Life is sweet!

 

Here at Sweet Madness, life is sweet! I spend days on end covered in layers of sugar and chocolate and flour and eggs! I am always telling people "no, my hands are not actually blue, I made Smurfs today." or " No, I did not murder anyone, I made a red velvet cake and turned the mixer on full blast covering myself in this red mixture you see now."  Just walking past someone will start a conversation about what perfume I am wearing, it's called Madness, Sweet Madness that is! ( I should really think about bottling it!) With all the madness a usual day in the kitchen can be, it's where I find my peace! Life is crazy and hectic and throws so many curves, it's comforting to know that when I step into this kitchen, I know for a fact that if I take eggs, butter, flour, and sugar, ( and a few other ingredients.....you thought I would tell you the recipe, didn't you? no such luck my friend!) and add these simple ingredients together,  a cake is the end result. Life isn't always so simple! There are so many choices to make in the real world (like do you want fries with that? and do these pants make my butt look big?) while here at Sweet Madness, the most complicated question is  "when would like to pick your cake up?" Ok, so I lied, the flavors are also hard to chose from, but who's keeping track? The point is......I love my job and I am so thankful that all I have to do is take eggs, flour, sugar, butter, and create a fantastic cake designed around your very special event. How cool is that? In my world, it's the coolest or at the risk of sounding completely cheesy, It's sweet!
Come visit my world!
Sweet Madness Bakery
103 Maple Drive
Martinez, GA
30907

 

Ironman Augusta 70.3 New Beginnings

So over the weekend I was at the Ironman Augusta doing my thing with my camera and for many, finishing the race was a life changing moment. I was so fortunate to be right there watching the emotion pouring from the Ironman participants as they crossed the finish line, and there were plenty of joyful tears from the 3,000+ people who did it. 

I was so touched being right there to share "THE MOMENT" that their foot crossed the finish line, and I got teary-eyed on several occasions. Perhaps the most amazing moments of the entire race were when two guys...at different times....proposed to their girlfriend at the finish line. The first guy was wearing a "Will You Marry Me" t-shirt while he waited for her at the finish line. She said yes!!! 

Then another guy who had already finished the race was waiting for his girlfriend to come across the finish line. He had her engagement ring tied to his medal...he took it off and proposed. Oh wow...all of their parents were there and her daddy was boo-hooing. He was so happy watching his little girl achieve the Ironman finish, but he also got to be there for the start of the rest of her life. Tears of joy were flooding everyone's eyes.

 It was amazing.

 There were many para athletes who finished also. The energy, the emotion, the challenges....the Ironman 70.3 Augusta has all the ingredients for great finishes and great beginnings. Oh, and I know that many of the athletes who did the Ironman are VEGAN, so I'd like to just let you know that Sweet Madness Bakery has Vegan recipes and will be happy to custom make a cake that fits within your diet if you have a sweet tooth.

The Ironman participants burned over 3,000 calories during the race, so I think they have a little bit of room for some cake!!   We make cakes as small as 5", so it's okay to treat yourself every now and then!!

Since the company that hired me for the event actually owns the pictures, I cannot show them here.   So here are couple shots from a cute little cake that went out this past weekend. 

Have a great week! xoxo, Sharon

Fox 54 Interview at Sweet Madness Bakery

Hey check us out on Fox 54 News!! We had a great time being interviewed. Of course we put our two cents in about the Augusta State University name controversy. We love Augusta so much....what do you think our opinion is about the new name? Watch and see!!

 http://m.wfxg.com/autojuice?targetUrl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.wfxg.com%2fstory%2f19649292%2fnew-group-adds-fuel-to-the-protest-in-new-u-name

Custom Chocolate Bars

We now offer customized chocolate bars!! These are great for businesses who want to feature their logo on a business-size bar of yummy chocolate. Clients will enjoy their experience with you even more!!

Brides, these are great treats for wedding guests!!  There is a one time set up fee of $125, and right now we are offering these chocolate bars for $1.75 each.  We have standard packaging available included in the price, or we can quote you a price for custom packaging if you want to customize even more!

