A Transformative Conversation with Idah from Mai Lara's Bouqcakes: Baking Explored as Memory, Therapy, and Community

What if the thing that steadies you is already in your hands? We sit down with Idah—Zimbabwean-born, Madison-based software engineer and buttercream florist—to trace how a bout of postpartum blues met a 3 a.m. Instagram scroll and bloomed into Mai Lara’s Bouqcakes. Through lifelike cupcakes that look like floral bouquets, she pieces together memory, identity, and rest, turning the kitchen into a sanctuary where grief softens and joy returns.

Idah takes us back to a childhood shaped by love and scarcity: a single mother working as a domestic helper, sneaking quick lessons in unfamiliar ingredients, and teaching one humble cake recipe that later funded school fundraisers and sparked a lifelong thread. Fast forward to Wisconsin—degrees earned, a family begun—and the ache of missing her late mother arrives just as she’s learning to mother her own daughter. Piping flowers becomes a lifeline. We explore how repetitive craft lowers the noise of anxious thoughts, why tactile work can anchor attention, and how sharing a counter with her sister rebuilt connection after years apart.

We also unpack the name: in her culture, mothers often become “so-and-so’s mom,” and Idah chose to honor that tradition by naming her brand after her daughter’s Yoruba middle name. It’s heritage in frosting, a tribute baked into every petal. She shares the leap from hobby to business, candid lessons from early experiments, and the moment cakes began calling her beyond cupcakes. Future dreams include pastry school and deeper technique, not to swap careers but to enrich the practice that helped her heal.

If you’ve ever wondered whether baking can be more than dessert—whether it can be memory, therapy, and community—you’ll find practical encouragement and a gentle push to start where you are. Follow Idah’s work on Instagram and Facebook at Mai Lara’s Bouqcakes, and see why Madison locals, including the governor’s office, keep calling. If this story moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who might need a warm reason to pick up a whisk.

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Transcript

Welcome & Mission Of Cake Therapy

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to the Cake Therapy Podcast, a slice of joy and healing with your host, Dr. Altricia Foster. This is a heartwarming and uplifting space that celebrates the transformative power of baking therapy. The conversations will be a delightful blend of inspirational stories, expert insights, and practical baking tips. Each episode will take listeners on a journey of self-discovery, emotional healing, and connection through the therapeutic art of baking. There's something here for everyone. So lock in and let's get into it.

Meet Ida: Heritage And Craft

SPEAKER_01 0:47

Hi everyone, welcome back to the Cake Therapy Podcast. Your slice of joy and healing. We believe that baking is really more than a treat. It's therapy, it's memory, it's community. Well, that's what it is for me. Guess what? My voice might sound a little croaky, right? Like I have a frog in there. I've been shouting at the AAU championship where my kids are taekwondo masters. I'm joking. My kids are black belt and they complete, they compete every summer. Um, so I was there shirt shouting. Um, if you if this is really your first time to our podcast or your first time tuning in to us, hit that follow button, leave a review, and share this podcast with your online community. Don't forget to tag Sugarspoon Desserts as well as Cake Therapy Foundation because you're all connected. I own Sugarspoon Desserts and I'm the president of the Cake Therapy Foundation, and this is all about the interests of the girl. So today I'm joined by a special guest out of Wisconsin. I uh hello, Ida. All right, yeah, she's waving over there. We can't wait to chat it up with her. Um, she brings a beautiful blend of heritage, healing, and artistry to the world of cupcakes out in Wisconsin. We're honored to welcome Ida again to the show, lovingly known as MyLara. Um, the creative hands and heart behind MyLara's Book Cakes. Um, a business born from postpartum blues, like me. You see where we have her on? Um, her business is formed out of postpartum blues, cultural love, and a passion for baking. She's a girl from Zim. She's Zimbabwean, and she now lives in Madison, Wisconsin. Ida, she's a software engineer by day, and she makes cupcakes as a passion. Do you know anyone else who bakes as a passion, who has like a formal education and a formal profession? Okay, yeah, your girl. Um, she's inspired by her late mother and the challenges of being a new mom in a foreign country. And we're gonna dive deep into that with um with Ida later. Her signature is hand-piped cupcake bouquets. Like, if you if you guys see these bouquets, you know, I'm gonna tell you a story towards the end about um special bouquets that came to my home for Christmas. She calls them boucakes. We're gonna find out why she calls them boucakes in the conversation later. Um, so Ida, welcome to the Cake Therapy Podcast. We're so excited to have you. Thank you. Thank you for having me. Of course, girl, I'm excited to have you out. I know when you were here for Christmas, uh, we talked about like what the podcast meant to you, and I need to have you on. And like, we're going into our fourth season, and I was like, it's time to bring Ida on to talk about her journey to date and what this baking journey looks like. Um, but first of all, like tell me how you're doing today. I know uh we were talking before we started recording that the baby's gone to the gym. Um, what's one other small joy that you've experienced this week?

