Brown Box Bakeshop

Well, it's the Super Bowl! My team (49ers) hasn't done well in... well, forever... so I haven't watched football for sometime. I didn't offer any Super Bowl cookies this year, but I'll take this opportunity to honor Chico's hometown hero, @aaronrodgers12. This was a birthday set for a super fan! Thanks for your order, Lizbeth! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #greenbaypackers #aaronrodgers #footballcookies

Q: What game do monsters play? A: Hide and shriek! Lol bad joke aside, aren't these monsters adorable? Love the bright colors! Thanks for your order, Erin!... Just a friendly reminder that all orders must go through the website! (Link in bio). I am happy to answer questions via messages, but ultimately orders must be placed through the site. It is more organized, you get immediate confirmation, can upload pictures, and get a reminder email a couple days before pickup. And it's easy! And if I'm being honest, it has been a great tool for making sure I set healthy limits. Since I instituted website orders, my mornings are so much less chaotic! Also, I've completely booked for Valentine's week for some time now! But I'm excited to make all your customs, roses, chocolates, and tiny pizzas! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #monstercookies

Looking a little dreary out there... makes me want to snuggle back into bed under the golden moon and fluffy clouds... alas, I've got work to do. Instead let's pretend with these dreamy cookies! Thanks for your order, Taylor! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #moonandstarcookies #ohbaby

Ahhh, thanks for all the love in the last post. I've been seeing new people follow, and it's the new year, so I figured it was a good time to introduce myself. I really don't like seeing myself on social media so I rarely do videos or posts with me in it (even me talking is cringe). Whenever I get a chance to promote another local business, I take the chance! This customer asked for a set of bridal gowns and thank you cookie for the staff at @aebridal for helping her find h...er dream gown. I was happy to oblige, but also couldn't resist doing a logo cookie, so I threw one in there. Thank you for your order, Amy! Mondays are almost always slow (it's one of my days off) and my husband is urging me to take a nap or just not do anything... but I don't work like that lol. Always finding something to do, whether it's home or work related. Either way, Happy Monday! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #bridalcookies #aebridal #supportlocalbusiness

I know it's early but it's Friday and most of you know that I've been up for at least a few hours working on cookies. Still a ton to bake but most of my customers are coming later this afternoon to grab their goodies, so I'll be working in between taking the little one to daycare (he's been awake since about 5:30am and enjoying a 2 week old sugar cookie lol), taking the big one to school for picture day, then lightly supervising zoom school (he is mostly independent now). The...n making more dough! (I can't seem to keep up, and our fridge space is small!) I'm continuing to practice those 3d icing techniques. Here are some simple succulents. I liked them. I can say proudly, they do not succ. Thanks for your order, Gladys! Happy Friday everyone! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #succulentcookies

Yee-haw! We've made it to mid-week! These rodeo-themed cookies are simple in design, but it's all about the details. From the rope border, to the bandana pattern, to the airbrushing. Thanks for your order, Ali! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #rodeocookies

Throwback Thursday? Ok sure! I'll hit you with some @hellokitty cookies, custom macarons, and Kirby cookies. All cookies handcut (because I don't have those cutters and they were small orders). Thanks for your orders, Gladys and Martha! Valentine's Day orders are officially closed, and my next availability is the Tuesday after V-Day. Things are beginning to pick up and usually I get fully booked a whole month ahead of time, so if you're thinking of ordering, don't hesitate! No deposit or hard details needed... once the date is gone, it's GONE! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #macarons #hellokitty #kirby

I feel like it's high time for an intro post. I hate taking photos of myself, but I think there's something to be said about putting a face to a name. So here goes. Hi, I'm Monica. I'm 38, born and raised in CA. I'm a mom to two of the smartest and most adorable boys you'll ever meet, and wife to an equally smart and adorable husband, who is a professor at @chicostate. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd own my own business. I've always been academic focused. I ha...ve two undergrad degrees, a master's degree, and about 6 years of Ph.D. work under my belt. Being a professional chef was not in my career plan. Certainly not owning my own business. And CERTAINLY not a baking one! I was doing fairly well in my previous life. I was literally working on my Ph.D. in Utah when I decided to follow my heart, as cliché as it is. I have ALWAYS loved to cook. But I'm Filipino, and if you're not gonna be a doctor, nurse, engineer, or lawyer, then something's wrong. (Ph.D. is technically a doctor, so I was ok). Despite this, I couldn't see myself doing research, teaching, and pumping out articles to survive. So I took a leap. I applied to @theculinaryinstituteofamerica in the Napa Valley (45 min from my parents' house) and got in. I quit my graduate program, worked for 6 months, then moved back to CA to start school. It was 2 of the most exhausting but most memorable years of my life, and I graduated with honors. I've worked as a chef in restaurants, catering, and schools. But anyone in foodservice knows that the hours are absolutely brutal. When I had my first child, this became painfully clear. I was missing all my time with him. My BFFs love macarons, and I dabbled in making them for them. Then one day, I decided to sell them. I got all the necessary legal stuff done, and here we are, 4 years later. The focus has somewhat changed (I think we still make some of the best macarons around), but we're always learning and growing. Many of you have never met me, and many never will (especially in today's social distancing climate), but know there is a genuine and hardworking person on the other side, ready to help you with your celebrations and sweet cravings!

