Speaking of staying close to home, Intuit (a big company focused on small business), is giving away a $50,000 grant to the local company that gets the most love. We’d like that to company to be Gotta Have S’more! There are so many exciting things we want to do; so many big projects we’re planning in the next few months. Projects like…

Well. Click this link, cast your vote and see what we deliver in the New Year!

In other news, our Fall S’muffins have been a big hit. It feels amazing every time my little desserts get such big love. Just in case I haven’t mentioned it recently…thank you. Thank you thank you thank you thank you. The Pumpkin-Chocolate Ganache S’muffins will soon be joined by new arrivals, Eggnog and Candy Cane, to make your feasts more festive (or vice-versa?). If you know of anyone who’s looking for unique desserts for their Christmas table or holiday parties, please point them in our direction!

…No matter where in the US they may be…

Ok ok, so this is a little bit premature. But, suffice it to say, there have been a handful of seminal events in my life: Marrying my husband, starting my business, giving birth to my daughter, and – now –

Let’s just say it’s going to be huge and it’ll be here before we know it.

(And no, Mom; it’s not another baby).

Stay tuned for all of the exciting details!!

In the meantime, have a happy, healthy, delightful and delicious holiday – and save room for dessert.

This is the time of year when everything feels a little more festive and (dare we say it?) – fun. Here at Gotta Have S’more, we’re enjoying the cooler weather and getting into the Halloween spirit just like everyone else, although our bakeries have been working double-duty; in addition to our fall Pumpkin Ganache & Milk Chocolate S’muffins, Carmen has been whipping up party favours for Maddie’s preschool. The little ones probably won’t get the pumpkin ganache – but the parents sure will! Since Maddie is dressing up like a baker this year, these party favours are pretty perfect (can’t you just see her, fresh from our bakeries, (of course), with baskets of cookie bouquets and chocolate-y s’muffins?). Delish!

But it’s not all Halloween spirit – we’re getting into the spirit of connection, too. We’re big fans of a group called Bag Lady Promotions, a networking group of women in business and “mompreneurs” – from sugar cookies to tough cookies; we want to help guide all of them, before their cookies start to crumble…

Started in 2008 by Laura Medina-Filipowicz, BLP is aimed toward helping women at all stages of building their business – and we were at this year’s event, at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood, on October 23. Hopefully we connected with you there – we were offering samples of our s’muffins. Networking and elegant dessert – now that’s a party! If we didn’t see you this time, we look forward to meeting you at the next event.

And speaking of sampling our S’muffins: We hope to keep making s’more and s’more of them (get it?). Intuit’s Love a Local Business is one way for us to do this. From the website:

“Each month, we’ll be giving away three $25,000 prizes to deserving local businesses! One of these businesses will be selected to have their grant doubled to $50,000!”

We could do a lot with $25,000 (even more with $50,000…). If you love us and if you love our S’muffins, please show that love to help us win this grant. Sometimes, small things can make a big difference. This is one of those times. (Follow the link for more details – and thank you from the graham cracker bottom of our toasted marshmallow hearts…)

Enjoy this beautiful fall weather, sneak a couple more sweet treats, take lots of pictures of your kids in costume. Get into the Halloween spirit, get connected, spread the love. Everything moves so quickly these days; the year is almost at an end! And so are our Pumpkin Ganache & Milk Chocolate S’muffins – they’ll be gone before you know it; order some now for your Thanksgiving plans

(And don’t forget to vote for us as your favorite local business! Thank you!)

4th of July S’muffins

I’m super excited, as of this week our little S’muffins will be available at The Nosh of Beverly Hills!  The Nosh will be selling S’muffins as singles for $2.95 each, exactly like they are sold at The Oaks.  Stop by and tell them Carmen from Gotta Have S’more sent you!!

Happy January 2011 S’more fans!

It’s been a while since I’ve updated my “weekly” blog.  My, how time flies!!  Once December rolled around I barely had time to

Critics' Choice Awards, PopSugar & Conan O'Brien

breath.  After the holiday craziness calmed a bit, I made it a point to spend some much needed quality time with my daughter.  We’ve gotten back into  doing our outdoor activities, hanging out our friends, going to the beach, riding our bikes .   I LOVE IT!