SPEAKER_02 4:03

Oh my gosh. So I'm really excited to be here. And I was just listening to you talk, and I'm like, I made a mistake. I should have bought a broad box of Kleenex here. I'm already getting emotional, and I'm such an emotional person and a crier, so probably a lot of that's gonna happen. But I'm so excited to be here, and I mean, I just cannot believe that I'm here. I started listening to the podcast right when you started, and you had all these big names in baking, and here I am, so I am just overwhelmed by emotion, and I am super excited to share my story.

SPEAKER_01 4:43

Yeah, well, no need to cry. Um, you're you're a big name in baking, too. And the thing about it is the at the cake therapy podcast, it's an equal playing field. It's just everybody has like a similar experience as to why they started baking and what baking is truly doing for them. So I'm happy that you you are excited to be here to talk to us. Tell me about um business.

Childhood In Zimbabwe

SPEAKER_02 5:08

Is it okay if we pause so that I can grab something? Because I just like tears everywhere. Of course. Let me pause.

SPEAKER_01 5:17

So um in our intro, we talked about you being born and raised in Zimbabwe. Um, can you paint a picture of what your childhood looked like? Oh my.

SPEAKER_02 5:28

Uh so Zimbabwe, let's see, where do I start? Um I was raised by a single mom. Um my father passed away when I was really young. I was about seven. Um, and I have a little sister. Uh, and it was just the two of us growing up. Uh, my mom worked as a maid, um, so we didn't get to see her that much. Mostly saw her during the weekends, or sometimes I wouldn't see her for months, depending on where she worked. Um so sometimes uh I stayed with my grandmother, sometimes I stayed with other family members, stayed with my uncle a little bit. So there was a lot going on. Um, however, I would say probably when I was about 12, 13 going forward, um, or maybe a little earlier before that. Yeah, probably like 11. Um, it things got a little bit more steady uh when I started staying with my grandmother and my grandfather. Um, and they were also um called them domestic workers. So they worked for the white um British people in Zimbabwe, and then we got to stay in the backyard, uh, the little houses they built for their workers. So yeah, that's kind of when things got a little bit more stable. Um, and I went to the local school, kind of in I'm it's kind of a wealthy neighborhood, so I was a little bit of an outcast uh at that school. Um but you know, all these difficulties, all the ups and downs. I just remember like a lot of uh like a happy community for the most part. I remember just being able to go outside. Um, you know, sometimes my mom would be like, yeah, you know, the owners of the house are around. If you guys are gonna play, you have to go a little bit further from the house so that you can make noise. Otherwise you can make noise here. Um, but I remember doing that, just going outside and running in the street and just being so happy and content. So I get back and I'm like, huh, that's kind of interesting. I feel like I should have um I should have been like so anxious or depressed or something like that, but things just kind of worked out. Um, so that's how I remember my childhood.

SPEAKER_01 7:53

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So um what memories, you know, did you make in the kitchen with your mom as she was working with, or did you? Did you make any memories with your mom, you know, as she was working, uh growing up as a child as she was working up as a working as a domestic helper? Because like there's something similar to you and I. Like my mom did that too, you know, she was a domestic helper, she worked for the rich in the suburbs of Jamaica. So just talk to me about some of those core memories of in the kitchen with your mom.

