Ep.9 I'm done! I'm moving to Florida!! 

Welcome to Story Time in the Bakery Audiocast Series where I'll be sharing stories from my 10 years experience when I owned my bakery in New Jersey. Here is the entire Story Time playlist ru-vid.com/group/PLkZ2q-lG9WykkKuWNqSsqWra6PzHJc0Zg For all the best vegan recipes click here www.gretchensveganbakery.com/

Vegans do listen to your story, me including.

These stories are far from boring. So glad I stumbled upon them!!!!!

[sigh] I don't understand why people who trusted your non-vegan recipes wouldn't trust your vegan recipes. Why not try them? What's that about? Loved this latest installment, another riveting set of twists and turns showing how resilient and dynamic your will to pursue your goals is. You have worked through so much sanchita karma or something! Thanks for posting!

I remember watching your videos back during the Crumb Boss days and trying to veganise the recipes myself. I was so happy when your transition to vegan recipes saved me from my own uneducated chaos.

I hear you, when it comes to being vegan…when you truly realize what animal agriculture and eating animals does to the earth, the animals and our bodies, there is no going back! I also love the peace it gives me to know that I’m not contributing to the suffering of animals. I feel a lot more healthy, too. My husband got rid of chronic acid reflux within weeks, because of our change to whole food, plant exclusive eating. I’ve been vegan since I turned 50, which was 11 years ago. I am really enjoying your life experience series. Wishing you all the best and a life full of love.❤

I Love that you are staying True to what YOU want to do!!! I am super Proud of You💯👏 I am blessed to have your Book❤ About the Haters.... Girlllll, let them Hate! Some people have nothing better to do with their time! Come and visit Texas soon🥰

I went vegan in 2006 and really enjoyed your videos as you were learning about ingredient substitutions.

Don’t wait to long to get back to the story. This is all so unbelievable! How you got through it all I’ll never know! You are very determined and very strong! Can’t wait for episode 10!

Guilty! 🙋🏼‍♀️ I was one to visit the Bakery all the way from Puerto Rico at the time, but in my defense, you still owned Woodland Bakery at the time. Best decision ever! I cherish our picture together and look at it from time to time to remember how humble you are and how you are an amazing person. Hope we can meet again sometime 😊

I truly enjoy the format of your story time

I put on your video as background while I did chores. I haven’t seen any of this series so I didn’t know what to expect. I was surprised to hear you speak about your personal life and relationships. So relatable. Women and girls need to hear this from each other. BTW I wrote you on IG months ago, our boy cats died within a day of each other. I hope Bear and Butters have said hello, wherever they are. Hugs.

Love your story!

It's just getting better ,we love hearing all of these 😊The audience built's trust by hearing personal stories I have tried your vegan cakes They are super good ,easy to make and so moist Who want's to buy eggs and butter in this economy ?Hahaha

If you don't like her recipes, just STFU and don't watch. Go away and don't ruin her life or those that watch her. No one is forcing you to stick your eyeballs to the screen. It's her life. It's her channel. Be thankful that she shared all those recipes. You can always start your own channel and post your own recipes. Or you can follow countless other bakers that suit your eating preferences.

When you mentioned the eggs and milk 😢

I love these Videos Gretchen... Have been following since the early days. I was sad when the WB blog shut down bc your cakes were great but I had download the recipes. Fast forward to last 4 years where I have became vegan.... So greatful for your vegan recipes

Same it took me awhile to take it in. 2017 began vegetarian then 2018 vegan..

I’m nosy so I’m enjoying this! Lol I was always wondering why what who when lol 😂

i remember years ago i was watching one of your baking vidoes and i wondered about your dating life cause im nosey af 😂 i’m so glad im here years later. thank you gretchen for these audiobooks. i cleaned out my closet listening to this which i have been putting off for months

Thank you for being so honest. I appreciate you.

Judge Judy always says... Don't be stupid. Have everything in writing. Most troubles are between friends, relatives where they thought that nothing would ever happen. Always protect yourself. That goes for even when you have a roommate, tenant, helping someone out by having them stay at your house. Lesson learned. Albeit, an expensive lesson learned.

