Pure Bliss Dessert as Josh Durias' April Spotlight

Yesterday I felt like a movie star. A camera clicked at high speeds with big umbrella flashing brightly as I melted, mixed, frosted, garnished and packaged client dessert orders in my downtown kitchen. Josh Durias of Josh Durias Photography, a fabulous Whatcom County-based photographer, decided a while back to look beyond the "wallpaper" of local business here in the Ham and actually embrace the Be Local campaign. So, without wasting a moment's notice, he started to get to know these businesses and feature them on a monthly basis via Spotlight on his blog. Lucky for me, Pure Bliss Desserts was his April choice. We had a great time, swapping business-start up stories, as well as sharing our passion for supporting the local businesses here in Bellingham as he clicked away. Check out his blog, his talent and then perhaps go pay one of his Spotlights a visit. Small businesses thrive because people like you and me choose to support them!

As Josh says...here's a nibble of his post:

Andi Vann is owner and operator of Pure Bliss Desserts and serves Whatcom County. She specializes in cakes, cupcakes, pies, tarts, dessert bars, cookies, and cream scones (YES.). You can visit her site to get her full menu.

Thanks Josh! You ROCK!

Wigs for everyone!

My mom is a very sassy woman.

NOT via tongue or attitude. VIA style.

Just a to give you a clear example: On her 55th birthday she asked me if I would accompany her to get her nose pierced. I accepted. She has had a sparkly nose ever since and Rocks it well!

During my last trip to Steilacoom, I was sitting on my mom's bed catching up on our last few weeks of life. She casually mentioned wearing a new wig for a little dinner gathering she threw for her sisters. "A Wig???!! Where is it? Can I try it on?" I shouted immediately. 30 seconds later, it was on my head and I was tickled pink. Talk about a girl's dream for instantly long hair. It was long, slightly curled, with awesome highlights. I showed Nick and he was not impressed to say the least (he's a bit too natural for synthetic hair). Mom and I laughed and laughed, and then she busted out ANOTHER ONE! This one was much shorter...more fitting for her current style. Then my sister arrived and we had some fun.
Nick said that we fast-forwarded time by 20 years...two sisters...hanging in the kitchen...with their very different "Mom" hair cuts. Ha!

As a side-note...Ami and Charlotte got some good bonding time. You know how Charlotte likes to cuddle...but this was ridiculous. Ami carried Charlotte around in a hugging position for a good 20 minutes and our bear was in heaven. I guess they both needed a little extra love that day.

EASTER

The Mag 7 celebrated Easter this year in Ridgefield/Salmon Creek, WA helping Matt, Ami and Delya move residences. We packed boxes, moved boxes, ran shuttles, organized, strategized, took Starbucks runs, attended church in an old Mervyns and even managed to fit in an Easter Egg hunt. Our Easter Bunny had the best time directing the 36, 33 & 29 year olds to find their golden egg: You're hot...getting hotter...hotter even now....Ohh cold, cold, cold! It was great!After 4 days straight of constant movement, we left Matt, Ami and Delya in their new "we're in transition trying to figure out where we want to live" rental home looking totally and utterly chaotic. But hey...our job was complete: Move the stuff from one place to another. The remaining organizing job is up to them...looks like Matt is ready to have at it!

Pure Bliss Desserts' New Digs!

I just recently passed my 2nd anniversary of Pure Bliss Desserts. It has been quite the journey…feeling like I have been baking as a business owner much longer than I actually have. When I look back to the beginning months, I never imagined the tremendous learning curve that comes with owning a business. How do I market myself? How do I keep track of customers and orders and money? What do I say at a meeting with a potential client? What makes me different/special/unique in the dessert world? Being a Psychology major with minimal business exposure (I took Econ 206 in college and that’s it) I learned quickly to tap into resources to help me get on the right path. As time passed…more questions came, but thanks to the good Lord’s guidance and amazing advisors, more answers came, helping through the bumpy road of decision making.
My most recent HUGE answer to prayer is landing my very own kitchen!!! No more sharing with other caterers. No more calling ahead to reserve the space. No more toting my ingredients back and forth. Pure Bliss has settled herself in a cozy kitchen downtown and loving it!

As a general update:
~Cake of the month continues to offer Bellinghamsters an amazing deal on REALLY GOOD cake. ~Keep your eyes peeled for April’s featured cake coming soon!
~Creative Cookies are distributed to coffee stands across Whatcom and Skagit County

A few local hot spots are now featuring Pure Bliss Desserts:
~Honey Moon Tasting Room has Pure Bliss Cake and Tartlets
~Banditos Burritos has various Pure Bliss Cookies
~The Anker Café has a nice spread of Pure Bliss options…from dessert wedges, to cookies to muffins and scones to accommodate their new opening time: 7am.

Yes I do love what I am doing and thank God each day for the challenges and joy comes.