Kitchen Memories With Mom

SPEAKER_02 8:25

Yeah, so it I feel like we could have made a lot more memories, but the few things that I do remember, so I I do mention a little bit on my website about you know baking. There was like just the one cake that was pretty easy to make that we used to make at home, and she learned to do that uh at her job, and then she brought that home, and we were like, wow, this cake is really good. She's like, Oh, you know what? I actually learned how to make it, I'll teach you guys how to make it. So I remember her teaching us how to bake that cake, and you know, it became kind of like a big part of my memories uh because I ended up like baking. I remember I used to bake and sell the cake in high school to make extra money, or like if I was part of a club that was fundraising, I would do that. So that's like one that I hold really deeply. But another one that I hold really dear to my heart is when um, you know, the the rich people would be, would not be around, she would run to the back and be like, Come, come, let me show you something. And we would run into the house and like watch her as if she's making something, and she would show us like you know, ingredients that were foreign to us.

SPEAKER_01 9:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:47

And then she would be like, Okay, now run, go back.

SPEAKER_01 9:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:52

But yeah, so at that time I didn't think much of it, but now I'm like, oh, that was actually all like really sweet memories. And actually, my sister and I talked about that um while baking now. That do you remember that time when we would run into the house and then we hear the car coming and we ran back to our place? So um, yeah, that's that's another one that I remember.

SPEAKER_01 10:18

Yeah, that that seemed to be like uh something that actually brings you joy, that actual memory of being with your mom while you were growing up and being, you know, being introduced to new or different ingredients in the kitchen. Talk to me a little bit about um your transition from Zimbabwe to the States. Like when did you do that? And when did you start like picking up a piping bag?

