I never thought my fifth grade cake decorating business I created with my best friend, called “Cake Biz” would amount to anything. I mean we did manage to get hired for one occasion (her brother’s 16th birthday) but honestly that business died with my elementary school days. However, when I walked into Gigi’s Cupcakes in Deer Creek Plaza one day in December, visions of pre-teen me in an apron flooded back into my brain.

I’ve never really been one to like babysitting, so when I saw the “now hiring” sign in the window I had to jump at the chance. I mean I did have very professional experience. My mind has always been ignorant of all the job possibilities out there. So when I gathered up the courage to go to the interview and ended up actually getting the job, it was a whole new experience.

Sitting in the car for a good 30 minutes in the parking lot before actually walking into my first day was not a high point. I was planning out exactly what I was going to say and everything that could go wrong, including a ridiculous scenario where I drop all of the cupcakes and ultimately get fired. But I’m just gonna play it off like I was super prepared.

My manager showed me around the shop, and honestly it is a whole new world. Ovens, piping bags and dozens of cupcakes awaited me and my soon-to-be learned decorating skills. My manager started me on wooden cupcakes because of my lack of experience but by my fourth day I knew how to frost most of them. However, the popular TV show Cupcake Wars is not an entirely accurate portrayal. One cannot simply squeeze out the buttercream, I had to perfect the Gigi’s Swirl. Weighing in at exactly 3.75 ounces, the perfect swirl had to be mastered. When I go down the line frosting the cupcakes, I channel my inner Buddy Valastro.

Let’s uncover some truths about bakeries. First, buttercream really is solely butter, powdered sugar and vanilla– yes, I really was that girl covered in powdered sugar my first day. Secondly, there really is a confidential recipes binder. But that’s for another blog.

It’s been about a month since I was apprehensive about my first “real” job. Stressing over closing the cash register every night turned into excitement about what buttercream I would make that day. Even though I usually close the store by myself, it’s fun to be around co-workers other than my babysitting charges.

It’s weird to look back to think I was almost not going to walk in the door. Although it took some convincing, I actually feel prepared for the real world because of Gigi’s. My childhood dream was finally achieved.