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Unique LA 2017 Holiday Market

Unique LA’s 2017 Holiday Market is officially upon us. Every year I do this show I find another way to challenge myself.

First couple years was just CO Creative Cartel, then Ninong’s joins the scene with a table, then Ninong’s gets a booth. Last year was the first year where I feel that both my businesses really kind of got its sweet spot of where it belongs at Unique LA. But I’m crazy and decided to push the envelope all while testing my sanity lol!

This year, CO Creative Cartel is still sticking to my custom table scape that I’ve had the last 2 shows. It has worked really well for us in the past, and our goal is to sell of our inventory as CO Creative Cartel is pivoting directions. Ninong’s, on the other hand, is going out on a limb. This year, we’re going to prepare food onsite. EEP! We’re going to be selling our Pork Belly Sliders, Ensaymada Grilled Cheese, Iced Barako Coffee, Ube Milk Tea, Mango Juice, Calamansi Juice, and 2 of our signature pancakes – Ube and Buko! We’re also going to be selling pastries as we usually do, so I feel like this show is going to be extremely hectic.

If you’re in SoCal come see both CO Creative Cartel and Ninong’s at the Unique LA 2017 Holiday Market this weekend 12/2/17-12/3/17 at the California Market Center!

Xoxo,

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2016 Holiday Cards are now Available! – Stuff we Make

I am in full Christmas mode over here! These designs below (and more!) are on our website NOW and are available in single cards and boxed sets.

I know this is silly to say, but I’m making the holidays magical this year damnit! 😛 I was very blessed growing up. My mom, dad, aunts, and uncles made Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve very special for me and my cousins when we were kids. We dressed up, had planned out full menus, and really fun parties. When I reminisce back to those days it makes me so happy.

When I designed these cards I remembered the days of when I was a kid and all the feels I felt during this time of year. It’s a time for family, friends, giving, selflessness, and faith. It’s why it’s my favorite time of the year (pun intended). When I close my eyes I remember the multicolored Christmas lights that rimmed my childhood home. They never came down and stayed up all year long lol. The day after Thanksgiving, they would finally be turned on.

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I remember trying to eat a fake glittered strawberry ornament and crying my eyes out cuz it was disgusting lol! Since then I’ve stuck to the normal round not-food-looking ornaments.

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I hope you have a happy, festive, and loving holiday season this year! Spend time with loved ones, give the gift of love, and fill your heart with the warmth of the season!

xoxo,

Kissa

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Encouragement Cards 2016 Release – Stuff we Make

This past January, my mom passed away from cancer. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 and then it moved to her brain. She passed away in my childhood home with her family by her side and full of love. My mom was the strongest person I knew. Even in her weakest moments she was the one that stayed strong for all of us. These last 3 years of my life have been some of the hardest times I have ever had to endure. From trying to accept my mom’s sickness, to family problems, to financial issues, to business transitions, to changing jobs, to being in denial, to keeping a smile on my face even though I was hurting inside, to trying to catch up with the fast pace of every day life…it was hard. I guess it’s just like they say. When it rains it pours. And for us, from 2013 until 2016 it poured. It was one hurdle after another.

Kissa and Mom - Photo by Ja Tecson
Kissa and Mom – Photo by Ja Tecson

Not only did I lose my mom to cancer but I lost one of my best friends in 2012. He had leukemia. He would have been 30 this past January. We lost him so young and until the very end he remained so strong and positive.

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There were so many times that I wish it were me instead of them in the hospital bed – just so that they wouldn’t have to endure all the pain and suffering. Seeing someone you love have to fight a sickness is one of the hardest things ever. Because you can’t do anything about it. You want nothing but to take this sickness away from them. But you can’t. And for someone like me that’s really tough to do.

Needless to say cancer is a really big deal to me. It’s so important to me to be there for those that are suffering and having to endure treatments of any kind. I noticed that more I’ve meet more and more people that have or had cancer. Either that or have a loved one that is battling it. And it breaks my heart. When I hear stories, it doesn’t matter whether I know them or not I can’t help but shed a tear for them and their family. It’s almost like I know them. It feels like a really sucky club of some kind. The Sucky Cancer Fighters Club.

So I decided to create a line of encouragement cards for those fighting for their lives.

All of these designs are available in our shop and wholesale. I hope these cards give someone a little bit of hope and a smile when they need it most.

xoxo,

Kissa

 

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