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Speaker 1: Let's talk with Heather Do bros Starts now, Okay, my guest today. I've been watching her forever.
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Speaker 2: She doesn't know. I'm kind of a super fan. She became so huge.
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Speaker 1: I think starting in the Pandemic, we're going to break it all down. She's got her new cookbook called Let's Make Some Lunch.
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Speaker 2: It's Sully Jessica.
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Speaker 3: Woo welcome.
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Speaker 1: First of all, look at how cuter book is.
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Speaker 2: I mean amazing.
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Speaker 1: So there's so much to break down with all of this. You're a mom of three. I'm a mom of four, been making lunches for a long time. Nowhere near your lunches, however, I mean I did do the whole thing. Anyway, We're going to get into all of that, but I want to kind of scroll back a little bit and talk about how it began, because what we talk about a lot is, you know, especially being on a reality show, is that authenticity, right cells Yeah, it's what works. And I remember in the Pandemic, I remember just watching your videos and you just very authentically kept saying, let's make some lunch for my girls.
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Speaker 2: Yeah, that makes some lunch for my kids.
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Speaker 4: It was basically just something I did, you know, every day. My oldest was already going into third or fourth grade, so I had been making these lunches every day since kindergarten, you know, and for me it was just another task. And for I just have an artist background, So I was like, how can I make this nicer, cuter, funner, you know, more fun, I.
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Speaker 3: Guess, And.
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Speaker 4: It just kind of gradually, you know, I just made it so that it was more challenging for me, like what can I make her that will open up her palette?
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Speaker 3: You know?
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Speaker 4: What can I make her to eat more vegetables? So it was just kind of one of those kind of journeys where I'm a mom, I'm doing the same thing every day, but it's boring. So I wanted to make it fun for myself.
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Speaker 1: But also, I mean, I really respect the fact that you know, there's you know, some candy in there.
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Speaker 3: Yeah, of course some things.
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Speaker 1: Well, because you know, look there's a spectrum of mom lunches, right.
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Speaker 3: Yes.
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Speaker 1: I feel like you have a really good balance, thank you, because you know there's some people. Now I don't know what the feedback, but like, I mean, I know you have huge feedback because you have gazillions of followers and views the feedback is good, but do you get people on both sides of the spectrum being like this is the best I want to do this and other people being like this is too much, I can't do this.
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Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean all the time. I mean Molly Sims actually made a like a make fun of my video a video yeah that you know she threw in the tella and like, you know, there's obviously all those she.
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Speaker 1: Dumped, like like loose potato chips in.
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Speaker 4: The thing, right, So you know, there are moms that are like, not just moms, just people people in general, that are like, I would never do that. I don't have time for that, Like who, like, why would they do that? The kids are going to just throw it away?
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Speaker 3: You know.
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Speaker 4: So I have that that spectrum. But then I also have the parents who are like, I want to do this. You know, I'm not I'm not even I don't I'm not even in a relationship, and I want I do this for my future children or you know, their partner or their parents. You know a lot of kids are like, I want to do this for my parents.
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Speaker 3: Oh that's sweet, very sweet.
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Speaker 1: Well, let's face it, like there is drudgery to housework and there is drudgery to making kids lunches, right, I mean, I remember my memories of growing up in my house was the paper bag, right. We didn't have fancy bendo boxes. It was the paperback. And I remember there were days that the lunch was great and days where it was like whatever was in there was kind of just thrown together. Yeah, but there was always like a ring ding.
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Speaker 2: Do you know what a ring ding is?
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Speaker 3: I don't know whatever.
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Speaker 1: I think like the a is a like hostess, yeah, but it's like a circle. So I think in some places they call it a ding dong.
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Speaker 3: Yeah, yah, ding dong Okay.
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Speaker 1: Yeah, So what was your what was what were your lunches like growing up? Where did you grow up?
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Speaker 4: I grew up in La Actually I got Korea Town, and my mom actually packed me the lunches that were actually you know, more traditional kind of like it's.
