Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Anderson-Douglas
Hi Danielle, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started out cake decorating in 2009 mostly hobby baking for friends and family. It was an expensive craft to keep up with at the time, and I ended up walking away from cake decorating for several years. In 2017, I found myself knee deep in depression. I had just quit a high stress job to focus on my mental wellness and had a lot more time on my hands. I started cake decorating again as a creative outlet and found purpose. I’ve been creating with cake ever since and it’s genuinely been a life changing journey.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has definitely come with its bumps and detours. Entrepreneurship is so demanding and comes with endless hats to wear. I’m not just Dani the Cake Artist. I’ve gotta be the photographer, social media manager, administrative assistant, customer service manager, delivery driver, accountant, creative director, dishwasher and the list goes on. Throw in my mommy and wife hats, and it can all feel so overwhelming at times. However to balance it all, I’ve learned that you have to take care of you first. So I rest when my mind and body are fatigued from orders and content. I take breaks from social media when I’m feeling the need to compare or compete. I ask for help when I know I really need to. I’m learning to take care of my mind and spirit first so that my business can reap the benefits of a healthier me building it.
What do you specialize in? What are you most proud of?
Caked by Dani specializes in custom buttercream cakes and cupcakes that are colorful, fun and always original. I absolutely stan for leopard print, rainbows, cotton candy, glitter, and the color pink! You’ll see these things most in the content that I create and in my cakes and cupcakes. I simply enjoy making sweets look pretty. I’m most proud of showing up for myself. It’s been quite the journey and I’ve wanted to quit more days than I can count. But I keep showing up to create and life keeps rewarding me. Because I kept going my business keeps growing and I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in the baking industry like Nestle Toll House and Wilton. Opportunities continue to come my way because I keep choosing ME. I encourage anyone who is working toward their dreams to keep showing up for yourself. Just keep going and watch your dreams begin to turn into reality.
How do you define success?
To me success could be summed up to living a life that you’re proud of. There’s no singular moment in life that you get to success. Success is a mindset that you create for yourself as you navigate through life. You determine what that looks like and feels like. And if you’re proud and genuinely happy with the life you lead, then you are very much a success.
Contact Info:
- Email: cakedbydani@gmail.com
- Website: www.cakedbydani.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/cakedbydani
- Other: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScWn1MJ4NLh9UQ5EMV1WrJCTQTyHWJOkYf2zt61r4ZtiLmxRg/viewform
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