How about that rain? Lovely inside, but I just spent a few hours out there grabbing groceries and my feet are soaked (I tend to buy cheaper shoes for myself, mainly from Costco recently... I need to find something waterproof lol)! Love this pastel confetti set! Paired with macarons. This ivory/beige color is the natural color of my macarons without food coloring, and it's due to the almond meal! Thanks for your order, Aimee! ALSO, the sugar cookie calendar is up through the e...nd of August for those of you who want to reserve your space. As always, no deposit is required and there is no minimum on number of cookies. Macarons are always available with a 48 hr notice! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #macarons

What's the tea? Lol you guys are awesome. If you don't know about the Twisted Tea video, google it. Thanks for your order, Samantha! Surprisingly relaxing Friday night/... Saturday morning but I will take it because they are few and far between. Have a wonderful weekend! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #twistedtea

A set fit for a princess! Fun fact: the carriage is another commonly used shape (hint: flip it upside down!). Thank you for your order, Kaitlen! I feel like tomorrow I am officially back to work (we've had the baby all week long so I'm rendered less useful). I have been kinda working since Christmas but I've also been doing a lot of just general house stuff that is normally neglected, like deep cleaning the stove and clearing out the fridge. First on my list tomorrow is setting up the site for future months (right now it's just January and February). Am I thinking of Valentine's Day? Of course I am. You'll just have to wait and see! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #princesscookies #disneyprincess

I make cookies for a living. Seems simple enough, but sometimes you guys make me feel as if I do something more, and it is quite heartwarming and humbling. This set was literally only 4 cookies, but I am told it evoked many emotions. The cookies were to celebrate Hogmanay, a 3-day Scottish new years celebration. My favorite cookie was the coal; I learned that although it has a negative connotation in American culture (namely, around Christmas time), it's actually positive her...e -- as it is a symbol of warmth and well-being for the year ahead. Which makes total sense! Here is a photo of my customer's sweet little girl in her traditional garb, as well as her cookie offerings to her grandmother. Close up of the cookies in the next slide. Sooo adorable, and touching! Thank you for your order, Sarah! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #hogmanay

Happy new year everyone! The baby and I only made it to East Coast new years, so we were out just after 9pm. I did have a new years set to share, but I shared in my stories instead. Let this be a reminder for the year and beyond. I'll let you define what kindness means for you, but it comes in many different forms, not just saying "please" and "thank you", but being considerate in your daily actions as well. Do I have goals for the new year? Not formally. My accounting method...s can always improve, but overall, while others are trying to sell, sell, sell... I am comfortable scaling back to preserve my health and well-being. All this means is that I'll set limits to prevent all-nighters all week long, so that I may put more care in everything I do. I've already started enforcing this, but all orders from this point forward will be taken through the website. If someone messages/DMs/texts/emails, I will redirect them there. Again, just so I can actually use the limits I have set! The calendar system for sugar cookies seems to be working well, but I'll be refining as I go! New products? Maybe! I've been itching to do some crinkle cookies (and I've gotten an unprecedented response about them) but I haven't had the time and some of the ingredients are hard to source right now. Overall, I am of the belief that it is better to do a few things very well, rather than a bunch of things kinda "eh". But... let's see what 2021 brings!

