I think every year goes faster than the year before...maybe it's because I'm getting older and watching my child grow waaay too fast, which makes me more and more sentimental and sappy?  Whatever it is, I don't like it!  Nevertheless, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year- here's my Steph's Sweet Treats 2017 all wrapped up.

Clearly, I had a lot more time/time management was a lot easier when Wyatt was younger.  Now that he's technically a toddler (insert tears), I have less time, or maybe less ambition or energy to do some things I used to- in turn I take the precious time with him.  So there's not as many blog posts, shorter open days...even a few less or them, and not as much testing or making new flavors and specialty cakes, and last minute orders can't always be taken.  But, I made it through a crazy busy wedding season and Christmas cookies, so hopefully this next month I can do a bit more of that.

This year wraps up my fourth full year in business, making 2018 year five-how has it been five years already??  Each year brings bigger and better things, new customers, new challenges, and hopefully continued growth.  A few new things that happened or occurred in 2017 include:
-Selling product at Cobblestone Coffee House
-Selling product at Home Grown Pizza
-Doing baked goods for some large companies on more than one occasion
-Adding a side business to the bakery (Lipsense- can find it here on the Steph's Cupcake Kisses page)
-First ever Steph's Sweet Treats customer appreciation day.  The next one is already scheduled and I'm working on making it bigger and better in 2018.
-Reaching the biggest wedding number yet....40 this year!  

In the last four years I have met so many great people and have been truly shocked, grateful and amazed by the support of this community.  I never imagined my little dream would take off like it has....packing 1000+ cupcakes into my tiny space, triple wedding weekends, 700 Christmas cookies at once....who would have thought?  Surely not me.  And how has this business grown-you guys.  For the most part, I don't advertise.  This growth has come from word of mouth, a great community, and social media.  Shop small....shop local...send your friends.  This is what I rely on each and every day to keep this business going and support my family.  

I'm going to work on adding a few new cupcake flavors (because 175+ just isn't enough), a few specialty predesign cakes, and getting people in the doors for open days. I'm only one person....and yes I plan on keeping it that way (I'll do a blog post on my reasoning why soon), so THANK YOU all for your continued support while I have adjusted my work load, pick up times, etc with having a family.  You will never know how much I appreciate each every order.  

If you haven't heard (or seen), I added a new section/aspect to the bakery...LipSense!  Some of you may not know what I'm talking about, and men are probably thinking they don't care...but hang in there... it's perfect for wifes, girlfriends, daughters, mothers, etc!  

If you came to my Steph's Sweet Treats customer appreciation day then you probably saw the LipSense vendor Haley.  Since then, I've decided to add it to my shop and sell it myself.  Why cupcakes and lip color?  Well first of all... they are both amazing..but secondly-  it's PERFECT for weddings!  My first thought was brides, bridesmaids, bridesmaids gifts, mothers of the bride and groom.  But in reality, it's pretty darn perfect for everyone.  I mean come on...who would think that a baker who hides away in a kitchen would need pretty lips all day?  It's not like the oven or cupcakes care right??  Turns out, I love that it makes me look and feel more human (instead of a crazy baker who wakes up in the wee hours of the morning or bakes all night....and look like it!)  I could probably count on one hand the number of days a year I wore lip color before discovering LipSense; now I can count the number of days a week I don't wear it on half a hand...if that!  Yup...it's that amazing.

So what is it??  LipSense is a long wearing lip color (not a stain!).  It can last you up to 18 hours if you want it to!  It works with a permeable shea gloss that soaks through your color to keep your lips hydrated all day.  It's waterproof, smudge proof, kiss proof, wax free, gluten free, lead free, AND cruelty free.  One tube can last you 4-6 month!  Don't worry, I'm not here to convince you to buy it or push product on you-if you try the product it speaks for itself.  I'm just hear to tell you I now offer it, love it and would love to not only be your baker, but your lip girl.  If you want more information, to see what I have, to see the lip colors on, please check out the facebook group by clicking here. 

Another reason for adding this to the bakery is that it makes for some pretty awesome gift combos-  Specialty predesign cake and lip color gift anyone??  I will post specials in the facebook group and occasionally on the Steph's Sweet Treats page so you can tag or share it to people whom you may want to get it for you ;)   (P.S. the number of color combinations you can make is kind of like my cupcake flavor list....endless!)

Thanks for another week of orders everyone!!

