Small Business-vs-Covid19 Mimis Cake School

Hi!  Mimis Cake Decorating School,  was created in memory of my mom (photo).

My mom, known as mimi, by those who loved her. Fought a brief & fierce battle with cancer in 2015. We lost her just a few months after she was diagnosed. To say our world was torn apart is an understatement. She was our rock, the glue that held us together, our matriarch.

I not only lost my mom, but my best friend.

I wasn't, I'm still not, prepared for life without her. And in a lot of ways I'm in denial.

 

My mom had a stuttering speech impediment her entire life. She was bullied as a child and even as an adult.

She would make jokes to overcome her stuttering. But it held her back on so many things she wanted to do.

Public speaking always eluded her.

I volunteered at the same senior center she volunteered at. I would teach decorating classes, and she worked in the gift shop. She would pop her head in and be so proud that I could what she couldn't, get up in front of a group of students and teach.

 

After I lost my mom, i was lost, depressed, filled with anger. Furious cancer had taken my mom from me, from our family. I started, mimis cake decorating school, to honor my mom and carry on her love for baking & decorating. Not realizing it at the time, that creating the school was therapeutic for me, and my family. 

 

When I started the business it was well received. It's a unique business, known as the school that comes to you!

Students learn how to bake & decorate from the comfort of their kitchen.  We also host inhome decorating parties. We got to travel and meet some of the most amazing, talented people. ❤
We love teaching so much. It's our passion. Nothing makes us happier than to see our students reach their goals. Our students have welcomed us into their homes, their lives and we've become family. 

My mom would have loved this. She enjoyed meeting new people. 

She made friends instantly. And was always so much fun!

Think Lucy & Ethel (my mom being Lucy)

 

Part of my business is donate a percentage of each class sale to St. Judes children's hospital (my moms favorite charity)  donating cakes & classes to women's shelters, cakes to our vets, the elderly, families who can't afford a custom cake, as well as deliver food/treat bags to the homeless, and donate cookies & cupcakes, to various non-profits, for their fundraising. 

Volunteering came naturally to us. We've volunteered in some capacity our entire lives. We were brought up to never take without giving. 

We had hopes in 2020, to start a non-profit, Mimis Angles. 

 

But then Covid19 happened.  All my classes were canceled, refunded and we didn't teach for over 18 months.

Tried in vain to get help from the government. (Yes, it's a legal business)

By the end of 2021, classes slowly started to come back. We were thrilled to be teaching again! And with the loss of any government help behind me. I was looking forward!! My family and I were even able to do a little volunteer work too!!

 

Now, in 2022, with the most recent covid19 surge, classes are being canceled & refunded again. 

My business will not survive. 

The reality of losing what we've  been working towards is frightening.

I'm not afraid of the hard work.

I never, ever thought I would be in a place that I would need to ask for help. But here I am. Family, friends & my students have asked me, if they could  start a go fund me account, I always declined their offer. Thinking (and praying) I wouldn't need it. I'm the person who donates, who volunteers, who helps others. 
Now the reality of losing everything is so real, so close - I have to admit, I'm the one who needs help. This is NOT easy for me. 

Your donation will help keep my business going, invest in new classes, supplies, pay  instructors, let us continue to do our volunteer work, donate and hopefully get mimis angels up & running. 

 

I appreciate you taking the time to read this. If you're looking for a way to help a small business directly- I hope you consider donating. 

I promise you, if my business survives, we will do what we do best, teaching & paying it forward.

✌&❤