Chismeando with my Comadre—A bi-weekly interview blog series focused on meeting motivating creative female entrepreneurs as a source of inspiration for women looking to fulfill their dreams.
We hope that through these interviews, you find the same dose of inspiration each woman found to
just start and follow your dreams!
On today’s post, we bring you Kate Ramos, the creator behind the brand and cooking blog, ¡Hola! Jalapeño. Helping passionate home cooks create healthy Latin-inspired recipes and throw the best parties. She’s also a huge believer in a good margarita … as are we!
What motivated you to start your business?
I started my blog in 2009, after the birth of our first child. We had just moved to North Dakota from San Francisco so my husband, Armando could take a professorship at a small liberal arts college teaching ceramics and sculpture. I found myself desperately missing our life in California and the food culture we’d left behind. I started ¡Hola! Jalapeño, in many ways to connect with the flavors we loved and to bring familiarity to the remoteness of our new home.
What in life inspires you to create more of what you love?
I find inspiration everywhere. I try to stay open to the world around me as much as possible, so I don't miss any bits of inspiration should they come my way and I always try to go deeper into the moment when the feeling strikes. Music, colors, smells; so much in the world is moving and powerful. This morning my son slipped his hand into mine when I was walking him to school, which rarely happens anymore, I closed my eyes for a moment, so I could really soak it all in.
What is your biggest dream for your business and/or life?
My life's purpose is to share my love of food and cooking with the world. I have so many things I would love to do to live in that purpose. Write cookbooks, start a podcast, maybe open a brick and mortar shop, but my biggest dream is to empower others to create a life well-lived for themselves. If sharing what I know helps someone else feel better about their day, their life, their cooking skills, then I know I'm on the right track.
What is the largest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are now?
Myself. There are very few of us who are NOT our own worst enemies. It has taken me a long time to truly believe I deserve success and I am worth taking risks and going out on a limb for. The only person holding me back from what I want is the voice inside my head that says, "You can't do that." Screw her.
What is one piece of advice you'd give women looking to step into your field?
Baby steps. This is an overcrowded field full of very talented people and it can seem intimidating and overwhelming at first. But the hardest part is getting started. You have to just keep putting one foot in front of the other and not get distracted by the noise. Make a recipe, take some pictures of it, share it on Instagram, figure out what you like and change what you don't. Repeat. Every. Day.
What do you do to reset and refresh when life feels heavy?
Taking care of my physical, mental, and emotional health is huge for me. So, I try to keep tabs on how I'm feeling constantly. Sleep is huge, I'm a big believer in getting enough rest. Exercise is essential, I work out more for my mental and emotional health than anything else. And giving my undivided attention to my kids puts everything in perspective.
What is your favorite activity on days off?
Going to the beach with my family. I love to unplug and feel the warm sun on my face. There's something incredibly rejuvenating about the ocean.
If you could hop on a plane right now where would you go and why?
I've been kind of dying to go on a romantic getaway with my hubby. So maybe Paris? I've never been there, and it definitely oozes romance.
Who would you invite to dinner? Frida Kahlo, Virgen de Guadalupe, or someone else that inspires you?
Michelle Obama
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading Kate's insight into how she started her own business and what keeps her motivated. Stay tuned for a lot more Chisme with other inspiring chicas!
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