Coffee and cupcakes....can't get much better than that.  Unless, it's Steph's Sweet Treats cupcakes at Cobblestone Coffee House!!  Cobblestone Coffee House is under new management and wants to shake things up a bit and partner locally...which is the best thing ever!  

So, starting next week you can get your Steph's Sweet Treats fix when you stop in for your coffee fix! How amazing is that?? Pop in for coffee or a bite to eat, and DO NOT forget your dessert!  I will be stocking their cases with a variety of goodies.  If there's something particular you are wanting to see let me or Dani (manger) know and I'll do my best to rotate things in by demand.  Cobblestone Coffee House will be keeping their current scones, muffins and cookies that they make and I will start by rotating in cupcakes and pies.  As the season changes, so will the treats!

I'm very excited for this partnership and new venture and I hope you are all excited as well!  You now have more opportunity to get your Steph's Sweet Treats goodies, and I hope this will drive my customers to Cobblestone Coffee House and Cobblestone's to me.  

Keep an eye out for more fun and events- Thanks for another week of orders everyone!

There's a lot of fun events coming up that I will be attending (or hosting) so this blog post will fill you in on the details so you can mark your calendars and join in on the fun!

Besides my monthly open days (next one is April 13th so make sure you pop in for some pre-Easter goodies!), here's what you can look forward to:

Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship:  This year is the 6th annual Grilled Cheese Championship (my third year attending) and believe me when I tell you this event gets bigger and better every year!  The event will be held on April 29th 11am-4pm at the Ley Memorial Pavilion at Harris Park.  The event is free and is fun the whole family.  Stop by to watch the competition, sample local cheeses, grab lunch and drinks from local food trucks and of course grab your dessert...my cupcakes!

Sip and Savor: Taste of Southwest Wisconsin-  this event (on May 13 4pm-7pm) is being held by Upland Hills Health and also takes place at the Ley Memorial Pavillion at Harris Park.  It's the first year this event will be taking place, so make sure you stop by so it can occur year after year!  Admission is free, but you purchase tickets in order to "sip and savor" local foods and drinks...including my cupcakes!  There will also be music by Shekinah King and Point Five.  The bases are all covered: food, drinks, music, and cupcakes!  A guaranteed good time so mark your calendars!

Also in May (it's going to be a busy few months!) I will be setting up at an amazing new location just outside of town.  The details are still in the works, but it will be May 20 at White Oak Savanna so mark your calendar and check out this beautiful place!

And lastly, my very own event:  Steph's Sweet Treats customer appreciation day!  Once again, the event will be at the Ley Memorial Pavillon at Harris Park; June 25th 11am-3pm.  I did a previous blog post on this event, but here it is again!  The event is a day to celebrate the support of my customers with local vendors, door prizes, Steph's Sweet Treats merchandise, samples, and cupcakes!  There will also be a coloring table set up and I'm looking for someone who can do face painting (Cheeky Monkey is already booked- so I'm interested in just finding an artistic person looking to make a few bucks-contact me if you know someone or if you are interested!)  The event is free, but come ready to shop because there will be all kinds of amazing vendors!  

Vendors: LulaRoe, Arbonne, Norwex, dōTERRA®, Thirty-One, Scentsy, Avon, Decorative windows, L'bri, Magnolia & Vine, Plexus, Keep, Sign and craft maker, Haley's Country Connections, Clever Container, Fizziez, Decor and glass block maker, Woodn' Bucket Designs, Usborne Books, and Great Scott's Pizza.

I hope you can make it to all these events- I look forward to baking for them and seeing everyone!  Thanks for another week of orders!

Steph's Sweet Treats has grown mostly by word of mouth and Facebook.  My customers have been outstanding at telling their friends and family about me as well as spreading the word on Facebook.  I rarely do any outside advertising, so the fact that Steph's Sweet Treats has grown the way it has, just goes to further show how amazing my customers are.  So it's time to celebrate you...the customers!  

I am planning a Customer Appreciation Day event at the Ley Memorial Pavilion at Harris Park on June 25 from 11am-3pm!  All the details are still in the works but I wanted to get it out there early so you can mark your calendars and plan on stopping! Since there's been so many local supporters of me, I thought I'd make this a day to help and celebrate other small local businesses at the same time.  

