Today we’d like to introduce you to Keisha McGee.
Hi Keisha, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Sweets on a Sunday began in the middle of a pandemic, at a point where most people were struggling to handle the world’s new reality. I too, struggled to find my peace from being an essential worker, and needed to find a way to practice self-care. Many people are not aware, but tapping into my passion of baking was about rediscovering myself. It was about focusing on what my purpose was, finding ways to bring a smile to others, and discovering new ways to bring joy back into my life. In order to accomplish these things, I first had to reassess myself one day and pray about my purpose. I began to read the creation of the earth, and what took place during that seven-day span. As I read up to the seventh day of creation, it says in Genesis 2:2, “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” (KJV). This passage truly resonated with me at this certain point in my life. I still constantly battled with finding my peace, and a level of comfort outside of work. I read this passage so many times in my life, but this time was different. There was a completely different message that I had missed prior. Furthermore, I thought about how I could find a way to rest from the outside world and practice self-care, while also spending time with God on the seventh day. This is how the name Sweets on a Sunday came about. As I sought after a purpose from God, I found that my peace and joy came from baking.
There was a talent and a gift that I was suppressing that needed to be liberated. That talent was baking and a mind of creativity. I started to do what spoke to my heart, praising God while baking on Sunday. It is my connection to God, and the purpose he has instilled and revealed to me. I began baking for my family, and sharing my dessert creations through posts on social media. As I made these post, order inquiries began to flood my inbox. I knew how much my desserts made my family happy, and how much they adored those Sunday poundcakes. I was consistently baking just for them. I toggled back and forth with whether I should start trying to make profit off of my desserts. Until one day, I prayed about making that move towards starting my own cottage bakery. It was a frightening thought to fully pursue my purpose, but for some reason, this was something that I truly could not turn my back on. I decided to take that chance, and I publicized my dessert-making expertise on social media. I answered my first order inquiry one day, and sold my first poundcake! The positive review for my first order was extremely reassuring to me that I was on the right path. I had now begun to take more and more orders from various new costumers! This is how Sweets on a Sunday was born, and became a staple dessert at many of the family tables in the Tampa region.
If you browse my social media, you will not see my face much, as I like to let my cake artistry speak for itself. However, as a baker, I understand the importance of knowing who is behind the art. Therefore, I would like to share some interesting tidbits about myself. I have always been very passionate about baking since the age of eight years old, and now I enjoy sharing my passion of baking with the world. To expand my knowledge and creativity, I attended The Art Institute of Tampa for Baking and Pastry. Throughout the years, I have learned multiple baking techniques from pastry school, and little recipe secrets gathered from baking sessions with my southern grandmother. What emerged from these years of constantly working to perfect my craft, are desserts that appear beautiful to the eye and yummy to the soul. Since I have started baking, I have found so much peace and joy, and I can only attribute that to God. He assuredly enlightened me to my purpose. It is quite hilarious to me, as I would always say, when I retire, I’m going to start my own bakery. I imagined God laughing at these thoughts I had and said, “Why wait until then when the time is now?” So here we are! My purpose is not only to share with my customers an amazing dessert, but to also provide an example of what the reward for your journey can be if you walk by faith and not by sight. Hence the motto of the bakery, “Pray, Bake, Repeat,” gives insight into what this bakery is built off of. In the near future Sweets On A Sunday will also offer interactive online and in-person classes. I love teaching and feel that my purpose involves baking and also helping others.
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?
It has not been a smooth journey starting a cottage bakery. I will affirm, there were resources available to me that made it easy. However, I also had to take the time to research various laws and guidelines into operating a fully functional cottage bakery. I had strong contemplations with pricing my work because,in all honesty, my heart was not in it for the money. However, I knew that to survive in business, I would need to put a price on my work’s worth. I believe, as entrepreneurs, we have all struggled with this stage in the business. I knew I had to assure my business would thrive. In order to accomplish this, I took business courses that focused on growing, and maintaining your business even in the hardest times. I grappled with doubt, fear, and time management from working full time as a Vascular Ultrasound Technologist, pursuing my Masters in Medical Education, and running a new business. However, instead of succumbing to my fear and doubt, I fought harder to create a schedule that works for all aspects of my life. Carrying a digital calendar allowed me to place priorities on a hierarchy of importance. This was the life-changer for me for work, life, and balance.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a baker, I specialize in custom designer cakes, custom small treats, and taking traditional flavors and turning them into poundcakes. I am most known for providing custom designer cakes and treats. After being in business for the last year and six months, I am most proud of the experiences and special occasions that I have had the privilege of being a part of. I believe what makes Sweets on a Sunday special is the experience that we provide to our customers. We believe that the experience does not start with merely eating a slice of dessert, in-essence, it starts with the moment the dessert is exchanged from us to the customer. This is why we always intend on providing the best quality desserts and experiences, from the packaging, to the consumption of the dessert.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The quality that I feel is the most important to my success is my determination and will to fulfill my purpose. I have never given up on a challenge placed in front of me. I have always believed that if you can survive one obstacle, you can surely survive the next. It just takes time, giving yourself grace when you need it, and a willingness to overcome.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Sweetsonasunday.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetsonasunday/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetsonasunday
- Other: https://linktr.ee/Sweetsonasunday
