So, one of my resolutions for this year was to blog at least once a week… and in case you haven’t noticed, I have been royally sucking at it.

Seriously.

*Cracks whip*

So, in a desperate attempt to get back on track with my resolution (and for an amazing “excuse” to bake every single week) - The Cupcake Bible Series was born!

I received this as a gift (and what a fabulous gift it is!) and have been dying for an excuse to dive in!

So, henceforth I declare Tuesday night Cupcake Bible Night!

My favourite part? Every Wednesday, some lucky suckers are going to get cupcakes! How’s that for a weekly Random Act Of Kindness?

Sometimes I blog about baking.

Sometimes I share dirty secrets.

Sometimes I introduce you to amazing people!

Well hold on to your seat friend, because right now is one of those times!

Meet Jake.

He is doing ridiculous and hilarious things for charity.

Jake believes that having access to clean and safe drinking water, changes everything.

And I agree with Jake!

Every week 27,000 children in developing countries will die because they do not have access to clean water.

charity:water exists to address this giant issue.

They are building wells in developing countries – and 100% of donations from the public (that’s us) go towards the projects!

Best part? You can see the projects and wells on Google Maps.

Second best part? Last I checked Jake had already watched Gigli on repeat for 24 hours, shaved his head and was last seen shopping for a speedo.

Want to learn more about Water With Jake?

Email the man him self! hello@waterwithjake.org

Join me in my first Random Act of Kindess and support Water With Jake.

Things at Bake A Change are a’changin, and I’m gonna tell you why!

Over the last year, I have had the opportunity to meet so so sooo many amazing people. I have had the opportunity to bake for so so sooo many amazing causes. The opportunity to make real and lasting change.

The year 2012 was one that I will remember for my entire life (or at least until I go senile). One that makes me feel truly blessed when I look back on it.

That being said, over the last few weeks I have been feeling … something.  I’m not great at recognizing feelings, but I knew that this feeling was not one of happiness.

I knew something needed to change.

I am not someone who is afraid of change. Over the last few years of my life I have experienced more change than I ever thought possible!

Since September 2004 I have moved 13 times.

I went from being a Biomedical Science Undergraduate student in Waterloo to a professional fundraiser in Toronto in the blink of an eye.

In some ways, I am a change junkie!

Now, I am ready to embrace another change!

For the last year, Bake A Change has let the customer decide which charity their proceeds will be donated to. This has been great, and I truly believe that all of these charities are worthy of support and an unlimited amount of high fives.

However, this format of operation has left me feeling…..something.

I think the feeling is “unfulfilled” – which may be a bit strong of a word, but bear with me.

I am a do-er. I need to be on the frontline of the action. I need to be able to *feel* the difference I am making.

So, from now on Bake A Change will focus on specific projects.

The first project will focus on Random Acts of Kindness.

Want to know more about the project? Check out the “Causes” page.

Have you been the recipient of a Random Act of Kindness lately?

Today, January 11, is a very special day.

Today is my dear friend Mike Ium’s birthday!

I met Mike while volunteering in New Zealand and from there we became close friends, and even roommates for a short time!

Mike recently began an adventure into Buddhism which started with a trip to Nepal, and has since led him to pursue a Masters Degree in Buddhism studies.

He constantly challenges my way of thinking, and really is one of the most inspiration and important people in my life.

Now, before I get too mushy on everyone, I am going to get to my point!

Why the heck is a blog post about my friend Mike called Yummy Cookies?

When traveling in New Zealand, Mike made a crucial error of divulging a humiliating secret to myself and the rest of our volunteer group.

He told us that in grade school his friend Suzanne gave him the nickname Yummy Cookies – his last name, Ium, is pronounced ‘yum’. I’m not sure where the “cookies” part came from, but I really don’t think it matters! For the rest of the month we spent abroad, we called him Yummy Cookies… or just Yummy.

To this day, I think I have called him Mike only a handful of times. In fact, sometimes when I call him Mike, he doesn’t respond!

So, here’s to you – Yummy Cookies, on your special day! I hope it is everything and more than you dream it to be! I give you all my love, and this super embarrassing photo.

During the early stage of my baking obsession -Yummy’s birthday 2011.

It’s 2013, it’s 2013!  I actually cannot believe how fast 2012 sped by – it feels like a dream!

If you have been following along you may remember that last spring I started a “bake-it list” – not to be confused with bucket list – and I managed to hit everyone of my goals, except for one.

