05/09/2026
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In July 2024, I was let go from my job. After 17 years as a developer, it was the first time I had ever been laid off. I felt defeated. I felt like I had let my family down.
For the first six months, job searching was my full-time job. I networked constantly, completed endless technical assessments, and built out test project after test project. I was burning out fast, and it was taking a serious toll on my mental health.
Then some family situations arose, and I made the decision to step back from the search and be present for the people who needed me.
That pause changed everything.
While I was taking that break, I started baking. After a two-year journey of tummy troubles, doctor visits, and a lot of unanswered questions, we finally discovered that our daughter Jojo has a gluten intolerance. I was determined she wasn't going to miss out on the things she loved, especially cookies.
After a lot of trial and error (and more than a few batches that went straight into the trash), I landed on a sugar cookie recipe I was proud of. Gluten free and nut free, you'd never know it by the taste.
I leaned into my graphic design background and started decorating them. I found it genuinely fun. Creative. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like myself again.
Friends and family started telling me I should sell them.
So I did my research. I got approved by the health department, filed with the state, and passed my Food Protection Manager certification. In April 2025, Jojo's Goodies was officially born, offering gluten free and nut free treats made with a lot of love. 🎉
The best part? Even the people in my house who don't need to eat gluten free can't keep their hands off them. We've had to hide customer orders from some very sneaky people around here. 😄
I jumped into farmer's market season almost on a whim. I scrambled to get a tent and all the supplies I needed. It was a lot of work, and I learned more in those first few markets than I expected. The other vendors were incredibly supportive. I ditched the chocolate chip cookies after the first market (heat is not their friend). I tested designs, introduced paint-your-own cookies, and really started listening to my customers. The day I added free samples was a turning point, I started selling out.
As I started researching tools to manage my cookie business, my developer brain kicked in. I knew I could build something, but I didn't want to invest that kind of time if the business wasn't ready for it. That's when I discovered My Custom Bakes, a platform built specifically for cottage bakers. They had a free version, so the decision was easy.
As I was building out my shop, I kept noticing things I thought could be improved. I tried to stay focused. But after a few months of using it, I decided to take a chance.
I reached out to the founder on LinkedIn. No response. A few days later I tried again through their Facebook support page.
Jessica responded almost immediately and connected me with the founder, Lisa.
The rest, as they say, is history!
Lisa and I had a call the very next day. She was honest with me from the start, she couldn't afford to hire anyone. But she offered something better: she would consult on my cottage bakery business in exchange for development time.
What started as a one-hour call each week has grown into something I never saw coming. I am now the Lead Software Developer for My Custom Bakes.
What makes it even better? MCB is a company built and run entirely by women. The camaraderie and support within this team has been something I didn't know I needed. In an industry where women in tech are still fighting for their seat at the table, finding a team like this has meant more than I can put into words.
Getting back into development made me realize how much I had missed it. The year away was hard, but it was also exactly what I needed. I came back refreshed, re-energized, and genuinely excited about the work again.
I also want to be honest about something: the current job market is brutal, especially for developers. It is nearly impossible to tell what is a real job posting anymore, even here on LinkedIn. But beyond the noise, AI has fundamentally shifted what it means to be a developer. Everyone is "vibe coding" now. Everyone thinks they can build an app. And honestly? Some of them can build something. What AI can't replace is the experience to know when the architecture is wrong, when the edge case will break everything at 2am, or how to build something that actually scales. If you are a developer in the middle of this market right now, I see you. It is not a reflection of your worth or your skill. The bar just got moved, and nobody warned us.
Sometimes the path forward doesn't look anything like the path you planned.
I just attended my very first cookie convention, Cottage Foodie Con, in its very first year and I am already looking forward to Cookie Fest in Orlando, where I'll be representing MCB. A year ago I never could have imagined writing that sentence.
If you are looking for custom gluten free and nut free cookies for your next party or corporate event, I would love to hear from you. 🍪
And if you are a cottage baker looking for a platform built for the way you actually work:
👉 www.mycustombakes.com
And check out their free baker tools and resources:
🔧 info.mycustombakes.com/baker-tools/