Journey To The U.S. And Madison Life

Postpartum Struggle And 3 A.M. Inspiration

SPEAKER_02 10:45

Yes, so um I honestly, you know, I'm I'm uh a believer, I'm a Christian, and I'm really big on, you know, my transition and coming here kind of being a little bit of a miracle. Um, because I just kind of stumbled upon the opportunity to uh to come and study in the US. Um so I had finished high school and I was actually walking around just spreading my resume around, hoping to find, you know, a shop that would hire me. And I wasn't finding anything, and I was getting I was getting really frustrated because I was like, you know, I have really good grades and I'm just applying to work in a shop. Like, what is going on? But I remember uh coming across um this lady, uh, she's a Catholic uh nun, and she had been a principal um at my high school uh back when I started high school. And so I saw her and she's like, oh my gosh, like look at you, you're all grown, what are you doing? And then, you know, I explained to her what I was doing, and I just start crying. And she's like, you know what? This is just so crazy because I just got an email from our sisters in Madison, Wisconsin. Actually, I don't think she told me it was Madison, Wisconsin. She just said in the US, and you know, they have a full scholarship they want to give out. And so she's like, Yeah, you should apply, you should tell your um, you know, your current uh school head to contact me and we'll organize everything. So, long story short, um, I got the scholarship and I found myself in Madison, Wisconsin. Um, yeah, I remember when I was coming and the immigration officer was like, huh, Madison, Wisconsin, like, have you heard of this place? I'm like, I have no idea. She's like, hmm, okay. Well, enjoy. And I understood what she meant when the winter came. But anyway, so yeah, so I did school, um, finished my undergrad, I did my master's, and then I um I did an internship with uh uh one of like the big insurance company in Madison, and I I really liked it. So after I graduated, they offered me a job and I stayed in Madison, started working, met my husband, um, got married, and we just decided to stay in Madison. Um, so yeah, everything uh just kind of worked out like that. But um, but yeah, so you you asked me like how I even like picked up a piping bag. So initially, I'm just a person who absolutely loved hosting, um, doing little special things for people. So I would bake like birthday cakes uh for my husband or for my friends. Um, and so that's really when I started just kind of you know tapping my toes into baking, but I never really made anything that I was like, oh my gosh, like this is super cool. It was just like little things that I would do. Um so yeah, the the main thing was until I had my baby. Um, so I had my first child, uh, 2022, uh, October, and you know, I had so many mixed feelings. It was probably, I would say, besides when my mom passed away, this was like the time that I had so much emotion. I I had a lot going on. So after I had my baby, um, about a couple months in, I really realized that there was something going on. Um and you know, like I feel like we kind of hear about, you know, postpartum, um, you know, postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, and all that. And it's it feels foreign until it starts happening to you. And so initially I was like, huh, like, is this what they are talking about? And then there's a part of me that was like, uh, you know, no, I'm fine. I'm fine. I should really be focusing on my baby. Like, look at this person, I'm so blessed. And then I was also looking at, you know, the people that love me. I had a lot of support. And then um, it was like uh around the time, maybe a year after my sister had also joined me from Zimbabwe. And so we were celebrating her being here, and you know, her and I being together after being apart for like 12 years. Um, and so, you know, there I was supposed to be happy, right? I was supposed to be enjoying all this, but I just felt like there was something else going on. Um, I was sad a lot, and you know, I was always doubting myself, like, am I doing a good job? I missed my mom a lot. I would say like that's like one of the times that I was like, oh my gosh, like I really miss my mom. I just kind of wish I could call her, right? And be like, you know, am I doing this right without feeling like someone is gonna judge me or something like that? So anyway, uh, when I started realizing that, I was like, okay, I need to find help, right? I need to find a way to kind of, you know, help myself figure out what's going on and come out of this uh phase that I'm going through. So one day I was just, you know, feeding my baby, 3 a.m. and I'm scrolling through Instagram, and I just came across this profile of a lady who's based in the UK. Um, and shout out to her uh her business is called Carrie's Bookcakes. And I was just looking through and I see her doing these floral pipings, and I'm like, what in the world? Like, this is so beautiful. How can someone do this? Like, yeah, I just thought it was really cool. So I saved her video and then I continued scrolling. And then the following day, I kind of went back to it. I'm like, huh, you know, I think this would be something cool to try, you know, and see, you know, just the feeling of trying something new. Um, and I don't know, I think subconsciously too, there was a part of me that was connecting the baking to missing my mom and kind of just bringing the two of them together. So I told my husband to buy me some stuff, ordered some supplies on Amazon, and I decided I was gonna try what this woman was doing and this amazing stuff she's doing. So I tried it. And the first day I tried it, I was like, oh my gosh, like, where has this been all my life? Yeah. I just, it was just so it was an amazing feeling, and I did it with my sister. So since I started my journey, my sister's kind of been my minion and my biggest cheerleader. And so I did it again the second time, and you know, her and my husband were like, you should post it on social media and you should start a business. I was like, oh no, like no, no way. So yeah, I I posted on social media and I got like, I think I got like 10 more people who told me I should start a business. So the rest is history, but that's that's around the time I started, you know, learning and picking up a piping bag.

SPEAKER_01 18:09

Yeah, so you picked up a piping bag in a time of like crisis, I would say, when you were having, you were missing your mom, you were having the postpartum blues, um, but you kept at it. What did what is it that you got from just baking or piping or you know, just making your bootcakes? What is the feeling that you get from that?

SPEAKER_02 18:29

Yeah, um, you know, initially it was just like, you know, this uh cool feeling of me being able to do something different, you know, that a lot of people had never seen, and you know, people kind of having that feeling that I had when I initially saw these floral cupcakes and floral cupcake bouquets. And so it was nice, right? It was nice to be able to do something, and people are like, wow, and everything. But, you know, as I did it more, I think it just really started to bring out like all the different layers. So that's when I started doing more of the connecting to say, okay, like, you know, this this brings me back to when I used to bake with my mom. And then also realizing that, you know, most of the catching up with my sister, even though she had been here for one year, we did a lot of catching up while doing baking and so many things that we had even forgot to talk about. Um, you know, we talked about our you know deepest uh feelings that we had, you know, you know, being apart, or even just in life in general. Um even when I was doing it alone, um, I would just, it's just like I'm in my own world at that time. I'm in my own little world, I can process all kinds of things as I'm doing that, right? Because I I'm not talking up to anyone, I'm just thinking about what I'm doing, and you know, I just have all this time in between that I can be like, huh, okay, so what's going on with this and everything. So, yeah, so I would say, like, you know, besides the just the excitement, the joy, the feeling of like slowing down, it forces me to slow down and really look at what I'm doing. Um, I've also been in those moments where I just kind of see, you know, the bigger picture outside of just baking.

