Hi, I'm Michelle (Lady M.)
I'm a corporate finance manager turned full-time recipe creator. Here you'll find hundreds of Southern baking recipes, decadent cakes, irresistible cookies and so much more!
With almost 100 recipes, there is something for everyone.
How this Started
I wasn't supposed to be a baker. But somewhere between corporate spreadsheets and late-night stress baking, I realized my grandmother's recipes deserved more than a dusty box in my closet.
2020The Pandemic Pivot
Like everyone else, I found myself stuck at home in my Atlanta apartment, working finance remotely. Stress-baking became my therapy.
I started documenting my grandmother’s recipes properly for the first time – measurements she’d always done “by feel.” My quarantine pod became my taste testers, and I rediscovered joy in feeding people during such an isolating time.
- 2021
The Side Hustle Era
Kept my finance job but started selling cakes on the side. Word spread through my office and apartment building. Weekend orders grew from 2-3 to 15-20.
My tiny apartment kitchen became a production line every Friday night. The extra income was nice, but the creative outlet was what kept me going through another year of spreadsheets and Zoom calls.
2022Learning the Craft
Invested in my first real camera and took online food photography courses. Started an Instagram account just to document my bakes – nothing serious, just for fun. Taught myself basic editing. My coworkers kept saying I should start a blog, but I wasn’t ready yet. Spent the year collecting recipes, perfecting techniques, and dreaming about what could be.
2023Planning the Dream
Started seriously researching food blogging while keeping my day job.
Focusing on things like website design, and content strategy. Tested and documented over 100 recipes.
Created a business plan and saved every penny I could. My boyfriend (now husband) built me a light box for Christmas. I knew 2024 would be my year to finally launch
- 2024
Building Lady M.
Spent the entire year preparing. Photographed and wrote up recipes on weekends. Learned WordPress. Studied successful food blogs.
Picked the name “Lady M” after what grandmother called me. By December, I had 50 recipes ready to go, a website built, and the courage to finally hit publish. The goal for 2025: share these recipes with the world
- 2025
Where We are Today
January 1st, Lady M went live. Starting fresh but with years of preparation behind me. Every recipe tested multiple times, every photo carefully shot. Still working my finance job while building this dream. The plan is simple: consistent posting, authentic stories, and recipes that actually work.
This is just the beginning of the Lady M journey, and I’m so excited to share it with you.
