Behind the apron: who I am when I’m not baking
Read it during the daytime.
I spend most of my time elbow-deep in batter, covered in flour, and juggling timers—but there’s more to my life than what comes out of the oven. When the kitchen is quiet and the apron’s off, I’m still me: a person who loves short little neighborhood walks, strong coffee, catching up with family, and figuring out how to take care of a body that doesn’t always cooperate. This post is a peek behind the scenes—no buttercream, no timers, just the real stuff.
🎬 Movie Buff Mode: Action, Blood, and a Happy Ending
When I'm not deep in dough, you'll probably find me watching someone get chased through the woods—or running toward an explosion in slow motion. I’ve got a soft spot for horror and action films, the kind with just enough plot to justify the chaos. Give me a knife fight, a mystery twist, or a well-choreographed car chase, and I'm in my happy place. Some favorites include: all the Daniel Craig Bond movies (but Casino Royale is PERFECTION), John Wick everything, the Mission Impossible franchise, the Bourne franchise, Final Destination movies, any horror movie with a fantastic monster (creature features for the win!), Nightmare on Elm street movies, The Monster Squad over The Goonies, and just for my girlie side - the Keira Knightley Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility (classic).
📚 Books I Devour Like Dessert
My reading stack is a mix of nightmares, whodunits, and the occasional how-to-survive-business-without-losing-your-mind manual. Horror and mystery novels are my go-to, especially when they come with a cool creature or monster. I read to escape, to learn, and let’s be honest—to feel superior when I figure out the ending before the detective does. One I had to read only during DAYLIGHT hours was Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell.
🏹 Hobbies That Don’t Involve Flour
Slower farmer’s market seasons give me a little breathing room—and I fill it with archery, gardening, and a never-ending home painting project. One minute I’m pruning tomatoes, the next I’m debating paint swatches and wondering why I started painting the ceiling. It's chaotic in the best possible way, and it gives me a sense of control that frosting swirls just can’t match. How many rooms can I paint in a different shade of pink? I guess I’ll find out in ten years when I’m finally finished.
🧘♀️ Yoga, But Make It Realistic
Yoga has become the only part of my day where no one asks for cookies or change for a twenty. My yoga days started in ballet class at the Youth Performing Arts School in tenth grade and I’ve been obsessed ever since. I try to roll out the mat daily during the off-season and at least twice a week during market madness. Some days it’s all deep breathing and grace; other days it’s me in child’s pose thinking about dinner—but I always show up.
👯♀️ People Are My People
Running a business can get isolating, so when I’m not baking or blogging, I make a serious effort to show up for my people (hi, I’m an extrovert who needs to talk). Family dinners, friend catchups, even just a shopping run with good conversation—I’m here for it. Connecting with people outside the bakery reminds me that I’m a person first, and a pie-slinger second.
🩰 Ballet Bucket List
One of my life goals? See a performance in every city that has a professional ballet. There’s something magical about live dance—the costumes, the music, the artistry. It’s my quiet rebellion against the noise of everyday life, and it’s my version of those guys who visit all the ballparks in America.
Life Beyond the Kitchen
When I stepped back from retail baking, a lot of people assumed something had gone wrong. But what really happened is, my body stopped cooperating with the long hours and stress. I swapped store hours for birdwatching, stress for yoga, and burnout for baked goods made on my terms.
I’m still baking, of course—I love it too much not to. But I’ve started protecting my time in a way I never did before. I’ll go on a walk instead of refreshing emails. I’ll eat lunch sitting down (imagine that!) instead of grabbing bites between oven timers. I’m learning what my body needs, especially with autoimmune issues, and how to listen to it (without guilt).
I’ve been to NYC a few times, but I’ve only seen ABT once, and it was amazing.
