Melanie Doll of Whitehall has always dreamed of owning her own business. A few months ago, she was able to make that dream become a reality.

Doll, owner of Cupcakes and s'More in Coplay, is living her dream, but it didn't come without challenges.

At just four feet tall, Doll has encountered many personal challenges in life, yet her optimism knows no bounds, and her positive attitude has pulled her through some tough times in her life.

While she may be small in stature, her determination has opened up doors for her that others may have deemed impossible.

"If someone tells me 'no,' I just figure out how I'm going to make it happen," Doll said.

After leaving her job as an event planner for a nonprofit organization, she reevaluated her life and career direction. One thing was for certain: Baking was always something she was passionate about.

She fondly remembers spending time in the kitchen in her youth with her mother.

Baking, she said, always made her feel good.

"In my time out of work, I started watching a lot of cupcake shows on the Food Network and began experimenting with recipes of my own," she said. "I started making cakes and cupcakes for family and friends, and before I knew it, many people were requesting, through word of mouth, that I make them some of my treats for their special occasions."

Doll took a business course at Lehigh Carbon Community College and attended Wilton cake decorating classes for certification. Eventually, she felt it was time to start her own business baking cupcakes.

One of the first things she needed was a certified kitchen.

Her search led her to Trinity United Church of Christ on Third Street in Coplay, where she asked for permission to use the kitchen for her business.

Doll was told the kitchen would not pass inspection for a commercial busness. The kitchen needed new floors, countertops, a three-compartment sink and a stainless steel table for cake materials.

With no funds at the church, Doll met with church officials to explain her proposal for the use of kitchen space in exchange for upgrading the kitchen. After meeting over a three-month period, the church agreed to her proposal, and the renovation began.

While the yearlong renovation project was going on, Doll continued building customers and maintaining her clientele.

Further problems included a water leak repair, the replacement of the contractor, delaying the work by four months.

Doll's goal had been to open formally with a pumpkin roll sale in time for Thanksgiving. However, the new contractor began work just four weeks before the holiday season began.

Doll had already started taking orders for pumpkin rolls and was determined to maintain her start date, but everything seemed to be stacking against her.

Luckily the contractor finished the job within two weeks and Doll was able to get the kitchen inspected the following week.

Doll remembers checking and rechecking everything the night before the inspection, ensuring that everything in the kitchen would pass.

"As soon as I got the green light to go, I hurried to the store and stocked up on all the supplies I needed for my pumpkin rolls," she said. "I had 425 orders and less than two weeks to complete them."

With the help of her family and friends, Doll was able to fill every pumpkin roll order in time.

"Everything starts with a process," she said. "As soon as I had my process, everything started falling together. And I couldn't have done it without the support of my family and friends."

In January, she hosted a grand opening event, showcasing a variety of cupcake flavors and baked goods.

Marketing through online sales, advertising and social media, Doll's company features nearly 50 different cupcake flavors and has flourished in just a few short months.

"I will be happy to try to accommodate pretty much any request," she said. "I've made sugar-free cupcakes, gluten-free cupcakes, even vegan cupcakes for my customers."

Some of Doll's most popular flavors are peanut butter cup, snickers, and strawberries and cream cupcakes. She also bakes cakes, cake pops, cookies and other items.

Doll never stops setting goals and pursuing dreams and has managed to always remain optimistic, even when life has thrown her its toughest challenges.

"In my head I'm not different from anyone else," she said. "It's only when someone or something tries to stop me that I become aware of my differences. My experiences have made me a stronger person, and my challenges have allowed me to grow and become who I am today, and for that I wouldn't change a thing."

In three years, Doll plans to open her own local storefront and continue growing her Cupcakes and s'More cupcake business.

Find it on Facebook and online at www.cupcakesandsmore.com, or reach Doll directly at 484-695-4305 or via email at cupcakesandsmore@gmail.com.