Why I’m Scaling Down From Full-Time to Part-Time Home Baking
Hey baking friends 🙂
This post has been on the back-burner for quite some time. I’ve felt so unsure about sharing this important update with you, but I’ve decided to finally post it.
For 6 years I baked out my heart and soul – and my body as well as it turned out!
It’s hard to believe how much I was baking every week from Jan 2013 – Dec 2018. At one point I was baking for 7 Different Coffee shops AND all my direct clients. There was even a time when I was fully booked for up to 3 months in advance!
I’m extremely grateful for my entire Home Bakery Business journey… It’s grown me into the person I am today. Starting my Home Bakery has been one of the most incredible adventures of my life.
However, over the past 2 years things have been changing in my business. That’s what today’s post is about.
I really want to be honest with you about the reality of my baking business. I’ve been so hesitant to share these things with you because I’ve been afraid.
There’s a fear inside me that you’ll think I’m not a “legit home bakery owner” if I don’t bake full-time anymore. And that you therefor won’t be open to anything I want to teach you about the business of home baking anymore.
But despite these fears I still desire to be honest with you, because that’s what friends do.
So here goes…
Here are all the reasons why I’ve decided to scale down from full-time home baking to part-time home baking.
1. My ankle (and the rest of my body) is annnnngggrrrry
If you’ve been following me on Instagram you’ll know that my right ankle started giving major trouble in August 2019.
I was just wrapping up a day of baking and suddenly felt quite a lot of pain in my right ankle. With every step the pain escalated severely.
I knew something was VERY wrong.
Less than a minute after the pain started I couldn’t put any weight on my foot at all anymore. I couldn’t even put my foot on the floor.
I went to a physio and apparently my walking action has been wrong for the past 19 years. This made me overuse a certain tendon in my leg & ankle.
For 2 weeks I couldn’t stand or walk. I had to cancel all my clients’ orders and take a month off from baking.
Despite exercises and stretching my ankle still isn’t doing that great. I can literally only bake 1 day per week otherwise my ankle freaks out.
Now please don’t worry that something like this will happen to you if you stand and bake a lot!
You’ll be just fine!
This is just happening because my body is FAR from normal.
Long story short I had a tumour in my spinal cord and brain as a baby. The doctor surgically removed half of it. The Lord Jesus Christ made the other half disappear. The doctor even wrote “miracle” on my file.
I still can’t believe this really happened, but it did. All glory to Father God.
The tumour had grown inside me for more than a year though and in that time it caused a lot of damage to my nervous system.
My entire right side of my body is smaller and weaker than my left side. My right side also has quite a lot less functionality. This is a photo of my feet and ankles.
When I was 12 I also had to undergo surgery on my right leg to make it straight because it was completely skew. During this massive operation the doctors also operated on my foot and ankle.
So with all these operations and permanent nerve damage and scoliosis – it’s safe to say that my body is FAR from normal.
I’ve been trying to ignore this fact my entire life.
All my life I’ve tried with every ounce of will power in me to look normal. All my life I’ve been trying to PROVE to other people (and myself) that I’m normal. And in the process I’ve totally overextended myself.
I’ve been pushing my body to do MORE than it’s able to… For YEARS now.
The TRUTH is that I’m NOT normal.
And I’m starting to realize that that’s okay.
My body is different. It’s weak and limited. And it’s not a reflection on who I am as a person. My body IS just different.
So I’m deciding to finally cut my body some slack. It’s been going along with all the crazy amounts of work I’ve forced it to do.
Now it’s my turn to go along with what my body really needs.
And that’s physical rest.
Over the past few months I’ve figured out that my limit is baking 1 day per week. If I bake more than that my ankle just starts hurting again.
I’m EXTREMELY grateful that I CAN at least bake for 1 day per week. It could just as well have been the end of my Home Bakery Business, but thankfully it’s not.
2. Right now, my help is needed more elsewhere
Philosophy of Yum was originally just the name of my Home Bakery Business. I never thought I’d start a blog.
As I kept baking the same things over and over and over again for my wholesale and direct clients I began to discover some fascinating baking tips & tricks!
Baking tips like:
How to bake perfect cupcakes.