White chocolate and milk chocolate currently available.  Use our order form to let us know if you want these.   They're yummy.




xoxo, Sharon

Bunco Night Giveaway

Bunco Moms....You'll want to "share" this on Facebook for sure, and send your friends LIKE us on Facebook too! Visit our website for more information about Sweet Madness Bakery  www.augustacakes.com

Attention Bunco Moms in the CSRA/Augusta area....we are giving away some sweets to one lucky Bunco group.  Just have all your Bunco friends leave a comment below this saying that they want your Bunco group to win.

Oh, and your Bunco group needs to have a name that everyone leaves so we can see how many adoring fans you know, so tell them your Bunco group name, and then tell them to come here and vote on the Sweet Madness Blog.  The group with the most comments "i.e. votes" for them will get a dozen Sweet Madness dessert cups that can be redeemed for a future Bunco night gathering.

Voting ends on the last day of September at 9pm.   Sunday, September 30, 2012 at 10:00 pm...whichever Bunco Group has the most valid number of comments on this post wins (one comment per Bunco Group, and the group name must be named, and NO "anonymous" comments will be counted, so make sure your friends at least leave their first name even if they have to choose the anonymous comment option).

If you have a Bunco night full of guys, no problem...male bunco groups can participate and win too!! 

Just A Part of The Sweet Madness Family

Hello!   I am about to introduce myself and tell you a Sweet Madness background story that is so unbelievable and crazy that it will blow your mind. 

But first, the boring stuff....My name is Sharon and I am the Marketing Director for Sweet Madness Bakery here in Augusta, Georgia.  I'm writing many of the Sweet Madness blog posts and from now on I will start signing my name and title so you'll know who is filling your brain with all this sweet information!!

I love Sweet Madness so much that I  convinced Ginger and Brandi to let me be their Marketing Director.  Seriously, I was already marketing for them by word of mouth but I wanted to dig my heels in a lot deeper and really help them develop strategies to reach their goals for 2013.  Aren't you lucky for finding this blog because as we go along, I will share tidbits of how we developed the strategy and tips that will hopefully help other businesses reach their goals as well.  So you'll have to keep abreast of this blog because it's really so much more than just a bunch of baking.

ABOUT ME (boring):

I don't have a background or education in marketing.  What I DO HAVE has turned out to be much more valuable though!!     

My Bachelor of Science degree in Counseling from Texas A&M Commerce honestly helps with devising strategies for improving customer relations and service.  The way people interact with each other in business simply intrigues me.   I also have half a Masters degree in business from Troy University...."Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness", and I'm super proud of having half a degree.  I stopped at half because that's all it took to fill my brain up to maximum capacity....apparently it didn't take much for me to get super smart.   I learned just enough leadership theory to realize I am definitely bossy enough to get the job done, which totally qualifies me to be the Marketing Director around here.  Ginger and Brandi think they are the boss, and we will just let them keep thinking that, so ssshhhhhh......

My husband is from Augusta, Georgia and I followed him here 10 years ago.  We have three children whom are named after Presidents, and they love Sweet Madness as much as I do...okay, probably more than I do!

And let me get in a quick plug before moving onto the really cool story about Sweet Madness.  All the really great photography on the Sweet Madness website and blog was taken by moi!    I am the owner of Scribbletime Photography (and Augusta Boudoir), so please visit my website to see what I do in my photography life:  www.scribbletime.com  

Oh, and any picture on the blog or website that isn't simply outstanding was taken by Ginger.  Just sayin.  (although her photography skills are improving to the point that she very well could pass me up one day!!).

OKAY NOW FOR THE CRAZY WEIRD STORY ABOUT SWEET MADNESS (not boring):



Okay, so first some background to set the story up so you can appreciate how weird it is.

Sweet Madness is located in Martinez, Georgia and I met Brandi only a couple years ago on the same day that Ginger and I actually carried on a conversation in person for the first time.  It was at a birthday party on the same day that I tasted their cake for the first time.     A lot of firsts happened on that day, and here's the good part.....

