Friday morning was Veterans Day. I had just completed a Ragnar Trail Race on the weekend. It was the ultimate high. I felt empowered and ready for the next challenge.
I was a wildland firefighter and an EMS volunteer, so I knew I wanted to share my passion with others. Being a single mom and spending summers fighting fires and providing EMS for my children is a challenge.
Surprise!
After finishing my call with my boyfriend (now my business partner), I pulled up my first job (a technician pulling cables) and was ready for work. This temporary job was helping me prepare for my dream. My life was turned upside-down at that exact moment.
I felt the greatest urgency to relieve myself. I told my partner that I would find a porta potty in the development and return after I had taken care my needs. I never came back. It was not a bladder infection, I realized immediately and sought medical attention.
My stomach was full, my heart raced, and I was sweating profusely. This was my worst pain in 28 years. After some stubbornness, I finally called my boyfriend who convinced me to dial 911.
From the moment I sought emergency medical attention, it was approximately 45 minutes and 1 hour before I was placed under a surgical knife. A completely ruptured fallopian tubes was the result of an ectopic pregnancies. The hiring process that I was involved in, my physical condition, and my means of coping were all completely wiped out.
I showed up for my interviews and gave my best effort to pursue my dream, which was so tangible it hurt to see it slip from my fingers. But, there were other plans, and that is how The Scheming Cookie was created.
My baby and fallopian tube had died, and I had to grieve the loss of my firefighter dream. It gave me the opportunity to create a new company that would bring me great joy and gratitude.
Baking was born
I was shake-crazy and my ability to cope with physical fitness was disrupted. My best friend was recovering from an ACL surgery and was now bedridden. I could not sit there and feel sorry for my friend, so I made her a big fat cookie jar and brought her wine.
Because my incisions were still healing, my boyfriend had to place my stand mixer onto the counter. However, I wanted to give some joy to my best friend who was also dealing with the same issues in different situations.
The baking began. I texted her shortly after she dropped off her cookies. She said that her husband had literally asked her, “What’s in these?” Black magic? These could be sold literally by her.”
My income was cut to 60%, and Christmas was right around the corner. I turned to my Crossfit community and network for help. I offered to sell cookies at Christmas. I thought it would take a month. We had customers returning before we knew it and were invited to farmers’ markets and other gyms to share our cookies.
Some of my darkest moments were truly the best. My boyfriend supported me as I started to show up at farmer’s markets. When we arrived at the first farmer’s market, I was still recovering from surgery. I was also unable to set up tables or canopies because I was so eager to help.
This man was a partner in my business. He believed in my product so much that customers would rarely leave without one after hearing his dad jokes. He would stay up until the wee hours packaging cookies. I used every ounce of energy crafting and standing.
Soon we were selling out and our brand was well-known. Each cookie was given a unique personality to reflect the amount of energy and care that went into making them.
I wanted the cookie to reflect the comfort I was looking for this season, from its texture to its taste and smell to its aesthetic. Our customers would also experience the cookie and be treated to an indulgence and comfort that was different from other “gourmet cookies”.
The Protein Cookies
We partnered up with Xendurance after Climbmax in Tempe, AZ approached us about partnering. My boyfriend and me brainstormed ways to grow our network. After reaching out, they agreed that our cookies would be available for purchase by the community. We are thankful for their love for the community and their small business. We are grateful for their support and will continue to pass the torch. Climbmax inspired us to create our first protein cookie.
This peanut butter oatmeal cookie and chocolate chip cookie packs 30g of protein thanks to Xendurance’s protein powder. I’ve tried baking with other protein before, but they came out dry, crumbly or with an artificial aftertaste.
My friend reached out to me and sent me a bag with their Protein. It was just in time for Climbmax so I was excited to try it. It’s probably because they don’t use artificial nonsense (most proteins contain corn solids and artificial flavors, etc.). Their whey contains over 72% Hydrolysate and Casein, which is great for baking.
This combination is brilliant from a recovery perspective, and it doesn’t even include baking. You not only get the highest bioavailability with Hydrolysate but also the extended-release from Casein.
The blend also contains high amounts of Hydrolysate which makes it easy to digest for sensitive stomachs like mine. Because I know the whey will provide consistent results in my baking, and have perfected each recipe, the blend contains high-quality ingredients in every batch. It is easy to choose a protein that we can include in our cookies as an addition.
Xendurance’s Team Member program allows small start-ups like ours to succeed without having to invest in huge overhead. This program also opens up the possibility of passive income and additional streams of income. It’s a win/win situation that can be used to your advantage in times of adversity.
We have cookies available in the greater Phoenix area. In 2023, we plan to ship nationwide. Each purchase helps us realize our dream of opening a storefront where at least 10% proceeds will be funneled to a charity supporting domestic abuse survivors and providing care for them.
Our cookies can be purchased via our Instagram account @theschemingcookie, or through our website The Schememing Cookie
We are grateful for your support and time!
