Family First...always
SHORT VERSION
- Beyond Decadence is still in business.
- Desserts and baking experiences for the general public will be paused temporarily.
- Business will continue as normal for speaking engagements, baking experiences for corporate clients and private groups, and community college classes.
LONG VERSION
Let me state this first -- Beyond Decadence is still in business!
As many of you know from reading the About Chef Maria page, I opted to close my initial brick & mortar bakery after my mom's stroke. If it weren't for the virtual world we now live in, I would be contemplating the same thing now to support my aging dad.
I chose not to make a public announcement at the time, but I spent most of January in New York helping my father. I still donned my chef jacket to attend Zoom meetings, met with corporate clients, taught a three-part virtual class for South Piedmont Community College, planned a video shoot, and finalized details for a speaking engagement, all while completing ~47 individual tasks for my dad. I left NY's single-digit temperature behind yesterday and welcomed 54 degrees in Charlotte with a smile! Now it's Tuesday evening and finally time to gather my thoughts to share a snippet of this story.
I told my dad several times I inherited my fearlessness, strength, and fierce independence from him. However, I still repeated it one last time on our drive to the airport just in case he needed to hear it again. He's getting up there in age but as fiery and independent as ever! As he reminded me during week two, "I don't want you thinking I'm an invalid or something!" I chuckled and said, "Oh, I know THAT, but it can't be years again before you let me come visit!" By the end of our trip, when I told him when I'd be back again, he said, "That sounds great to me!"
I felt like my sleep was constantly interrupted trying to figure out how to juggle my dad in NY, my business, and the fact that I live in NC. FINALLY, the flow came together! The only way I can be there for my dad AND still run my business is to make some temporary changes.
I've always been a planner, but it will be paramount now.
Business will continue as normal for speaking engagements, baking experiences for corporate clients and private groups, and community college classes.
Desserts and baking experiences for the general public will be paused temporarily. I’ll reopen my online store’s public offerings if and when things change with my dad.
Again, Beyond Decadence is still in business – we’re just pausing some of our offerings. Thank you for understanding my decision to adjust the business temporarily so I can be with my dad when I am needed.
