Mama Profile: Melody Brandon of Sweet & Saucy Shop

When thinking of moms I admire for their ability to "do it all," Melody Brandon is one near the top of the list. She partners with her own mom to run multiple, incredibly successful and beautiful dessert shops down in Southern California, and keeps herself and her darling baby girl looking stylish and put-together while doing so. 

What motivated you to start Sweet & Saucy Shop? 

I found I had a passion for desserts and creating special moments for people around food. I didn't really think I would ever start my business so young, but I felt that the only way I could grow and learn as much as I wanted was to start my own business and create the type of product and experience I wanted to give people.

What is your favorite sweet that you make?

Anything in mini form! I have always been the person who likes to try a bite off everyone's plate, so when I make desserts I always prefer to make them in mini sizes. It allows me to try multiple bites of a variety of desserts and not feel guilty!

What parts of your business make you most proud?

It's the little moments that mean a lot to me- like when I get a letter or email from a client telling me how much they enjoyed their cake or dessert, or when I meet with a client and see their eyes light up while chatting about the various options, and of course I love when my employees are happy and enjoy what they are doing. It makes me proud to have created a workplace that people enjoy!

What is your favorite thing to make in the kitchen?

A really good chocolate chip cookie... warm out of the oven... nothing much can beat that!

What is your favorite time of the day?

I love waking up with Blake in the mornings. She sleeps with us most nights in our bed, and being able to wake to a smiling face, chubby cheeks, and tons of snuggles never gets old!

When are you most content?

When I am hanging out with family, enjoying a day off. I love simple things like going on morning walks, reading books to Blake, and eating delicious food with people I love.

What are your favorite personality traits of Blake?

I love how happy she is all the time! She came out of the womb a happy, easy baby, and she still is today (except when teething, haha). She is so friendly with people. She's also adventurous... always on the move and up to explore everything... a trait her dad is very happy about!

What is your ideal date? 

Anything geared around delicious food! I love trying new restaurants and exploring a city through their little mom and pop shops. I also love flea markets and farmer's markets.

What are your favorite beauty brands & shops?

For myself, I basically want everything from Anthropologie stores! Lately I've been finding that I love shopping for baby clothes almost more than for myself... haha. I love BabyZara, Giltgroupe.com sales, Baby Gap, and Old Navy has surprised me with some pretty cute baby options!

What is your favorite Etsy shop?

I am obsessed with my sister's Etsy shop SaraRaeShop. I basically have one of her headbands on Blake at all times!

What have you learned about balancing life and work?

I have learned that nothing is as important as my baby girl and being with family, so I have tried my best to merge the two! I own the bakery with my mom and dad, so I see my mom at least three days per week, and Blake comes to work with me every day. When I first started the business 4.5 years ago, I would work 80-90 hours per week, but thankfully over time I have been able to work more manageable weekly hours. I love that I can work from home some days, and go into the shop others. Having the flexibility to make my own schedule is something I cherish!

Photo Credits: Gabriel Ryan Photography, Ashley Rose Photography, Aaron Dieppa Photography, Lisa Smiley Photography

Thanks so much Melody! Loved getting a glimpse into the girl behind the gorgeous sweets! Follow Sweet & Saucy:  Twitter * Facebook * Instagram * Pinterest

XOXO,

Kate & Erin

If you'd like to submit yourself for a mama profile, please email me: stylesmaller@gmail.com

Hello Weekend

Today Sophie woke up sassy and independent. She put on her favorite turquoise dress and black sparkle leggings rather than a standard ballet uniform, (over)packed a bag full of anything she could possibly need, and we bused it to ballet class. She appreciated one of her classmates noticing the sparkle on her dress and her tights, and sang a song I've never heard with the words "I'm an original" and tested every boundary we've set for her.

Sometimes I'm okay with days like this. It's not awesome throughout, perhaps, but really- as a mother, it's very easy to be sidetracked and distracted... days like this keep us on our toes. They say my child is a real girl with real opinions and she needs me right now. She needs me to be attentive to her opinions and direct her communication and maintain those boundaries. It's exhausting, but now that both girls are sweetly sleeping with angel faces in cozy beds, I'm grateful for the reminder that a testy child can give me to stay focused. I'm also grateful for the persistant little sunshine of our house that is Maggie girl (and yes, I know terrible twos are right around her corner...).

But really... we went on a date- first to Delfina, then to see Ben Folds last night at the Warfield, so what do I have to complain about? We also had sunshine and upper 60's all week, and did some exploring, and ate strawberry lemonade gelato. I mean... I've always thought myself to be a fall person, but I'm rethinking it.