How to get a shiny crust on your brownies.
The EASIEST way in the world to temper chocolate.
How to fix split chocolate ganache.
And so many more!
I figured that this info will be helpful to other home bakers out there and a blog seemed like the best way to share this info.
Eventually people started asking me questions about my Home Bakery Business and reaching out to me for help in starting their own.
I then realized that it might be a good idea to show people how to start & grow their own Home Bakery. Online courses seemed like a great way to help home bakers right around the world!
In August 2017 took an online course to help me create my own online courses. And the feedback has been INCREDIBLE!
Like Cameron’s story:
“In the course I felt empowered to just keep moving forward and not to be afraid even if I don’t have everything figured out and don’t feel ready. Then I decided on a date and launched my business. Week 1 – I sold out! Week 2 I’ve sold out again!”
And Angie Watts’s story:
“Since I’ve started working with Aurelia, I haven’t had one week go by without an order! It’s the best investment in myself & my business I’ve made. THANK YOU! I feel more confident in myself as a baker and moving forward in my home bakery business!”
>> I never thought that I’d be a teacher or coach. And never in my wildest dreams did I think my little life would help bakers around the world to believe in themselves and start their own businesses.
What’s happened in the process is that the more students enroll, the more time I need to invest in supporting them. My students have become my top priority. Their success is my priority. Once they’re part of my programs, they have my support 100%.
There aren’t many people online who help home bakers to build successful businesses. There’s help for cake decorators yes, but for humble home bakers like you and me – not so much.
Look, I know that cake decorators have taken over the baking scene. There’s a time and place for cake decorating, but you and I both know that tasteless decorations can’t comfort people and connect families like DELICIOUS home baking can.
So it’s my mission to help flavour-obsessed home bakers to get the confidence and business skills they need so they don’t feel intimidated to share their irreplaceable gift of comforting home baking with people who need it.
These amazing home bakers deserve to get the help they need. Their community, the world, NEEDS their delicious home baking. And if I can show bakers how to reach those people, it would be wrong to just keep my head down and do nothing to help them.
Baking is still super important to me.
But helping other flavour-obsessed bakers to reach more people with their baking is now MORE important to me in this season of my life.
May I just say that I’m extremely grateful to the Father for TIMING everything so… so… perfectly (which seems like a total understatement).
He knew all along that my body would get to a point where it can no longer bake full-time.
He knew.
And He started carving out a new way for me 2 whole years before it happened… I’m just beyond humbled by His faithfulness.
If I’m totally honest I still would’ve preferred to have a stronger, normal body that could bake all day long. That would’ve been AWESOME.
That would’ve been a lot simpler.
I wouldn’t have needed to learn so many new things about blogging, online business, creating courses, optimizing my SEO (aka getting found on Google) and so many other complicated things.
I could’ve stayed in my comfort zone – my tiny kitchen – keeping to myself and never needing to put myself out there.
BUT…
I also wouldn’t have met YOU.
Or any of the other gold-hearted home bakers I’m blessed enough to support in their journey to confidence and success.
God’s way is BETTER.
It’s not easier.
And it’s not un-complicated.
It requires us to stop hiding and step into who He has MADE us to be.
It requires us to open up to letting mountains go and open up to His healing, Lordship and restoration.
His ways are higher than our ways.
And I’ve come to see that the more I look to Him and His ways, the more I become exactly who I REALLY am.
I hope this post encourages you to also open up to who God has REALLY made YOU to be. That you’ll stop fighting Him.
That you’ll stop running away.
That you’ll join me in surrendering to our glorious Father. And surrender to who He has made you to be; therein lies so much freedom.
We were made for Him.
And a kinder, more loving or patient being than Him has never existed.
Join me in continually hearing from Him who we REALLY are and not what the world tells us we’re “supposed to be”.
Lots of love
Aurelia

Hello Aurelia..thank you so much for the inspiration it came at the right as I’m also a home Baker who is hoping to grow in this business. I thank God for paving your way and thank you for reaching to us.May the Lord continue to bless you.
Thanks for your comment Tendai! I’m SO glad to hear the post has inspired you and reached you at the right time. God knows what we need 🙂 Thanks so much for your kind wishes.
