Break ups are never easy, whether it’s the end of a romantic relationship or a friendship. Here’s how to break up with a friend without making an enemy.

Toxic friends come in all shapes and sizes and unlike romantic relationships, friends don’t expect to be broken up with. Approaching a friend break up takes tact and a certain level of emotional detachment in order to come out unscathed in the end.

Relationship counsellor and author of The Relationship Revolution , Owen Williams shares his advice for breaking up with a toxic friend:

Why do you want to break up?

Evaluate the rationale behind why you want to end the friendship. Consider your history with the person — how do they make you feel when you’re together? Are they consistently jealous, negative or mean-spirited? Your friendships are a reflection of yourself and if this person is no longer an accurate reflection then it may be time to cut  your ties to them. “You need to ask yourself whether the friendship is a fit for you.  Does it work for you or not?” says Williams.

Accept your decision

Deciding to end a friendship may be one of the hardest decisions to make but once you’ve analyzed the relationship thoroughly then it is time to accept the fact that this person may no longer be a part of your life anymore.  Williams recommends writing a eulogy when we end a relationship in order to close this chapter in your life and start fresh.

Get your stuff and get out!

Just like a romantic relationship, you want to severe all ties to this person completely — meaning money, clothes, favours etc.  The last thing you want is a vengeful ex-friend with unresolved issues.

Choose a neutral location

If the person is a close friend, it is best to break up in person.  As the dumper it is important to treat the dumpee with respect throughout and keep your emotions in check.  A coffee shop is a great neutral venue to make the break — you can have your own private conversation, but are also in a public space so the friend is less likely to make a scene.

Always be prepared

Be honest with them, no matter how ugly because beating around the bush will only lead to confusion.  The delivery of the break up is the most important so make sure that you aren’t feeling angry or too emotional on that day. Stick to a straightforward but gentle approach, as opposed to accusations.

Keep it between the two of you

Williams warns against getting mutual friends involved.  “People love to pick sides, and picking sides is dangerous,” he says.  This is an issue between the two of you, and there is no reason to involve other people needlessly.  And by bringing other people into the situation, the dumpee may feel ambushed.

Post break up

The dumpee may attempt to contact you post break-up.  Ignore them.  “If you acknowledge their attempts, then you’re in the game again,” explains Williams.  Instead, during your break-up conversation, advise them that for a period of time you are not interested in being contacted. By indulging them you may give them hope that the friendship may be salvageable, and soon find yourself back in the same toxic friendship.

Owen Williams can be found on his Ask Owen blog on the Centre for Relationship Excellence website

I don’t usually look this happy when dealing with phone companies but here’s how to communicate with them so you get the phone service you need.

Whether it be cell phone, or land line, Blackberry or iPhone, no one is immune to the pitfalls of technology. What can be even more frustrating is communicating with the phone companies when your phone service doesn’t meet your needs. Here’s how to haggle and negotiate your way to better service.

Know your facts

Before you pick up the phone, know exactly what the terms of your phone service are. Sean Provencher, a Toronto-based entrepreneur who is well-versed in dealing with phone companies says that knowing your numbers such as how much you pay per month and per year is key.

“Use [these numbers] when negotiating and remind them how much money you bring them and how long you’ve been a good and loyal customer,” Provencher says. Pointing out how many minutes you use, how long you have been with them or how many of their other services you use can all play a part in the negotiating process.

Provencher also advises knowing your facts. If you’re experiencing problems with your service have the dates when the issues started, length of time and frequency to make your point that it has genuinely affected you.

Keep track of your calls, because getting results from a phone company may require more than one phone call. Track the times and dates of all previous calls, not to mention who you spoke to and about what, otherwise you’ll just go in circles.

Take what you can get

Although it may be money or a reduced bill you’re after, that may not be what you end up getting. Provencher notes that compensation these days mostly comes in the form of tweaks to your hardware or plan, such as monthly discounts, free services for a while or free handset upgrades.

Timing is everything

The best time to try to negotiate your services is when your contract (if you have one) is set to expire. Providers want you to sign a new one and may be more willing to throw in a few extras for that commitment.

