Random Act of Kindess

So yesterday, I experienced a gratifying and uplifting emotion that I've never felt ever in my life. For the Holiday Season, I picked up work at Lululemon again. I worked there last year because I needed extra income, but little did I know that I would actually LOVE it! Who knew?? Who actually loves working retail during the holidays?!?! Seriously... this company is amazing! My goal is to create an enjoyable atmosphere with my business that reflects on what I love about Lulu.

Anyway, so this year's holiday theme is #FuelHappiness. Despite the stressors that this time of the year brings, we should find a way to make not only ourselves happy, but others as well. With all the crazy that's going on in this world, we tend to forget the simple things in life like smiling. Along with the theme, the company gave each employee gift cards to pass out to random strangers to help them "fuel their happiness".

Yesterday I was approached by a young lady wearing an LA Fitness shirt. She was asking me about the tops and the gym bags. I showed her a bag and explained why it's so useful. Then we talked about Lululemon fabric and the way it's supposed to fit. I asked her if she worked for LA Fitness and she excitedly said yes and went on to tell me that she had lost 28 lbs. She told me all the workouts she does and that her goal was to fit in Lulu. The first time she came in, she was unable to fit into the largest size, so she was eager to try again after her recent accomplishments. I was inspired by her determination and joy to be in the store that I felt I needed to do something for her.

I knocked on the fitting room door that she was in and I handed her a gift card. I admired her hard work and told her that she deserved a little something for her achievements. With a huge smile on her face, she gave me a hug and thanked me. I had to go on break, so I didn't get a chance to help her with her fit session. When I came back I was given this:

"Fit into the clothes happily."  - That right there got me. How inspiring is that?! I'm sure she still has more goals for herself, but to know that she can happily wear something with confidence is pretty life changing.

I was told that when she was paying for her items, she was teary eyed and very grateful for my kindness. She tried to wait for me to say thank you, but she had to go. After reading the above gratitude note, I myself was overwhelmed with emotion. I enjoy inspiring others and helping them to achieve that feeling of accomplishment, but this was the first time that I didn't have anything to do with their hard work, but I was simply recognizing it. To know that I helped someone feel confident in their own clothes encourages me to be a better person. It will truly make you happy to see that you played a part in another person's happiness, especially if they are a stranger.

The whole experience got me thinking about happiness. It's one thing to fuel the happiness of those that you love, but when you do it to a total stranger, it brings your personal happiness to a different level. I'm not always the "nicest stranger" or customer even, so it really made me think about my attitude towards others, especially those who just want to help. If we all just take the time to spread a little cheer to a random stranger or to the people we love, it doesn't even have to be a grand gesture, but a little bit of kindness in this world really does go a long way.

Thankfulness

It's the first Sunday after Thanksgiving. I have been so busy for the past 2 months that I haven't even had a chance to reflect on this Thankful holiday. Even though the original "Thanksgiving" wasn't really celebrated how we would like to think it was, it is still important to spend time with family and show gratitude for life in general. So with that being said, here is my top 3 of what I am most thankful for this year.

1. Health
Of course, I always have to be thankful for not just my good health, but also for my family and loved ones around me. I've seen so many people from a distance who have ailing friends or family members. For the most part, everyone has managed to stay healthy. My Aunt was diagnosed earlier this year with stage 4 breast cancer, but after months of chemotherapy and a radical mastectomy, she looks almost as if nothing has ever happened to her! Blessings from God for sure!!

Then of course there was Mama. She had to be taken to the ER twice this year. This lady.... there was absolutely nothing wrong with her. The first time, she didn't realize she took her medications TWICE. The second time she FORGOT to take her meds! Aye-yay-yay.

Here's a pic of the Carrido Family, it's not all of us, but it captures a lot of us for the most part. The only ones really missing in this is the Texas Family and of course those in the Philippines and Australia. Auntie Pinky wanted to capture everyone looking as healthy as possible before Auntie Lala had her surgery. Papa would be proud of what we've all become.

2. Sticky's Chicken
Yes, I'm thankful for the prospering business my brother and I created from practically nothing. This by far has got to be the toughest year that we've had. I feel like I've experienced more ups and downs with this endeavor than anything else in my life. We have had 3 official offers and 2 unofficial offers for partnership on opening a restaurant and possibly turning it into a food chain. We were recognized throughout the year on different sites; thrillist.com, yelp, papercitymag.com and other local blogs and sites. We also landed a partnership with UberEats Houston! Even though we had to turn down an opportunity of a lifetime in California, I don't regret any decisions we have made to continue in what we believe in. This year I learned the value of our company and how much it really means to me.