How are you doing in Florida , hope you are settling in well and wading through all the emotional debris ❤

Just and FYI, the bakery right now is terrible. Was in Chatham for work and offered to grab something from that bakery. Everyone advised me not to as it was terrible. Still decided to go and it was just that bad. Would have been better buying a cake from WholeFoods and would have been cheaper too.

No! Talk about all of it! You’re a real human being. I am always interested in just that exact thing. I like to know how people view the ethics of situations. I like the behind the scenes stuff to know why stuff happened and what else was going on. Believe me I am a psychoanalysis type of guy. I’m cracking up often through the whole story. Professional baking relationships and how you handle different scenarios etc All of it. I love it.

I'm not vegan, but I still continued follow you and bought your cookbook. I was disappointed but was relieved I didn't buy the digital books a few days earlier. I have worked in marketing for a number of years, and I knew the people/or person would sew you and want so badly to say something to you but felt I would be out of place, you know being a follower whom you never met.

I do appreciate how you have chosen to be something that not everyone is and yet you don’t beat people over the head with it like so many do when they chose their own direction. So many people running around beating people up about politics and religion and heterosexuality and homosexuality and this and that. I am not vegan and have no intention of going that way. I loved your old recipes (and I still have several intact), but you make your own move. You’re still incredible with what you do. You make all of these recipes work on the substitution and the taste is still the best just like the older version. I have some relatability with this when I tried to figure out how to make everything you can imagine without the flour and the sugar anymore. I got pretty good at it. Got pretty knowledgeable with the healthy subs. I’d still watch no matter what. I watch to learn a different way and how to still turn out with the results. I mean, I learned a lot of traditional from you and then I learned a lot of how to make things work in a vegan sense like flax binders and that vegan dulce de leche still works and that sugar is processed with animal bone and all the brand subs like toffuti. I already did know about agar because of my interest in molecular gastronomy. Ridiculous to be pissy because of the change. I have all sorts of customers who want something different. I have baked for dogs lol. I have baked for paleo. I have baked for keto. It’s great to learn from the best to get new stuff under your belt. It’s a skill set.

Thank you so much for sharing your stories! Love everything about it. I used to work in a bakery for two years and could tell so many (crazy) stories about that time and I was only selling the stuff. Quit this very unhealthy job for me just in time. I lost touch a bit to your channel and videos, not because of your „turn“ to vegan but just out of limited time. Hope I can catch up at some time soon.

Love that you speak for the voiceless animals tortured in factory farm vile practices. Before people express anger at you for talking about the horrors, they must bear witness before doing that. There are many sources: Forks Over Knives, Cowspiracy and more. I hope you continue to educate, there are many of us who love your advocacy.

Love this series! Been following you since the jason days

Gretchen, what are your thoughts on pasture raised products?

Thank you for sharing ❤ I love it

These videos are so good!!!! You can really tell a story! Another talent. How fascinating these videos are. Had no idea what you were going through. I can definitely see God's helping hand when you need it . Please continue these stories, I'm hooked!

I have been seriously wondering about vegan baking. Scared to death about it all. I have to go see a rheumatologist and have arthritis and can't really bake that much anymore. I have been told I might have fibromyalgia. Also have ulcerative colitis and IBS. So I am wondering how vegan baking would help me (love cake). I still would have the sugar issue. Love listening to your stories ❤

Yes, I’ve seen it myself, the absolute nonstop around the clock dependency of others to you and you to a thing like a business isn’t good for a person. It’s not healthy. Often that’s what it takes to do it, but it’s bad. The grind and the rinse and repeat with no end in sight. It changes a person and their outlook on all aspects of daily life. It gives you an anxiety that you can’t figure out how to cope with unless you do this or that bizarre thing. Even a vacation is nothing. You just know you are going right back to it after that week or two. You do need a clean break. You need the period to stop thinking about it period and then you need the break to decompress entirely. You need the mindset that it is no longer a thing at all. I’ve seen it and I’ve been there. You need balance in diet, physical work and relaxation, sleep, mentally you have to be able to stop, you need to be able to work on your body and work on other hobbies and tasks outside of that beast that keeps you preoccupied all day and night. It’s not good. It’s a memory and a character builder but it’s also a nightmare. It’s good to eventually break free.