Watch your attitude

Although you may be upset when you call staying calm and polite will get you further than rude and aggressive. It also indicates that you are an intelligent, rational person who is honestly concerned about your service. Getting upset and angry will likely only result in the representative disconnecting the call.

Know who you’re speaking with

If you’re not speaking with someone who has the authority to resolve your problem or offer compensation you’re at a dead end. As Provencher points out, the person answering the phone is likely not a manager, so clarify what their capabilities are and if they aren’t able to help you ask to speak to someone higher up. You will likely speak to several people before you reach someone who can help you, so don’t give up after the first try.

Do your homework

Know what other providers offer in order to get what you want. If they are hedging on agreeing to something you are looking for, point out that their competitor would only be too happy to provide the same thing.

Know where to focus

Poor service is the easiest issue to complain about because it’s very hard to dispute. What may not be bad service to one person is terrible to another. Items under warranty are a no-brainer as you have the proof in your contract of what you should be owed.

They need you

Always remember that any provider is a service that needs customers, and they want to keep your business. It may not hurt to remind them that you pay them a lot of money when asking for something so have these numbers readily available when you call.

Know when to fold

Know when to walk away and save yourself the hassle. Provencher advises if you have asked for the supervisor three times and they have refused to transfer you, you’re not likely to get any further during this call.

A new romance can be completely encompassing but here are three steps to maintain your relationships when you fall in love.

The euphoria of a new romance can be addictive, thrilling and…time-consuming. And while nurturing an exciting new relationship is entirely healthy, it is easy to fall off the face of the planet during this time.

There are three key relationships that need to be continually nurtured throughout your life: your romantic relationships, your friendships, and your own self. Here’s how:

1. Don’t change your priorities

Understandably, your new relationship will become an additional priority in your life. However, this does not mean adding a new person to your life results in the exclusion of others, because your friends need you too. Psychotherapist, Ellen Starr says she sees this all the time when people start a new romantic relationship. ‶[You must] know that your support network of friends are there [for you], and it is important continue to nurture that.”

2. Introduce everyone

Introducing your new love interest to your friends may feel like you’re throwing them to the wolves but this is an important step to make your friends feel included in your life. Keeping the two groups separate will only lead to resentment and eventually detachment.

However it is still important to have date nights separate from your friends. “Romantic relationships in your twenties is part of developing, and it can be difficult when your friends place their own judgements on your boyfriend or girlfriend,” says Starr. When it comes down to it, you want to make decisions about your relationship on your own terms and not hold your friends accountable for your choices.

3. Get a life

Abandoning the interests and activities that you had prior to your relationship not only changes who they were initially attracted to, but it also changes who you are to your friends. “Young people should view having a life outside of the romantic relationship as a way to keep the relationship alive,” says Starr. Spending time with your friends, and engaging in activities without your significant other will make not only your friendships stronger, but keep your romance alive.

Networking is about getting support in our professional lives. Many people tend to shy away from networking because they have a misconception about what networking is. The belief that networking is about schmoozing or being inauthentic makes them uncomfortable.

If you want your career to thrive, start looking at networking from a fresh perspective. Just as in our personal lives, we need the support of our friends and family, we also need professional support in our work lives.

We can expect to change jobs many times in the life of our careers. It is important to take the time to cultivate relationships with people whom we can count on for help and to people who we can lend a helping hand to.

To be more confident, reach out in a way that suits your personal style! Some people may thrive while attending a large networking event such as a conference or social event. Others may prefer meeting a colleague for coffee: both help you to build a strong network. Many people wait until they are out of work and need connections to start building a network. If you are in this situation, you may be surprised how many people are willing to help. Regardless, don’t wait any longer, exchange one business card today!

Don’t get scared away from RRSPs by numbers and financial jargon. Here’s some of the easy-to-understand basics of RRSPs.

You’ve heard it a million times, you need to start saving for the future. And the answer is usually a list of excuses: When I get my next raise, after I pay down my school debt, after I get my new iPhone etc. But as the life expectancy for Canadians grows and the retirement age lowers, you may need to have enough money to live up to 30 years after retirement!