Huntington Beach, CA 

3. All the Little Blessings in Between

This year for some reason, my little prayers I've been asking God for have been answered. To others they might be insignificant, but for me they mean the world. Every single time I'm at my last straw on something, it doesn't matter what it is, but right at the moment I'm about ready to give up, God surprises me and he does it in a HUGE way. I can't be thankful enough for my faith in our Savior. He has helped me stay strong through every super low in my life. 

In conclusion, I'm truly grateful for my life. The awesome people that have come and gone throughout my life, especially this entire year have been the best supporters and have shown me love that I didn't even know existed. I'm truly blessed to have experienced this past year. I am now a stronger, more faithful and open person because of every experience and each person I've met. 

So, thank YOU.

There's ALWAYS Something

So today was the day that I've patiently waited a very long time for. I've prayed for strength and guidance for this moment to come so that I wouldn't get ahead of myself (like I always do). You can't even begin to understand my excitement when I got the text. It's almost a dream come true for me.... things like this don't usually happen.

I met him. Simply put, it made me happy.

Walking on Red

There are girls who collect purses, girls who collect clothes, or even makeup. I so happen to be a shoe girl. I love the way a nice shoe adds the perfect detail to a sexy outfit. Or the way a shoe adds character to an everyday look. It's always the shoes that pulls the entire "look" together. 

Yesterday I bought my first pair of Louboutins, it made me feel accomplished. Maybe it's the Filipino in me, but one of my life goals is to have an extensive designer shoe collection. I am by all means not a materialistic person, but I do however can appreciate nice things. For a long time, I have promised to buy myself a beautiful pair of shoes and it finally happened. 

Working hard pays off. It's ok to indulge and buy yourself something nice, you deserve it! Starting a business, getting fired from my "stable" job and then maintaining to grow our business in its second year.... I think I deserve it.

I will now go and walk confidently in my "red-bottomed-shoes" that symbolize my hard work and accomplishments. Until that is... I fall over. haha..

I Hope it's Not Too Late

Days.....

turned into

Weeks....

turned into

Months....

Now we have come full circled into a year. 

Today was the day that I believed would only come in my dreams. Never did I think this moment would become a reality for me. It's crazy, because now that it's here, I'm not sure how I really feel about it. A part of me is happy and excited, but at the same time I'm sad and scared again. Then there's this other weird emotion that's telling me: "Seriously?! You still care??"

I honestly wish I could be more happy and excited than this, but I can't forget how the heartache made me feel. I have so many questions, but for some reason it's almost as if now I don't care to know the answers. That's how much it hurt.... so hurt that I'm numb. 

Living in a Shark Tank

If you asked me 2 years ago, "How do you see yourself in 5 years?" My answer would have gone something like this:

I'll most likely be working in a management position for a company and hopefully work my way up to director, VP or maybe even CEO! Hopefully within those 5 years I'll have completed or in the works to complete my MBA. 

Boy was I naive.

Since the 2 years have passed, I got fired from my "secure job" and my brother and I created a company that has the potential to become a lot bigger than what we first expected. In our innocent minds, we just imagined not having to work for "The Man" and make our own money the way we want to. We did it, we are living the American Dream. We created something out of nothing and are thriving.

So what's next?

This past year, and mind you, we've only gone through 7 months of it as I type, we have been approached by 3 and a half offers/potential investors. I say half, because that offer was through word of mouth and that party never really took the time to come out and meet with us. As my brother and I sit through these "talk sessions" (I call them "talk sessions" because they never really want to admit it's a meeting about how they can involve themselves with us) I can't help but notice 3 common points in their pitches:

1)     I love your food and I want to take you to the next level. You have no money? Don't worry about   it, we'll figure it out. 

Of course you love our food, that shit is good! I know the money will come from you, you're just trying to diversify your portfolio. How much stake do you really want from us?

2)     I have all the resources you need to get to the next level, just look at my accomplishments! I believe with my knowledge, experience and network we can become the next Chipotle.

Oooookkkkkaaayyyy??? But do I even like YOU as a person?? This is a life long commitment here, can I work with you FOREVER?!?!?! Have you even worked in a restaurant??

3)     
*** My personal Favorite *** – This is a ONCE IN A LIFTIME OPPORTUNITY!!! We don't offer this kind of deal with just anyone and we get a lot of people coming up to us all the time. We have never offered anything like this to anyone because we don't work with just anyone!

