Kentucky Woman Creates Adorable Back-to-School Cookies for Teachers and Students

Conversations of back-to-school have not been super fun in the Maddox household. The jump from second to third grade last year was rough on Rollins. He went from learning through fun and play to having to get down to business. Honestly, I hate to mention the dreaded C-word, but COVID did a number on us all.  So, conversations about school starting back have left my little sweetie less than thrilled.

Luckily, he told me yesterday that he is finally starting to get excited.  He's refusing to get a haircut, but he's got his outfit picked out and a new backpack. He also remembered that the first few days are pretty much all fun and activities to get used to a new classroom and all that jazz, so he's pumped about that. Rollins is so daggone smart, has some amazing teachers, and loves his friends, so I know once he gets into the swing of things, his fourth-grade year will be great.

But to help make this week extra special, I wanted to get him some surprises to treat him with when I pick him up from school each afternoon. My friend Azlin who owns The Bee's Knees Bakery + Goods posted the most adorable cookies on Facebook. They are perfect for new teacher gifts or for "extra" moms like me who want to spoil our precious angels as we boot them out the door,

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I'm sorry I didn't give y'all the heads up first!  However, as I was looking through photos on the Bees Knees Facebook page, I was blown away by her creations and had to share them with you.

Azlin started her baking business in 2019, but her knack for cooking and baking goes back to childhood as she grew up loving to be in the kitchen. "I started experimenting with decorating cakes, etc after my step-mom at the time took a cake decorating class and started doing that on the side. Once I became a mother, I wanted to make my daughter’s birthday cakes every year, so from there I really dug in and started learning more and more."

These cookies and cakes are literally little works of art! I asked Azlin if she had any art training thinking she has to have been trained in some way to do all of the intricate designs.  She said that other than classes in grade school, she is mostly self-taught. "Painting, drawing, crafting - I love it all! BKBG is really a combination of two of my lifelong passions - baking and making art!"

The opportunity to do what she loves as a career is something she does not take for granted. There are a lot of aspects she loves about the business but she shared her favorite with me. "Originally, I would say my favorite thing is getting to make little pieces of art, but I’ve discovered that the actual best part of the business is the connections I’ve made with people. As people order for all of their celebrations and big life events, I’ve been able to learn about each of my customers, their families, and little tidbits about their lives. Some customers who have been with me from the beginning have gone through major life changes and I’ve had the honor of baking for them throughout all of these. As a natural introvert, it’s been so fun for me to meet people and make connections I otherwise wouldn’t have."

Azlin has made tens of thousands of cookies at this point, so of course I had to ask her what some of the most meaningful sets have been.  "In July 2021, I was able to bake for KWC’s 70th Anniversary Rooster Booster event. It was 450 cookies and was the largest order and most complex/intricate I had ever done. I loved how they turned out, but these were so meaningful to me because that was the order that made me decide to go full-time with my business and really see myself as a professional."

One of her favorite designs has to be a set she did for a local Swiftie going to the Eras Tour this past year. "I went a little overboard with all the different designs and colors in the set, but I couldn’t help myself!" This is absolutely incredible! Those details!

Azlin is forever grateful to the community and for all of her customers keeping her busy doing what she loves. Check out more about Bee's Knees Bakery + Goods and see more photos of her amazing work on Facebook or her website.