Short term RRSP advantage – you get money!

Contributing to your RRSP means you get money back when you do your taxes. When you do your taxes, the government takes every dollar you’ve put into your RRSP and “reduces” your income by that amount. Then they give you the tax you paid on the amount you’ve contributed to your RRSPs back. For example, you made $10,000 in a year. You put $2000 into an RRSP. Now you’ve only “made” $8,000 according to the government. So, they give you the taxes you paid on that $2,000 back.

Not everyone pays the same amount of income taxes. How much you pay is based on your yearly income and where you live. This link takes you to the Government of Canada website which shows the income per “tax bracket”, per province.

When can I take the money out of my RRSP?

The government wants people to save. That’s why they encourage you to put money into your RRSPs by giving you a tax rebate, and once it’s there, they try to get you to keep it there. So taking money out can happen in three circumstances with three very different results.

Retirement

At age 71, the government forces you to start taking an income (you can choose to take an income sooner). You open a new account called a Retirement Income Fund (commonly referred to as a RIF) and roll your RRSP into the RIF and start monthly income payments. You are then taxed on that money as you would if it was regular income from a paying job.

First Home Buyers Plan

You can take up to $25,000 out of your RRSP for your first home. But you have to pay it back. The good news is that you’ve got 15 years to pay it back and the repayments don’t start until two years after you took it out. So, if you took out $25,000 in two years, you’d pay it back over 15 years and that’s just $1666.67/year.

You just plain need it

You need the money, its not for retirement or buying a house. You can have the money, the catch is that you’re taxed on it. And not once, but twice. When you initially request your money (called a redemption) the fund company or bank will take what is called a withholding tax. The tax charged depends on how much you want to take out. This is the government’s way of making sure they’re getting at least some of the taxes right away. The money you take out is considered additional income on top of what you make at your job and is therefore subject to income taxes (that’s the second time). So you’ll have to pay the rest of what was owed when you do your taxes. They do it this way because the fund company or bank has no way of knowing what your income is, therefore they can’t tax you right away based on your income tax bracket.

Types of investments

We’ve all heard in the news over the last year about the spectacular nose dive the market took which was caused by the US Credit Crunch. So you may understandably be worried about losing all your hard earned money. Relax, there are plenty of safe investments. Many financial advisors would suggest investing a bit higher risk at a younger age, since we have time to recover any losses over the next forty or so years. However, if you plan on possibly using that money for a downpayment on a house, or youre just downright uncomfortable being in the market, there are lots of secure investments. Talk to a financial advisor about what suits you best.

Time is money

Even conservatively invested money is making interest, and that’s free money! And then that free money earns interest — more free money!

Take baby steps

Find a number that works for you and make a commitment to yourself. If you make it automatically come out as soon as you get paid, you’ll probably never even notice it’s gone. Try for $25 or $50 bi-weekly and notice how little it disrupts your lifestyle. If you really want a wake-up call, for two to four weeks record every penny you spend and you’ll be surprised how much money you could potentially be investing in an RRSP.

1. How to jay walk. These people wait for no man or car and I am on board with this way of living. Have you ever stood at a completely deserted street waiting for the walk symbol shivering in the freezing cold? Definitely, and I never thought anything of it before! Go on, live on the wild side.

2. How to hail a cab. So I get there thinking “Pfft, no biggie. I’ve definitely got tons of experience with this one.” I stepped out of Penn station and couldn’t get a cab to save my life! So I took the opportunity to interview my cab driver (once I finally got one) on some tips. First of all, unlike Toronto if the big triangle light is on it doesn’t mean the cab is in service, it’s just an ad. If the cab number is lite up in the top centre of the sign then it’s in service, and there are two small lights on either side of the number that say “off duty” and those are pretty self explanatory. But if you don’t know what to be looking for, it’s hard to tell what lights mean what from a distance.

The next step to hailing a cab is confidence. None of this raising your arm halfheartedly and then lowering it once you think a cab is stopping, or any limp-wrist action. You gotta step out into the street and stick your arm out like you mean it.

