71 replies to this topic

[butterqueen]

I have been running my cupcake truck for 3 years, and now I'm on the verge of opening my own store.

I got so excited about it, I accidentally sent info to my dad, forgetting that he is captain bringdown.

In 3 years of this business, I have auditioned for the food network, I've been on national TV, I've teamed up with the launch of movies, TV shows, been in a national magazine, on huffington post...

And do you know, my father has never even seen my truck? He refers to it as "my little business"...and has never contributed in time, care, interest or otherwise...

It's sad when the one person you most want to be proud of you is the one person who never will be.

In brighter news, Maker's Mark just asked to sponsor me to make some bourbon cupcakes and is going to send me a case to experiment with.

[MeOmYo]

[JBetty]

Sucks about your dad. My mother is the same way.

A case to "experiment" with.

[Joker]

[jimbo02816]

lol...Captain Bringdown...love it...your family is not unique..my family is full of bringdowns, manipulators, and basically dysfunctional people...welcome to life

[B. Diddy]

3 years?! Wow, time flies. Congrats!

[bigtoddy]

My dad always liked to play it safe, he always wanted me to play it safe, military, corporate jobs, etc. He could never understand some of the choices I made. Now, he's old and bitter and is starting to realize that playing it safe may not get you behind in the game, but it certainly won't put you ahead, or make you happy.

Congratulations on taking a risk, changing your lifestyle, and living the life that you find most rewarding. Its the most any could ask in terms of success.

[shadeelady]

Three years!!! Whoa! I can't believe it's been that long already!

congrats!! I still need a cupcake!! Where is your store going to be??

I think you'd better have a bourbon tasting first, make sure that case is good enough quality for your cupcakes!

[GoPlastic]

i'd like to try a Maker's Mark cupcake.

congrats on 3 years, don't worry about Dad...in the end, if he never comes around, it's his loss not yours.

[melissaphish]

about your Dad

about a case of Maker's Mark and your 3 year cup-aversary

[lilphlower]

unfortch, you cant pick your parents. as long as you are proud of yourself, and you are an extension of him, well then he is proud of you by six degrees of separation. or something.

i bet everyone in your life that you have chosen to be a part of your life is proud of you, and that is another thing to be proud of, picking good peeps.

heck, im proud of you and dont even really know you! keep it up mama!!!!

[B. Diddy]

Suggestion for the maker's mark cupcake...for presentation, try to make the top of the cupcake look like the top of the bottle! You could have your buttercream (I assume), and then you'd pour hot, dark-red (maker's flavored?) icing over it, so that once it cooled it looks like the bottle top!

[Royal]

My dad always liked to play it safe, he always wanted me to play it safe, military, corporate jobs, etc. He could never understand some of the choices I made. Now, he's old and bitter and is starting to realize that playing it safe may not get you behind in the game, but it certainly won't put you ahead, or make you happy. Congratulations on taking a risk, changing your lifestyle, and living the life that you find most rewarding. Its the most any could ask in terms of success.

this ^ totally

Toddy sometimes you can be really eloquent

[KittyRocks]

He refers to it as "my little business"

how patronizing

thats unfortunate, he is missing out big time!

i know you arent looking for the support of some chic you dont know from the internet, but for what its worth im super impressed with all your success. also, i want to eat all your cupcakes!

Suggestion for the maker's mark cupcake...for presentation, try to make the top of the cupcake look like the top of the bottle! You could have your buttercream (I assume), and then you'd pour hot, dark-red (maker's flavored?) icing over it, so that once it cooled it looks like the bottle top!

thats not a bad idea... might be hard to execute? maybe some sort of whiskey white chocolate ganache with red dye in it? just trying to think what would setup nicely like the wax on the bottle.....

[B. Diddy]

Yeah. The hard part, I was thinking, would be that you'd need the red part to be semi-liquid for pouring onto cupcakes, but not so hot that it melts the buttercream you're pouring it on.

it would look so cool though, if you had a cupcake with a cork-sized dollop of frosting, and then the red ganache/glaze/whatever on top, poured on just so. All the cupcakes would look like little makers bottles!!!

[KittyRocks]

i must admit it is super cool and you could tell in a flash what you were looking at, makers mark cupcakes!

im sure the cupcake queen can figure out something cool

[TEO]

Congratulations butterqueen!!!

Are you where you where you thought you would be in 3 years time, or even further than you had planned?

[Lostsailr]

So Dad's NOT getting any Maker's Mark samples I'm guessing.
Congrats on your past success and a toast to your future endeavors!

[little frog]

sorry about dad .. congrats on the store though, that's great news! cupcakes .. your dad probably just can't wrap his head around it .. small cake + icing = ?? .. a business .. he doesn't watch the food channel?

