Today we’d like to introduce you to Miranda O’Dell.
Hi Miranda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Nurse by day, baker by night! Hi, my name is Miranda O’Dell. I am a full-time nurse, but I am also the owner, founder, and baker of Ditch the Mix, a home bakery located in Columbus, Ohio. After my shifts at the hospital, I come home, sanitize, get comfy and start baking.
I have been baking my entire life since I was about 4 or 5 years old, so comparatively Ditch the Mix is young; it did not officially come into business until June 2019, when I registered it as a home bakery in the state of Ohio.
My love for baking was sparked by three women in my life—my mom, my Aunt C, and my grandma, Ma Maw. From a young age, I was constantly in the kitchen with my Aunt C and Ma Maw. Aunt C is very talented with creating homemade candies, cakes, and chocolate-based treats. On the other hand, Ma Maw had countless handwritten recipes that she never even looked at, and yet she baked the best rolls, pies, cakes and cookies. Both Aunt C and Ma Maw taught me how to bake—from scratch and with love.
Meanwhile, at home, my brother and I asked “what’s for dessert?” almost every night after dinner. My mom always had a box of brownie mix on hand, so I ate plenty of box mix brownies as a kid. However, being surrounded by Aunt C and Ma Maw’s home baking, I also learned how to bake and I realized that I could bake anything from scratch—including brownies.
Fast forward to almost every gathering, party, and event invite, I was asked to bring dessert. Believe me, I know how to make side dishes and main courses, but I became known for my homemade sweet treats. I figured that there must be something to these repeated requests, so with encouragement from my family and friends, I started selling homemade brownies, breads, and cookies.
In 2019, I decided to turn my love for baking into a small business and founded Ditch the Mix. Baking from scratch takes time, energy, creativity, and patience—and I am here for all of it! I might have grown up on box mix brownies, but homemade baked goods are always better than any store-bought premade mix; and I believe that everyone should be able to enjoy delicious, homemade baked goods—and with Ditch the Mix they can.
Ditch The Mix! Get your homemade fix!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course, not everything has been smooth sailing. Bakeries come by the dozens (pun intended), so carving out my niche was a challenge. Instead of being like everyone else, I decided to stick with what I am best at: brownies. Now, I specialize in baking homemade brownies and cookies in a variety of flavors and multiple options (i.e. classic, gluten-free, and keto brownies).
Also, it has been difficult to find balance between my healthcare career and my passion for baking. Simultaneously working as a full-time nurse at an ever-growing academic medical center and independently managing the daily operations of a small home bakery business requires a lot of time, planning, and sacrifice. And of course, that balance is even more strained by the challenges and obstacles that the pandemic has brought.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I work as a registered nurse at an academic medical center. I have been in the healthcare field for over 15 years and I have been a nurse for over a decade (wow, I don’t know where the time went). I became a nurse because I want to help people and every day when patients come out of surgery, I get to do just that. Currently, I work in the post anesthesia recovery unit (PACU) as a certified perianesthesia nurse, and several days a week I serve as the unit’s charge nurse.
I understand that going under the knife and anesthesia is no small thing, so when patients come out of the operating room, I want them to know that they are safe and for them to feel cared for. I monitor their vital signs and assess them fully from head to toe to ensure their physical and physiological well-being, I also administer medications and alternative therapies to help them be comfortable and safe during their immediate recovery period. For every patient I care for, my goal is for their recovery to be as smooth as possible until they are either discharged home or admitted to the hospital for further observation.
As a charge nurse, I’m known for my calm demeanor, problem-solving skills, and “keeping everything together” on the unit. When directly caring for patients, I’m known for how I reassure my patients and their family member(s) during what can be the most difficult and stressful moments. I’m proud to be a nurse–and I would never say that “I’m just a nurse” because it is a huge honor and privilege for someone to trust you with their health and their life. That is no small thing!
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I am not a risk-taker or a gambler of any sort. Actually, I consider myself to be an optimistic realist; so although I enjoy dreaming of all the possibilities, my rational side usually tends to win out.
First, I brainstorm, then I weigh the pros and cons…somewhere in there I overthink, I consult with “my people” (the people whom I trust and value the most), then I research and I plan. I do a lot of planning–jots on post-it notes and random scraps of paper, a notebook and computer files full of ideas, bullet point and numbered lists in the notes app on my iPhone–and then I put in the work! The work never stops; as I accomplish each goal, then I create new goals to reach and I adapt and pivot as needed.
Contact Info:
- Email: ditchthemix@gmail.com
- Website: www.ditchthemix.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ditchthemix
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ditchthemix
Image Credits
Brooke Nicole Photography
Ditch the Mix
