Meet Melitza Spies | Pastry Chef & Mama

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melitza Spies and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melitza, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Along with being the proud owner of Sugar Coat Baking Co., I am also a wife and mother of two young boys. Balancing these roles was such a challenge in my life. I had the demands of my business, in which I am THE only employee, so I do all my social media, photos, packaging, ordering, baking, decorating etc. I also had the demands of my home life which included running a household, school work, volunteering, spending time with my kids as well as coaching soccer two times a week and being part of a few committees. Needless to say, my mind is always busy with new ideas, to do lists, reminders-1000 tabs open all at once. In the past, I would just push through, taking every order I could along with all my other responsibilities in life. This led to major burnout by the end of each year. I started to resent my business, customers and just everything in general. I began to reevaluate my life and business-really think about how and where I wanted to see myself in the next few years. I started to think about how I wanted my kids to remember me and my presence in their lives. So, at the start of 2022, I made the decision and painful announcement that I was going to slow down the pace of Sugar Coat. This meant limited orders/schedule, 1 or 2 events and absolutely no custom orders October-January.

It was a VERY hard choice to make since the business was starting to hit a stride but my family, and my sanity, was taking the hits for it. So for most of 2022, I focused on my family and myself. I still took on orders here and there which proved to recharge my love for what I do. I enjoyed each and every set I made instead of being stressed or critical of myself. Now, as we crawl towards the end of 2023, I am much more satisfied with my work/life balance. I reworked how I wanted to run my business, what opportunities to take and which ones to leave alone. I still work late nights but it is not as often which leaves me time for myself and most importantly, my family and friends. Because I took a step back and looked at the big picture, I was able to tweak little areas in my life and business to create a healthier balance. I’ve learned how to work more efficiently, not take on as much, really analyze each opportunity and because of that, I’ve been able to grow my business even more this year! I choose to invest in myself and my life more which in turn spilled over into my business. Sometimes you want to make everyone happy, sometimes at the expense of your own happiness and mental health. Society tells you you can have it all, you can do it all and you can, but you sacrifice something along the way. I think it’s important to take a step back and listen to that nagging voice in your head-when you do that, that balance between work/life becomes clearer!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
When you think of art, you think of canvases filled with brushstrokes, smears of paint or a marble sculpture all made by the hands of popular artists such as Picasso, Rodin, Kahlo. You don’t necessarily think of cookies or cakes as works of art right away. But it is, in it’s own right, art-edible art that can be incorporated into the special moments in your life-whether they are big or small. That is how I think of my creations, as edible artwork that can bring about emotions that not only surprises me but my customers as well. I have had clients literally crying when picking up an order, which always surprises me (and also makes me cry) but makes my heart so warm. When I take on a custom order, sometimes it’s very straightforward or the client wants something specific but with my flair. But sometimes, I get the chance to create from my imagination and inspiration. I like to look at my baked goods and cookies as works of art, telling a story and capturing the magic of that special moment of that clients day.

It is never an easy road when you are a small business owner but it is important that you learn along the way and apply that knowledge to your future. I started as an assistant pastry chef at a well known restaurant in the area where it truly opened my eyes and heart to the world of food. I was fresh out of pastry school and hungry to learn! I worked hard and took in every lesson and advice that those around me would give. I had a great mentor and many great coworkers from whom I not only learned more about the baking world but learned some great lessons in the savory world of cooking as well. But being a hungry new chef didn’t shield me from also thinking I knew more than I did and I learned some humbling lessons along the way. One being completely destroying a client’s cake on my way to work and having awesome coworkers help me redo it while they gave me tips and tricks. I learned how to work harder, how to work around things that come up, how to time manage, how to use the world around me for inspiration. So many lessons learned, good and bad, that have shaped me into the business owner and person that I am today. I look back fondly of every person I met along the way and the knowledge and memories, that they enriched my life with, professionally and personally.

Overall, when people see or think of Sugar Coat Baking Co. I want them to think of their experience, their special day with the same love and fondness that I do about my love for edible art. I absolutely love what I do and that shows in my work, my customer service and interactions with my clients! It’s so important to me, as a person, that a client walks away feeling good about choosing me to bring some sweetness to their special moments. I hope they walk away knowing how much I truly appreciate their trust in me and their support of my business.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is a hard one because North Carolina has SO many great places, restaurants and culture. I feel like you always have to hit up iconic spots like Beasley’s Chicken and Waffles. It is a must, in my opinion, when I have friends or family visit. It is one of those places that it just hits the spot every. single. time! Other spots that I love to show friends are Vidrio or Cortez for amazing food and drinks, Barcelona Wine Bar or Madre in Raleigh for a great atmosphere and get your singing or dancing on walking down Glenwood Avenue.

But my favorite place has to be the mountains-Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk and Asheville. The fresh mountain air while you hike at places like Graveyard Fields or the views at Craggy Gardens. Grabbing a beer at some of my favorite breweries like New Belgium while you sit in their outdoor area or the hidden gem that is Hillman Brewery or Burial Beer Co. Screaming and laughing while you rush across the Mile High swinging bridge up in Grandfather Mountain. Strolling the gardens of the NC Arboretum in Asheville or exploring the grand rooms of the Biltmore. That area of North Carolina to me has it all-You can make it a relaxing weekend eating and drinking your way while exploring the areas or you can make it into an adventure into nature!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A HUGE thanks goes first to God because without Him I wouldn’t have been to able to get through the struggles and successes. Another HUGE thank you goes out to my husband and my boys, they are the real MVPs of my life and business. They are the ones that see my highs and lows, the ones that help when needed and the ones who are the most proud. My parents for teaching me hard work and the confidence to go through life, for showing me the ropes and for the lessons that shaped me into who I am today. Of course, all of the Sugar Coat Fans! Whether they are friends or a random stranger at an event-without you there is no Sugar Coat.

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