It was nearly 3 decades ago when I was quizzing my parents on various facts about America. For weeks. Long sheets of simply random tidbits of United States history that any 5th grader would probably forget as soon as they learned them. My parents were immigrants from the Philippines, and as their child born in the United States, I was helping them prepare for their citizenship test. They have been U. S. citizens since. And have been voting since. Today, we are a nation on ed...ge, due to an ongoing global pandemic and a tenuous election that comes to a head today (and in the days to come). This is not a plea for you to vote either way. Minds and convictions are difficult to change, especially with this emotionally charged election. Whatever those convictions may be, VOTE. SHOW UP. AND VOTE. #brownboxbakeshop #thanksforcomingtomytedtalk #votecookies

Well, if you saw my latest story, 2020 has struck again. My car wouldn't start this morning so it's in the shop. A bit behind on baking today but I'm putting the baby down for a nap so hopefully it buys me some time. In the meantime, here's my 2020 top nine. The top post though!

Another cute Halloween-themed baby shower, featuring ghosts! Is it a "boo-y" or "ghoul"? Thanks for your order, Heather! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #booysandghouls #babyshowercookies

Scrolling back again through the archives of my phone, and I honestly can't remember who ordered this . But it definitely was a special set. I took the baby's outfit-to-be and made some cookies out of it, and also put her mama's silhouette on a few. Beautiful! My Venmo is down temporarily; I tried to convert to a business profile (most people know that Venmo is not supposed to be used for business, so I wanted to convert to protect my income). I only have a few orders this week so until I can get it sorted out with Venmo support, we'll work out other forms of payment! (Thanks again, 2020!) #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies

So I don't recall actually posting this set, I think it was back in August (I really do have many sets I take pictures of and even more that I don't get to). I was sent the invitation design/inspo (2nd pic) and this is the resulting set. Thank you for your order, Julie! Just a few more days in 2020 and a nice even load for me. I've been trying to do things that I really haven't had time for in the last few months, like deep clean, organize, and cook from scratch scratch (mostly I've been doing "semi-homemade"). Happy Monday guys! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #alohababy

Still feeling tired from the last few days but also feeling super grateful for all of your support! I'm so happy that logistically, everything seemed to go fairly smoothly, and hopefully you all enjoyed your treats! I have extra macarons and fillings (the colors of the macs will be random from a custom order I had yesterday, but that doesn't affect the taste). Once I count them up, I'll make an announcement to see if anyone wants them! Wrapping up the spooky holiday with som...e of the Halloween designs I've had over the last month. (Also shout out to @onceuponachildchico for having two great last minute costumes for my boys!) I'm already thinking about the next two holidays... I have some ideas but if you have any special requests, let me know!

I admit I am pretty bad at 3d flowers/petals so when someone requests cookies with succulents or intricate flower work, I let them know right off the bat. These didn't come out too bad though! They were part of a birthday set (Mom loves succulents). Thank you for your order, Jennifer! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #succulentcookies

My favorite set of the season (still haven't seen the movie). Clever word play for a baby shower. Thanks for your order, Caitlin! Happy Halloween guys! Time for some well-deserved rest! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #hocuspocus #ismellachild

Wrapping up the holiday season. Thank you Christan, Katie, Brandi, Shelly, and Gabriella for your orders! And everyone who ordered boxed cookies and HCBs! Can't lie, I'm thoroughly enjoying hanging out with my kids on the couch! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #holidaycookieseasoncomplete

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you from our little family. You all have brought some cheer to our home and we hope we've done the same for you all! #brownboxbakeshop

Good morning! It's pick up day! A few things please! * Please do not show up early/before your scheduled time. Cookies are being packed and placed on the porch bits at a time to help with traffic.... If you did not select a time, message me or come by after 1pm. *Please look for this door/setup. Address is on the receipt from checkout. Our front porch faces another porch, not the street (this seems to be a point of confusion). Our house is yellow and on the left side of the street! *Sugar cookies will be great at room temp for a week or two; for best results, store macarons in the fridge for up to a week BUT consume at room temp (when they're soft and chewy!) Thanks everyone!

This meme never gets old. Modified it this year to include hot chocolate bombs. This year went the smoothest in terms of holiday stuff. I think spreading it out over the entire month really helped my sanity. There were still pockets of crazy but it went so much better than last year (by leaps and bounds). I have a few things to do but it's making some stuff for my mom and also making some chocolate chip cookie dough because my oldest says that's what Santa wants tonight. Then a gift wrapping marathon tonight! I've been wanting to do this as packages came in but just never had the time! Thank you a million times over for your support this time of year, and all year long. I have been squirrelling away all the holiday sales, and we may just have saved enough to buy a brand new home next year. Look out for us, @billwebbhomes!