I don’t think there is too much information, those of us who are listening want to know about your life, how you got where you are now, with your ups and downs, like if it was a biography book, because we love you and your wonderful food. This is not an ordinary life and I’m out of breath just hearing about it all! I think it could help someone in the same boat as well. I love your work and all you teach about baking ❤

Gretchen do what you want don’t listen to other people your life is yours not any body else’s ❤I loved all your cakes and follow you be happy bye your self and do what you want 😊

I remember once in an old Crumb Boss video with you playing the BeeGees' "How Deep is Your Love" and saying it was your wedding song with man-child. I actually thought you guys were married at that time, lol. Glad that you eventually found clarity to leave that behind and being open to sharing that with us.

Hey Gretchen! I am really enjoying this series. I started watching your channel around 2012, and I would wonder what happened in the background because there were so many changes happening. SO many questions are being answered! Thanks for opening up

I love these storytime vlogs - and yes I like the combination of professional and personal anecdotes. I just started listening and I still get mad on your behalf for how people treated you for taking down your non-vegan content. You gave people so many free recipes, instruction, ideas, and entertainment... and they acted so entitled about it. Being vegan is part of your core values but you were paying out of pocket to keep that non-vegan stuff running. It's unreasonable to expect you to do that. I remember people saying how you "ruined" their holiday because they relied on your recipe (if it was that important, then why not print out a hard copy?) What I also don't get is how the same people who trusted your expertise for non-vegan recipes, couldn't even bring themselves to try the vegan ones? It's not like you use a ton of hard to find ingredients. It's just a different way of baking. No one is forcing any beliefs on them. You can't "catch it" by eating vegan food 😂I've made a fair few of your recipes which my vegan friends really appreciate - they all turn out amazing and delicious. The whole ordeal was so childish and unfair. Rather than be appreciative of all you gave, it was just anger and entitlement... over cake recipes? Really people? Dessert should never be that serious! For what it's worth, at least one person (me) wasn't bothered in the slightest by the content transition. I was just happy for you for sticking to your values and living your truth - something everyone deserves!

So, if you go to woodland bakery on yelp and look for the reviews you get glowing reviews from 10-12 years ago which is definitely from your time there. (Minus one time you had an incident with a lady that wanted you to make a cannoli edifice and wrap it up in plastic and stick it in your fridge LOL … I wouldn’t have done it either cause that’s not the way anything in the real world works LOL. That bitchfest she left on yelp is a riot knowing how it is for baking business owners to deal with those stupid demands) However, you start to hear more recently some reviews about how it isn’t the same as it used to be. There is a business owner by the name Lori that responds and a few times she is way too defensive and petty with her response as an owner doing any customer service. There is just a way to handle it and she doesn’t do it right. So, the fact that she sued you for that dumb a reason is really no shock to me.

Love the stories ❤ honestly you have such a BIG honest heart.

Incredible story Gretchen, you are a very strong person, and i am so happy that you decided to put yourself first. We only have one life, it is our own life, and we must do whatever to strive for happiness, and you certainly did the right thing, we have to do what we must… if others don’t like it, so be it! ❤️ i must admit, I am not totally vegan, but my husband and I have made many changes, a juge reduction on animal products… because they are not “products”. The hardest thing is “cheese”… I will soon start making it. I am now cooking and baking totally with whole grains, so much better and tastier, I am still learning a lot, but it is fun and rewarding. I started with your non-vegan recipes… but when you made the switch, I did it too for milk products, especially in 2020 during the pandemia, I started making my soy milk and oat milk… never went back… because I see the same as you with industrial agriculture… they just dion’t care. As you say, to each their own, but I just wanted to say that you are the one who made me change my baking switching to vegan baking. I love your recipes, and I never buy birthday cakes at a bakery because there are almost none, and your recipes are so much better… and they look so great! 😍 I am much more attentive to ingredients… in my cooking… and I know not many 49:43 restaurants cook this way, so my husband says that he much prefer eating my food! 🥰 And when I make his birthday cakes, I always make your recipes, they are the best! Anyway, I am really glad that you found yourself and are living the best life now… it’s too precious to waste. You are a dedicated and caring person, you deserve the best! 😊👍

