My name is Kyla and I have enjoyed creating things for as long as I can remember, though I didn’t do much baking growing up. I lived for things like submitting art to the Pappy Drew It tv show and snagging a new edition of Highlights for Kids for the craft section. My mamaw would always ask me what I was cooking up and that’s where my business name comes from, Sissy Cooks It Up.

I’ve lived all over the state of Kentucky but fell in love with Lexington as soon as I moved here, despite my initial anxiety that centered around what would happen the first time I was on Nicholasville Road when the lanes switch directions (I think I just stayed out of that lane my entire first year of college.) I have had some of the best experiences and met some of the best people here and now I am so grateful to be a part of our small business community here. I feel like so much of Lexington not only supports local, but within the business community we tend to thrive on community over competition, it is not something you always see and part of what makes this town so special.

My husband and I are coming up on our 5th wedding anniversary and couldn't be happier to call Lexington our home. We live here with our two Golden Shepherd mixes that we rescued and our family recently grew by 2 feet this past year with the addition of our first son. I am a mom by day and baker by night but both roles are two dreams come true, so I may be tired, but I sure feel blessed.

Q: How long have you lived/worked in Lexington?
A: I moved to Lexington in 2008 for college and fell in love with it and never left!

Q: What led you to your current career and why do you love it?
A: I think why I love it is actually what led to it. I started out baking cakes simply because I wanted to make something cool for my dad's birthday, I never dreamed it would turn into a business but the dentist I worked for at the time ordered a couple of cakes from me which is what got me started. The only problem was I was just "okay" at the cake decorating part and I didn't really love it enough to really hone the skill in order to sell, even though I enjoyed the creating when it was for family. One Christmas Eve my now Sister in Law and I decided to try making cute sugar cookies for our family gathering and it was an utter disaster BUT I loved it, and I wanted immediately to figure out why it was a disaster. I dove in to learning all I could and after a lot of practice, a new baby, and a global pandemic we decided it was the right time for me to step away from my 8-5 job in oral surgery and take on baking full time.

Q: What would you like for people to know about your job/business?
A: I cannot begin to describe how much I love what I do. I’m an enneagram 2 so getting to know my customers is one of my favorite things. I’d want everyone to know that when I tell you to hit me with all the details of the special event you’re planning, I honestly mean I want all the details. The thing that I love about cookies is creating small, unique, edible works of art that speak directly to who my customer is and the moment in time that they’re celebrating.

Q: What or who has been your biggest inspiration?
A: Oh gosh, it’s so hard to narrow down! The cookie community here and across the country are so full of so much talent, ideas, and encouragement. When I first set out to learn how to make cookies though Cadie from Cadie’s Cookies in Richmond was a wealth of knowledge and she has definitely inspired me as both a baker and a mother. My biggest motivation is my son though. Cookies give me a creative outlet, and time spent doing something that I love allows me to be a better mom to him.

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Lexington and what is your go to item on the menu?
A: There are so many good ones to choose from and it always depends on my mood! I love a gyro from Athenian Grill though, I don't think I'd ever turn that down…that said the truffle fries from Carson’s and the Chicken Gouda pizza at Pies and Pints are right up there.

Q: If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
A: My papaw was Hungarian and the first generation born here in his family and he never got to go see it. I would love the chance to see it, experience the culture, and I would especially love to indulge in all his favorite foods.

Q: What is your favorite thing about Lexington?
A: I love that you can eat lunch downtown and check out an art exhibit and 20 minutes later be taking a walk through Raven’s Run and overlooking the Kentucky River. For me I think Lexington combines all my favorite aspects of the various parts of Kentucky I’ve lived in and makes me feel at home.

Q: Where do you take friends and family from out of town when they visit?
A: Most of our family and friends are from here or close by but if we had a visitor coming we would definitely try to encourage them to plan their trip in April or October so they could experience Keeneland, one of my favorite things about Lexington.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
A: I would love to have a dedicated space where I could teach classes and take on more orders. I’m not 100% sure that would look like a Brick and Mortar, there are so many aspects to home baking that work so well for our family, and in 10 years my son would be the allowable age to work in the kitchen and I would finally have the assistant I’ve always wanted to wash the dishes!

Q: If you could have lunch with any living person, who would it be?
A: Hands down Dolly Parton. I used to perform her songs standing on my grandparents coffee table as a toddler and as an adult I respect her so much for never faltering in who she is, standing up for what she believes is right and being one smart business woman. Plus I assume this lunch would take place in Dollywood and I have been wanting to go!

Q: Where can we find you on your day off?
A: I haven’t taken a day off in a year, I say that kind of jokingly but honestly, there’s not a day that goes by that some aspect of the business doesn’t need tending to and when you’re a one woman show that often means no days completely off the grid. When I do take off I expect it will be to chase my muddy wild little man through the Kentucky Children’s garden…or I might just take a nap!

Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: I would love to go on an Alaskan cruise!

Q: What is something that most people don’t know about you?
A: Random fact: Long before cookies back in college I started a small sewing business specializing in bow ties. One summer break between classes I actually got to the point where I was shipping orders across the US.

Q: What is a topic you wish you knew more about?
A: Sports! I grew up watching games with my dad and I can get into a good game with the best of them but if you need to have a serious conversation with me about it then I am not your girl. My husband would probably love it if I knew more about sports!

Q: What is your favorite movie or TV show & what are you currently binge watching?
A: I love This Is Us, it’s the one show I try to sit down and watch each week. Schitt$ Creek is my go to binge/rewatch while I’m decorating cookies.

Q: What do you feel that is an essential part of your daily or weekly routine that contributes to your overall well-being?
A: A good off key singing session in the car. I used to commute for 30 to 40 minutes each way for work, just recently I realized that that was absolute peaceful time for me to think or to not think and with becoming a bake at home mom in the middle of a pandemic, my outings these days are much less frequent. If I can get 15 uninterrupted minutes in the car to just blast some music and sing along, even if it’s just sitting in my driveway, I find I’m in such a better space to take on the week!

Q: If you were cast in a movie, who would your co-star be?
A: I would love to work with Sterling K. Brown, I’ve been a fan of his since I was nerding out on Supernatural in high school

Q: Who is your go to band or artist when you can’t decide on something to listen to?
A: If I'm not in the mood for anything specific I usually end up with Vitamin String Quartet covers so I get a little bit of everything.

Q: If you could give advice to any group of people, what would it be?
A: Love big and show compassion. The hustle is important but it isn’t the only thing.