10/01/2026
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
And this year, that hits a little differently for me. 💜
Five years ago, when escape had become necessary, I suddenly found myself a single mom trying to figure out how in the world I was going to support my family and build a new life for my children.
And that's how the dream of Willow’s Gluten-Free Bakery was put into action. 💜
And before you scroll away thinking I'm about to get all serious on you, stick with me. 😂 Because we're turning this story into something FUN.
We're planning a very special Home Sweet Home celebration at Willow's, with something warm, gooey and meltingly delicious, and I'm hoping a whole bunch of you will come be part of it. 🏡🍪💜
More on that in just a second.
I don't talk about this part of our story very often here. This is my business page, and most days I'd much rather talk to you about cinnamon rolls and donuts. 😂
But today begins October.
And in just a few weeks, Willow's will turn 5! 🎉
Somehow, that little bakery I started when I was trying to find my footing became five years of cakes and cinnamon rolls, the most wonderful customers, incredibly dedicated employees, very long days, hard seasons, ridiculous amounts of frosting, and a way to keep taking care of my family through all of it.
And now, my children and I have an opportunity to become homeowners. 🏡💜
An opportunity to finally have a place that is ours.
A place where my kids can paint their rooms whatever fabulous colors make them happy. Where they can put their things, claim their own corners and settle in. A place where we can exhale a little and know that we're home. Finally.
There is something incredibly full circle about even having the opportunity to take that step during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
And I can't think of a better way to celebrate the possibility of this next chapter than with the little bakery that helped us get here and the people who have kept showing up for it for five years. 🫶
So this time, I'm asking our Willow's community to show up in a big way by doing something pretty small.
Come buy dessert. 💜
Seriously. That's the fundraiser. 😂
I'm not asking for donations.
I'm going to feed you.
And not just any dessert.
We're talking about one of those warm, deep dish chocolate chip cookie desserts that comes to your table in a pan, fresh from the oven, thick and soft and gooey in the middle, with melted chocolate throughout and a big scoop of cold ice cream melting right into the top.
You know the kind.
It's become a restaurant favorite for a reason, and now we're making our own completely celiac safe, made from scratch Willow's allergy-safe version, baked in its own personal size pan and served warm with your choice of ice cream and topping options. 🍪🍨💜
So maybe save one of your little treat splurges that week for us. Plan on Willow's for dessert after practice, a game, dance, a school event, or just because it's Tuesday or Wednesday and everybody deserves something warm and gooey once in a while. Bring the family, meet up with a friend, and take a few home and share them on the couch. Whatever your evening looks like, I'd love for us to make this the night we all plan on dessert together. 💜
🫣 There's just one little problem.
We need to name this thing. 😂
We obviously can't steal the restaurant version's name, and this glorious creation deserves a proper Willow's name anyway.
So start thinking. I'll tell you how you can help with that in a minute. 🍪
And I want to make a LOT of them.
Every order that night will help my family with the mountain of very real expenses that comes with trying to make this opportunity happen. Contractors and repairs, fees and deposits, utilities, household necessities, and all the other things that add up astonishingly fast when you're trying to put a family into a home. We have worked incredibly hard to get this far, and we're right on the edge of an enormous life change. So this is my one big Willow's fundraiser to help us across this particular finish line.
And preordering really does help. It gives us the funds to stock up on everything we need for this event, lets us plan how much to make, and means those dollars can start helping with some of those immediate soon to be homeowner expenses now, rather than waiting until the night itself.
Rather than simply asking our community for help, I would much rather do what Willow's does best and make you something ridiculously delicious in return. 💜
But more than that, I would genuinely love to look up that night and see a whole bunch of familiar Willow's faces.
People who have bought birthday cakes from us, year after year.
People who come in for Saturday donuts.
People who have told their newly diagnosed friend, “WAIT. I know a bakery.”
People who have shared our posts, brought their kids in, ordered cinnamon rolls, supported our employees, recommended us in Facebook groups, and helped this tiny bakery survive five years when so many small businesses haven't.
You helped build this too.
So come celebrate with us. 💜
I'm starting with ONE night, and we'll take orders right up to the maximum our kitchen can possibly produce. If you guys completely blow me away and we hit that cap, I'll open a second night.
And now I need YOUR help getting this thing ready to launch.
🍪 First, NAME OUR DESSERT!
Drop your best name idea in the comments, like asap. The person who comes up with the winning name will get a $10 Willow's gift certificate to spend on whatever makes them happy.
📅 Second, pick our night!
Which works better for you?
Tuesday, October 13
or
Wednesday, October 14
Tell me in the comments!
I'll announce the winning name and our official date Friday morning at 11:30 AM.
And then PREORDERS OPEN. 🍪🍨💜
And when they do, I want to see just how BIG our little Willow's community can show up.
Bring your family. Grab one for a friend. Tell your gluten free people. Share the post with somebody who would get a kick out of a dessert like this. We will absolutely have a safe selection of several allergen-free choices.
And if you're planning to come, please preorder yours! We absolutely plan to make extras for those of you who decide to just pop in that night, but preordering is what helps us most up front. It lets us stock up and plan well for the event, and it puts this fundraiser to work for my family right away. 💜
Because a whole lot of people doing one small, delicious thing can add up to something pretty incredible. 💜
Five years ago, I was trying to figure out how to start over with nothing.
In a few weeks, Willow's turns five.
And today, my kids and I have the possibility of something I wasn't sure we'd ever have: a home of our own.
I would really, really love to fill Willow's with giant warm cookies and the people who helped us get from there to here.
So give me your best ooey gooey big cookie name.
Give me your vote.
And Friday at 11:30am, let's get this party started. 🏡💜🍪
Then set yourself a little reminder to pop back over here at 11:31 and get those preorders in. 💜
