Guilty. As. Charged.

I had no idea how all-consuming a blog is.  Actually, it's not the blog itself. . .the consuming part is LIFE and the blog simply has taken the back burner.  So, if you are accusing me of neglecting my blog, I do not dispute.  How could I?  So much has happened since my last post, and I've finally found the time (and the head space) to actually do it now.

So.  It's March of 2013.  The Cheeky Treats Cupcake-Mobile launched in May 2012 - we were the first-ever mobile food truck in Barrie - actually in Simcoe County.  It was fun, challenging and lots of work.  My boyfriend Shawn and I went through a HUGE learning curve, where we nearly killed each other 50 times in a matter of weeks. 

We started off at the bottom of Owen Street, very close to the Lake, and right behind The Bank Nightclub.  We pulled the Cupcake-Mobile in and out of an abandoned parking lot (the space was leased by us) everyday of the week.  Our target market:  the surrounding stores, services and businesses in the downtown area.  After Day 1, we realized that the "Health Clinic" situated across the street from us, was actually a methadone clinic.  Gakkk!  We were initially freaked, but realized that once its patrons left the Clinic, they headed straight to our Cupcake-Mobile!  Kinda of made, yes?

That lasted a month.  Unfortunately, with downtown locations, come downtown issues, and one of which were used syringes that we found daily when we arrived, scattered all over the ground.  Not a nice thing to have to pick up and bring to the Clinic for safe disposal.  At least we always remembered to bring our medical gloves.

So, we decided to look for an alternative location.  Luckily, the property management company that we worked with released us from our contract, patted us on the back, and let us leave without penalty.  We 'd definitely work with them again, if the opportunity arises.  We ended up at a Chiropractic Office, then in a parking lot at a beach, then we did some of the summertime in Wasaga Beach and Elmvale.  We were constantly thinking outside the box, trying to come with locations that would work.

And then, the top of Owen Street was our answer.

188 Owen Street.  It was a totally run-down, graffiti-ridden, lopsided piece of crap that we instantly fell in love with.  The potential was huge!  As soon as we walked into the building, I noticed that it was raining on the inside.  No joke. 

So, working with the property owners (who are absolutely fabulous, by the way) they graciously allowed us to park the Cheeky Treats Cupcake-Mobile on the property, while Shawn and I (ok, ok - mostly Shawn) renovated the inside.  And that's when we decided that we had to expand our menu to include fries and poutine.

Barrie North Students were our main customers at the Cheeky Treats Mobile (notice I dropped the word "Cupcake"?) until we actually opened the Store in December.  So, from September 1 until this point, we have been working non-stop, 7 days a week, 12-16 hours a day, caring for five children and two dogs.

So, guilty as charged?  Damn skippy I am :)  But, I am committing to writing on this blog at least once a week. 

Cheers!

Nadia