Life is Sweet!

In 2007, I was a mother of a beautiful new baby girl, and had quit my job to stay at home.  I dedicated all of my energies into being her mother! When it came to her first birthday, the thought of ordering her cake from a bakery seemed impersonal.  After taking a cake decorating class, I decided on a difficult design for her first birthday cake.  

Success!  It looked exactly like I wanted it to look! I realized the sweet taste of success in creating a product was worth pursuing.  I got my first nudge of entrepreneurship, which would not be my last.

I made countless cakes.  I prayed over each and every one a prayer that I could serve each person the way He needed me.  How fulfilling it was to be involved in someone’s most memorable occasions, yet be in the background!

Fast forward 5 years…The precious hobby in which my children could watch me interact with customers out of my home became too much.  I took a leap of faith, closed my cake business, and began my career in real estate.  The hands of fate brought me across the paths of Renea Burgess and Jenny Edwards, who are both very different yet alike myself.   The best part?  We agreed upon the inception that we were to serve our community and clients first, because Southern Signature Properties has a goal to dig deeply to that person’s needs and provide.  

It's not so different than making cakes- People are hungry for sweetness in food AND in a person.  I enjoy feeding souls, both literally and proverbially.  We are given the opportunity to welcome a new family into a home or close a chapter on an old one. 

It is not just about sticking someone in a house to mark off a number on a board- I truly get to identify the heart and needs of each person and help them the best way possible to find a home for them, the right way.  I get to celebrate all of these big occasions like I did when I did cakes- but just without a messy kitchen!

Success can be defined by many different metrics. SSP set out to be a team which measures success not by numbers but rather experiences. That is the essence of hospitality, that is the soul of the south, and what makes a house a home.

Finally, I want to share with you these life changing cake recipes that paved the road to the golden pineapple of SSP. 

Southern White Almond Cake

bake at 325 degrees until done

makes 28 cupcakes or a 2 layer 8” cake

1 box white cake mix (any brand)

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup sour cream

3/4 tablespoon almond extract (more or less, depending on preferance)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup water

4 egg whites

Beat with an electric mixer until no lumps exist

Southern White Almond Buttercream

(makes enough to frost the cupcakes or the cake)

4 sticks of butter, room temperature

2 pounds of confectionary sugar

almond and vanilla flavoring to taste (a 1 second pour of each)

• Cream butter with electric mixer and gradually add 1/2 the bag of sugar.  
• Pour the flavorings in, along with 1/4 cup of water.  
• Add the rest of the powdered sugar (gradually, or you will have a mess!) and more water to thin the icing out, a tablespoon at a time.  
• Store in the refrigerator up to 1 month.

Warmly,

Alison