I did not make five epic cakes - maybe two, or three, depending on who you ask…

However, I learned that epic cakes are from a world that cannot simply be tiptoed into. If you are going to get into epic cakes – you have to jump right in!

More importantly, 2012 held a lot of firsts for me – the obvious being that I started my own non-profit, but here are some honourable mentions: purchased my first web domain, went to my first (second and third) musical festivals, visited Golda’s Kitchen (if you haven’t been, go! RUN! NOW!), tried shrimp, made dulce-de-leche, baked for total strangers, ran a half-marathon, learned to drive standard, and the list goes on and on!

I have to say 2012 was about as close to “perfect” as it could be – which means I have very high expectations for 2013!

I am still in the process of hammering out all of my resolutions – but for now I will leave you with a short list!

2013 Resolutions
1. Be more consistent with blogging – once a week, every week, I pinky swear!
2. Spend more time with my family
3. Run more, yoga more, spend more time on fitness and overall health – as I am writing this, I’m eating a tub of ice cream with a spoon. So this is off to a great start… ahem…
4. Complete full marathon
5. Adventure into ice cream making
6. Take cake decorating classes
7. Hold myself to a standard of grace, not perfection – this is going to be by far the most difficult! I am an insane perfectionist, and often find myself frustrated when the picture in my mind doesn’t match up with reality (which in baking is often the case!)

Happy 2013 everyone! What resolutions did you make? How will you stay accountable?

Have you ever read about, or met someone and felt inspired?

I don’t mean the kind of inspired you feel when you read things like “be the change” or “we can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone” – but really, truly, awe inspired – pick your jaw up off the floor and  feel your world move, inspired?

A few weeks ago, I felt just that.

I received a message on Facebook from Eddie, who works with inner city teenagers at Pathways to Education. One of his students, Sumia, is in grade 10 and has hopes of one day becoming a humanitarian. Not long ago, Sumia started up a Because I Am A Girl chapter at her high school, a movement aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty and ending gender discrimination against girls (and women) in the developing world. Sumia has been using her group at school to help raise money for the organization.

Eddie told me that she was planning a bake sale, and had been soliciting donations from bakeries and shops in the area, but hadn’t been having any luck. I, of course, jumped at the opportunity!

The Because I Am A Girl campaign is one that I am very familiar with, and happens to be part of an organization that I was lucky enough to work with during my time as a student.  Plan Canada is one of the largest international development agencies in the world working tirelessly to improve the lives of children.

A few days later I received a phone call from Sumia. She was quiet and shy, but asked if I would be willing to donate any amount of anything for her school bake sale.

I told her I would be happy to donate as much as I have time to make, likely about 6 dozen cupcakes, and that I would pass along her message to my friends and coworkers.  She quickly thanked me and our conversation ended. It wasn’t more than 5 minutes long, but Sumia had moved me.

I went into work the next day and told two of my coworkers her story. They both quickly agreed to donate baked goods as well! I was thrilled, but I want to do more.

So, now I am coming to *you*!

Do you love baking? Do you want to help encourage a 15 year old girl to chase her dreams while supporting the Because I Am A Girl movement?

Get in touch with me on Facebook orTwitter, send an email to kendra@bakeachange.com, call 647.210.1593, send a carrier pigeon or put a message in a bottle and leave it on my doorstep.

I’m not partial to how you get in touch with me, but if you’d like to help please reach out! I would love to hear from you!

Over the past few months I have had the privilege of meeting and working with some truly phenomenal people! It’s been a ton of fun – but lately I have been straight-up getting down to business!

You may remember reading here about my meeting with Jenny Chan of Tangerine Chan Productions. It has been an amazing opportunity to work with her and I figured it was time I to take the “branding” of Bake A Change a little more seriously.

*Puts on “Business Woman” hat*

Recently my dear friend Rob Virtu, who is an Industrial Designer by day and a mastermind graphics guy by night, offered up some of his wizardry.

(Spoiler Alert: The final outcome is seriously amazing!)

Before we had even really had a conversation Mr. Virtu had emailed me a bunch of “little ideas” he had.

Obviously, I loved all of them, and if they were shoes I would’ve bought them in every colour.

Clearly I could only pick one, and believe me it was not an easy decision!

But… after much deliberation, I am confident that I have made the right one.

So there you have it – the new Bake A Change logo in all it’s glory!

Now, back to updating letterhead, invoices, envelopes and documents. Hurrah!

What do you think of the brand new logo?