Also, know where you’re going — mid-town, uptown, downtown, address and closest intersection. Cause they’ll grumble at you the whole way there if you don’t know where you’re going.

And lastly, wear your seat belt. Yeah yeah, I know it’s not cool but cabbies in New York have some serious chutzpah behind the wheel. I personally loved their style of driving as opposed to the Toronto cabbies who slow down at even the hint of a yellow light, NYC cabbies will blaze right through a solid red.

All in all, it’s definitely my kind of town.

No one likes tax season but here’s some advice to get you through all the paperwork without pulling out all your hair…unless you can rock the bald look.

Please be advised that this article should only serve as a jumping off point for your taxes education and you should speak with an accountant for professional tax advice.

Organize your files

Before you attempt to fill out your income tax forms, you should have all of your information with you says Brad McNeil, an accountant and partner with Famme and Co. Professional Corporation in Stratford Ontario. Make sure you have a tax slip from every employer over the past year as well as any other tax slips received in the mail or documents marked for tax purposes.

McNeil advises to also gather any RRSP, medical, donation, rent, public transit and tuition receipts you have.

Make your tuition work for you

Both tuition and rent receipts may get you some money back.  Students can claim credits for both tuition and books and rent (rent receipts are required if you live off-campus).

Know your numbers

The education amount allowed is $400 per month for each month you are in school on a full time basis. The textbook amount provides an additional $65 per month. For part-time students the amounts are decreased to $120 and $20 per month respectively.

Take note that what you pay in rent can qualify for a tax credit if your income is under a certain amount for the year. You also may be able to claim moving expenses if you were a student at the time of the move (whether it was moving to school or moving home for the summer).

Plan ahead

A good tax refund is not always your goal says McNeil. If you receive a large refund, this may indicate that you paid too much tax during the year and simply prepaid your taxes.

If you are a student with a relatively low income, try requesting that your employer not withhold income taxes from your wages.  Your take-home pay will be higher and your tax refund will be smaller, and this way you are getting the money when you need it with each pay. “Having a dollar today is always better than having a dollar tomorrow,” says McNeil.

An ode to student loans

If your student load is registered with the government the interest you pay on it may be eligible for a tax credit but the principal payment on the loan is not deductible.

Get a helping hand

Because tax laws are complex and can change frequently, McNeil advises getting some help with your taxes to take advantage of all the benefits you are entitled to. Preparation is generally not too expensive and don’t be afraid to get a second opinion.

Ok, if you’re not following me on Twitter you better get on that because I’ll be tweeting from Fashion Week in New York City this weekend. Now, this was a last minute decision so I may not be able to get into any fashion shows but I can darn well try! No matter, I’ll be in the city that never sleeps so I’m sure I’ll come across something interesting to tell you guys about, such as moments like this one:

How you could reach a debt free lifestyle

By Paul Barker

Nowadays, while growing consumer debts have become a typical part of the way of life, many people dream of a time when they will be debt free but don’t know where to start. This article is full of debt free solutions to develop and maintain a debt-free lifestyle.

1. Change your thinking

You will need to change your mindset and the way you perceive spending your money. If you visit a designer store and want to purchase something, then you should go home and think about whether you really do need the items you are thinking about buying – you will need to resist impulse buying and commit to maintaining a debt free lifestyle.

2. Make a financial plan

You will need to plan your finances by reviewing your income and expenditure amounts and then looking at establishing a realistic figure you can spend each month. After you have established this you will be able to understand what amount of money you have left that you are able to go clothes shopping with and taking a trip to the movies.

3. Plastic is for emergencies

You should only use a credit card for those occasions then you have a true emergancy and if you can be sure to pay it at the end of the month. You should leave any cards you have at home as it will be a real temptation to spend if you don’t.

4. Pay your existing Debts

Pay off your existing debts. Pay more that the minimum monthly commitment, and if you have any extra cash, put it into your debts so they can be paid off more quickly.

5. Pick one credit card

When you are looking towards reducing your credit a quick way to do this is to limit the number of credit cards you own – you only need to have one or even two at the most. You should choose the ones with the most favourable interest rates.

