We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarita Vaughn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarita, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
I am the mom to an amazing 15 year old daughter. She has become an amazing force in my life and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. With that being said, I believe the biggest impact I’ve had on her was that her voice is important. I have always taught her that it is ok to speak up for yourself to whomever it may be; and to always do it with respect. That was a lesson I learned more so when I was an adult. I did not want that for my daughter so I made it a point to guide her into her voice at an early age.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I had been mastering macarons for some years and sharing them with friends and family. With the great feedback I kept receiving, I decided to make it official My small business started back in 2018. My business was started with just macarons in mind, but as the years went, I started to create other delectable desserts just a couple of years ago. My business is called La Coccinelle Bakery. In French, it means Ladybug Bakery. The name of my business has a special meaning to me as my best friend, who passed away in 2007, absolutely loved ladybugs. When I look at the ladybug that is in my business logo, I always think of her. I want to see myself succeed in business to make my best friend proud that I did something completely out of my comfort zone. I was always so shy and quiet when I was younger and she would be shocked to see me doing this now!

Being the owner of a small business is great, but it is definitely not all rainbows and butterflies! Of course, when you start a business, you think you’re going to do amazingly well right away and everyone will want to purchase what you’re selling. That is definitely not the case; even after being in business for over 5 years. There will be months where you do pretty well, and other months where you may not make anything at all. I knew then and I know now that whether it’s overcoming obstacles or pursuing your dreams, keep pushing forward and you’ll make progress. Yes; there are days when I may want to give up on my dream, but I can always see the “light at the end of the tunnel”. Perseverance is necessary to get where you want to be.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had someone visit the area, I would take them to my favorite places to grab a bite or boba! For a quick bite for breakfast, we’d go grab some Cinnamon Crunch bagels from Panera! Very basic, I know, but I love those bagels. I love the vibe, food and drinks at Tantalum in Long Beach; that is one of my favorite places to go for lunch or dinner. If it happens to be on a Saturday, Spaghettini in Seal Beach has an amazing brunch with a live band. THAT is a really great time! I am usually a homebody, but when I do go out, those are some of the places that are DEFINITELY worth my time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to first give a shoutout to my mom. She is the reason I am a strong woman. She always showed me that we can do it on our own. Secondly, to my daughter. I want to thank her for always pushing me and teaching me. She wants to see me do well and achieve all of my goals. Sometimes, it feels as if SHE is looking in the mirror when she watches me take risks and succeed. I want to also thank my husband for supporting me in my business endeavors. He goes with me to all of my events and always has a smile on his face!

Website: www.lacoccinellebakery.com

Instagram: la_coccinelle_bakery

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