[Kuzsin]

.....its hard to live up to others expectations....but as long as you live up to yours , you have lived....there's really good feelings going on in this thread...its kind of ironic to have been sent some makers (dad)mark (impression) ....cheers.

[concert andy]

Hhere are a couple of pictures of the new store. We were there last night signing theLetter of Intent, dropping off down payment, and confirming what equipment we would like to keep/but and what the owner could get rid of/sell off.

I figure Kate will change it up slightly but this is the canvas we have to work with.

[TEO]

Looks like a nice canvas from which to start. Congratulations!

[MeOmYo]

looks like a cool place! good luck!

[jme]

fuckin' A.. .good shit Kate. and you did all this with Andy, just hanging on even better.

kudos to you guyses for doing it your way. Do let us know when the store opens. My wife's been wanting to meet one of her girlfriends in Philly for the weekend with our kids. I'll have them hold it off until we can visit the store. Lisa's girlfriend is a huge cupcake junkie on the Baltimore / DC circuit.

and yeah Dad's be Dadding all all over the place. I've learned I can't change mine no matter what I accomplish.

[B. Diddy]

I'd buy cupcakes there.

[concert andy]

fuckin' A.. .good shit Kate. and you did all this with Andy, just hanging on even better. kudos to you guyses for doing it your way. Do let us know when the store opens. My wife's been wanting to meet one of her girlfriends in Philly for the weekend with our kids. I'll have them hold it off until we can visit the store. Lisa's girlfriend is a huge cupcake junkie on the Baltimore / DC circuit. and yeah Dad's be Dadding all all over the place. I've learned I can't change mine no matter what I accomplish.

Store is tentatively set to open the beginning of August, but I will keep you all posted.

[bigtoddy]

Yeah. The hard part, I was thinking, would be that you'd need the red part to be semi-liquid for pouring onto cupcakes, but not so hot that it melts the buttercream you're pouring it on. it would look so cool though, if you had a cupcake with a cork-sized dollop of frosting, and then the red ganache/glaze/whatever on top, poured on just so. All the cupcakes would look like little makers bottles!!!

This reminds me of the stuff you pour on ice cream sundaes, or dips for soft serve. It can be done.

[B. Diddy]

Magic shell? Yeah, same idea, exactly! I'm sure Kate can concoct the confection. The only issue I see is that magic shell works because teh ice cream is cold. It would need to be tweaked.

[bigtoddy]

Just make the cupcakes, put them in the freezer for an hour, magic shell, harden and thaw.

[hoagie]

she could use red fondant rolled out very thin, and draped over the botttle-shaped cupcake. cool idea, and congrats on the store.

[KittyRocks]

can you make homemade magic shell? bc i think the stuff from the store is gross... no way to impress makers mark.... imho

[KittyRocks]

she could use red fondant rolled out very thin, and draped over the botttle-shaped cupcake. cool idea, and congrats on the store.

ahh! best idea so far!

[bigtoddy]

can you make homemade magic shell? bc i think the stuff from the store is gross... no way to impress makers mark.... imho

This is true, and the dip for soft serve is very waxy. It would have to be quality, but the concept is the same.

[B. Diddy]

Personally, I find fondant repulsive and think taste is the most important thing. Fondant is for making things pretty, but tastes like crap.

[concert andy]

Personally, I find fondant repulsive and think taste is the most important thing. Fondant is for making things pretty, but tastes like crap.

That is how Kate feels. She has never done any fondant.

She is more focused on taste.

[B. Diddy]

She ain't the Fondant Queen!

[little frog]

the store is really cute! a great space. where is it?

[butterqueen]

Congratulations butterqueen!!! Are you where you where you thought you would be in 3 years time, or even further than you had planned?

this was a good question, I thought about it last night.

In some ways, I'm so much farther than I expected. I never thought I would have 10k followers, would get the kind of exposure that I have had, get the positive and at times weird reaction from people. This morning I went into the health department but on the other side was a health clinic. As soon as the lady heard who I was, she announced it on a microphone like "the cupcake lady is here, she's on TV and famous." Of course, plenty of people don't know who I am, but in Philly, it's fun and flattering. I get so much free food.

On the other side, the economy sucks. I thought it would be way easier to get money in legit ways, like from banks, but those bastards only seem to want to lend to companies who already have lots of money...and they need it less! It's made me a bit discouraged about our country, taxes, banks, small businesses, zoning, city politics, douchbags in general. There have been as many "downs" as ups...but if it was easy, I guess everyone would be doing it.

The big difference now between back in the day--I like myself now. I'm proud of myself. I didn't get here through my family, nepotism or blowing anyone--just hard work and a good product.

