Hi!

We are Jennifer Strauss and Christine Boelman. Together we run a lovely little cupcake shop in Valley Junction, Iowa.

Jennifer and Christine were born and raised in North-Central Iowa. While growing up they "assisted" their mother and grandmother in cake decorating business. After graduating high school the Boelman sisters earned degrees from the University of Iowa. Christine entered the business world and worked in marketing, while Jennifer decided to pursue her dream of becoming a pastry Chef.

While Christine gained experience in Advertising and Marketing Jennifer attended the culinary program at Kendall College in Evanston, Illinois. After graduating Jennifer culled her skills by working in some of Chicago's most upscale restaurants before becoming the Executive pastry Chef at a large catering company.

In the summer of 2006 Jennifer decided to put her pastry skills to use by creating a line of Gourmet Cupcakes to be served at the Valley Junction Farmer's Market every Thursday. Her unique and delicious product was sought after each week as people came to the market looking for the "Cupcake Lady."

Near the end of 2006 a petite shop became available in Valley Junction. Carefree Patisserie opened on October 10, 2006 specializing Gourmet Cupcakes, custom ordered cakes, and wedding cakes. The girls decided to partner up and put their combined effort into making Jennifer's dream come true. To pay her daughters back for their years of enthusiastic help in her own kitchen, Jennifer and Christine's mom began to do the books. With Jennifer's children Annabelle and Oliver working as "quality control" three generations of family can be found at the Carefree Patisserie at any given day.

From conception,

through creation,

and into the oven,

each treat from the Carefree Patisserie truly is a labor of love.