HI, MY NAME IS… Merna Shamoun and I am the Cake Girl!
I’VE LIVED IN THE DESERT RIDGE AREA FOR THREE YEARS AND I LOVE IT BECAUSE … the people are so friendly. Everyone from my neighbors to the employees at the store and my cake clients are a joy to work with and be around. High Street and Desert Ridge Marketplace are my go-to for hanging out with my family and friends, especially when they have events for the holidays. The hiking trails are close, and the views are amazing. The overall location is great and super nice.
A TYPICAL DAY IN MY LIFE INCLUDES… operating my bakery, Crumby Cakes. I get all my ingredients and supplies ready for the day. Then, I make and bake all the batters and buttercream, take a break, and get a snack or lunch while the cakes cool; and then my favorite part, decorating. I love bringing my clients’ visions to life and making sure it exceeds their expectations. Seeing their smiles and “wow” faces make my day!
MY FAMILY IS… my world. I came to the U.S. from Iraq with my parents and sisters when I was 9 years old. My parents brought us here to give us a better life filled with freedom and opportunities, where we can learn and grow and have goals and dreams we can achieve. I am the oldest of three girls and I love being someone that my sister can depend on and be cared by besides my parents.
ONE THING I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT IS… my Kitchen Aid mixer that I learned to bake with. It helped me create all my desserts and master my Italian meringue buttercream.
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I WANTED TO BE… a baker/cake decorator and have my own little bake shop, which I am working on. I currently own and operate Crumby Cakes and specialize in custom cakes, mini cakes, cupcakes, and more––for any occasion. Everything I make is from scratch and decorated with Italian meringue buttercream. I put my heart and soul into making and decorating each cake to make it special and one of a kind. I strive to make each cake custom and unique.
THE SONG I WOULD SING AT KARAOKE NIGHT IS… “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey.
THE PEOPLE WHO MOTIVATE ME ARE… my parents. I’ve seen how hard they worked and all the things they’ve done for my sisters and me throughout the years. They inspire me to go after everything I want and never settle because I deserve and can have it all.
THE PERFECT DAY… starts with a hike at Pinnacle Peak Park, then stopping to get some tea from Sharetea at Desert Ridge Marketplace on my way home. I’ll spend some time playing with my dog, Max, then start looking at my orders and baking cakes. I’ll spend the whole day decorating each cake to make it as perfect as possible. After every order is done, I will meet up with my sisters for some sushi and wine at Nori Sushi in High Street.
MY LIFE IS… amazing! I get to work my dream job every day. Seeing how happy and excited my clients get when they see the cake and then receiving messages telling me how delicious it was and all the compliments they received makes me so happy and makes all my hard work worth it.
MY DREAM VACATION WOULD BE… living on a boat for two weeks in Greece to island hop. I would love to go to all the islands to see the beaches, experience the culture and bake, cook, and eat some amazing, authentic food. Watching the sun rise and set every day from different locations while eating some delicious food just makes my heart smile.
THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE EVER RECEIVED IS… “All dreams are within reach. All you have to do is keep moving towards them.”
