One of my favorite things about publishing Macaroni Kid is the chance to connect with other parents in our community. Often times these connections inspire me and remind me of the ability of one person to make a difference. It is with this in mind that Macaroni Kid Springfield launched this series to spotlight these special people. My hope is to introduce you to some amazing parents living right in our communities who not only are doing unique and wonderful things but also deserve to have some attention brought to their mission.
I first connected with Meaghan Cianflone a couple of years ago when I came across her amazing cookies at a Girls Just Wanna Have Fun event. I didn't know that she lived so close to me and that I'd soon be falling in love with all of her Facebook posts! Her cookies taste delicious but her design work and attention to detail is what really intrigues me. I admire Meaghan's dedication and work ethic, her thoughtfulness and am in awe of how she handles everything with such grace! Please get to know this local mom a little better by reading her answers to our questions.
1. What is your MISSION? What do you want to accomplish?
Mission... To never leave the kitchen? The mission of Annabella's Sweets is to add that little extra touch to any occasion. And I mean *any* occasion. There is a cookie for EVERYTHING. From baptisms to first communions, bridal showers to weddings, baby showers to first birthdays, graduations and teacher appreciation, even specific surgery recovery or end of cancer treatments- I want to be the one to delight the eye, taste buds, and heart-all at the same time. To make edible pieces of art-that not only look good but TASTE good too! At the end of the day though, all I want to accomplish is something very simple, very basic...
Happiness. I hope my addition of decorated sugar cookies adds a little bit of happiness to whoever may need it. The little extra piece you leave that function talking about for days to come.
2. What inspired/encouraged you to start? Is there one specific moment when you knew this was what you wanted to do?
Motherhood. I was a first time mom to fraternal twin boys. We were coming up on their first birthday. I wanted cookies in the shape of #1, in blue and green frosting. I went to my twin forum, asked for sugar cookie recipes, picked one, baked it-and as the saying goes, “the rest is history!” EXCEPT. I think my one year old boys could have done a better job at decorating them... It was a basic icing recipe of vanilla, sugar, and water. So while it tasted amazing, it was most definitely not “fancy.” There was no one at that party saying, “These are too pretty to eat!” HA! I made the same cookies in the shapes of vehicles for year #2. That same year I said to myself, “I really want to make cookies with the fancy decorations, the layers of designs!” The following spring, I headed to Google looking at pictures of some basic Easter cookies, found a royal icing recipe, bought some basic cookie decorating tools, and made some cookies! And....I was hooked. They were not the prettiest cookies, but others fawned over them, and all I could think was, “I'm hooked! I need to get better!” I was asked by a close friend for some First Communion cookies for her daughter later that spring. I took the challenge, made them, and that's when I heard the words, “You have a business? What's it called? You really should start!” And, one day, I did just that.
There wasn't so much a specific moment when I knew this was something I wanted to do. I was a stay at home mom to three children (I had Annabella 19 months after the boys), and this provided the little extra income. Now, I'm not sending my kids to college, but it's a mini-golf outing, ice-cream after school, or a trip to the movies. Little things-but in the eyes of a child-and myself-it can be the biggest things.
3. How did your life before children influence the parent you are today? (Work, experiences) What part do your children play in your current mission?
Before I became a mom, I was a teacher, preschool teacher actually. Shocking, considering how shy (or introverted as we say in the cookie world) I was! However, growing up, I was always drawn to kids. They were, in fact, “my people.” So from a kid, to a college student, to a teacher, and now as a parent, I knew-those kids just want you to be present. To listen. To engage. To laugh. To cry. To play. To learn. And, even-to take risks. I was the teacher that picked off the wall themed units. I did activities that could end up being a custodian's nightmare, or in my case-my co-teacher. Life is about learning-constantly. We can't be afraid to take risks, or make mistakes. How else will we ever learn? With parenting, it's kinda like learning on the fly! I certainly make mistakes, yet I use them as learning experiences for myself, and my kids. I apologize when needed. I explain where needed. And I love always.
As for my children and my current mission, they will come down in the morning after I've finished cookie sets and ohhh and ahhh over what they see. They ask me many questions about the orders. One child in particular, always ask, “Do you have any extras?” Typically the answer is yes, but I throw that in the order, provided I didn't make a mistake or it didn't drop! They ask who is it for, what is the occasion, do I know this person/family, etc. And when a customer comes and picks up their orders, sometimes my children are there and they see the looks on their faces. The smiles when they see their box of cookies. The excitement when a child sees his or her favors for their party. The hugs I may exchange because they are just thrilled. Happiness. It really is that simple.