Anyway, happy weekend to us all. And root hard for the good guys on Sunday!!! 49er LOVE. And here is an excess of pictures... xoxox, Kate

Make it: Danish Aebleskivers

I've mentioned before that I'm ethnically half Mexican and half Scandinavian. The Scandinavians hands-down win for most amazing dessert makers. They have so many recipes for sweets and treats and culturally drink coffee all day for taste rather than caffeine. I grew up eating (aka overdosing on) Swedish pancakes, Norwegian heart-waffles, and my personal favorite: Danish aebleskivers.

SO... you want a recipe? Okay, here goes:

Danish Aeblaskivers: 
3 eggs, separated
2 Tbsp. sugar
1.5 C flour
1 C milk
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 C melted butter













1. Separate egg whites from yellows. Keep yolks in one bowl, beat whites until they're fluffy.
2. To the yolks, add flour, sugar, milk, salt, and baking powder, and then melted butter.
3. Wisk until blended.
4. Fold the egg whites into the yolk mixture.

Now you need an aebleskiver pan. It's worth the $20 or so to get one because they last forever!















5. Grease your pan.
6. Fill the cups to the top with dough.
7. Like pancakes, they need to be flipped when one side is done. Use a wooden chopstick or fork to carefully flip them. Cook on the other side and remove from the pan.

Add your favorite jam and powdered sugar and enjoy!

Love,
Kate

ps. Much thanks to my mom for her recipe and lesson.

Neon & Graphic

I'm a pretty big fan of the neon trend that's still going pretty strong in 2013. I thought for sure we'd be totally over it after the overdoses from last summer, but now that the deep, dark colors of the holidays are over, I'm ready for brightness in bulk. I just love the fearless cheeriness that it brings to any outfit, especially for little kids.

So make it happen... here you go:
Step 1: grab a basic tank for a silly little girl like mine (or boy!), Step 2: stock up on neon jeans in all the colors (when they're on sale, of course), and Step 3: add a sweater with some neutral graphics, gingham or dots... your kid is comfortable & stylin' all at once.






























The pink also kind of says a good little hello to February and hearts and lovely little notes (psss. have I mentioned February is one of my favorite months? I looovvve Valentine's season).

XO,
Kate

Oranges

 Shoes. Stationery. 

Mama Profile: Caitlin of SugarSnaps

Caitlin is a friend who started her photography business- SugarSnaps - less than a year ago, and she has been booked solid since! She manages to spend most of her days with her kids, while running her successful business on the side... looking beautiful doing it all! 

What motivated you to start your own photography business? 
My kids' cute faces! I've always loved photography, but it was taken to the next level when my husband got me my first DSLR after Keelyn was born. Keelyn became a part of a modeling agency in San Francisco and I decided I wasn't about to pay for her headshots to be taken by someone else. It motivated me to dive into learning the ins and outs of shooting in manual mode, and to learn how to use Photoshop!

What has been your most exciting business opportunity? 
Right now I'm most excited that we're starting to book and prep for weddings! It's also such an encouragement that I started my business less than a year ago, and I've received such warm response and support from people. It's allowed me to expand from photographing only children to having shoots with graduates, head shots, and now weddings.

How do you balance your work and motherhood?
When I started, I did everything during nap time and when my kids went to sleep. Now business is so busy that I am able to hire a nanny twice a week (she is amazing & worth every penny!). I also hired a lovely assistant to create all my props for photo shoots with her crafty skills. I find that for me it's best to hire people and have set hours to do my own work, so that I'm not trying to get everything done while chasing my kids.

What are your favorite characteristics of your kids? 
Lincoln (3) is all boy and I love that about him! I'm also a big fan of his curly locks-- they make for good pictures! Keelyn (1) is a mama's girl. I love our sweet, quiet moments, and I love that she's a good snuggler.

What is your favorite time of the day?
Bathtime! My kids love their evening baths. No matter how cranky or sick they may be during the day, they are alway happy in their bathtub.

What are some good photography tips for beginners?
Get the guts to take your camera off auto mode! If you have any kind of DSLR, putting the dial on the "P" setting (programme mode) or the "A" setting (Aperture priority mode) will dramatically increase the quality of your photos. Also, if you want to do a photo shoot with kids, dress comfortably! During our shoots, I'll jump around and lay down in the dirt to get the best possible shots.

Visit SugarSnaps to see her amazing work. You can follow her on instagram @_sugarsnaps_ and on facebook ! 

Thanks Cait!

XOXO.

If you'd like to be a part of our Mama Profile series, please email me: stylesmaller@gmail.com