6. Prevent impulse buying

By leaving your credit cards at home you will prevent most of the impulse buying that individuals get. Also, it you are looking to buy something that is large in value then you should talk through the decision with a family member or friend to help you make a final decision.

7. Sell unwanted things

Look around your house for the different things that you really don’t use and consider having a garage sale or selling the items on ebay to generate some extra cash.

8. Live within your means

If you want a lifestyle that is debt free lifestyle then you will need to spend no more a month than you earn. Utilizing a credit card as a tool is acceptable if you want to buy things and then pay them off, but you should not consider it to be part of your income that you can spend.

9. Set long-term goals

You need to look long-term if you want to be debt free, as debt-free means living within your means while having investments to increase your income.

If you are looking to get a debt free lifestyle then you will need to keep track of and know what your finances are, and you will also need to resist the temptation to spend more than you have. You should also ensure, as time passes, that you are reducing the amount of overall debts that you have, even if this process is very slow.

Courtesy of Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Paul realizes after years of having numerous debts what it is like to have none. If you are thinking how can I get a debt free lifestyle then he has the answers. Also, if you are looking for where can I get help on a debt free lifestyle then his site can help you a lot.

Certified baker and pastry chef, nutritionist and owner of Sweet Revenge Inc. shares her passion for food as well as the ups and downs of the culinary industry.

When did you start getting interested in baking?

Let’s start by saying that baking is only one facet of what Sweet Revenge Inc. is about – but a very important part, indeed! My interest wasn’t a choice, really! I was born into a culinary family and have been attending “school” since birth. Food has always played a central and primary role in how my family (immediate and extended) interacts, so I truly do come by it naturally. All of my life I’ve been drawn to food as if it’s had a spell over me, for these very reasons. I’ve seen many experience health and lifestyle difficulties with it and because of it (including myself), and that played a huge role in my decision to pursue a culinary career in addition to become a registered holistic nutritionist (RHN), personal trainer (PTS), and life coach.

I’ve struggled with food, eating, and health issues associated to poor diet choices since adolescence, potentially even before. About 10 years ago, I was at a real crossroads with my health, most notably my weight. Upon digging deeper, and consequently learning a bit about health and nutrition, I created a diet that helped alleviate my intolerances to wheat/gluten, starches, sugars, and other minor foods (though not eliminating them just yet!) I’d made it my mission to find foods that I could tolerate, but that also tasted good and were good for me; not so easy – as many that have suffered a long time with similar issues know!

From then on, I decided I COULD have my cake and eat it too (literally.) After graduating university in 2003, I went to culinary school and pursued a career in baking and pastry arts – and yes, I was the only one in my class that was allergic to everything we were making! I continued on my own time, learning the basics, and recreating/experimenting with countless recipes at home for my needs, using the best, most fresh ingredients – and always completely from scratch, making sure it not only was healthful but tasted amazing.

Last year I decided to truly “put my money where my mouth is” and go back to school to become a registered holistic nutrition (RHN). This is different than a regular nutritionist as well as a dietitian; holistic nutrition uses a mind-body-spirit approach, taking all levels and elements of a person’s life into consideration, and analyzing their total effect on the body and its systems – dealing with the root cause, not the symptom. As this is able to determine the many reasons why people develop conditions and illnesses (and yes, allergies!) – pairing it with my background in food preparation was essential and the natural next step in my professional progress. Doing so has amplified and enhanced my baking and cooking skills and knowledge ten-fold for both myself, my family/friends, and customers/clients, as I’m able to bake “around” and even help to alleviate symptoms of illness/disease. While we all love to eat, share, and celebrate with sweets and other foods – many that suffer with dietary limitations due to illness, disease, weight issues, etc. truly believe they are restricted from certain foods for the rest of their life, and suffer not only physically but mentally and emotionally because of this. It is my life’s aim, with Sweet Revenge Inc., to give this ability back to those people, to teach and educate them in healthful and mindful ways about foods and how the body works, so that they themselves can embrace foods and eating, and enjoy a natural quality of life, health, and true harmony and balance.