Gretchen I had no idea about Chris. When you called him a man child I busted out laughing. 🤣🤣 I remember the comments you got about transitioning to vegan and the recipes. "How dare you!.. I wanted that recipe for such and such why did you delete them?" Terrible.. 😐😮‍💨 Ppl are so not understanding. I've been here from the beginning. 💙 Hope the kitties feel better. 💙🙂

We accept the love we think we deserve. This took me awhile to learn, but I did and I have. Unfortunately, we have some things in common Gretchen, big sighs, and yes, I learned it did start from childhood when I was groomed by a Narc parent and emotionally unavailable. And like you and many out there I kissed a lot of frogs and went through countless disappointments. It is all part of the journey. It closes those doors in order to open New ones. I have learned to embrace those people and the disappointments. It has made me a stronger person. Some people would have given up a long time ago Gretchen, but you did not and that says a lot about You. You are a good Soul and you do deserve to be treated like the queen you are and no less. Women do have a special intuition. That is a known fact, listen to the warnings. I agree with you the Universe will always give us what we want, sooner or later. Thoughts are important and being aware of what we tell ourselves through self-talk and thought is a Vital for our mental health. One day I will write my life story. I am actually working on it slowly. My goal is if I can help one person by sharing my journey, I know I did well. I now know I had to experience what I did in order to “Understand” how others feel. I am a compassionate and empathetic person. Spiders and Snakes tend to gravitate towards people who possess those Gifts so one needs to pay attention. I am a recovering people pleasing, perfectionist. I say recovering because sometimes I find myself derailing into old habits, but I correct them as soon as I recognize them. I am not perfect, never will be and neither is anyone else that is human. No one. *My mantra now is “It’s none of my business what others think of me” and besides my give-a-damn button is broken, I don't care......anymore. Being that you are in the spotlight (Internet) by now you have experienced that it does not matter what or how you say it. You can not please them all. Someone is always going to get pissed off. We have no control over that, whether it be online or a family member. All we can do is control the way we react to it. Don’t ever apologize for who you are and what your beliefs are. They are yours. Other people have theirs. Simple There is something about you that is special Gretchen and not everyone has it. It's a Gift (from God) you have. I saw it back in the Crumb boss days. You Shine and sometimes people want “That” (your Gift). So they get envious, ugly, and nasty say mean things, try to Control you, and Smash your self-esteem. Again, this includes the ones you share DNA with or the public, so be aware of that. You know you have that Shine, you know, you are a good Soul. Keep doing you, and stay true to yourself, and let some of that Jersey Girl flavor come out. Demand Respect from them ho’s. (Male or Female) I’m still working on D’Angelo, Angel from The Bay Area, Silicon Valley CA on the daily and I always will “Put in the Work”. Take care Gretchen the original Crumb boss and the crowd screams! I respect you and take my hat off to you. Thank you for sharing. Always Angel from The Bay, a long-time follower.

I am a lifelong vegetarian and I feel very similar to you... I am vegetarian for ethical reasons, and the leap to vegan appeals to me but is hard. I did take some excellent advice from a vegan friend and I replaced dairy with plant based in every area I could ... and it's better to be improving than not. I'm not perfect, but I'm en route. I love that you went vegan. Well done. Loving this series, btw.

P.S. I remember All that B.S. from the New Bakery Owner!!! That was seriously CRAZY!!!

does that same lady own woodland bakery? you should do a story time on that too 😇 oh and all your exes too 😅❤

Hello, Gretchen. I’ve been watching your videos since Woodland’s days and this is really the first time that I write you a comment! I found your videos as I wanted to learn all about baking. I was still a kid and it really inspired me to choose baking as my career path. I didn’t have any professional education, but with the help of you (and many more generous content creators) my skills developed to the point where I’m not only working as a baker, but as a vegan baker. To make a living making vegan pastries everyday it’s a dream that became my reality. I want to thank you for sharing all of your knowledge and for staying true to your values even in times of difficulty. It changed my life and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Vegan hugs from Phoenix AZ 🫶🏻💖