Today I came across yet another post about someone being asked to make a smash cake . I’ve seen this so many times before. A parent wants a cake for baby’s first birthday. They want a beautiful, photo‑worthy cake. They want baby to destroy it for the camera. And they want to pay… £20 . What you do with the cake is your choice, not mine! Because “it’s getting smashed, not eaten.” And of course: it needs to be sugar‑free and dairy‑free and nut‑free and safe if baby pops some in

Today I’m making my daughter’s birthday cake. Two six‑inch chocolate sponges — the same design as last year because she requested it again, just in different colours . And filled with salted caramel and salted caramel buttercream. Last year's was chocolate and cherry. (A returning client. My favourite client. My most loyal and yet demanding client.) And because I spend so much time encouraging other people to value their time, I thought I'd time how long it would take me

International Women’s Day always brings up a mix of feelings for me. There’s the celebration — the joy of seeing women lift each other up. But there’s also the reality: empowerment is often talked about far more than it’s lived. And this year, as I step into a new chapter with Flourish & Bloom Kitchen , I’ve been reflecting on what empowerment actually looks like in practice. Not the slogans. Not the branding. The behaviours. And this year, as I step into a new chapter with F