Today we’d like to introduce you to Destinee Sanchez.
Hi Destinee, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started baking with my mom when I was very young. She was a baker and made custom cakes and candies and I was always right next to her listening and learning and helping any time she would allow. I’m originally from Iowa and I moved to Florida in 2004 after I got married. I’ve been a single mom of two amazing boys for the past 12 years.
My oldest, Blayden is 14 and my youngest Cruze is 12. Being a single mom with absolutely no family around has definitely been a challenge. But I decided in May 2018 to quit my full-time job and work for myself. That was the best decision I ever made!! It allowed me to be with my boys more and I was finally doing what I love. I actually have a few businesses that I run. My umbrella company that everything falls under is Healing Love & Light. I have a yoga business called Light Shine Yoga. I have an online handmade shop called Namaste Wear and I have my baking business Bite Size Sweetz. These are the main 3. My goal as a small business owner is to help others in need (as I have needed in the past) and also inspire others to take control of their life and do what they love. I absolutely love baking all kinds of treats like custom cakes, cookies, cupcakes, cake pops, dipped treats, candied apples, candies, and much more. I’m also starting baking and decorating lessons. My online shop, I make bracelets, necklaces, earrings, jewelry boxes, face masks, yoga mat bags, tote bags, zipper pouches, candles, soaps and more.
I started doing yoga because I broke my neck in July 2001 and had to have surgery to put wires in my neck. I was an athlete so this was a huge shock to my system to have to start all over again. It wasn’t until 2013 when a second car accident started causing even more pain and all the doctor’s medications weren’t working, I took up yoga. My neck was healed within 30 days and the 12 years of pain was all gone!! I am 500 hour certified yoga instructor and have taken many trainings. When I saw how yoga healed my neck, I had to be able to share that with others so I became an instructor! I truly decided to take all of the things that I love in life and make a living doing them.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a hard journey but things are amazing now!! When I became a divorced single mom of two, I knew I couldn’t leave Florida because their Father is here. I believed I was doomed to have to work a miserable job and not see my kids grow up. I have my BS in Accounting and my Masters in Business and 2 Masters certificates and I couldn’t find a good-paying job that would let me off in time to pick my boys up from after care. Since I have no family here, there is no-one to ask for help so I had to turn jobs down. I ended up getting a job paying $10 an hour doing so much work for a small company and I wasn’t using my degrees. I am such a hard worker and I worked my behind off and had no payback. I didn’t see most of my family for eight years because I had to use all my vacation time for sick days for my boys. What a struggle! I was so stressed out working there and would cry every time I left work and one day, I decided I was going to quit my job and work only for myself. I gave myself six months, then my boss upset me and I put my two weeks in three days after I set my six months goal. It was the best decision I ever made. I used to get horrible horrible migraines all the time while I was at the job and I haven’t had one since the day I left that job. Even my body was telling me it was time to take the leap of faith!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in everything!! I started out with mostly cupcakes and then went to cakes. Then I started making cake pops and now I just do it all. I get all sorts of orders, even doggie cakes. My best-selling item is Chunky Monkey Cupcakes. It is banana cake with walnuts and chocolate chunks topped with cream cheese frosting. They are delicious!! But I’m also known for having a lot of cool flavors. I’ve done Dr Pepper Cupcakes, Root Beer Float Cake, Cotton Candy, Key Lime Pie Cupcakes with a Graham Cracker Crust, and more!! I think what sets me apart is everything I do is made with so much love, I believe we put our own energy into what we are doing so I never bake when Im upset and I put good energy and vibes into my baking. With my online shop, the favorite items are my handmade sewn yoga mat bags. They are custom made to order. They take a few hours to make one but they are beautiful and worth the time! Again all the love I put into my items. I get custom bracelet orders and those are my favorite to make!! I also run a lot of fundraisers with my bracelets especially Suicide Awareness. That is a cause very dear to my heart.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I am an advocate for Suicide Awareness and Prevention. This topic has plagued my family in some very crazy ways. I decided, after going through some difficult times myself, that I needed to make sure that no matter what I am doing, that I am spreading Love & Light. Times are hard and if my smile or nice comment or inspirational words help even one person go one more day, then I need to Spread Love on purpose, intentionally. Suicide Awareness Colors are Turquoise and Purple and the Semi Colon is also a sign of Suicide Awareness. It means the story can keep going. It doesn’t have to end. I use those colors to create Fundraiser bracelets to make money to donate to the cause!
Pricing:
- 1 Dozen Chunky Monkey Cupcakes $30
- Custom Yogamat Bags Start at $50
- Suicide Awareness Bracelets $26
- 60 Minute Healing Yoga Class $15
Contact Info:
- Email: bitesizesweetz@gmail.com
- Website: www.HealingLoveandLight.com
- Instagram: @bitesizesweetz @NamasteWear @lightshineyoga
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bitesizesweetz
Image Credits:
Destinee Sanchez
Personal Photo – William Carey with @globalconceptsandmediallc
