I am Courtney Rich and a self-taught baker obsessed with cake and making memories in the kitchen. My cake journey is one that started about 11 years ago. My son was it about to turn one and I wanted to make him a birthday cake. With his birthday coming up I wanted to prove myself and do something heartfelt and homemade. I really hoped to throw this Pinterest worthy party. I didn't have all the tools but I had a mixer and cake pans. I picked a peanut butter cake with chocolate buttercream recipe and I went for it. Being in the kitchen and making this cake for Weston took me back to the memories of baking in the kitchen with my family growing up. I felt happy. I tried my best and maybe look like a bit of a train wreck but it tasted amazing. I got to serve it at his birthday and see the reaction that others thought it was delicious, it was so rewarding. After that party I just remember thinking I want to do that again. And so the next week I picked another cake recipe and I got back in the kitchen. I just felt good doing it and I wanted to keep feeling that way
When I was 19 my parents got divorced and clearly it's something that still rocks my world and it rocked it then. One of the things that happened from that is I became depressed and anxious. Prior to that I was always "president of the happy club" as my parents called it. I'm normally very optimistic and to not feel that way, scared me and I feel like it took something from me for a really long time.
I worked hard to manage it and to overcome it. They thought it might be situational, but here I am 38 years old and it never went away. It is something that continues to creep and and out of my life. One of the best ways I have found to manage it has been baking. Being in the kitchen brought me so much joy that day and was filling a void I didn't even realize I had.
I can look back at those first six years of baking before I started my blog and sharing these recipes, that baking was helping me heal--little by little. It helped to expand my heart and open my mind in other ways. I'm a spiritual person and looking back I realize it was a way my Heavenly Father was coming to me in my time of need.
This kitchen is special and sacred to me. We bake, laugh, dance, cry, pray, and gather together. It is the heart of our home.
Cake By Courtney
What is your story? Are you looking for a spark of joy? Join Courtney today by finding your spark of joy--maybe its baking, maybe its art or exercise or travel. But more than anything else, TRY something.
Why choose us?
BE SEEN
Each person deserves to be seen and accepted for who they are. Our goal at Stele Hats is to inspire each of us to embrace authentic human connection.
OWN YOUR STORY
Each story is unique. Each person is on a journey of their own. May we use the stories of others to inspire us to be better. May we dare to share the stories of our own experiences and open the opportunity of inspiring another.
Testimonials
ZachGreat fit. Great look. Good quality materials. Prompt shipment and presentation upon arrival was top notch. I would absolutely recommend to a friend.
DallenI can honestly say that Stele hats fit more comfortably then any hat I’ve purchased. But more importantly, the mission of this company and their values make it a no-brainer to show my support. From their hearts to their hats, I will always be a Stele fan.