This afternoon I spent time with a good friend catching up on life. I need to continue going out with friends and enjoying myself more often because it is fun, helps alleviate stress, and clears my head.

During our lunch, she told me how much she loved my caramel. I had brought her some when I came home (to Pennsylvania) in March before I closed the store in York, SC. She had gone to one of the best chocolate places around the area for Easter candy. I won’t say which one, there are about 5-6 candy stores that are known for their chocolate in Western Pennsylvania. She said she had some of their caramel and ended up throwing it away because it was not even close to being as good as mine. Knowing the particular candy store she went to I took that as a very high compliment. I had heard similar stories from other people in both York, SC and here in Western Pennsylvania.

When I got home this afternoon, I got to thinking more about my business. As I have said before I am not giving up on it, just revamping it. While I’m still getting adjusted with being back in Pennsylvania and trying to find a corporate job (which I am actually looking forward to going back to a corporate job), I am determining the next steps for my business. Which begs the question, how do I want the business to look.

Life After Lemons began as a blog back in October 2016. To me, the writing is still the heart of this company (my heart). I plan on writing books and some other writing projects along with the blog. However, I have a love of candy, not just because of my sweet tooth, but because it is where I can be creative and make things that others love and put smiles on people’s faces. It was also something I did as a kid that everyone in the family enjoyed. So, I want to continue to incorporate candy as part of this company.

I also want to build a company that I can leave behind a legacy for family and friends who are not only important in my life but can see the same vision as me. While I had the support of my family and friends throughout my journey with this company, support does not always equal vision. They supported me because they love me, but they cannot see what I see for the future of the company. Only a couple people in my life see the big picture, the vision in my head so to speak.

I know what I want to do as far as the writing side goes. I am obviously going to continue blogging. I will be writing a business book based on my experiences to warn others of things to look for and what I would do differently. I will be collaborating with a friend who is also a writer and photographer on another project. I plan on writing another book about my journey to find myself.

I need your help on the candy side. At this point of the candy business I do not plan on opening another retail location for a while. I never say never, because it was fun and I know what I did wrong and what went wrong the last time. However, for now I’m going to stick to online, events, and possibly distributing to retailers.

How can you help?

I need to know what you would buy either online or at a retail store that I made/make. I’m assuming the caramel (especially jarred) would be the number 1 choice, especially from those who have already tried it. I am thinking that the gourmet apples would also be up there in your choice.

You can look at my Facebook page Life After Lemons or my Instagram page Life_After_Lemons to see what all I made in the past to help with your feedback.

I probably won’t get up and running with the candy until I am able to move out of my sister’s place because most of my candy making stuff went into my storage unit for now. I am hopeful I will be able to start making stuff before fall, if everything goes according to plans.

I already have information on people who will be able to help me strategically with my business plan. I want to revise my business plan in the next few weeks before I have a sit down with these former executives.

Please leave me comments / opinions on this website (www.lifeafterlemons.com), on my Life After Lemons Facebook Page, and on my Life_After_Lemons Instagram page. Your thoughts and opinions matter to me. They will help me build my online store and retail store presence.

You get to have a voice in the future of Life After Lemons Candies.