How did you come up with name?

That's simple. Remember the Partridge Family? Well, we absolutely love everything about them, especially the theme song, particularly when they'd sway their heads from side to side and say, "come on get happy." It makes you smile just thinking about it. Well anyway, since "come on get happy" was already taken, we went back to the drawing board. One day, Nana Pearl's 4-year old granddaughter had just finished eating a slice of pound cake when her daddy came to pick her up. He asked about her day. She gave the widest smile and said, "Daddy, Nana Pearl made happiness happened." There you have it.

What's the purpose of Happiness-Happens™?

Oh that's an easy one. You see, for many, being happy is pretty easy. It could be listening to a song or running into an old friend. But for one reason or another, it takes more for some folks. So, that's where we come in. We don't actually come in. It's more like delivery.

How do you select the recipients?

We check the newspapers for births and deaths. The evening news is also another good source. For example, if we hear of someone who could use a little happiness, we do our darnest to track them down. By the way, that's not always easy! Oh, we also listen an awful lot. With so many people talking on cell phones, we over-hear a lot of information! Now, it's not our fault people aren't using their inside voices! Finally, we tend to look in the telephone directory.

Why do it surreptitiously?

To us, it just makes sense. You know for some strange reason, people seem to be touched even more because it's coming from strangers. And besides, it's our way of letting the recipients know somebody out there loves them. Since we can't give away hugs, then Grandma's blue ribbon pound cake it is.

How did all this come about? 

It all started more than 30 years ago. A small group of us chose to take a different path. Instead of looking and complaining, we decided to listen with our hearts. Of course, it was usually over food and bridge. We'd pool what money we had together and buy groceries and pay utility bills for the sick and shut-in and help widows with young children. At the start of the school year, we'd trek to the stores for new school clothes. When we shopped for our children, we shopped for someone else's. And we didn't even think about making a difference. If it was Sears, Target, K-mart, Wal-mart, Macy's and Thalhimers for ours, then it was the same for the recipients. Don't let the department stores fool you. We only started shopping there when the children hit their teens. Darling, we are "self-certified" bargain shoppers. 

The way we see it, people have feelings and it does them a world of good to know they received something nice.

What kind of feeling do you get from this?

Oh dear. It's like stepping into Santa's shoes and delivering gifts to children of all ages who really want something, but don't think they'll ever get anything. Okay, here's a better look at it. Just think of us as a group of 9 nanas who change into "fairy-grandmothers" 52 weeks a year to make happiness-happen™ for children of all ages. And that feeling is, oh dear, one that we still can't put into words.

Why did it take so long to make these goodies available to the public?

When we first started, our children were very young. Some of us worked outside the home. And with all the washing, cleaning, cooking, ironing, PTA meetings, helping our husbands, helping out at the restaurant and this list goes on and on. Anyway, there just never seemed to be enough hours in the day. Since the kids are all grown now and most of the husbands are retired, we have more time to bake and make people happy. You see, we didn't want to start and not be able to meet the demand.

What makes these cakes so special?

Well first, they're absolutely delicious. And just like a grandma's love—they're pure, organic, delightful and without anything artificial.

Where do you do your baking?

Well, when we're cooking for our families, we do it in our own kitchen. Now, when we're baking our goods to make "happiness-happen" or to sell, oh, all of that's done at the restaurant.

You may have people interested in becoming a Happiness-Happens Ambassador™? How would one go about becoming a part?

Because there's so much sadness and gloom floating around, it'll take a bumper crop of folk to make happiness-happens™ for everybody. Here's where it gets a little sticky. Our little group has kept what we do a secret for over 30 years. And that hasn't always been easy, especially when we hear people talking about what we've done. Somehow we've managed to keep quiet. A "pinky promise" is a powerful thing! 

On the other hand, people have good intentions, but we don't want the cat out of the bag and somebody blowing our cover. So for those who want to get involved, they can get the official, branded beverage mug and we'll name them honorary Happiness-Happens Ambassadors™.