Melody Brandon, of Sweet and Saucy Shop, honestly confesses that being a successful business woman and a full time mom isn’t a piece of cake! However, if you’ve ever tried her utterly amazing treats you can attest that she balances it well! With supportive family and amazing staff she gets to spend time with both her business and her baby. Although juggling kids and cake can result in bakeries turned playrooms and home turned office, Melody wouldn’t have it any other way!
Name: Melody Brandon
Company: Sweet and Saucy Shop
Title: Pastry Chef/Co- Owner
Location: Two Shops – Newport Beach & Long Beach
Kids: Blake Eileen, 19 months
What does a typical day in your position look like?
Well it definitely depends on the day of the week! I used to go to the bakery 5 days a week, but now with Blake I work from home a lot more. On Monday/Tuesday/Thursday I work from home with Blake….our days are always different, but I try to squeeze in work whenever I can, but also want to be present and have fun experiences with her! We bake, clean, go to the park, try to see friends etc. all while I am on the phone, texting, or emailing in between to my employees or clients. Then on Wednesday/Friday/Saturday I go into the shop for about 5 hours & Blake plays at my Aunt’s house with all my younger cousins on Tues/Thurs & then Saturdays has a beach day with Daddy normally. When I’m at the bakery I am a jack of all trades and depending on the week can be meeting with clients, decorating cakes, solving employee issues, ordering products, etc. On weeks I need to go in more we have a playroom for Blake at the bakery so she can hang out and explore…everyone loves seeing her at the shop and although she gets into a ton of stuff and makes a mess I wouldn’t trade it for the world. My life is definitely hectic and crazy, but I make it work since I want to be with Blake all the time!
How do you balance being a working mom?
Balance is definitely hard for me since I am a perfectionist at everything I do. I wasn’t away from Blake for an hour the first 3 months of her life and yet I opened a second bakery when she turned 2 months old! It was insanity, but I guess that is just how I roll haha. I bought 3 baby swings, one for each bakery & then one for my house and then would carry her around non stop in my sling. I never wanted to regret being away from her or missing moments so I just tried to do it all. Now that she is a little older getting any work done at all while she is at the bakery is pretty challenging, so I had to come to terms with the fact that I need a little help from my family a couple hours a week so I could be at the bakery alone, and that has helped out a ton. Being a working mom I find you really get no breaks though since when she is asleep or napping I am exhausted, but yet I know that is my only chance to get in some good work time, so I have to keep going. I am definitely so happy I have an amazing staff and my mother as my business partner since they have made it work so that I can be both a mommy & a business owner.
Has there ever been a breaking point when you didn’t think you could do both? What got you through?
Oh yes!!! I think I have felt like that millions of times haha! I guess what gets me through it is my family and friends and faith. I know God put me in the position and it wasn’t an accident, so I just try to find the strength even with I feel like I have none. For sure there are some moments when reality hits and decisions need to be made though to make life liveable. For instance, I was going into the shop 4 days a week when she was first born and then I realized when she got a little older that it was just too much and now I typically only go in 3 days a week unless it is a really busy time.
What is your favorite part about your job?
I absolutely love coming up with new designs, desserts, and cakes and seeing them come to life. I love styling pretty things and getting the photographs back! It also never gets old when someone is blown away by a cupcake or their wedding cake and you realize that you helped make that happen. I also really enjoy seeing my staff love their job as well…that is really rewarding.
What is your favorite part about being a mom?
I absolutely love being a mom to Blake…she is my joy from the moment I get up and it has been SO much fun watching her grow and change into a spunky, sassy, funny little girl. I love seeing her experience new things and the expressions on her face and I would never trade a single snuggle moment that she gives me for anything in the world…priceless!
What you wanted to be when you grew up: Teacher
Beauty secret: Use everything my sister tells me to haha!
Celebrity style crush: Lauren Conrad
Secret talent: Wish I had one!
I can’t live without: My devotional, Jesus Calling
I recently used Sweet and Saucy for baby shower favors… and they did an AMAZING job. I couldn’t go in to choose, so they carefully guided me through all of it over the phone and I was NOT disappointed at all. Fantastic bakery, fantastic staff, fantastic product!! Love them!
I LOVE Sweet & Saucy, so impressed by Melody!
She’s the best! So glad you had a great experience!!
Isn’t she amazing?! So talented and such a great mom 🙂
Wow I want to try all of those treats! She is amazing!
love Mel! and her amazing shop!
I love her, the shop, the family. We first met at an Utterly Engaged event. I LOVED her work, so much so that when I helped plan my friend’s wedding it was no question who would be doing not only the cake, but the whole dessert table! It not only looked fabulous, but tasted on point delicious – guest raved!!! I only wish I could import her to the Virgin Islands so she could make cakes from my couples + babies I photograph on St John. xoxo
I love her, the shop, the family. We first met at an Utterly Engaged
event. I LOVED her work, so much so that when I helped plan my friend’s
wedding it was no question who would be doing not only the cake, but the
whole dessert table! It not only looked fabulous, but tasted on point
delicious – guest raved!!! I only wish I could import her to the Virgin
Islands so she could make cakes from my couples + babies I photograph on
St John. Best of success to Sweet + Saucy!! xoxo
We do too!!
You have to, they’re ridiculously delicious 😉
That would be amazing! I’m sure she would love that too 😉 Glad you got a chance to experience her yummy treats though!
what a sweet interview! i’m constantly amazed at how melody excels both as a mommy and as a business woman. and most of all, she is just a sweet, down-to-earth gal.
Totally agree! We’re big fans of Sweet & Saucy AND Melody as a person as well! Thanks for reading 🙂