  The crazy thing is that our relationship goes back more than 30 years.  Ginger's sister and I were best friends from the third grade.   Yes, you read that right....I spent many days of my childhood in Texas at Ginger's house and her Maw Maw's house....we lived a couple miles from each other in a really, really country town in Texas with a population of under 500 (it's grown some over the years but is still probably under 1,000).  And I didn't even know that for years we've lived just a couple miles from each other in Martinez, Georgia too!!  

This has to be the next best thing to discovering that you have a long lost adopted sister living right down the road!!!

I've come to know Brandi and Ginger really, really, really well in the past couple years and I've seen them at their best and worst. I can honestly say from the depths of my  heart that they are good, wholesome people.   They are caring, giving souls. I adore their relationship....even on days when they don't see eye to eye, and even when they don't always say or do the most perfect things.  They are always willing to learn, grow, and correct their mistakes.  Their hearts are well-grounded, guided by God's word and God's love.  

I truly believe that God brought us together...full circle....so that we may learn from each other and encourage each other in life and in business.  It is an honor to know them, an honor to love them, and an honor to boss them around as their Marketing Director and friend.  They've welcomed me with open arms into the Sweet Madness family, and I am looking forward to helping guide them to their 2013 goals with much love in my heart.

xoxo, Sharon

Buzz on Biz Feature Story

Did you catch the September 2012 issue of Buzz on Biz? We're featured in it!!   It's still circulating around Augusta, so if you happen to pick up a copy, turn to page 31 for some Sweet Madness news.  We spill the beans about some behind-the-scenes things that have been happening around here.

It's all so exciting....we took a huge directional change entering into our second year by completely revising our business model.  It's so reassuring to know that we're headed in the direction where our hearts truly are leading us.  

If you don't have a copy in your hands, no worries....just read it online!! http://issuu.com/john-boy/docs/buzz_september_5_issue

Augusta, Georgia Bakery Treats!

Ordering is easy....just fill out the order form on our website:  www.augustacakes.net

We love baking great cakes around here at Sweet Madness, but if you are looking for a "clean way to eat a cake", then we have a great solution!   Our "treat cups" or "dessert cups" are perfect for occasions where  "finger foods" and easy clean-up are the main priority.  Our treat cups are self-contained cakes that come with their own spoon inside!! See, cakes don't have to look like cakes....they can be as easy as finger foods.

You can choose from our regular cake flavors, and they come with our secret recipe butter cream icing.  Simple and easy, these are great for delivering to your kids' classrooms or any occasion that needs cake without actually having a cake!!

Just toss it in the trash when you're finished...easy peasy!  We require a minimum order of 24, and these are great for large events, so think big!  They transport much easier than a cake too because they are durable...if they tip over, no problem!  

This is one of the few items in our bakery that is not custom designed...it's just simply cake spooned into a cup with icing on top!  It doesn't get any sweeter than that!!  Order yours today.

A Week of Reflection

This has been a week full of reflection for us as a nation, as a community, and as a family here at Sweet Madness.  This week we all marked the 11th anniversary of September 11.  Our family is full of emergency responders, and we also spent our life devoted to the military.  We know very well that someone who is dedicated to a life of serving others in emergency situations goes to work each day without the guarantee that they will return home.   That still doesn't make it any less painful when tragedy strikes, and we still pray for the families of the 9-11 victims.

And we are again saddened as a community about something that hit closer to home right down the road...we are heartbroken to learn about the tragic accident that took the life of a beautiful 19 year old young lady, who was hit by a drunk driver at the intersection of Ronald Reagan and Washington Road two nights ago.  Our hearts go out to her family, and it's hard to imagine what they're enduring right now.

One realization we had after learning about the accident is that someone very close to the Sweet Madness family actually drove through that same intersection just a few moments before the accident took place, without even knowing that he came so close to being in the center of that tragedy.

This whole week has been a reminder of how fast our lives can change in one instance.  Life is so fragile and short.  We do not know when will be the last time we get to talk to a loved one or a friend.   Days like these, when we're faced with such sad tragedy, it reinforces how important it is to love and support each other, and to be faithful to God's love.