4. What lessons/values are you learning through this process? What lessons/values do you hope your kids are learning?
Sleep is overrated? Should I not say that? Well, I will say, I am learning the value of sleep. Many probably don't realize the amount of time that goes into cookies. An order can take up to a week to complete between all the various steps. So the lesson that is always a work in progress-I am a mom FIRST. Which means, I volunteer at their schools, I run them to their practices, I sit on the sidelines at their games, we eat dinner together, we snuggle and watch a tv show, we head out to grab ice cream. On the flip side, that also means-I miss out on sleep because I don't want to miss out on family time. I've gotten better with this over the last year or so. It was taking a toll on me in many ways, so I've also learned the value of saying “no.” It's not easy, but my health and my kids and family come first. Always.
I have another important value I've learned. The value of friendship. I am a one woman show. I bake and decorate, package, etc. During holiday times, I am swamped. It's hard because I still want to be that mom that does it all, but I also want to be that person that is able to provide children with their Elf on a Shelf cookie at Christmas, or a personalized egg cookie in their basket at Easter. Christmas and Easter are my biggest holidays. This past year I had friends and family-who helped cut out cookies, bake, bring me a coffee before they picked up their order, package, package, and PACKAGE. Packaging can take up to an entire day to get everything heat sealed, boxed, and sorted. And when I say friends-I'm not talking years of friendships. I'm talking former teachers of my kids, or a recent customer/classmate/friend, or a parent of a classmate turned friend. It's humbling really. I hope they all realize how much it means to me because it really truly does. And they know I will never ask for help, and I will forever be grateful for it! Because-sleep.
Lastly, buy and shop local. Now that I make cookies, I really try to hit up the local establishments. I have my favorite panini and coffee spot. I have a favorite bagel and ice cream shop. And wherever it may be, it is worth every penny. I get how much blood, sweat, and tears goes into what they are doing. I understand the behind the scenes work-what customers walking in to grab their coffee- don't see. I see it. And I will pay a pretty penny for it!
As for my kids? I am also one who will say yes wherever help is needed, regardless of how swamped I may be. I want to help where I can help. Don't ask me to stand up in front of a crowd and give a speech-that will never happen. But with just about anything else, I will find a way to make it work and do it. I want my kids to realize-it's not about what we receive, like being paid for a cookie order; it's about what we give. Whether it's help, money, or happiness....it's what we give.
5. What do you do to take care of yourself and how do you make time to do it?
I am extremely proficient at burning the 12-5 am candle, when the whole house, heck, town, is asleep, that I may take a nap when the kids are at school to recharge! I'm not into personal pampering, aside from getting rid of gray hairs, so a nap, some quiet, a coffee with a friend, lunch with my husband, is all I really need. Or, maybe even a wandering stroll through Target or Home Goods!
6. What can we do to support you in the community?
I'm not great at self-promotion. So I won't. Think of the local shop owners who live in your community and help buy from them if you can. You are helping these families and their livelihoods. Need a special cookie design for your occasion, send me a message on Facebook. I'll always try to work with you, but I do require a 2-3 week lead time. And if I can't help, I'm more than willing to helping you find someone who can. As they say, it takes a village. The village is big enough for all of us!
Get to know our past Parent with a Purpose people:
- HEATHER MONSON is on a mission to make sure children and families are mindful of others and compassionate to one another.
- MICHELLE CREAN is on a mission to empower women to achieve their fitness goals and to live a healthier lifestyle by providing in-home personal training and fitness nutrition guidance.
- SARAH REILLY is on a mission to bring more awareness and acceptance to the local Autism community.
- AMY CUTLER is on a mission to raise awareness of Type 1 diabetes and to raise funds for research so that there may one day be a cure.
- ANA FERRIS is on a mission to help people feel confident and empowered by exercise in order to have a healthy mind and heart.
- NIKKI CACI is on a mission to help women feel more confident through fashion!
- SALLY FULLER is on a mission to help all Springfield children learn to read.
- KATHERINE ZAHIROVIC is on a mission to educate children on the importance of healthy lifestyle skills.
- JENNIFER POWELL is on a mission to make a difference in the lives of others.
- ALLISON GAYNOR is on a mission to spend as much of her free time helping people as she can.
- BECKY QUINN is on a mission to raise money and awareness for March of Dimes.
- EMILIE HISGEN is on a mission to get families together for Sandwich Making to benefit Open Pantry.
- OLIVIA SAKR is on a mission to keep carcinogens and additives out of households via natural hand poured soy candles with no additives or dyes.
- MARIA MERCED is on a mission to put books into the hands of children.
- DAN SLATTERY is on a mission to encourage our youth to take a break from their screens and have fun outdoors.
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