The Cake Shop, The New Year Collection

Y’all, I am so excited to introduce you to the first collection of 2017 for The Cake Shop, launching TONIGHT!

I have been working tirelessly on these two new pieces and print for The New Year Collection, making sure they were exactly what I envisioned! They have a lot of depth and meaning to them, and I am excited to share a little more of my heart with you through them. 2016 was long and hard for a lot of reasons. Personally, it was one of my best years to date, but I know it was a hard year for the world. I am praying for 2017 hard, and begging for God to move.

 So, without further ado, introducing The New Year Collection!

The Guilt Free Tee

This shirt on the surface is seemingly just a cute tee with cake flavors that you could wear out with high-waisted denim or with leggings to the gym with it’s cute fit. But, at its core, this tee shirt is a reminder to live a balanced life. Go to the gym AND eat the cake. It’s a reminder of where I personally have been, and what I am fighting for daily for all of you by being real and sharing my life openly. Part of my story is that I went through a dark stage of life where I struggled with eating. Being a dancer my whole life, surrounded by beautiful girls all the time with the perfect bodies… it was hard not to compare yourself to everyone else. This led to me living a miserable and hollow life from 19-21 years old. I weighed just over 100 pounds by my sophomore year of college, and I counted every single calorie that touched my lips. I spent majority of my time thinking about cake and cookies, but avoided eating a morsel of sugar at all costs. I both idolized and feared food.

Fast forward 5 years, and I weigh about 15 pounds more and am more confident than I have ever been. I am happier, healthier, and more full of joy than starving myself ever gave. I have freedom from the fear of cake or cookies, and it’s an amazing feeling. I believe it will be the thorn in my side for the rest of my life, but there is purpose for it. I get to share my story, and if I am honest, share in the continued battle that creeps into my mind now and again with all of you. The best thing I was ever told was “just eat the cookie” by my college dance coach. It was so simple, but for whatever reason… one day it just clicked for me.

There is no guilt in living a balanced life. Eat the cake, eat the cookie, and live a healthy life.

Make America Great Cake Again

This shirt is not a “who voted for who” thing. In fact, quite the opposite, it stems from the idea that even if the world cannot unite in ideas on how a country should be ran, we can all agree that we can be kinder, more gentle with our words, and much better listeners. That’s what I am campaigning for in 2017- kindness. Disagreement should breed compassion for those you do not see eye to eye with, but rather we have fallen into this gross belief that if we disagree or disapprove of something someone else does or believes in, then it must mean that we surely cannot love that person. This is just not true at all, though. If you ask me, Jesus was a pretty great example of loving people he didn’t agree with. I don’t have to agree with you to love you. And, I hope you don’t have to agree with me on everything to love me or respect me. True respect means even in our different definitions of something, be it religion, politics, or love itself, we fight for one another.

We won’t nail it every time, I certainly haven’t. But, it means humility and constantly fighting to be better at loving everyone we come in contact with.

See, when I disagree with someone, I desire understanding. I can assure you I do not approve or agree with the person who cut me off on the highway today. I do not approve or agree with person who was rude to me on the phone. I do not approve or agree with my husband when he leaves his socks and shoes all over the house. But where I would have once bit back, fought for justice to be heard, I am now filling up my tank with compassion. Let’s be that together. I am certain that we can find common ground, all of us, on that truth. Let’s ‘Make America Cake Again’, meaning let’s #LoveLikeCake, spread kindness, and fight for unity even in our differences.

We are all going to have different opinions, perceive things differently, respond to different things with a variety of thoughts put together by millions of different situations and circumstances, and that’s called LIFE. What will change the world is how we respond to differences. Are we going to continue with this downward spiral of divisiveness, publicly calling out all the things you disagree with people on, or are we going to be better listeners to those who may not have the same opinions as us? Are we going to attack people behind our computer screens directly or passive aggressively who may think differently than us, or are we going to lean in with love and compassion to hear?

Love in a way that listens, hears, and bridges the gaps even in the differences. Don’t use social media, or your business, or your influence- we all influence somewhere!- to divide. If you write something- a status, a caption, a blog post- about how right you are and how wrong someone else is, then you aren’t joining in the fight for understanding. You’re fighting to be heard, and to prove someone wrong at the cost of divisiveness.

Now, more than ever, we just need people who build up one another. Have conversations with people, not computer screens.

The Kindness Print

This print featuring my tagline for The Cake is one of my favorite things I have ever had made! I teamed up with an old friend from back home in Bulverde, Megan of Red Lettered Goods, to bring to life this idea. How gorgeous is the ombre watercolor look?! It’s up on my gallery wall, and I am obsessed with it. It’s the reminder to spread kindness, not hate. To speak positivity into life, not negativity. To use whatever influence and platform God gives me for good.

I hope you hear me and believe me when I say I love you.

You are so deeply loved.

I am not getting into a conversation of divisiveness, but I am stepping into a conversation about kindness.

Happy new year, y’all. You are so loved. Thank you for following The Cake, and thank you for being such an important part of my life. You are amazing.

xoxo- Han