From Boss Babe to Mamapreneur
This August 2024 my brand and passion project will turn four years old!
Four years ago I was sheltered at home, working remotely, desiring to connect with others like me, and channeling my creativity into digital art and designing merch that I could identify with. I was working long hours behind a laptop through migraines, depression and anxiety attacks, but after clocking out, I found myself connecting with cipotas on social media, finding cute merch on their shops, and doodling salvi thingies onto my iPad. I made a fresh instagram page and created a vision for a new beginning - SanFranCipota.
I opened a virtual store - like… whaaat??! I made my dreams come true by turning drawings into dresses, stickers, tees, and even fanny packs. I met new friends online and finally felt like I was finding my people. I was creating and creating and creating. This website blossomed - though not many people found it at first. But by showing up as my real silly self on IG, somehow an audience grew, a community emerged, friendships became real, one of my tees went viral with a huge help from a fellow Salvi comedian - Hoozay, then I realized this could be my future.
I slowly re-entered the real world one outdoor event at a time in hopes of connecting with other Salvi people in San Francisco. Soon after I was hosting pop-up events with Los Bayuncos, Mission Native, Mama’s Papas, and so many other talented creatives and chefs that I admire. We kicked off monthly events, and celebrated our central american cultures with even bigger celebrations for dia de independencia.
Momentum was full force, I was actively touring pupuserias in San Francisco and posting reels for each one on IG, growing a fun following, and growing a waist. I had my merch on sale in a physical store at a mall I grew up going to in SF; Handmade in California was a wonderful experience to be part of a collective of artists and creators selling our work in a beautiful space. I finally felt like I was living my dreams!
In October 2022, I married the love of my life, Mr. Sanfrancipote, and we moved to Napa Valley which made being a Boss Babe a little challenging with the distance. Adulting and life slowed things down, I had to seek work again and joined Abanico Coffee Roasters - a salvadorian owned coffee shop, as a barista. Commuting long hours, dimmed my light a bit. Then another exciting journey unfolded with my first pregnancy. Through ongoing depression, anxiety, and overall exhaustion, I grew my little cipote with so much love and excitement.. and a whole lot of pupusas and taco bell.
Baby Cipote was born February 2024 after three long days of labor, he climbed out into this world as Ocean Avenue by Yellowcard played and all the months of gestational diabetes, multiple weekly appointments, and emergency surgery were all quickly forgotten once my pegostito was finally in my arms. Two weeks postpartum I’d be rolled over to another emergency surgery, but overall I finally had my little love I always dreamt of.
Throughout the last half of this journey, there were moments I abandoned my brand completely, wanted to give up, and just crawl into hiding. Despite that, I still managed a couple online sales here and there, and still reached new cipotes discovering my merch for the first time. It’s those instances that keep me going, getting a piece that I designed into the hands of someone new who feels connected and seen through my merch. That’s the whole reason I began my brand, because I wanted to feel seen so badly.
Allllll of this is to say that this new mama isn’t giving up. I am ready to step up into the new role of Mamapreneur and continue to build my legacy. I need to show my little bebe that his mom isn’t a quitter. Even though I’ve faced the haters, had my merch copied, and my hand drawn art stolen and reproduced onto others’ work, I still will continue on and challenge myself to keep going and keep creating.
I appreciate you for being here, for supporting my dream, and for reading this whole rant. It’s y’all who keep me on my toes and keep inspiring me to continue.
