taste like since I first saw the pics.
In other news, that is the biggest Zuc I’ve ever seen. That thing could feed a small country 😀
LOL isn’t it GIANT?!
WOW! That’s exicting stuff. It’s amazing how people will come together and help when you put yourself out there.
seriously- it’s amazing how people will help each other out 😀
OMGosh!!!! This is awesome! I cannot WAIT to order some of your yummy delicious-ness! Too bad you won’t be open when we drive down to O town for the race, we’d have to stop by. This is SO YOU, girl. I am proud of you and excited for you. 😀
thank you! when are you driving down?? stop by my casa on the way 🙂
congrats!! that is SO exciting!!!
CONGRATULATIONS! I’m so proud that you didn’t let VDizzle’s big fat NO get you discouraged!
wow that is sooo exciting! congrats 🙂
Congrats girl!! That’s amazing and well deserved
Congrats!!! That’s so exciting!!
That is so, so, SO exciting!!!! All the food you make looks absolutely delicious. It’s made even a carnivore like myself consider trying a few meatless/raw days. I’m sure that your cafe will be a HUGE success! And as for that online bakery. I better hide my debit card once its up and running! lol
Yayyyyy Gina!!!!!!!!! Maja’ hugs 🙂
CONGRATS!!! This goes to show us all that good things do happen when you follow your dreams. I cannot wait to see all that this opportunity has to offer for you, I have a feeling it is going to be great. 🙂
SO exciting! I can’t wait to order some macaroons. They totally make my mouth water.
Ahhh that is amazingly fantastic news!!! I absolutely cannot wait to order some goodies.
YAY! LOVE IT!! So excited for you, and cannot wait to order up some goodies!
OH MY GOSH! AMAZING!!!
Can I come work for you after September 17, 2010?? That is when I graduate from culinary school!!
No, I am NOT kidding!!! =D
So excited for you!!!
xo
K
sent you an email 🙂
Wow that is SUCH exciting news!! I’ll be SURE to support your bakery!! I wish I lived nearby so I can come to the actual store on opening day! Congratulations!! You deserve it all!!
That is fantastic news!!!! Congratulations!!! Can’t wait to put in my order! 🙂
I’M SO EXCITED!!!!!!! I’ve been DYING to try some of your ‘roons! I’ll be pre-ordering ASAP 🙂 Good luck with everything!
Ah!!! Gina, that is SO amazing. I’m so happy for you. All of your genuine hard work and dedication deserves a treat like this!!! CONGRATS TIMES A MILLION. [:
Love,
Heather