Jody Hall & Kelly Ring
Jody Hall, CEO, Wunderground Coffee and Cupcake Royale; Kelly Ring, mom and studying woodworking at Wood Technology Center
PS Cupcake Royale is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a special pop-up party–“Sprinkle Bitches & Bubbles!”–Feb. 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. Learn how to frost like a pro, write a gratitude note, be part of the #SharetheLove campaign, take home a sweet treat and more.
Home base: Seattle on Capitol Hill
How did your love story begin? We met in the circles of the gays – at a softball game first, then at Pride at The Wild Rose. Of course. I was just getting into a space where I could take a few days off a week at Cupcake Royale. We had opened our second store in Ballard and were in a groove. Cupcake Royale had sponsored a softball team called the Cupcakes. Kelly played for our big rival – the F.A.G.’s (Free Agent Girls) – and one of my best pals was a F.A.G. I brought cupcakes to the big rivalry game to share with our mighty opponents (both teams were awful actually, but we had a lot of fun!). I handed the cupcakes to Kelly, who I’d never met and Kelly definitely felt a spark. I didn’t remember this so it’s a sore subject! Later that month, Cupcake Royale was participating in our first PRIDE Parade (back when it was on Broadway/Capitol Hill). A crew of us met up at the Wild Rose beer garden on Saturday to rally for the parade plans –including my two best pals (who happen to be straight). It was here that I met Kelly. I loved that she didn’t know what Cupcake Royale was (she thought I should open Tea & Carrots vs. Coffee & Cupcakes!). It was truly love at first sight, which raised the hackles of my friends. To pass the approval of my pals, Kelly was asked what three foods she always had in the fridge (answer: kale, yogurt, milk). She passed and the rest is history.
Favorite thing about one another: Kelly and I are yin and yang. We truly complement each other. I’m the worker bee and love what I do. Kelly takes care of our family, our plans, homework, events and adventures and makes sure we’re all eating kale. And sitting around the dinner table together. She keeps it together.
Favorite date night: What’s a date night? I’d say we love going to Machiavelli. We now go to their new Edmonds spot and love it!
What does your happily ever after look like? We’d love the Orcas. We bought land there six years ago and have a few tiny houses, land for a garden, oysters in the bay and a commercial pizza oven (thanks to my pal Brandon from Delancey and Dino’s). We love the idea of having a tiny-house community up here – a place to invite friends to stay for a while, garden, grow our own food, capture bounty from the sea, cook together, chop wood, make stuff and enjoy the nature.