Sheer Ambrosia Newsletter

May 2026

Special

Mother's Day

Edition

This newsletter is an 11-minute read.

Make sure you read til the end...there's a coupon waiting for you!

Congratulations Sofia - I'm so Proud of You!

There are moments in motherhood that feel almost impossible to put into words. Watching my daughter Sofia graduate from the University of Utah with her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications was one of those moments.

The celebration stretched over two beautiful days. Thursday evening was commencement, and Friday morning Sofia walked in the Convocation for the College of Humanities where she officially received her diploma. I arrived extra early, determined to get good seats, carrying only my keys, my phone, and tissues after learning security wouldn’t allow my big purse inside. Thank goodness I remembered the tissues.

One of the sweetest parts of the weekend was sitting beside the family of Sofia’s lifelong friend Peyton. These kids have walked through life together since elementary school, through middle school, high school, and now college graduation. Watching them reach this milestone side-by-side felt incredibly special.

As a mother, you spend years helping your children become who they are meant to be. Then one day, you sit in an auditorium watching them step fully into adulthood, and your heart just overflows. I could not be prouder of my beautiful Sofia.

The Beginning of

My Greatest Role

Happy Birthday, Leo

Celebrating Leo at Bonsai Japanese Steakhouse

This year we gathered with Sofia, Leo’s sweet girlfriend, and eleven of his closest friends at our favorite family restaurant — the same place we’ve been going since he was born. There’s something so meaningful about traditions that stay with us through the years.

The laughter, the stories, the full table surrounded by people who love him… it was one of those nights a mother quietly stores away in her heart forever.

Happy Birthday to my son, Leo, the one who started this beautiful motherhood journey for me over two decades ago.

Sweet Victory in Salt Lake City

Sheer Ambrosia Wins Best Dessert in SLC!

WE WON! 🎉

To say I’m grateful would be an understatement.

The competition was fierce. The final three included last year’s winner — a beloved local parfait company — along with a long-established pastry shop with two locations in the Salt Lake Valley. These were businesses with large teams, deep roots, and strong followings.

But somehow… little old Sheer Ambrosia prevailed.

Winners were selected based on customer Google reviews over the past 12 months, Better Business Bureau standing, and votes from local residents. We were told early on that we climbed into the Top 3 very quickly after many of you rallied behind us, and then we waited anxiously for weeks to hear the final results.

When the announcement finally came, I was completely overwhelmed.

To every single one of you who voted, shared, supported, ordered baklava, left reviews, told your friends, and believed in this business — thank you. Truly. You helped a dream become something bigger than I ever imagined. This award belongs to all of us.

And now… we proudly hold the title of:

Best Dessert in Salt Lake City 🏆

I cannot wait to see what doors open next.

A beautiful mini bouquet of flowers from my daughter I received

the day after the win!

Mother’s Day Full Circle

The Day My Love Came Back to Me

This Mother’s Day felt deeply full circle.

Even though everyone insisted it was my special day, I still wanted to cook dinner for my family because that’s what I do. Food is love to me. It’s how I care for people. So I cooked while my children gathered around me, laughing and talking in the kitchen.

Then my son Leo walked in carrying two bouquets.

One was real flowers.The other…was Lego flowers. And immediately, I lost it emotionally.

Because my son loved Legos with every fiber of his being when he was little. Obsessed would honestly be the better word. Every birthday and Christmas revolved around Lego sets. At our old house, he even had his own Lego room in the basement, complete with an eight-foot table displaying his creations and another work table where he’d spend endless hours building under a lamp.

Sometimes he’d scream in frustration after accidentally breaking a build. We eventually had to glue some pieces together to preserve everyone’s sanity. And after stepping on enough Lego pieces barefoot over the years, I finally declared that Legos were only allowed in that room.

We even once packed up our minivan and road-tripped to Legoland in California because of his love for them. I’ll never forget that trip. For years I had been afraid to take the kids alone to a theme park because I carried childhood trauma from when my own parents lost my sister at Carowinds in North Carolina for several terrifying hours. That fear ruled me for years… until one Sunday night when Leo was eleven and Sofia was seven years old and I learned Star Wars had arrived at Legoland.