So not only will I be set up with merchandise and discount cupcakes, there will be vendors of all kinds (example: LulaRoe, Arbonne, Scentsy, etc), door prizes, and hopefully some music and food vendors!  There will be all kinds of amazing things in one place for a day full of fun, cupcakes, and me thanking you for making Steph's Sweet Treats a dream come true for me!  Mark your calendars and stay tuned for all the details!

​As usual, thanks for another week of orders!!

  I'm clearly in a very giveaway type mood lately.  The mixer giveaway is going on....the open day giveaway...and now this photo contest!  So let me tell you how it will work!  

I LOVE seeing your photos of Steph's Sweet Treats goodies and events so send them my way!  I will add each photo to an album on my Facebook page and send you a direct link to your photo.  I will take a week to collect photos.  Once I have all the submissions, you will have a week to get your friends, family, etc to go "like" your photo.  The photo with the most likes at the end of a week will win a free 8" specialty pre-design cake along with a Steph's Sweet Treats cup and can koozie!  

Don't have a photo with your Steph's Sweet Treats goodies yet?  Here are some ideas of what you can do to qualify:
Photos of/with:
-Your Steph's Sweet Treats cake, cupcakes, cookies, etc. (you, your children, or guests, can also be in the photo!)
-You at an event that has Steph's Sweet Treats goodies (ex.  photo from a wedding where you are eating a Steph's Sweet Treats cupcake, snapping a photo of a display containing Steph's Sweet Treats goodies, etc)
-Decorating cookies from a Steph's Sweet Treats cookie kit
-Your visit to an open day
-Wearing your Steph's Sweet Treats shirt
-Spotting the Steph's Sweet Treats vehicle and snapping a picture of yourself or kids with it
-Smash cake session with a Steph's Sweet Treats cake
-Birthday person posing with their Steph's Sweet Treats cake/cupcakes
-Cutting into/eating your Steph's Sweet Treats gender reveal cake/cupcakes
-Pretty much anything Steph's Sweet Treats related!

Need some examples?  Visit the Steph's Sweet Treats customer experiences photo album below: 

https://www.facebook.com/stephsweetreatsDodgeville/photos/?tab=album&album_id=266425793536702

Thanks for another week of orders!  Send me your photos now!!  (You have until Saturday November 12 to send photos)

If you remember last year around this time I did a big KitchenAid mixer giveaway/raffle....well guess what???  I have decided to make this a yearly giveaway! It was so popular and who doesn't want to win a mixer AND help a good cause?

How does it work?  All you have to do is buy a ticket/tickets to be entered to win-  I draw the winner on my business anniversary (December 31st)  How does it help a good cause?  Once ticket sales reach the cost of the prize, all remaining funds get donated to the Iowa County Humane Society.  Oddly enough, last year's winner adopted a cat from ICHS the day they picked up their mixer!  How cool is that?!  

I will be doing a regular open day in November (date to be announced) so you will be able to purchase your tickets at that time if you wish.  You can also contact me to stop in at another time or mail money and have me enter your name/tickets into the drawing.  The photo from above is of last year's basket, but this year's will essentially be the same.  I will be raffling off a white mixer, measuring cups, utensils, pot holder, birthday candles, and Steph's Sweet Treats can koozie!  Get your tickets now!

Thanks for another week of orders and being patient with my limited ability to take calls at the moment (no cell reception for a bit over here!),

This year should be called the crazy year with a million changes (a good crazy of course!).  Not only did my husband and I just have a baby, but we are also moving!  Why do things one at a time right???  Go big or go home!  If you follow the blog or facebook page regularly, you probably already know this.  However, I need to post about a little limbo time period where it might be a little harder to reach me.  

After the first week of October to sometime in November, I will not have regular cell phone service.  We will be having to live at my parents house for a short time before we are able to move to our new home.  They live in the boonies with little to no cell service....which makes things a bit complicated for my business huh?!  Solution?  Be patient with me-please!  If you call or text my phone please allot a grace period for response due to not having service and needing to get service in order to receive calls and messages.  That means, depending on when you contact me, it could be over a day before you hear back from me.  

The easiest way to contact me with be via Facebook or email.  I will try my best to have my computer near me and on so that I can respond to messages and emails quickly.  I will be sure to check them regularly.  Since it is a whole lot easier and faster for me to check online that it is to drive up the road to see if I have voicemails and texts, please use this method to contact me.  Especially if you need to hear back from me quickly.

