Finding Joy in the Little Things: A Conversation with Leah of The Little Things Bakery on the Mesa

Tucked into a cozy corner of Santa Barbara’s Mesa neighborhood, The Little Things Bakery isn’t just a place to satisfy a sweet tooth—it’s a place filled with memory, heart, and the quiet kind of magic that happens when someone turns love into a lifelong craft.

When I spoke with Leah, the owner and pastry chef behind this charming bakery, I didn’t expect to be so deeply moved by her story. What began as a conversation about cakes quickly turned into something much richer—a story of family, loss, healing, and the quiet beauty of life’s smallest moments.

“I was a college dropout with no idea what I wanted to do with my life,” Leah told me. “I was in my late teens, kind of drifting, and then everything changed when my grandpa got sick.”

Leah moved into her grandparents’ home in Santa Barbara to help care for her grandfather, spending her days alongside her grandma and tending to the needs of someone she loved deeply. It was during this period—surrounded by the rhythm of caregiving and the presence of family—that she began baking more and more.

“I started making desserts for my grandpa, just little things to lift his spirits,” she said. “And I saw how much joy it brought him. That’s when I realized—I really love making people happy with desserts.”

After her grandfather passed away, Leah made a bold decision to enroll in the Baking & Pastry program at the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute. She graduated in 2012 as a certified pastry chef and returned to Santa Barbara, where she completed a 3-month internship at Your Cake Baker—a longtime Mesa favorite.

“I loved working there,” she said with a smile. “And during that time, my mom and I used to talk about opening a bakery of our own one day. It was a dream we shared.”

That dream, however, would take on a new meaning after Leah’s mother passed away in 2016 from cancer. “Losing her was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through,” she shared. “But it also made me more determined. I wanted to carry that dream forward for both of us.”

In 2019, Leah opened The Little Things Bakery—in the exact space where she once interned. “It’s kind of surreal,” she admitted. “Walking into that space and knowing it’s mine now, knowing my mom would’ve been so proud—it means everything.”

The name The Little Things Bakery is more than just a catchy phrase. It’s a philosophy. “So often we focus on the big milestones—graduations, weddings, job promotions,” Leah said. “But I’ve learned that life really happens in the small, quiet moments. The little things.”

She paused, then continued, “It’s a shared glance, a hummingbird zipping by, finding a sand dollar on the beach… or maybe it’s just a perfect little cupcake when you need a mood boost. That’s what I wanted this bakery to celebrate.”

Inside the glass display case, you’ll find a rotating variety of classic and seasonal treats: cupcakes, cream puffs, lemon bars, eclairs, cookies, peanut butter bars, and more. Everything is made with care, and you can taste it. But beyond the showcase, the true heart of Leah’s business lies in her custom cakes.

“We do a lot of custom orders,” Leah explained. “That’s our specialty—creating cakes that reflect people’s personalities and events. From simple to elaborate, we love working with customers to bring their ideas to life.”

What makes her cakes even more special is their connection to Santa Barbara’s dessert history. Leah honors many of the original recipes from Henning’s Cake Boutique—a beloved bakery run by Henning, the father of Wayne Kjar (who owned Your Cake Baker). “If you grew up in Santa Barbara, there’s a good chance you had one of their cakes at some point,” Leah laughed. “Now, people come to us saying, ‘This tastes just like my childhood birthday cake.’ It’s amazing.”

Carrying on that tradition is something Leah takes to heart. “I’ve made wedding cakes for couples, then gender reveal cakes, then first birthday cakes for their babies,” she said. “I’ve watched families grow through their cake orders. It feels like I’m part of their lives in this really special way.”

That deep connection with her customers is one of Leah’s favorite parts of the job. “Seeing someone’s face light up when they see their custom cake for the first time—it’s priceless. That’s what it’s all about for me. Making something that brings joy.”

As we wrapped up our conversation, I asked her what’s next for The Little Things Bakery. She thought for a moment, then smiled.

“I just want to keep showing up for people. Keep making desserts that bring comfort and joy. Keep honoring the people who came before me—my grandpa, my mom, Henning, Wayne. This bakery exists because of them. And because of the little things.”

And really, that’s what makes The Little Things Bakery so special. It’s not just about the pastries—it’s about the memories, the legacies, and the small, sweet moments that stay with you long after the last crumb is gone.