Back to where we started in January… have I drank enough water yet? Guess what - still no. It’s a daily struggle (but isn’t it for most of us? Please say yes? Maybe? Hopefully?). That being said, I am hooked on ‘Hug in a Mug’ from Cuppa Kindness - a Rooibos-Chai blend that also happens to be caffeine-free (bonus), and frankly, that’s doing a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to staying hydrated. If I’m having seven a day… that counts, right?

Back in January, everything felt daunting and a little overwhelming, fast forward to now, and the calendar is almost full and our online sales are growing (and we can’t thank you enough).  We’ve got events booked through to Christmas (yes we’re thinking about Christmas in June - it’s how the cookie crumbles, pun intended), Halloween is already in motion and summer is looking HUGE! We have two amazing concerts at Market Rasen Racecourse this month, featuring Scouting for Girls, and August, Tom Jones. It’s getting more challenging, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

We’re at a point where our wholesale customers need cookies weekly, sometimes twice a week, which is amazing (and slightly terrifying) when you’re also knee-deep in event prep, online orders, and parenting in between. Half-term? Don’t even get me started. It is utter chaos, but the kind of chaos I would not go without. I bloody love what I do, and I know how lucky that makes me.

Leading on to some exciting news, let’s talk about the dream… the bakery… It's happening! We’re moving into a new space in the next few weeks - not too far, just from Caistor to Nettleton (don’t panic, you will still be able to get your cookie fix). This is the opportunity we’ve been waiting for to build a bakery that is all ours - the layout, ovens, mixers, the whole shebang. I’ve been dreaming of this for years, so yes, it’s going to be a tough few months, but such an amazing opportunity for us!

We’ve had meetings with builders, architects and traders, and it’s all getting very real and very very exciting. It’s obviously super daunting as a small business owner (now turned renovators and bakery builders, woo!) but the goal is to have this venture still have that home-style feel and we really cannot wait to share this journey with you because I can guarantee it's going to be one hell of a ride! We plan to have the bakery finished by the autumn, so watch this space!

And on the topic of dreams… working with huge brands never gets old - and honestly, I don’t think it ever will. I’m so beyond grateful for every time these opportunities come our way. Looking ahead to this time next year, the goal is a thriving little bakery, still powered by our small but mighty team.

Hitting more online orders, and fingers crossed, working in a way that means we are not flat-out 7 days a week. The dream would be to get that nailed so we can have a day (or two) to just stop, breathe and spend time with family!

And on to where this whole cookie venture started 5.5 years ago, the dream was simple (and huge): take the kids to Disney World. And this September, that dream becomes a reality. We’ve only gone and done it - we’ve booked a once-in-a-lifetime holiday to Disney World. I still can’t quite believe it. It’s taken 5 years, but I promise you it has been worth every cookie and every late night to get here. This is my biggest achievement to date without a doubt, and it’s the whole reason we started our Cookie journey in the first place!

So from the bottom of my heart, thank you. For every order, every event visit, every like, share and all of your kind messages. You’ve helped to bring some of my biggest dreams to life (literally), keep your eyes peeled for more cookies and a brand spanking new bakery!

I’ll see you soon, Mickey ears are at the ready!

Sian x