What kind of food training have you gone through?

Formally, I attended 2 years of culinary school at George Brown City College in Toronto, during which I became an apprentice within the Ministry of Ontario’s rigorous apprenticeship training program to be a baker/patissier. I diligently participated in this apprenticeship program for 4 or so years (in tandem with school, which is required) choosing to work and experience many and various large-scale places (mass quantities of non-food being produced) in addition to the tiniest of country-road kitchens (making fresh and from-scratch pastries every morning) in both pastry chef and baker roles (very different – and both very grueling!) Several times over the last few years I’ve been certified and re-certified in food safety and handling, and after meeting all the government requirements for completing my apprenticeship, I obtained my Red Seal – the official certification for chefs – and am a certified and professional Pastry Chef and Baker.

When did you start Sweet Revenge Inc.?

In conjunction with culinary school and my apprenticeship, in 2004 I decided to throw my chef hat into the ring (starting small at that point) and began baking for family, friends, and some other clients, using the name Stephanie’s Bakeshop (only to make it more professional looking at the time.) Over the first year, I realized I did want to pursue a private business, but didn’t want to have my name tied to it in the title (I had dreams of being quite big!) so I changed the name to a name that I felt represented what I was trying to do – bake in the face of dietary restrictions, and help people have their cake! In 2006, I formally changed the name to Sweet Revenge Custom Bakeshop. Growing still, and in many different ways, I recently decided to tweak the name to Sweet Revenge Inc. As I’m preparing to offer a variety of services all within the same healthy umbrella (holistic nutritional consultation, coaching, and education; personal fitness and education; healthy food preparation and education; and of course – a custom bakeshop!) I feel that this name really encompasses a traditional feel with an assertive and confident approach to health and well-being that I want to convey.

What are some of the challenges you face as a baker and an entrepreneur?

I have big dreams with both the business I have, in addition to what I feel I’m meant to accomplish in this life and for our society’s advancement. Challenges have been many – mainly since I feel that I’m the “creative” behind my endeavour, and am lacking the practical business protocol and know-how to really move things forward positively and productively. In addition to the challenges of creating a start-up business, I’d say the true main roadblock is financing.

With the state of our economy, and my having been gathering my credentials over the last few years, and ingredients, machinery, and rent being as expensive as it is – money is the only true obstacle that’s standing between me now and the successful, booming, and busy storefront bakery that I’d like to have. I’m in the market for serious investors and even partners to help bring these dreams into reality.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into baking as a career/hobby?

If it’s your dream, your passion – don’t let anyone stand in your way. The culinary industry is not for the faint or weak of heart; it’s long and often grueling hours, dangerous and hazardous to your health, and mentally, emotionally, and sometimes physically abusive; I’ve had a few bosses that could make Gordon Ramsay falter!

That being said – I wouldn’t take my experience back in a heartbeat, but then I had my larger vision and purpose of helping the world to keep me sane and comforted when things got a little too hot in the kitchens and bakeries I worked in. If you love food, and your goal is to help bring food and people together, that is more of a hobby – and again, there’s passion there to override the unsavory bits of industry. If this still doesn’t help you to make a decision, then I’d say start small; get a part-time job, or volunteer at a local restaurant or bakery, and see what it’s like before you jump in head first. If playing it safe doesn’t suit you – and you want a real taste – hotels and big-time restaurants are always willing to hire inexperienced workers on dish duty! If you’re lucky (and one in a million are) – you’ll find a nice, small bakery or restaurant where the owner and employees interact and work as equals, almost like a group of friends; after all the places I’ve worked, and all the miles I’ve logged, this is what I’m aiming for with Sweet Revenge Inc. one day; in a few years, look me up!

What has been your favourite baking project to work on so far?