[butterqueen]

the store is really cute! a great space. where is it?

pennsport, or south philly if you want to be specific. It's not far from the stadiums, ikea, etc.

It's a bit off the beaten path for a brand new business but because I have the truck to go to center city, it's got a nice kitchen in the back where I can bake product for the truck, events, catering and I can use the front as a little cafe as a bonus.

I want to do parties there, decorating classes for kids and stuff. Bourbon cupcake tasting parties.

[B. Diddy]

The important thing, Kate, is what do you think of my little Makers bottle cupcake idea, and how much royalties can I expect to receive for each cupcake?

[butterqueen]

The important thing, Kate, is what do you think of my little Makers bottle cupcake idea, and how much royalties can I expect to receive for each cupcake?

I think it's an amazing idea. They were looking for recipe ideas with the bourbon but if I tossed them a cupcake that resembled the bottle I feel like they would think it was bad ass.

I think it's bad ass that a liquor company wants me to make them boozy stuff. I just love it.

[B. Diddy]

You could reduce the bourbon and use the syrup to flavor the buttercream!

We had an amazing souffle in New Orleans that had a caramel whiskey sauce. It was unbelievable. Maybe you can do a red caramel bourbon sauce for the red part.

[Karen]

Congratulations!!!!

[little frog]

pennsport, or south philly if you want to be specific. It's not far from the stadiums, ikea, etc. It's a bit off the beaten path for a brand new business but because I have the truck to go to center city, it's got a nice kitchen in the back where I can bake product for the truck, events, catering and I can use the front as a little cafe as a bonus. I want to do parties there, decorating classes for kids and stuff. Bourbon cupcake tasting parties.

i would love to do events in that little space. very cozy

[PieDoh]

Congrats! now get to work thinking of recepies using scotch, gin and vodka..mmmm....single malt cupcakes!...

[nancykind]

i bet your dad IS very proud and just doesn't know how to say so and to acknowledge it. maybe he takes the fact that you didn't follow in his footsteps personally right now, but maybe not and even if he does, it ain't over yet and there's time for him to find the words.

my dad can say anything when he signs a card but is incabable of telling me he loves me in words. that's all about HIM though, not me at all. keep that in mind, too.

i'm super excited for you!!! i would DEFINITELY stop in to the store next time i'm in philly!!!!

[concert andy]

i bet your dad IS very proud and just doesn't know how to say so and to acknowledge it. maybe he takes the fact that you didn't follow in his footsteps personally right now, but maybe not and even if he does, it ain't over yet and there's time for him to find the words.

my dad can say anything when he signs a card but is incabable of telling me he loves me in words. that's all about HIM though, not me at all. keep that in mind, too.

i'm super excited for you!!! i would DEFINITELY stop in to the store next time i'm in philly!!!!

I am not so sure about her dad. Her dad WANTS to be right SO BAD. I think this for the simple fact that his 4 of his next 5 kids are in college, and he is basically making them all go to Law School.

The point being is this is what he said 15 years ago when Kate went to Law School, and this is what he tells his kids today. Basically becoming a lawyer is the only way you can provide for your family. Which is nonsense.

The reason I feel this is because some other uncles have 4 or 5 kids who graduated college and all of them went to law school. Basically setting the example for the family, and was is expected of you if you are part of the family.

By Kate leaving law and doing something different, that by example, shows the siblings that there is a different way to make your way in life. I do not think her dad likes this, and tries to take his digs when he can. I think he is waiting for her to fail, and he can say, see I told you so.

An example, the oldest who is now in St. Louis going to Law School. She was a photography major in college. That is about as far from Law as you can get, but Law school awaited. Her first year or two she did not want to go to law school, but by her senior year she did what dad told her to do.



Besides that, hope to see you when you are in Philly.

[KittyRocks]

how do you make someone do something? im wondering.... he is lucky she respected his wishes as long as she did. he is also lucky she has a good head on her shoulders and can make a success of doing what she wants. id be tempted to tell him to kiss off!

[concert andy]

how do you make someone do something? im wondering.... he is lucky she respected his wishes as long as she did. he is also lucky she has a good head on her shoulders and can make a success of doing what she wants. id be tempted to tell him to kiss off!

I agree with the how do you force somebidy to something, but the fact that he is their father and he provides most everything for them (while away at school), they return the favor by doing well in school. That is all he asks of them (in general).

Beyond that: Peer and parent pressure.

Peer pressure: You have to do what your cousins, and older sisters did.
Parent Pressure: That is different for everyone, but both parents have been pushing for law school since they were toddlers.

[KittyRocks]

i really wish people would stop bumping this thread. that or send me a couple dozen various gourmet cupcakes each time they do. this thread is torture for a pregnant chic!