So, I just dove in headfirst, no plan, no hesitation. I kept experimenting with new desserts and breads, chasing that spark. Then, life threw me a curveball—I found out I was pregnant. Picture this: 22 years old, shacking up with my boyfriend, no job, taking a break from college, and absolutely no clue how I’d get to the life I dreamed of. All I knew was that I had 10 months to figure it out.

I spent my entire pregnancy grinding, perfecting every recipe that had ever brought me joy. By the time my baby girl, Lona Rai, arrived, I’d saved enough to stay home with her for five months. We moved into a new apartment, and she had everything she could possibly need—and then some.

Leaving her to go back to work was hard. I missed her like crazy, but it gave me the push I needed to step out of my comfort zone. I started baking and selling my treats weekly. People loved them. Like, really loved them. That’s when I decided to take the leap.

Now, I haven’t quit my job just yet (hold tight, y’all), but I’m getting there—one cookie at a time. I named the business after Lona Rai because this is for her. I want her to see me set a goal, chase it, and achieve it.

So, yeah, that’s the short version of my story. There’ve been plenty of twists and turns along the way, but you get the gist. Thanks for sticking with me and reading all that! You’re a real one. I think we’re gonna be friends for a long time.

XOXO,
Gossip Chef (lol)

“Blessed from above, with a heart full of love…”

Okay, so here’s the deal—I’ve always been a pretty solid cook. Mixing spices and inventing new flavor combos? That’s my jam. Creativity has always been my thing. But about five years ago, I decided to level up and tackle a whole new frontier: baking bread.

Let me tell you, those first 10 loaves? Straight-up disasters. I mean, *tragic*. Flour and butter wasted, hopes and dreams crushed—but I’m nothing if not determined. Then one day, I don’t know what happened—maybe the baking gods smiled down on me—but I nailed it. I made not one but TWO perfect brioche loaves. It was like a year of trial and error clicked in a single, glorious moment.