Something inside me snapped in that moment.

I ran downstairs crying and told the kids:

“Get ready Kids. We’re going to Legoland.”

At 8:00 PM that night, the three of us hit the road in our minivan and drove through the night to California. We watched the sun rise as we pulled into a Chick-fil-A parking lot near the park for breakfast and a quick nap before spending days making memories at Legoland. We spent two days at Legoland, one day each at Disneyland and SeaWorld, and even squeezed in an adventure of strawberry picking between parks.

It remains one of the greatest trips of our memory as a family.

Then he handed me a card.

Inside he wrote:

“You are a damn good mom.”

And just like that…my heart exploded.

He thanked me for the years of love, support, encouragement, and yes, all the “damn Lego money” I spent over the years tracking down rare Indiana Jones sets and building memories with him. He ended the card by saying:

“My love for you grows deeper every day.”

I don’t think there is a gift on earth more meaningful than hearing your child say they see your love.

And then, because she couldn’t let her brother steal all the thunder, my sweet Sofia handed me another gift:

A journal titled Mom, I Want to Hear Your Story.

She wants to hear my story!? What!?

What a gift that is!

And just when I thought my heart couldn’t possibly hold one more ounce of gratitude, my third child, Sheer Ambrosia, showed up with a gift of its own. I received (on Mother's Day) this beautiful email from a customer named Janet:

“As the wife of a Greek man, I've tasted plenty of baklava… Yours was none of those — it was so fresh and crispy… It's the best I've ever tasted.”

I sat there beaming. Staring at my phone...laughing with excitement. Because I love this business. I love my customers. And I pour every ounce of myself into creating the very best baklava experience possible.

What a beautiful full-circle moment for a mother who has spent her life pouring love into her three children:

Leo.

Sofia.

And Sheer Ambrosia.

And somehow…all that love found its way back to me.

Sofia's gift...my journal that I can't wait to fill up, deep conditioner for my hair, and a face mask. She loves to help me look better. Thank you Sofi!

The Gift of Real Mail &

Real Connection

Why Someone You Love Might Need The Hearth Letter

Real images of The Hearth Letter Contents

A Letter, A Recipe, A Bookmark or Piece of Art, & The Good News Gazette

Want Baklava Too?..order The Hearth Table

Not bills.

Not advertisements.

But something thoughtful. Beautiful. Personal.

That is exactly why I created The Hearth Letter.

Every month, subscribers receive a carefully curated mailed experience centered around connection, comfort, storytelling, and community. Inside each edition is a personal letter, uplifting stories, keepsakes, recipes, bookmarks, and thoughtful touches designed to make someone feel remembered.

And lately, I’ve been sharing The Hearth Letter with assisted living and senior communities because I truly believe it can bring joy and connection to people who may feel isolated or lonely.

For many seniors, receiving mail isn’t just a delivery.

It’s anticipation.

It’s ritual.

It’s connection.

I want to encourage all of you to think about someone in your own life who might benefit from something like this:

• A parent living alone
• A grandparent in assisted living
• A widowed neighbor
• A long-distance friend
• Someone who simply misses the warmth of thoughtful connection

The Hearth Letter is more than paper and envelopes. It is a monthly reminder that someone, somewhere, thought of you.

And honestly… don’t we all need more of that?

**If you are interested in gifting The Hearth Letter or The Hearth Table to someone you love, simply reply to this email and I would be happy to help you arrange it personally. If you want to join yourself, click the link below.**

A Sweet Celebration

20% Off Our Traditional Honey Walnut Baklava

Use Code: SweetCelebration20

What you ordered this month—and every month—is more than something sweet. It’s what keeps Sheer Ambrosia alive and thriving. Your support means everything. Thank you for choosing small, and for being part of our story.

-Peace, Love, and Baklava Forever,

Rita Magalde