Well hello there gorgeous! I’m so excited to welcome you to Bake Play Smile… this is my happy little blissful foodie paradise full of salted caramel goodness, chocolate-laden desserts and pretty much anything covered in sprinkles! Oh and of course, there’s a few healthy and savoury recipes thrown in for good measure too (but only sometimes… and not very often!!).
My name is Lucy and I’m a mum (yay… it still feels amazing to write that!), a wife (equally as fabulous), a (now ex!) primary school teacher, a lover of all things sweet, a total and utter over-organiser, an obsessive neat-freak, and to be honest…. a bit of a stress-head! Most importantly of all, I love to pop on my apron and have a play around in the kitchen. Mind you, nowadays that involves my toddler Will putting on his apron too… which makes things kind of tricky… but fun… hectic… and messy!!!
I first started Bake Play Smile in May 2013 as a fun little way to share my recipes and cooking adventures. Since then, Bake Play Smile has grown well and truly beyond my expectations. To be able to say that it’s my full-time job is a totally ‘pinch-me’ moment. Trust me, I totally know how lucky I am. Working at home (with a seriously adventurous toddler!!!) has it’s ups and downs… but it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. Thank you for being here and letting me do what I love. Seriously.. thank you.
But anyway, let’s go back to mid-2014 when I took a massive leap of faith… I was in the middle of about a zillion rounds of IVF and finally decided to take leave from my teaching job and start working on my blog full-time. I can’t even tell you how much my blog meant to me during that time. It was my distractor, my passion and my driver. It was freaking hard and slow work but it finally paid off (thank goodness!!). Over the next two years, this little blog became my full-time job and I ended up with my so incredibly wanted little baby. Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for more.
But let me tell you about my family… and they’re certainly a fabulous little family at that! My husband and I live in a beautiful part of Victoria, Australia, with our super cheeky little boy Will. He’s honestly the BEST thing to ever happen to us. Can you tell I’m just a tad obsessed?? We also have a gorgeous golden retriever Shari who likes to think that she is my number one taste-tester. But to be honest… Will has totally taken over that job!!
I have a massive sweet tooth and I always make sure I try out each and every one of my recipes. But lets be serious… I definitely don’t eat the whole cake, slice or batch of cookies – otherwise I’d have to take up running full-time (and I do NOT like running). Not back when I was young and fit… and certainly not now!!
Even though I am most happy when surrounded by chocolate, caramel or ice-cream, I do try and avoid a total sugar coma by eating healthy most of the time (kinda… sorta…. on a good day… when Will’s watching me).
But sometimes it’s just impossible to say no to chocolate…
Or cookies…
Or cake..
Or caramel…
Or dessert…
My favourite TV shows are House of Cards, Nashville and Big Little Lies (not that I really get much time to watch TV anymore!!), my favourite cake is cheesecake, my favourite ice-cream flavour is mint-chip, I love summer and I have an unhealthy obsession with recipe magazines and cookbooks. That’s pretty much me in a nutshell! I’m a simple gal who likes simple recipes that taste yum. Feel like you’ve come to the right place?? Oh good!! I couldn’t be happier that you’re here… so let’s get baking!
xxx Luce