Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamanava Eden.
Hi Tamanava, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hi, I’m Tamanava (“Tammy”) Eden. You may remember me being featured in an article for my other small home business, Broomsticks Designs. I’m honored to be featured again, to introduce the readers to my newest business venture: The Muffin Mam of San Diego, CA! It is a Cottage Kitchen/Home Micro Bakery able to serve all of California.
Since I was about five years old, I have had a dream of one day opening a bakery. My late mother was a home baker (before it was a thing) with professional cake decorating training, and my grandmothers both shared their love for baking with me over the years.
Through the years I have been collecting and creating recipes, taking online baking courses, and stockpiling YouTube baking hack playlists–just in case I ever got the courage and finances to make my dream a reality. If you know me, you already know that baking is one of my great passions and the ability to make others light up from tasting a little something that I hand-made just brings me so much joy!
My original plan was to open the bakery sometime down the road. Perhaps three years from now. But sometimes plans make their own schedule. Back in July, I was in and out of the hospital for what was deemed a, “Sciatic Attack.” I was literally bedridden for three weeks of the month. My doctors told me that to prevent a future attack, I would have to give up my 2nd gig where I worked from home as a Laundress.
Broomsticks Designs still exists, and I am grateful for its continued slow but steady growth. But I still needed an additional stream of income, so I decided to make my dream a reality and opened my bakery this year! Currently I am taking custom orders, have a small monthly menu, and can be found vending pre-packaged goods at local craft fairs. My plan is to grow the bakery and add an ordering app and more delivery and pick up options in 2026.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nothing worth having comes easy! But it hasn’t been all rough. The biggest struggle was making the unexpected pivot from this being a maybe thing in the distant future, to being a real thing that needed to be manifested ASAP! I’m glad Amazon Prime and Facebook Marketplace exist because they’ve been a real time/lifesaver.
Many of the cake decorating shops I grew up going to with my mom have closed. So, I had to get creative and resourceful at times to attain the ingredients, tools, and other supplies I needed. I still try to purchase locally as much as possible first, and as the business grows my search for items continues to evolve.
But as I always say, the Universe will provide if you’re willing to work, sacrifice, and stay open to unexpected opportunities!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Currently I am focused on small batch baked goods such as “bakery style” cookies, uniquely shaped rice cereal treats, and of course muffins. My signature treat is my Salted Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookie! Another fan favorite is my Jumbo Blueberry Muffin. But I am able to produce a variety of goods including breads, mini cakes, doughnuts, etc.
I’m proud of all my creations, but I’d say two things that I’m most proud of are A) The fact that I opened my bakery even though I had doubts, fears, and little time to plan. And B) My new cookie (Candy Cane in Vanilla or Double Chocolate) has been better enjoyed than I ever expected it to be!
I think the one thing that sets me apart from others is the fact that I do not make anything with sourdough. I don’t like it personally so I don’t feel like I can create treats that taste like love with it. I also do not make wedding cakes. I remember the pressure that naturally comes from creating something so important. My mom thrived on that pressure, but I do not.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I always say that there’s two ways to look at the word F.E.A.R.:
1) Face Everything And Rise or 2)F**k Everything And Run
Most of the time, I’m a planner. I like to take a reasonable amount of time envisioning a desired outcome, then work backwards from there to create a master plan, subtask lists, get any necessary education, etc. I typically take maximum steps to get the greatest reduction in risks. Unless of course I talk myself out of an idea first (and that has happened more times than I’d like to admit).
Opening The Muffin Mam has been my biggest boss move, my greatest get out of my own way, and my greatest creation next to giving birth to my only child! As this was an unexpected career shift, I used savings and credit cards to gather everything I needed to open this year. And I’m still being a bit cautious so I don’t bite off more than I can chew.
But so far, I’m off to a great start and can see this being a beautiful next chapter. So, I am confident that all the risks have been and will continue to be worth it!
Pricing:
- Most items are around $5 including tax.
- 6 cookies for $25
- 12 cookies for $50
- Custom, large group (party/corporate) prices available upon consultation
- Military discounts for active duty & Vets (with a show of proof such as an active duty or VA card)
Contact Info:
- Instagram: themuffinmamsd
- Facebook: The Muffin Mam
- Other: email: themuffinmamsd@outlook.com