Y'all. This is my first time making candy corn buttercream and let me tell you... it is LIT (am I allowed to say that?) Super smooth, light, and with a sprinkle of chopped up pieces, candy corn lovers will rejoice. I made a ton because no one wants to make Swiss buttercream twice if they don't have to. So there is a possibility of them being available after Halloween! #brownboxbakeshop #macarons #candycornbuttercream

Good morning! Thank you for everyone who ordered Halloween treats! If you selected a pickup time on Saturday at check out, they will be ready at that time (check your receipt!). If you forgot (oops!), I will be reaching out to you to figure one out with you! Thanks for all the support! I liked the ordering system but it's still not exactly what I want. Working on finding that perfect scheduler/ordering system has been exhausting! This is really in prep for the holidays, thank you for hanging in there with me!

The response for Halloween cookies has been awesome! I just got up and dropped off the baby so I haven't checked anything yet, but for everyone who has ordered, thank you! I'm sorry I couldn't find work around for a cash/venmo option, but I hope this worked out. (If you wanted to order but wanted to pay in person, let me know and we can do it so long as I still have some available!). Before I get started on work, here are some pretty little dresses that a customer brought to a dress fitting for a brideto-be! What a treat! I hope she was able to say "yes to the dress!" Thank you for your order, Annie! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #weddinggowns #sayyestothedress

PLEASE READ IN ENTIRETY! This is just an announcement post. Please do not DM/PM/email/text message/send carrier pigeon about these; they will go unanswered. Halloween cookies and macarons will be available for sale through brownboxbakeshop.com through specific forms tomorrow, Monday, October 26 at 4pm. They will be available until sold out; if the past is any indication, they will be gone by end of day (or sooner). Please only use the designated form as I have put an upper li...mit on orders, for my sanity. HALLOWEEN COOKIES: includes 3 full-size cookies (3"+), individually wrapped and heatsealed, in a decorative bag, black crinkle paper, and tied with a festive ribbon. Choose from Boo or sugar skulls set. No substitutions please. $9 ea HALLOWEEN MACARONS: comes with 6 macarons, two of each of the flavors below: - caramel apple: sour apple buttercream with homemade caramel, just like the lollipop! - Butterfinger: dark chocolate ganache with crumbled Butterfinger - candy corn: Swiss buttercream with melted candy corn No substitutions please. $9 ea Must pick up in Chico on Halloween morning or early afternoon (sorry Bay Area, I want to be home with my kids on Halloween, even though it's unlikely we'll be trick or treating this year). Will follow up with address in confirmation. See you all at brownboxbakeshop.com at 4pm tomorrow!

I put these in my stories early yesterday morning and asked you all to guess what they were. Didn't mean to leave you hanging! (Possible pun?) They were disco balls for a bachelorette party. I’d say 80% guessed disco ball, but I also got golf ball, Death Star, Epcot, and a bunch of animals (ehem @the_teal_whisk lol). I think my favorite guess was an armadillo! I literally just got to my mom's about 30 min ago... I'm pooped. Will resume work once I've eaten lol.... If I don't pass out first. Happy Saturday, guys! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies #discoballcookies

Feeling unproductive because I wasted a lot of time working with a certain online store/website builder that turned out to be not so great, so I had to switch over to something new and start all over again. Wish I could keep working on it (I don't want to release Halloween cookies until it's done, and you'll understand why) but I actually need to work on cookies! AARGH! /endrant ANYWAY, onto happy cookies! This set was inspired by the invitation. So the story behind it was that the couple eloped, but had invited friends to what they told them was just a get together, but turned out to be the reception! How fun! Congratulations Diana! #brownboxbakeshop #customsugarcookies

Sorry for being MIA, I'm here! I've been busy doing a couple things... one, I spent all of Monday working on stuff for the @sweetrepeatsale (lots of work but sooo worth it, especially since Gabe is gonna be my last one!). Then yesterday, I worked on a few orders, but also worked on some Halloween cookie and mac samples. Cookies done and macs, I've got 2 of 3 fillings figured out. It's gonna be a limited sale but I'll make an announcement before letting it go live. (Please no... texts/emails/messages about them!) I also finally decided to do some website upgrades and use a design more like a storefront. As it is now, I have literally put every single piece down manually, and it worked well for the first few years, but now it's starting to be less efficient, so we've got to change how we do business and respond to you lovely people! I promise good things are coming! Trying to get more efficient for this and upcoming holidays. And I'm trying to normalize sleeping at night... what a concept!