My Blog and I: 4th of July

A typical 4th of July looks like this for the Vann's:

- Sleeping in

- All day BBQ with friends

- Hike to Oyster Dome with the dog to watch 180 degrees of fire work displays, falling asleep on a rock with the best view in B-Ham.

This year couldn't have been more different.

A while back, someone in my immediate family suggested I get a booth for the 4th of July Street Fair in Steilacoom. I thought..."Heck yeah...why not!" This event is the biggest of the year. They close down the main street that drives right threw town and allow vendors to come and sell their goods.

They have a big parade in the middle of the day and then a street dance later on in the evening. Electric Slide anyone? Pure Bliss selling select desserts was sure to do well since thousands of people from towns near by come to partake in the festivities. But a whole lot of planning had to take place...months in advance at that considering this was my first street fair ever.

In February, I contacted the coordinator to request a booth. After approval, I wrote a check to reserve a space, submitted my application to the Health Department and began the task of delegation. Though it was a ton of work to get things set-up...the end result was totally worth it. My entire family was amazing in contributing their skills and talents to make the booth a success.

On the morning of, set up began at 7am, with all vehicles off the street by 9am. The street fair ran until 5pm, but if you felt so inclined, you could stay there until 9pm. That means 12 hours of being open...not to mention the 2 hours to set up and 2.5 hours of breaking down and unloading. But don't forget...cupcakes, cookies and scones don't just bake themselves! No, no...I spent 25 hours that week prepping for the street fair alone. A few numbers for you:

-500 cupcakes: Strawberry Short Cake, Creamy Coconut, Chocolate Bliss

-125 Triple Berry Cream Scones
-350 Super Chocolate Chip Cookies (more than half were converted into Ice Cream Sandwiches)

It was amazing!!! When I was baking for this event, I told myself never again...way too much work and who even knew if everything would sell. But on Sunday, when the crowds were swarming and people drooling over the treats in the display case, it made it all worth it. Plus...we sold out of everything but the milk (guess the dairy queen in me went a little overboard on milk drinking patrons).

There was no was I could have done this alone though...each one of my family members helped me prepare, share supplies and encouraged me. This is certainly not a complete list of tasks that were taken on, but a little shout out for my helpers:

Dad~Purchased the canopy, facilitated the dry run, designed and created the display case, connected with the street fair organizer to score the BEST plot on the street, purchased materials, helped set up and break down, provided his van for hauling gear and manned the booth.

Matt ~ Dreamed up, implemented and hard-sold Pure Bliss' hottest selling item: BiG BLISS ice Cream Sandwiches, popped out of bed at 7am to help set up, made last-minute sales on the street out of the cooler at 10pm, broke down the booth, streamlined excel spreadsheets for sales projections, manned the booth.

Mom~Logistically permitted space in her home for appropriate storage of goods, woke up at 7am to help me organize, fed everyone with the typical German schmorgasborg of deliciousness, manned the booth.

Ami~Turned a crummy Chalk Board into a masterpiece, converted her daughter into fantastic advertisement, manned the booth.

Nick~Designed the Menu Board, created the structure to hold Pure Bliss banner, donated the health of his cheeks while blowing up balloon animals to draw in the kiddos, drug himself out of bed to help set up after his 2 hours of sleep got his food handlers card so I could be relieved from the booth, manned the booth and broke it down at 10am.