SPEAKER_01 20:32

So yeah. Yeah, absolutely. So you're baking with your sister now, you're having conversations in the kitchen, um, your husband, who obviously is a big cheerleader, who's telling you, man, post this, you can become a business. At what point though, um, when did it click for you that you could actually move this, what you're this hobby into a business? What at what point did you realize that it could actually be more than a business? I mean, me more than a hobby for you?

From First Piping Bag To First Orders

SPEAKER_02 21:03

Yeah, um, you know, I kind of actually jumped into it. Uh I probably started the business like a couple months or so after I started the um the hobby. Um because like yeah, I I tried a few times, and every time I was feeling myself being better and better. Um, and so I begged for like friends and I took some cupcakes to a few friends and events, and everybody was just like, wow, wow, like where's your business card? So I was like, you know what? Maybe I should do this. Um, so I just kind of jumped right in. Looking back, I know I probably should have kind of learned a little bit more about business. But yeah, I was just, I think I was just so excited to to jump right in and be able to share my business card.

SPEAKER_01 21:58

Yeah, yeah. So, you know, like over here at the Cake Therapy Foundation, we believe that baking can be more than a creative outlet. And you yourself have experienced that. I believe that baking itself can be sacred. It's to me, it's a healing ritual. In your own experience, though, how has baking helped you to slow down and just reflect on how to process your own, you know, your own emotions?

Baking As Therapy And Identity

SPEAKER_02 22:26

Yeah, so going back kind of to, you know, when I was realizing that I had something going on that I needed to find help for. So I was thinking of going to therapy, right? Because that's that's what everybody was suggesting. Like you probably should go talk to someone and and see how you can get help that way. So after I started the new hobby and then, you know, turned into business, I honestly like never thought about therapy again. Um because I mean, I was doing my own kind of therapy, right? It's like, it's like art therapy. Um, so I I just like I just remember just feeling like, okay, so, you know, I'm going to, I'm making something that I have to give somebody and you know, they're gonna, you know, love it or whatever. But just me making that and knowing that like this is something that I can do. And, you know, there was something different about me being good at doing cupcakes. Um, I have been good at a lot of things in my life. Like I I remember um, you know, growing up, you know, you you met you asked about childhood. One of the things that was mine growing up was doing good in school. So that was kind of my identity. Like I had some issues with like, you know, self-esteem and just kind of fitting into society because of the back and forth, and then growing up in this more affluent neighborhood and going to school with kids that were from families that were so different than mine. I my thing was always doing great in school. Like I would study and make sure I come first, you know, and feel like, okay, uh, everybody's coming with lunches that I've never had before, but in the end, I was first, right? So I feel like that's where I place my identity a lot. And I was also doing that, you know, for my mom's sake, because I just remember she worked so hard for us, and she would always tell me the only way that you're gonna come out of this uh life that we're living is if you do good in school. So it there was never a question, right? I had to do it. And then there came a point where when my mom passed away and I was the breadwinner of the family, there was no other way around it. I had to do really well and I had to to pass and take care of everybody.

SPEAKER_01 25:04

Yeah. In some ways, in some ways, it seems like you you yourself got into a position of thinking that education was your meal to get out of your your suffering or your poverty. Exactly, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 25:18

And you know, it's not it's not easy to be able to to study and do good all the time. School is hard. Um, so I feel like when I got to be able to do something else that was in school, and I was doing it really well, and I was doing it for myself, like I didn't have to do it for anybody. It's something that I started to do for my own self and for my own healing, that it just felt really special. Um, it it it felt so different, and I like I just look back at when I started versus now, and you know, I can't put everything into words because it's just so special to me that I can do it and I can do it for myself. I am I always think like I can actually like stop my business at any time, and it's not necessarily going to impact anyone. I can do like the uh the baking just for fun, like it's it's like that. Like I don't have to do it, I'm not doing it for anybody. So yeah, it's really special. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:24

No, no, I absolutely get it. Um, because I'm not sure if we had mentioned that, that Ida is also a software engineer. So um, Ida, tell me, um, you mentioned that you are doing it for your own personal healing. So, as someone who is actually baking and you found this to be like a sacred ritual, tell me um to our listeners, you know, who have some interest in discovering the kitchen and finding out that the kitchen is their safe space, what would you say to this person who's just discovered the kitchen as a safe place for them?