The start of 2011 has already been filled with lots of exciting S’more news!  We’ve been testing a new product (stay tuned!).  Our S’muffins made it out to the Critics Choice awards with our friends from PopSugar.  ThenI was personally asked by the CEO of BagLady Promotions, Laura Filipowicz, to set on  their 2011 Advisory board!!  BagLady Promotions is one of my favorite women’s networking groups and I’m thrilled to be in the company of so many amazing women business owners. This Thursday we’ll be the sponsor at another high profile women’s networking group called Ladies Who Launch.    I’m really looking forward to meeting everyone and introducing them to our yummy S’muffins!!

This year is starting off with a bang, hope yours is too!!

xoxox

Carmen

I’ve been super busy, like most people, this time of year.  My calendar has been packed with a ton of events, creating new holiday flavors, photo shoots, customizing holiday S’muffins, marketing, marketing, marketing and last but not least LOTS of orders!!  I’m heading out this week to celebrate Thanksgiving with my hubby and little girl in the great state of Minnesota; that’s where Ben is from.  The first week of December Gotta Have S’more will officially be one year old. The rest of the month, I’m sure I’ll be in the bakery making a zillion S’muffins with my fabulous assistants. 

Daddy's little girl

With everything that is going on, I have to say the most important date on my calendar is one that just passed.  On November 18^th Ben and I celebrated our five year wedding anniversary. Five whole years!!!  Time flies…. I can’t imagine what my life would look like right now without Ben by my side.  Gotta Have S’more would not exist, because the crazy “S’more Idea” probably wouldn’t have happened with anyone else.  He takes the word “supportive” to a whole new level and I thank God every day for giving me such a wonderful husband. 

Since starting this company, our world has been totally flipped upside down.  Running a business is all consuming  24/7, especially when you’re totally obsessed like I am.  When I was working 8am- 6pm things were definitely more structured in our lives.  There are lots of nights and weekends when I’m either up at the bakery, doing events, or off to networking groups.  During those times Ben and Maddie will just pal around at the beach, ride their bikes, play house, read, she’s already had her share of UFC, and when he puts on his Wisconsin jersey she automatically yells “Go Vikes”!! 

Vacation in Cancun

I asked him the other day if he ever wishes I would go back to a corporate job.  He laughed and said, “No, I want you to be successful with your business”.  Thank God, what would I have done if he would have said “Yes”?!?!  It’s truly an amazing experience starting a company out of nothing and watching it grow.  Even that doesn’t measure up to having someone who believes in you so much, they are willing to make sacrifices for your success. I love you Ben with all my heart and am so thankful to have  you by my side for the rest of my life!! xoxox

Ben & Maddie - best friends!

P.S. Arts Nov 2009

HI friends!

Wow, it’s been awhile.  My “weekly” blog post is becoming  more like a “monthly, (if I’m lucky)” blog post.  So my secret is out, blogging is not my most favorite thing to do.  I’m constantly wondering…. “what will I write about this week/month”.  But, once I sit down and start typing, it’s actually not so bad.  

Now that it’s November we’re gearing up for the holiday’s doing tons of events, creating new flavors and hiring a new person to work in the bakery.  Last weekend I returned to P.S. Arts Express Yourself for the 2^nd year in a row.  P.S. Arts was actually my very first event ever. So much has happened in the last year, it’s truly been one of the best years of my life!! 

Since Gotta Have S’more is hitting the year mark I decided it was time to give my booth a fresh new look. With the help of  my great friend, Alycia Monet Denham, founder of Yogahitch and previously one of LA’s top interior designers, I gave my booth a whole new look.  I told her I wanted it to look very modern and stylish.  First she did a mock drawing of what she thought it should look like.  Then I ran around LA like a madwoman for the next couple weeks trying to find display items, curtains, creating little signs, getting my bigger signs made up, etc.  Of course while all of this was going on, it just happened to be the busiest week we’ve had since our beginning.   In the end, everything worked out and really came together.  I’ve posted some before and after shots.  Let me know what you think!!  Oh, you’ll get to see some “before and after” shots of me too…. Before I started eating S’muffins every day for a year straight!

Nov 2010

xoxoxo

back table of new booth Nov 2010

Carmen Lindner