It's amazing how God's love heals wounds.   Eleven years have passed, and our country is stronger in so many ways that we never would have imagined 11 years ago this week.  It is because of God's love and healing over time that has allowed our nation to move forward, never forgetting, but at the same time celebrating and cherishing all the wonderful things that make up our country.

One of our sweet customers who loves New York very, very, very much had us make a special "New York" cake this week.  She wanted her cake to be celebratory and upbeat, like New York remains today.   This is the perfect example of why we love to create cakes with so much deep meaning.

This cake is so much more than a cake...it is our own small symbol that serves as a reminder of our country's strength and of God's healing love.

  



 

Sweet Madness Bakery Hosts Cub Scouts

    www.augustacakes.com

We are so happy to announce that we would love to help Cub Scout Tiger Cub Dens that are part of the Georgia-Carolina Council. satisfy Elective #45 (Visit A Bakery).  Every other month, we will host Tiger Cub Dens, who will be able to decorate their own cupcakes right here at our bakery, and we will talk to them about fresh baking during their visit here.

They can satisfy their sweet tooth while also satisfying an elective!!

We have approximately 6 Saturday afternoons throughout the year when we can schedule to host a Den, so please contact us as soon as you can to coordinate a date for your Tiger Cubs. We can comfortably  accommodate 12 Tiger Cubs.  There is no charge.

Please contact us via email to get your Den on the Sweet Madness Bakery event calendar before it fills up:   eatmorecake@comcast.net 

If your Cub Scouts are not Tiger Cubs, but could still satisfy a requirement by visiting our bakery, please let us know...we are happy to host you also.

We are located at 103 Maple Drive in Martinez, Georgia, but we are fortunate enough to have many customers who come to us from all over the CSRA  including  the Kiokee District, Upper River District, Yamasee District and Chickasaw District.

Ordering is easy...just complete the form on our website and we'll follow up to confirm we have your order:  www.augustacakes.netwww.augustacakes.net

Our First Year Anniversary!

For ordering information, visit our website: www.augustacakes.com

We are starting our new Sweet Madness Bakery blog just as we are celebrating our first year of being in business.  It has been a tremendous journey of growth both on a personal and business level.  When we purchased "Edible Artistry" a year ago and turned it into "Sweet Madness"...we thought we wanted to follow a traditional bakery business model, busy with foot traffic coming and going around the clock.

We soon found out that what we really wanted was to serve customers on a deeper level.  So over the course of this year, we have drilled down to truly figuring out how to set ourselves apart from just being another bakery in the Augusta area.  We put our heart and souls into baking and designing, and we want to deliver a masterpiece for customers who desire cakes with a "WOW" factor.

We have encountered some rough days when it seemed nothing could go right, and we have experienced the joy of many days when we delighted a child and made a bride's special day a lot sweeter.  We have spent this year evaluating our strengths, and weeding out our weaknesses so that we can deliver a "WOW" cake, along with an entire "WOW"  experience.

We are now a "by-appointment bakery", which means that we would like to devote our full attention to customers so they can have a great experience with us.  The process starts by mainly receiving orders via the internet and phone, and scheduling in-person consultations as needed, along with establishing specific hours when we can devote our full attention to receiving drop-in customers.  We want to create something truly special for you, and in order to do that, we must devote our full attention to you in a focused environment with minimal distractions. We are not an assembly line bakery cranking out massive amounts of ordinary cakes! 

The changes we have made as we enter our second year will help us devote quality time and care for our customers' cakes.  We will listen to your vision and together with our skill and creativity, we will create a truly unique cake that tastes great also.

This year has passed with the loss of one of our beloved Sweet Madness family members....our Sweet Madness matriarch for whom our hummingbird logo was lovingly developed.  Joyce is in our hearts each day as we bake.  Each time we see a hummingbird, we feel an extra warmth in our hearts, which is why we chose a hummingbird as our company logo.  We start the day prayerful that our interactions through baking will touch the lives of others.

  It is a joy to know that so many families have enjoyed our cakes this year, and it has been a pleasure to serve you.  We will keep you updated with all the latest on our Sweet Madness blog.