SPEAKER_02 27:05

Um, I would say, you know, you just have to do it. You just have to do it, you just have to pick up something and do it. I feel like when it comes to these kinds of things that are, you know, like forms of healing, you can get encouragement from people to try something, but in the end, I feel like we have to, we are the people that have to get up and say, okay, I'm gonna try it and I'm going to do it. And that's what I did. I just like literally I ordered like, you know, some piping tips from Amazon that after I did it for a couple times, I'm like, oh my gosh, these are really terrible. But I just ordered whatever I could find and I just jumped right in. So that's really my biggest thing. And I also tell that to my sister too, because she's like, Oh my, I am so terrible at baking, I can't do anything. I and I'm like, girl, you just need to do it because that's actually how you discover what you are good at. And maybe it's not baking, right? And you try something else, but until you try it, you're not gonna know that it's you know, it's something that you will be good at or something that would bring you peace.

SPEAKER_01 28:18

Yeah, absolutely. She said, just try it. And I absolutely believe that it's her that tried um the kitchen or tried uh a piping bag and a piping tape that brought her to becoming MyLara's bootcakes. Tell me about the name MyLara.

Advice For Finding A Kitchen Safe Space

SPEAKER_02 28:34

Yes, um, so when I was starting my business, I remember I reached out to um, you know, a couple of friends and my family, and I was like, you know, I don't know what to name my business. Like, I have no idea. Um I like I have I mentioned about uh the lady that I got inspiration from. It was like very simple. It's Carrie's Book Aches. Her name is Carrie, and you know, it's easy to find her on Instagram, and I'm sure it's easy for her to tell people what her business name is, right? I was like, you know, but I don't know, it just didn't sound good for to me to like name it Ida something, Ida's case. I just felt like there was something to it. So in my culture, uh, after you have a child, do you basically lose your own name and your own identity is basically so-and-so's mom. So like if you uh my mom was always known as Ida's mom growing up, and it's usually like the first child. Um, so she was known as Ida's mom, and I was like, you know, it would be cool that since I started the business because of experiences with having my daughter, it would be cool to actually, you know, assume that cultural thing that we do. Um, it was hard at first because I was like, I feel like this is going to be really confusing. And I think like a lot of people in marketing would probably agree because every time I try to tell someone the business name, they're like, oh, okay. Or every time they try to find me. But there's something very special about it. So um, you know, growing up, my mom used to do a lot of like business hassle. She would sell anything, and and people would say, you know, I'm going kwa my aida, which means like to Aida's mom's, and then I'm gonna find all these things right to buy. So I was like, you know, I want to have that, I want that feeling. And so that's how I used Maylara. So my daughter's middle name is Omolara, it's a Nigerian Yoruba name because my husband is originally Yoruba, and so I just love that name, it's a beautiful name, and uh, so I was like, huh, okay, I'll choose that one. Uh, and you know, call it Maylara's bouquets. And boucakes, I did not come up with that. I basically saw that a lot of the ladies that do the cupcakes in the UK uh use boucakes a lot because it's like bouquet of cupcakes or I thought that was really cool, and that's how I came up with it.

SPEAKER_01 31:16

Okay, good. So tell me, like, what's the future um for my Laura's? Like, you know, what are your dreams for your your cupcake business? Um, and do you have any like exciting plans in the pipeline?

