Kelly Lawrence experienced success working her way up the corporate ladder in the field of recruiting, but her heart wasn't in it after her daughter Daisy, now 4, was born.

Wanting more flexibility and a chance to use her creative and artistic abilities, she left her job in 2004 to open a Cookies in Bloom franchise.

"It is a very creative business and I love that," said Lawrence, a Bellaire resident who also paints and does crafts in her spare time. "I have a lot of artistic freedom and I am also using my business experience in managing four employees, managing advertising, and calling on potential corporate customers."

Cookies also are available from her store individually for those who stop by and can't resist eating one of the iced almond, butter-flavored shortbread treats on the spot.

Lawrence is running the business by herself. She is focused on extending the gift end of her business and has dabbled in catering.

"We now have a line of gifts to go from $5 to $25 available at the store for walk-in business," she said.

Lawrence started on her career path one year out of high school. After attending the University of Houston from 1994-95, she was hired by Consulting Resources Group and trained as a recruiter. She never found the time to finish her degree.

As a recruiter she called potential business customers and searched for matching candidates.

Lawrence spent several years at various recruiting firms in sales until 1998, when she was hired by Ernst & Young as an in-house recruiter for candidates who could implement and install accounting software.

But she decided after one year to strike out on her own as an independent contractor.

She secured contracts recruiting for Enron and Compaq Computer Corp. from 1999-2001, before being drawn back to the corporate world as an in-house recruiter for CenterPoint Energy in March 2001.

In 2004, Lawrence began investigating possibilities for a cookie business.

"I like to march to the beat of my own drum, and I also like baking, decorating and arranging, so this business appealed to me," she said. "Even though it is a franchise, there is lots of leeway in creating your own store, which was important to me.

"Besides, it is such a fun, happy product. It makes people smile."

Lawrence, 31, has expanded her corporate client base to include the Houston Texans football team, which is a regular customer. She provides cookies with the team's logo for guests in their executive suites at games.

"It is important to marry yourself to big clients," Lawrence said. "I try to keep my products exciting, and I am not afraid to cold call on potential clients. It is a great gift item for them to send to their customers."

She hopes to break even by her third year in business.

Lawrence donates cookies to the American Heart Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation regularly. She also has contributed cookies to Avondale House, Women Helping Women and Dress for Success.