I could say that it’s one of the amazing cakes and goodies I’ve been so fortunate to make (NKOTB was cool!), yet nothing compares to the experience I had with a 60th wedding anniversary cake I made a few years ago. It was commissioned by the daughter of a lovely couple for the dinner party they were having to celebrate, expecting about 40+ people to attend. I recall the cake was carrot, a particular favourite of her father, the “groom”, although he was a diabetic; her mother, the “bride” often didn’t eat dessert, as she always felt poorly after doing so, and as a result, hadn’t eaten baked goods in over a decade or so! The daughter spoke with me for a while about this, and she relayed that her mother abstained from dairy, gluten, and large quantities of sugar – could I still make this cake? Of course, I told her. I did my best, and it turned out perfectly. Knowing I was facing a tough critic (the daughter even told me not to get my hopes up, although she was crossing her fingers!) I delivered the cake and hoped for the best. A few days later, I received a glowing email from the daughter – both her guests and her father enjoyed it immensely (no adverse reactions), and to her astonishment and disbelief – her mother had not one but two slices that evening, and asked to take the few remaining slices home for herself as it tasted just like how her mother used to make it for her (obviously this was okay!) The email thanked me profusely, as this served to make the celebration all the more special for the entire family and guests in the know. She has been a client of mine since, and I’ve recreated that cake each year, as with their anniversary, it’s become one of their special family traditions. Knowing I helped her overcome her food issues made all my hard work completely worthwhile; I’m so grateful for being able to be a part of their special date!

What’s your favourite and least favourite part of the business?

There’s so much I am grateful for. Namely – that I get to choose to follow my passion everyday, and that I continue to want to do so. Being in the industry isn’t my aim – doing what I love, sharing it with as many as I can, and spreading around good energy and well-being is. I don’t like the competition that there is out there, but then – I see what I’ve got going right now and what I’m aiming to do as so specific, the market isn’t quite there yet, so I’ve still got some time and a niche for myself and my business. That excites me, and keeps me going, too. I love making pretty things, and knowing they’re good for you is almost like a secret I’m dying to tell! Being able to share them, teach others how to make them, and share my tricks and tips is a gift; continuously being allowed and asked to be part of others celebrations and sharing, I’m so grateful and lucky to be able to experience this with each item that leaves my kitchen. All in all, I’m grateful for the fact that I keep making the choice to give this creative and loving part of myself to others, in addition to the desire to truly want to see people healthy and well, and however I can make the dots connect is what keeps me interested, motivated, and inspired.

Right now, everything is dependent on me and my schedule. Although it’s planned for the future (perhaps the very near future!) I don’t have the ability to have a paid assistant or help as yet, so if I get sick, or I need time off, my business suffers. This makes vacations tough, and scheduling things weekly even tougher. That being said – I love what I do, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’m intending to have financing available to expand, both in having help and having a bustling storefront at some point, so that will release some of the pressure I’m currently dealing with, and my schedule will become less of an obstacle between me and complete success.

What else would you want people to know about baking and your business specifically?

Through all the experiences and experimenting that I’ve been through, (in addition to learning what doesn’t work!) I’ve been able to heal myself and my body from the issues I set out on this journey with 10 years ago, and am excited to share what I’ve learned! I know our world is a finicky, jaded society – used to treats loaded with butter, eggs, and refined sugar and flour. News flash: Preservatives, artificial stuff, and mass quantities of refined “fake foods” don’t belong in my bakeshop; organic, whole, and healthy fresh foods and ingredients do. I bake and prepare foods with the finest, freshest ingredients – always completely from scratch, that’ll get your taste buds asking for more. While healthfulness is almost always besides the point when speaking of sweet eats, I also know how the body works, and how and which foods need to be combined to lessen the body’s workload. I specialize in gluten-free, low-glycemic (almost sugar-free and diabetic friendly), and dairy-free goodies and sweets, yet I’ll take on any challenge if that means putting a smile on someone’s face, making a stomach happy, and helping to bake them a happy memory.

I maintain that my business is “old-fashioned”, and even “retro”; in effect, Sweet Revenge Inc. doesn’t sacrifice quality and taste, and uses the values and tenets from when food was real and baking, food preparation, and domesticity was respected. Literally, like mom (and grandma) used to make; whether you suffer from allergies, illness, disease, or are a vegan (or for you sugar-loving traditionalist!) Sweet Revenge Inc. is your key to an enlightened, indulgent, sweets-filled future!