The Story Behind “MyLara” And Boucakes

SPEAKER_02 31:30

Yeah, so um, you know, I feel like once you get into the baking industry and you start following different people, um there is a lot out there. Like there's a lot of cool things that people are doing. Um, I just remember like looking at people's Instagram pages and yours included, and I'm like, oh my gosh, like how do people bake these types of things? Yeah, yeah. So um, yeah, so like a year ago, I started trying out cakes, and I remember I was telling you about it, um, and I was talking talking about how it was difficult, right, at first, because I was so used to my cupcakes and venturing into that world, it's a different world. So I did go ahead and try it, and I absolutely love it. Um you know, uh it it kind of feels a little like blasphemous to say this, but I do like cakes more than cupcakes. I know. I know that really exactly, that's exactly the reaction I get from everyone. But you know, I've been doing them quite a bit and I've gotten, you know, better at them. And so yeah, I absolutely love cakes. So I'm hoping to do more cakes uh and just like expand my knowledge. And another thing too that I realized that I would absolutely love to do is I actually would love to do like a pastry school type thing where I actually learn how to make pastries. Um, because I'm like I jumped into this thing, and you know, you know, God bless the souls of all the people that bought my cupcakes initially. I was just experimenting with the recipes, just kind of going with it. So now I've you know I've been doing a little bit better and researching more, and I was like, you know, I think it'll be really cool to go to pastry school. So that's kind of the the plans that I have for myself, but I I'm not sure if I'm gonna like do like full-time baking um anytime soon. Um, I do love my other job as well, so I'll kind of see where it takes me. But yeah, for sure, in the immediate future, I'm I'm hoping to do more like a pastry school thing.

SPEAKER_01 33:53

Oh, that is so awesome! First of all, I love that you have ventured out into the cake world. Um, you know, cake is my thing. I love making cakes, um, but I absolutely adore your cupcakes or your bootcakes. Um, you know, I promise the listeners, so Ida is no stranger to me. Ida is family. We're family by marriage, and um, she was here two Christmases ago and she bought me some delicious bootcakes. So um, you guys should check her out. She's over there in Wisconsin. Um, so before we go, Ida, I first of all, I am grateful that you came on to share your story with us. Um, you know, your journey is a powerful reminder to me that even in unfamiliar places, even in the moments of struggle, we can create something truly beautiful. And you know that we we've walked a similar path. We're both international students. We are both raised in impoverished single-parent households, and we found baking, you know, in like the most difficult time when we we got pregnant with girls. Um, I would like to you, I mean, like for you to share with your our listeners where they can find you to see your amazing creations.

SPEAKER_02 35:08

Yeah, sure. So um my I'm more active on Instagram. Uh, so my Instagram is my Lara's Bookcakes, um, and then it's the same name for my Facebook as well. I try to be more active out there as well, but yeah, mostly my Instagram. Um, yeah.

Dreams: Cakes, Pastry School, And Growth

SPEAKER_01 35:26

Yeah, so that's MyLara's. It's M-A-I-L-A-R-A-S. My Lara's Bootcakes, and the book is like bouquet, it's B-O-U-Q-C-A-K-E-S. So it's My Lara's Bootcase. So Ida makes amazing cupcakes, and if you check her out, she also makes amazing cakes now. So before you go, I'd like to leave you with a mindful moment. You know, as we wrap today's episode, let's let's take this in. Let's breathe together. And in Ida's story, we see how baking isn't just a task for her, it's a tribute. It's a tribute to her family legacy, and it's also a tribute to her memory, to resilience, and to love. Whether you're baking a birthday cake, decorating cupcakes, or simply sitting in your kitchen with a cup of tea, remember that creativity and comfort can live in the same bowl. So, to our listeners, thank you. Thank you so much for being part of the cake therapy community. Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who might need it. Until next time, I want to thank you all for joining us. I want to thank Ida from MyLara's Boucades for joining us. Thank you, Ida. Thank you for having me. Yeah, this has been exciting. I'm happy to have you on. And I know that our listeners will definitely enjoy this conversation. And you people out there in Madison, Wisconsin, trust me, she's baked for the governor. She's baked for the governor. Go check it out. You know, her work is truly amazing. Thank you again, um, Ida.

SPEAKER_00 37:02

Thank you. Thank you for tuning in to the Cake Therapy Podcast. Your support means the world to us. Let us know what you thought about today's episode in the comment section. Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. And if you found the conversation helpful, please share it with a friend. Also follow Sugarspoon Desserts on all social media platforms. We invite you to support Cake Therapy and the work we do with our foundation by clicking on the Buy Me a Coffee link in the description. Or by visiting the Cake Therapy website and making a donation. All your support will go towards the Cake Therapy Foundation and the work we are doing to help women and girls. Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll catch you on the next episode.