Wow,what an inspirational story.So happy that you are at peace with yourself and God.I think that’s a big achievement. Thanks for being so transparent and real .
Hey Iyella, thanks for your beautiful comment 🙂 I’m so glad to hear that my transparent story has inspired you xxx
Beautiful daughter of God, I first need to say that every and each word you just shared honoring the Lord has brought a Hallelujah out of my mouth…I just started following you like 3 or 4 weeks ago and I have learned and start feeling self confident on the talent I know God gave me which I am willing to use on baking and take the people (clients) to know Jesus Chris with my work….I am so grateful that God has put you somehow in my path and I can tell you, you are an answer from Him to me…As you just said: We need to be obedient and faithful to God rules… He is our support and He works in order…I will keep you in my prayers and I know you will reach higher success in God`s ways….
I love you in Jesus Christ.
Hey Aimée! Thank you SO much for your beautiful comment and support… I’m extremely happy to hear that you’re starting to feel more confident in who God has made you to be! Our best chance at success lies in becoming 100% who GOD has made us to be! I’m thinking of you as you enter into cultivating your talents and creativity. Thank you for your kind wishes and prayers xxx
Best wishes to you!
You helped me a lot as gave me the inspiration to start with baking.
Thank you a lot!
Thank you for your sweet comment Pavlina! 🙂 I’m SO happy to hear you feel inspired to start baking!
Hi Aurelia,
Thanks for sharing and yes indeed God knows best! Keep up the good work, you’ve been quite an encouragement. I’m still trying to find my way but by His grace I’ll get there. Take care of yourself because as you know our body is His temple so we need to take care of it to the best of our ability. God’s grace and peace be multiplied to you!
Regards,
Noreen
Hi Noreen, thank you so much for your kind comment! 🙂 You’re so right… Our bodies are HIS temple! It’s our responsibility to rest. xxx
Dear Aurelia,
THANK YOU for sharing your story! GOD is Great! He knew when you needed to take care of yourself. I am so encouraged to hear your story. It’s amazing how things can fall into place.
I have always enjoyed your beautiful and delicious desserts. I do the cake decorating style for sure. BUT it is imperative that the cake actually tastes good!!! Nothing is worse than eating a pretty cake that is mediocre. I am always striving to get better at my flavors.
I am taking a break myself so that I can truly get organized to bake, homeschool, and care for my three young kids.
Warmest wishes,
Emi
Hey Emi! Thanks for your comment 🙂 I’m so happy to hear that my story has encouraged you! And it’s great to hear that you’re a cake decorator that believes the cake HAS to TASTE GREAT! I wish you all the best in your break and that you’ll e able to chart a clear course of action for your year. xxx
Such a beautiful post Aurelia! I love how the Lord knows what is best for us and even though we don’t always understand at the time, he continues to show us his faithfulness, and love. I am always blessed by your honest heart and encouragement to us home bakers. You have blessed my life and business in so many ways and I appreciate you so very much! May your courses continue to sale out and be hugely successful!
Hey Angie! Thank you SO much for all your kindness and support… I’m so grateful to have met you! Your Home Bakery’s growth and success is just incredible and I’m immensely proud of you. More than that I’m also super proud of how you’ve really stepped into who you are as a baker, person and business owner. You’ve come SO far and I can’t wait to see what’s next in your story! 😀 Much love xxx
Thanks for being open and candid about sharing your story. It’s really inspiring to hear people like you overcoming obstacles and making the best of whatever situation that comes up. Your posts really give me the drive to carry on and follow my passion for baking.
Thank you for your kind words Marvin! So glad the posts help to inspire you 🙂 Keep on going!
Best wishes for you. You gave me the inspiration to quit my full time job and start baking full time . Last year it was hard. But I trust that this year it will be better
Thank you for sharing your knowledge
I’m in Costa Rica and have been following you for almost three years
Hey Rosa, thanks for your sweet comment! I’m so proud of you for taking the step to start your own baking business 😀 That’s amazing! Please reach out if you’re struggling with something specific. I remember you enrolled in the Bakery Brand Boss course! Always here if you have any questions xxx