Of course you've never offered this kind of deal, because our shit is one of a kind!!! And how are you offering a "once in a lifetime" when that other guy said he was "once in a lifetime?" Maybe ya'll should talk to each other, game plan and come back to us.

Don't get me wrong, it's SUPER flattering. I laughed at my dad when he raised the spatula and said: "I'm going to give you a million dollar sauce for free!" Now look at us, people actually want a piece of it. I can't believe this is actually happening. All I hope for is that the Big Guy upstairs leads us in the right direction for success.

What I've learned through all this, do what your gut tells you is right and PRAY. You will hear opposing critics inside and outside your circle, but YOU and God are the only ones who knows what the next best thing is for yourself. Live your dreams and live passionately. Everyone can have their opinion, but the only opinion that matters is yours.

If you ask me now what I'll be doing in 5 years, I confidently tell you I'll be living my dreams.

A Year Later...

So this weekend will be exactly 1 year since we’ve officially opened Sticky’s Chicken Food Truck. 

I honestly can’t believe I operate and run my own business. It’s never been a dream of mine (to be an entrepreneur), but it happened. This past year has been a long uphill battle and I regret absolutely nothing.

So let me tell you a little bit about Sticky’s Chicken.

Basically, a little over 15 years ago, we took Dad to BW3, which is now known as Buffalo Wild Wings. He tasted the wings and thought to himself... “I can do better than this.” So then after that experience, he created his own sauce and figured out how to glaze it on to really crunchy chicken. The sauce is amazing, almost indescribable. It doesn’t really taste like sweet BBQ, but it doesn’t taste like sweet teriyaki either. It’s literally a burst of a new kind of flavor in your mouth. It has a distinct flavor of its own. So flash forward to now. My brother and I were at a point in our lives where we were able to just jump in head first into our first business venture. With no experience or knowledge on how to start a business, let a lone how to run a food truck.... we just did it and it turned out to be a life changing experience. I can never go back to a regular 9-5 or even think about sitting at a desk in front of a computer working for Corporate USA. It’s so much more fun and rewarding seeing people smile after their first bite of our food. 

Houston has been an amazing city to serve and it can only get better from here. It truly has been a humbling experience from being on the news, meeting Karrueche and getting the thumbs up from Houston’s foodie Bun B. I’m super excited to see what the 2nd year of Sticky’s has in store for us!!

Below are links to pretty much sum up our first year in business.

Channel 11 - Food Truck Friday Feature

Southbound Food - Radio Interview

Houston Press - New Food Truck Feature

Zagat - Houston Food Truck Spotlight

Houston Press - Food Truck Feature

Houston Press - Wingtoberfest: And the winner is... (Sticky’s Chicken!!!)

Thrillist - The 12 Best Wings in Houston

Motivational Monday

I read this on one of the many social media apps that I'm constantly on. I wanted to share this to the world just in case someone else needed to read it.

You have two choices in life when it comes to truthful observations by others that anger you: You can be ashamed and cover it up by letting your pride take you in the extreme opposite direction, in order to make the point that they are wrong. Or, you can break down the walls of pride by accepting vulnerability as a strength, not a weakness. As you walk through your vulnerability, you will meet humility on the way to courage. From here, courage allows us to let go of shame and rise higher into the person we are meant to be, not the person that needs to be right. This is the road to confidence and self worth.

- Shannon L. Alder

Keep PUSH-ing!!

Sometimes we tend to forget that if we ask God, He will make it an easy path.

Don't give up & keep praying!

PrayUntilSomethingHappens

Contradictions of Life

"Simply Complicated" seems to be the theme for this week. As much as I've tried to keep things light and easy in my life, everything around me just seems to convolute itself into a big mass of complications. Aye!

I just don't understand how one's actions don't match up to the words that come out of their mouth, stop it with all these contradictions!!!

The other day, I asked (practically begged) God to give me a sign so I can move on to the "next big thing." He showed me a sign alright... but why does he find a way to make it even more complicated?? Do you ever wonder what the heck He has in store for you? I mean seriously..... if you know what I want, can I just have a clue as to what the heck you're up to???

So instead of giving me a black and white answer, I get a 50 shades of gray response that makes no sense at all. Jesus, what are you really up to???

I seriously can't take this anymore. I need a new focus.

Wherever YOU are.

You're like that painful Dashboard song.

"So long sweet summer..." | Age Six Racer

It's seriously annoying. Get out of my mind already.