If you are on Facebook, Twitter, or happen to be from the Kitchener-Waterloo area, you may have heard of a little thing called The Smile Epidemic. 

If you haven’t heard if it, definitely check it out! But basically a Jim Moss, a former professional hockey and lacrosse player, turned his lemons into lemonade. He was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome – which actually turned out to be a mis-diagnosis, but that has bubkis to do with my actual point!

So, Guillian-Barre Syndrome. What’s that, you ask?

Those of you who know me know I could bore you with the nerdy details, but I will spare you and say this: it left Jim being unable to use his legs. Not a great thing for an athlete.

Refusing to focus on the negative, Jim began his Facebook “gratitude journal”. He wrote about things he was grateful for.

His wife.

His kids.

Access to amazing medical care.

Within six weeks he was able to walk with two arm canes, and doctors believed Jim’s positive attitude helped his condition improve.

Recently, Jim launched The Smile Epidemic to encourage people to think about what makes them smile and post a picture with a few smile-worthy-words. He believes that if you look for things you’re grateful for, you’ll find them, and eventually you won’t have to look so hard!

I agree with Jim.

Then, last night, I think the world was trying to tell me something.

I stumbled across a blog about “Things Proven To Make You Happier“.

First on the list?

Gratitude.

So today I brought my laptop into the office, sat down a few friends/coworkers, and told them “Congratulations! You are now participating in The 30 Days of Happiness Challenge!”

Yes, I’m sure they think I’m half insane (other half elf).

No, I don’t care!

So, without further adieu, I present…

Day 1: Things That Make Some Staff at the Victorian Order Of Nurses Toronto-York Site Smile. 

Day 1: 30 Days of Happiness

I think most of these are pretty straight forward, but for those of you who aren’t Portuguese, Suzette is smiling about “natas”.

They are delicious and miraculous, and if you’ve never had one you need to go get some IMMEDIATELY!

Now instead of looking forward to the weekend, I am looking forward to going into work! I am excited to find out what my coworkers are smiling about.

And I’m excited to smile too!

What makes you smile? Can you think of 30 things?

If you have been following along on Facebook or Twitter this probably isn’t your first time hearing about this ever mysterious video shoot!

It all started a few weeks back when I received an email from Jenny, the owner of Tangerine Chan Productions. At first, I thought it was spam (c’mon, we all get a lot of junk mail!) and almost didn’t read it through.

Boy, am I ever glad I didn’t delete that email!

A few weeks later, I found myself meeting Jenny at Starbucks to discuss the her ideas for a promotional video that she was hoping to shoot for Bake A Change. Believe me, I was completely floored. I’m not even sure I could form proper coherent sentences. Basically, I left her with “do whatever you think is best, live the dream, I trust you.”

Two weekends later, I found myself in my kitchen surrounded by lights, camera’s and the amazing “film crew” – Jenny, Alvin and Yoko Sanchez.

We spent the day mixing and measuring and eating (seriously, I probably ate an entire brick of butter) and most importantly, filming!

Up until this point, I have spent maybe….5 minutes in front of a camera, so needless to say I felt a little (okay, a lot) awkward at times. However, by the end of the day and with experience Jenny and Alvin brought to the table, I think it’s safe to say we are going to be viewing a super cute cupcake infused video in the near future!

To hold you over, here are some pictures taken during the video shoot!

If you would like to speak with Jenny of Tangerine Chan productions she can be reach by email at tangerinechanproductions@gmail.com, or contact me and I will happily put you in touch!

If you are interesting in reading up on what it is like to spend a day in the kitchen with me check out Yoko Sanchez’ blog here!

Which side of the camera do you usually prefer to be on?

We all know that Canadian summers can feel like they are over before they’ve started, so if you’re anything like me you have been doing everything you can to enjoy each and every fleeting moment of it!

Luckily, I have been able to escape from the excessive heat of the city away to the cottage almost every other weekend (tough life, I know).

But don’t worry, I’m never without baking on my mind, so even when I’m away there are almost always cupcakes around (as if my friends would let me get away with not bringing treats. Yah. Right).

You may remember a few weeks ago I posted about some super cute Funfetti Cupcakes that were in the works!

In fact, you may have even seen a picture!

But what you don’t know is that there was actually an entire Funfetti Cupcake photoshoot while we were enjoying the rustic comforts of Red Bay, Ontario.

And yes, it’s just as adorable and ridiculous as it sounds!

Brace yourself friends, you are about to work up an appetite.