Check Out Viviana Anderson’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Viviana Anderson

Hi Viviana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Viviana Anderson and I am from Los Angeles California. I am 34 years old. Married for 13 years this August with 3 kids. My childhood life was not like everyone else’s. My mother had me when she was 16 years old in 1990. My biological father left my mom as he was not ready to have a child of his own. My moms older brother decided to take care of me as his own daughter.
At the age of 2, my uncle and his wife decided that it was best for me and them to stay in a God loving Church Environment. We didn’t know it at the time, but we got involved in a cult where MEN had the power of authority and women had to be silent. This cult decided that being involved with non-believers was of the devil, a sin. Which meant as a 2 year old, I was not allowed to have a relationship with my mom, grandparents, sisters, brother, etc because they are Catholics. My entire childhood and teen years was about fearing God. I can not play basketball because it was a mans sport, can’t wear pants because we will take us to hell. Can’t speak or talk to the outside world. A woman’s place was to bare children and take care of anything our husbands wanted. Some of my friends were raped because a man of God said it was okay. I spend my younger days wondering why This God was so hateful to the people he created. Long story short, I no longer am part of this cult.
8 years ago, We moved to Raleigh NC. I felt free from the Schools and Churches I attended.
My husband and our kids were finally free to enjoy the real life outside of the Christian cult life. I knew that at this moment, I was no longer going to let someone run my own life.
I made it a goal to find a job, find who I am as a person. Don’t get me wrong, that cult did teach me a few things. For example, how to bake and cook. knowing that my love for baking was a stress reliever, I knew that I can just sell my baked goods. I can make money enjoying what I know how to do best and one day own my own Dessert Bar Restaurant. I went from working as a waitress at Denny’s in wake forest road, to being the CEO of my own Bakery. Baking Lively llc. My bakery is a homebase Bakery and has been opened for 2 years. I treat it as I am in a Store Front Bakery. It is important to me to take care of my clients like i want to be to taken care of. Great Customer Service, a Clean well kept kitchen. Lots and lots of sanitizing areas. many people see a home base bakery as a hobby job. Not for me. I have this big dream to one day open my own Brick and Mortar Bakery that no one has seen before. 2 years in and a life time to go. I enjoy every moment i get to create something with my hands.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The first year of opening, It was amazing, booked for weeks. The struggle about this, I still had to work my night shift job and take care of my own kids. I do not have family or friends that can just come help me. My husband and I do things alone. Working nights, taking the kids to school and activities, taking care of orders, making meals, trying to get some sleep. I couldn’t give up, because I really want this to work out! My husband works 50-60 hours a week, very little help came from him. He thought I was crazy for doing all of this, but what no one understands, is that I work hard for what I want. I was not going to lose this drive.

2023 January Business was going great. I decided to leave my $22/hr paying job to pursue my dream. Well, little did I know, Prices of everything skyrocketed! It was harder to get clients to want to pay a high price to get a custom dessert.
I had to start Networking harder, I told myself. Got more involved in the Wake Forest Chamber, Women In Networking Group. WIN sister were a great help to me last year on keeping me positive.

Our economy was gotten harder to afford things. As every other businesses, I lost money.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am know for my Buckeye Cookies and Customer Service. Buckeye Cookies are 1.5 inches round. It is a soft brownie like cookie filled with peanut-butter, topped with a melted chocolate. I have been part of the Best of the Best for the past two years for these cookies.

I make all sorts of desserts and many can be vegan friendly.
Recently I have Partnered up with Hop + Vine in Wake Forest. It is a non-profit organization that helps women that have aged out of foster care. More information to come as we are trying to talk details on how Baking Lively Can support this great cause.

I offer Cupcake and Cookie, private or public, decorating classes.
I offer Logo Cookies for businesses as well.

What sets me apart, I am not fake! I am not here for your money, I am here to bring people together with a sweet treat. I only take orders that will not stress me out. Good Vibes in my kitchen only. Ask my kids, I will not work if I am in a bad mood or feeling unhappy. I will meditate first to release anything negative. Your baked good might have some Guns n Roses music vibrations after I am done. Music in my kitchen is key for a great tasting dessert!

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Summer of 2023, I started taking orders I didn’t enjoy. Like cakes with lots of artificial coloring that turned your mouth green. Yuke! By the end of summer, I started questioning if this is actually what i want to be doing. Do I want to continue baking?!
Of course I do, but why am I feeling this way?
My lesson learn, I started chasing the money. I said yes to everything because I thought this would bring in more clients. No, it only brought me, stress, worry, anxiety, people pleasing, the wrong type of clients and the wrong type of work I wanted for Baking Lively. I changed that right away. I know what I want and I know now, how to say no to what I know would no bring me joy.
Baking is my passion!

Pricing:

• Private Decorating Classes start at $200 up to 6 people
• Cakes start at $150
• Buckeye Cookies $30/dz

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baking_lively/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bakinglively