Why Every Time I'm Set On Making A Cake, I Don't?
Decorating By berryblondeboys Updated 9 Nov 2006 , 9:15pm by mkerton
I was all set to make a cake for a potluck meeting I have tomorrow and here it is at midnight, and I haven't started and it doesn't seem like I will. I just plain ran out of steam! The kicker is I want to start a little business of cake making, yet I can't crank out a single cake when I want to! This is like the third time in a week!
It doesn't help that I'm president of this group and I saw that loads of people were bringing side dishes and desserts, but no main entree (we're having a fall potluck where you trade your recipes). So, I decided I would roast a turkey and slice it up for tomorrow's meeting and "maybe" make stuffing for the side so I have something to share for a recipe. BUT... I wanted to show off my cake making skills and here it is midnight and I'm out of steam! First, I couldn't find my image I had saved. So, I go looking for a new one. I'm still not happy with the size of it and it would take another 1/2 hour to fiddle with it to get it right. Then, I would need to make the frosting, mix the colors, get the bags, etc. I KNOW I wouldn't get the FBCT done until 2 am and I can't make the cupcakes while the turkey is in the oven. UGH....
Of course, if the turkey is in the oven, I need to be awake, but being awake and working are two different things.
Does this happen to anyone else? I'm just wiped out and I'm my own worst enemy with this cake business. I don't think I can do it with having to take care of most things around the house and two kids as well.
How do you all do it?!?!?
Melissa
I totally understand what you are feeling. I have such good intentions of doing something just for practice when I get home from work. By the time I get everything done I think I will do it another night. On the weekends my grandchildren come over and spending time with them is so important. I am not to the point of taking orders from anyone but I definately need to practice to improve. 
Being tired takes all the joy out of cake decorating. I hope you'll be able to enjoy the potluck. 
For the next time: If you have room in your freezer you can bake 2-3 extra cakes, wrap them very well and have them available when you want to make something at the spur of the moment (and are very tired). When you make gum paste roses, make 2-3 extra, do this with all the flowers and other decorations you would do for a regular, planned cake. Put them aside (in a dry, dark spot) and then you'll have stuff for that "spur of the moment" cake. (Take a deep breath, enjoy the pot luck, preparing a turkey is plenty of work and you can do a cake next time.)
Lapazlady gave some great advice. We are all busy and I understand because like a lot of people, I bake/decorate at night after my son is in bed. Then of course, it gets later and later and with housekeeping, laundry, getting ready for work the next day, etc., good intentions about cakes get pushed aside.
I think it was a little too optimistic of you to plan for an ENTIRE turkey, stuffing, AND a decorated cake. You did your job as president to make sure that there is a main course and maybe next time you can plan on doing one of your fabulous cakes!
Thanks guys. I stayed up until 2 am to get the turkey done. I looked at what people were bringing again and skipped making the stuffing too as how many starches could we possibly need?
Then, my little guy decided to get up at 5:30 am! UGH!!!
Then, since I had a little sleep, I decided to go for it on the cupcake cake. I made the cake, baked it, mixed up the frosting, made the apple filling, filled the cupcakes and then started on my FBCT... But... my lines were starting to get too thick and I looked at the clock and I had 15 minutes to get there... UGH.... So, on my counter (still) is a 3/4s done cupcake cake... guess my family will be enjoying it. I don't think I can freeze an apple filling cupcake without a disaster on my hand. Well, at least when I fix (redo) my outlines on the FBCT then I'll finish it up and take a photo for my portfolio.
And thank you, I was being a good president and brought what we NEEDED and not what would just help me. People really appreciated it and it tasted great. I figured that hey, if everything else they taste of mine is top quality, then they'll believe my cakes are too, right?
There were about 25 dishes and mine was the only meat/protein dish... so it was the right thing to do. Now I'm taking a nap as 3.5 hours of sleep just isnt cutting it! LOL
Melissa
I think we have all hit that wall. I want to do certain things and then when the time rolls around that I could have time I just can't do it. I think if we were being paid for it or had a deadline that others actually counted on (not just a suprise) it would motivate us more.
It sounds like it worked out well though. I really wants some nice warm moist turkey right now! 
(Should be napping, but last night's "Top Chef" is on air and tempting me! LOL)
But, I asked myself last night why I don't treat a "should" make as much as I would treat a "paid for cake" because I KNOW if I had a deadline, I would have made than darn cake last night...
Oh, well... right? Guess I'm a person driven by obligations LOL
Melissa
I am the same way....I really find it motivating to start....and I like when I finish something that no one in my family can do....but I cannot stand the mess! This is why I dont ever really want to do the business thing.....I know it would get old in a hurry for me!
I was in the same position too last night. My daughters 18th birthday is today and she said I didn't have to say up late to bake her a cake(earthquake cake), but birthdays are special to us, so at 11pm i was making and baking her cake and i finally went to bed at midnight only to be up at 4:30(she got breakfast in bed this morning too!) then i had to be to work by 6am. Will be at work all day then out the dinner and movie! I will get to bed tonight around 11-12 again.
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