This temporary move is farther away than our new home will be....this is very important because it means (as I continue to stress) showing up on time for pickups and meetings is very important.  I cannot get to the bakery in two minutes anymore and if I have to return for you because of lateness, it could be awhile..even longer if you try calling me and I have no service for you to rearrange a pickup.  So please make the extra effort to be timely. (I hate when I have to enforce the late fee!)

Thanks for another week of orders!

It's been a crazy (good crazy) year so far over here at Steph's Sweet Treats!  With the year coming to an end...can you believe that?!..there are still a few events you can attend.  The first event you should know about is Off the Vine. 

I participated in Off the Vine in 2014 and had a blast.  It was not put on last year so I was very excited to hear it was back this year!  What is it?  It is an event put on by the Dodgeville Area Chamber of Commerce and local downtown businesses.  Each participating business has two wines and a snack; participants get to explore the businesses, meet the owners, snack, and taste great wines at each location.  If you are a wine lover, get your tickets now!  And don't forget to stop at Steph's Sweet Treats!  My snack will be some bite size cupcakes and cutout cookies.

Last year I did an event that I would love to do again, if time allows and if people are interested.  It was called "Ladies Night" and was held on a Friday night in April.  I had cupcakes for sale and then "hosted parties" of Norwex, Perfectly Posh, and Chloe+Isabel at the same time.  Anybody who stopped in had the opportunity to buy cupcakes, cleaning products, skin products, AND jewelry!  Sounds pretty amazing right?!  

Well I'd like to continuing doing events like this, but switch up the vendors every time so I can offer a good mix of goodies to people.  But I can't decide when to host the event and which vendors to have.  I do have a business card for a younique makeup consultant so I will probably contact them.  If you are a consultant for a company feel free to contact me!  I only have space for 3 (maybe 4 if you can take up a small amount of space) sellers and will have to weigh which vendors to take.  However, I can always keep a running list of people for future events so don't hesitate to contact me!

Please comment on here, on the Facebook post, or vote below.  

I hope to see you at these events!  As always, thanks for another week of orders!

Don't get scared by the words "new policy"....it's really not all that new.  I should probably reword that to "policy that will now actually be enforced."  As much as I HATE to do it...I've talked about it for a long time and it has now become more important than ever.  Steph's Sweet Treats will now have a late fee for pickups. 

I know, I know...boo right?!  I apologize, but since I do not have regular hours and all pickups are scheduled, it is very important that people show up on time for their pickups.  I have talked about this on the blog before but have never actually made the move to enforce it.  Mostly because it's going to be very hard (and awkward) for me to enforce the fee...but I know I have to do it if I want people to make more of an effort to show up on time and respect my time.  

Why now?  Well, like I said,  It has been a long time coming...but having a newborn definitely pushed me to toughen up and just enforce it.  Time is precious; time with your baby is even more precious! My method of feeding also makes it very important for customers to arrive on time....otherwise you might find yourself locked out for a period of time until I can get to the door/help you.

In addition to all of this, I will be moving in a few months.  Not far, but no longer a minute from my shop. (Which reminds me- if you or someone you know is interested in buying a 3 bedroom one bathroom house in Dodgeville message me!)  Being close to the shop made running back and forth for people who were late not that big of a deal.  Now, it will take me at least 10-15 minutes to get back to my shop...and that's not taking into account packing up a baby.  

All customers are made aware that their pickups are scheduled; I am not there all day every day...and sometimes I am just there for one specific pickup.  So coming on time is expected.  I have made an extra effort myself as well to send a quick text, message, or email or phone call the night before or day of the pickups to remind people of their pickups. I understand that things come up that can make you late....that's fine...just let me know.  Not letting me know and leaving me sitting and waiting for 15 minutes- to an hour + sometimes ends up meaning I leave the shop and then have to return once I can get a hold of the customer- having a baby and living farther away will make that trickier.

So what's the policy?  This is what I have been attaching to messages, texts, emails, and what I will tell people over the phone and post in my shop: Late Fee- Steph's Sweet Treats schedules pickups. Customers are expected to show up at their scheduled pick up times.  If customers show up 15 minutes or more late (without notice) there is a $5 late fee for every 15 minutes.  If I have to leave and return due to lateness there is an additional fee.

I hope everyone can understand why I have choosen to go this route.  I have debated on it for a long time and have finally decided to do it.  If you have been late in the past please do not think this policy is being put into place because of you.  This has been a slow build up of events and is certainly not being done because of anyone specific.

Thank you for another week of orders!