Meet Yolanda Mathews | Sweets Creator

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

Hi Yolanda, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
The name of my business Serenity Sweets came from my love of the Serenity Prayer. I love it because so many times I found myself focusing on things I couldn’t change. I would really stress myself out and I had a hard time moving past that moment to see the other side. The Serenity Prayer helps to keep me grounded and know that with courage and wisdom, I can persevere through any obstacle and always see the silver lining in every situation. That’s what I wanted my company to be based upon.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The fact that I am able to capture my customers vision and bring it to life, tailor my recipes and sweets designs for all occasions and almost guess what comes next sets me apart from others. I am most proud of my strength to keep going. Right now, I don’t have the highest clientele that I would like to have but I don’t let that stop me. I recognize that I am always growing and building no matter what stage i’m in and I’m excited when I look ahead towards my future because I know I will get there. I am taking my professional journey day by day. It has not been easy because I’ve had to make decisions that I wasn’t 100% sure about. During this pandemic, I decided to walk away from my stable and reliable job to become a stay at home mom but looking back, that was the best decision that I made. Its weird because I feel like that was God’s way of telling me that this was my time to step out on faith and trust him. Since then, my business has been growing more and more. Along the way, I’ve learned to trust myself and my skills. I am my own worst critic. I am so hard on myself every time I bake. I want my sweets to be perfect. I’ve learned to relax more and trust my God given talent. I want the world to know that this is my passion. I get enjoyment out of seeing the relieved look on my customers face when they receive their treats and realize that they no longer has to worry about that part of their event. I love being able to bring people’s special moment to life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am a real foodie. I love trying new restaurants and bakeries for inspiration. So she would definitely gain a couple of pounds during her week with me. The first place I would go is Plant-based Pizzeria. They have the best plant based pizza ever. I also enjoy hanging outside on a beautiful day. If the weather is nice, I would go to Avalon or downtown Alpharetta to visit the shops and walk around. There is always a concert or outside activity happening. Another great restaurant is Tassili’s Raw Reality. Their wraps are the best. Oh, and I can not forget about the newest restaurant I haven’t even tried yet, Dinkies, but they are absolutely on my list.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shouout has to be all my family and friends. I am lucky because I have so many people in my corner that have been loving and encouraging me for years. My mom and dad (Karen and Danny Miller) , my sister (LaShana Miller, ESQ), my husband (Ivy Mathews) and grandmother (Evelyn Lewis) have been behind me and in the kitchen with me from the start. Whether it was washing dishes, measuring ingredients or watching the love of my life, my daughter Zoe, while I bake. My supportive friends. Nicole Tyler, the best corporate photographer I know, who took my portfolio photos and recommended me for this article. Thank you so much! Mickeysha Diggs. I can not count how many times she told me to stop looking for jobs and encouraged me to step out on faith and go full force with my business and last but not least my colleagues turned friends, Jamontae, Jaycen, Renita and Branden thank you for always being the first people ready to support by being taste testers, purchasing and posting new treats and giving me ideas for new flavors.

Website: www.serenitysweetstreats.com

Instagram: serenity_sweets

Other: My email address is serenitybakerycafe.com

Image Credits
Nicole Tyler Photography