Meet Michelle Williams | Cake Lady & Cake Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am from the southside of Chicago, I was raised by my grandmother mostly due to my mom being on drugs and not there much. I struggled a lot as a youth and teen with depression and it carried over into my adult life. I’ve suffered from depression and anxiety for years having had my first mental breakdown when I was 17 years of age. I have been in mental hospitals on serval medications but nothing helped me relieve my stress and anxiety like baking.

I started baking when I was young in the kitchen with my grandmother it started off as just a hobby and grew from there into a successful business. My first cake was 15 years ago and I’m still going strong. I have a home based business called Cater 2 U Kakes with a great clientele base from Illinois to Arizona. Now I’m using my skills to help teach others who are dealing with stress, depression or anxiety to use baking as a coping skill for stress management. “Baking is my therapy” helps you learn baking skills and use them in your time of stress to decompress yourself.

Baking has helped me manage my anxiety and depression so much that I no longer take medication for it and my goal is to help others like myself who struggle with these things and don’t want to be on medication for the rest of their lives and need and better way to deal with what life throws their way.

We go through things in life to become better, had it not been for my rough childhood and upbringing I might not have the empathy and compassion I have now to be able to reach out and help others. I am so much more than just a baker I am a healer and want people to know that although life gets hard that can make it through and they can beat depression!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business is Cater 2 U Kakes, I started my business 15 years ago and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Starting my business was not easy there have been alot of ups and downs but because of my family and my customers I am still here. I have always been home based and I want to keep it that way because its more personal. My customers know me well they trust in my vision and know that they are getting a product that not only looks good but taste good. There have been many times i wanted to throw in the towel because it can get a bit overwhelming but my customers refuse to let that happen lol. I’m most proud of the fact that I was able to move to a different state and be received so well. I have now built a great clientele base here in Arizona and if also been able to start my cake decorating classes here as well as my therapeutic cake classes.

I’ve learned to never give up on your dreams, never think that just cause you had a bad day, week or month that you failed. There’s no failure in trying you fail once you give up or give in.

Cater 2 U Kakes is more than just cakes I do a lot of other services under my brand including “baking is my therapy” and I want the world to know that if you’re having a bad day just go into your kitchen grab you some flour, eggs, butter, milk ,baking powder and get to baking and watch you feel better in a few minutes even if your cake comes out bad you had fun in the process and forgot about the bad if only for that moment.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Toca Madera Coppers Hawk
Ocho Rios
Ocean Blue
LoLo Chicken and waffles
Flint
Sandbar
Society By Evo

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
To my Grandma Bertha “Lou” thank you for all the life lessons, unconditional love, cooking & baking skills and knowledge. To my children, thank you for the years of being my helpers and baking assistant’s.
To my mom, dad, sisters ,brothers family, friends and my loyal customers…. Thank you for your love and continued support.

Instagram: cater2u_kakes

Facebook: Cater 2 U Kakes