Meet Monica Ramirez | Dessert Maker & Paralegal

We had the good fortune of connecting with Monica Ramirez, the founder of Piccolinas treats and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Monica, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I try hard not to mix those two together, especially on difficult days where my day job and time seem to elude me. Its easy to lose sight of why you keep going and focus on why you want to give up. So I take a step back and remember why my hobby turned into a passion and how I made a conscious decision to keep going because I love being a baker and treat maker alot more than the thought of giving up. I also have a natural knack for this and so far the amazing outcome definitely outweighs the nothingness I would get from giving up. So no matter what I would rather keep going because the joy and fulfillment are the best things I experience while baking and making others smile.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a self taught baker who works full time as a paralegal and Ive worked at law firms for over a decade. Once I began to bake I decided that I would rather continue to evolve as a baker than as a paralegal. Accepting this has been challenging because I have always been a scholar at heart and I never imagined that being a baker would pivot me into this amazing journey of growing a business. Im proud to say that I have I balanced both worlds and apply my learned research skills from the legal field and grad school to my business and make sure I perfect every treat and bake.

Being your boss can be volatile vs. the structure an office provides. Letting go of structure and accepting unpredictability as a baker & vendor has been challenging. At some point I decided I would embrace everything that comes with being your own boss. The struggles, the set backs, the lack of motivation etc. Every step is worthwhile and Im very proud that I have continued. Using the best of both worlds has helped me grow tremendously as a baker and to step out of my comfort zone of structure.

Ive learned that everything is going to be hard, whether its in a structured environment or not. However, its not as “hard” when you love what you do and I love being a baker so I take every challenge and lesson as a learning opportunity and add that to another experience in my life book. Lastly, I want people to know that bringing your best isnt always easy but if you love it dont look back youre not going that way. Look ahead – be persistent. Its the challenges that keep me going & motivate me to continue to grow my brand and bring the best to my clientele – no matter what.

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?
I would start with a great coffee place. One of my all time favorites is Blue Bottle in DTLA. Coffee dates out in sunny LA are a great start to a day. Id do a new coffee shop every morning. This would include G&B coffee, Cafe Dulce, Menottis, Groundworks & Maru Coffee. After that Id wing it and we would google our way through breakfast so that I can give her an opportunity to venture out of her comfort zone too. Naturally we would go to beaches like Malibu and Huntington beach – have a few drinks by the oceanside.

Activities wise – we would def go rollerblading or a bike ride. Hiking of course has to be included – especially around Griffith Park to get some good views. Id throw some museums in there too like the LACMA, the Broad, the Met and the Peterson. I think they all add a special uniqueness to LA that isnt all about the fame and Hollywood. Assuming shed want to see Hollywood I would see whats playing at the Hollywood bowl as an excuse to make our way over to that area. The Magic Castle would be a great place to start a day in Hollywood too followed by a concert. Im a huge fan of live concert movies.

If theres room a quick weekend to palm springs to relax and end the ups and downs of running around LA.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate this to my sister, Ana Ramirez. From the very beginning her encouragement, enthusiasm and willingness to take the time to be my marketing director have brought me to this moment in my entrepreneurial life. My gratitude for her is immeasurable.

Instagram: @piccolinasttreats

Other: piccolinastreats@gmail.com

Image Credits
Piccolinas treats