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Speaker 3: Smelled funny, you know, it was like kim chi stuff like that. Lucky for me, I.
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Speaker 4: Didn't get too many like kids bullying me for lunch because I did go to a minority school. Like a lot of my friends were all minorities, so they kind of understood, you know, they they had their own traditional type food as well, so but.
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Speaker 3: You know, it wasn't really normal. You know.
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Speaker 4: I wanted like a hamburger sometimes one of the sandwich, yeah, peanut butter and jelly sand potino. So you know, my mom, I love food though, so I was like, you know, I'm I'm fine with this, but I also wanted to, you know, live on the other side and have French fries or like yeah, and.
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Speaker 2: You want to fit in right right what everyone else is having.
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Speaker 4: So then so yeah, I just grew up having those traditional lunches. My mom was really big into me knowing where I came from, my roots, my culture, my traditions, so she did instill that in me from you know, at a very young age. So I think a lot of my content, you know, it shows, you know, because I wanted to pack those same kind of lunches for my girls because they love Korean food. So it's like, why why wouldn't I you know, we're having rice with fish and kimchi, and for me, I'm like, well, I'm just going to do it.
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Speaker 3: And then sometimes I would worry and.
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Speaker 4: Be like, okay, well what if they get my fun of you know, and like so I would put like a.
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Speaker 3: Little bit, and lucky for me, my girls were like why do you put so little?
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Speaker 4: You know, like she'd be like, I want more kimchi in there tomorrow, you know, and so so then I was like, okay, well, my kids are fine with it. I can explore more types of cuisines. I love doing international comfort food, So anything that kind of reminds you of your mom or your grandma's looking, I'd love all that stuff, you know, Indian food, Mexican food, Thai food. So I just slowly kind of incorporated anything that we wanted to eat.
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Speaker 3: Mostly I cooked things that I'm like, I crave this.
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Speaker 1: So then and then do you worry about the room temperature of it all? Because that's what I always think, Like when I watch your videos and other people's videos that do meals on the go, I.
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Speaker 2: Always think like, you can't eat that.
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Speaker 4: Up right, And you know, that's pretty much my number one question is like do they eat that cold?
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Speaker 3: And yeah, I mean I don't you know they.
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Speaker 2: Camera it's like a soup.
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Speaker 4: You can put it in a fat and other most I try to keep the warm things warm as much as I can. But for me, my kids never complained, you know, like sometimes they'll be like it was a little bit harder because it sat for a while, you know, so they would give me the feedback, and but I was like, do.
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Speaker 3: You want school lunch? You know? Do you want to just get school lunch?
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Speaker 4: Like by yeah, you know, cause I'm like, because it's warmer.
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Speaker 1: And I know that have they ever bought it?
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Speaker 3: They did.
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Speaker 4: My middle child actually was like, Mom, I want to do school lunch. And so it was like a week and I was like, Okay, that's fine, you know, like more time for me to sleep. Yeah, And she did it for a week and then she's like, all right, never mind.
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Speaker 2: That's so funny.
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Speaker 1: And then what about the practicality of bandbox funny? Because Jenny Mullin's been on the show before, and you know she used to do She has a cookbook also where she makes lunches different than you, yeah, but also really fabulous. And I always was like, doesn't it slide when you turn it on its side?
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Speaker 3: You know it does, But my kids know.
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Speaker 1: You make it so beautiful and everything's caught, and I like the way everything's stacked and the little pins you put in that are all like have their theme and everything. And then I just worry that it's sliding.
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Speaker 4: My girls just know, you know, like they know that I make lunches and I make them cute, and I spend time and energy and I put all my love into it.
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Speaker 3: So they carry it very carefully, you know.
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Speaker 4: They know not to be like throwing their back around like most kids. And at school they take their lunch and then they like have it on a cart where everyone's lunch bag is, and then they use the cart to like get out to lunch. So you know, like I obviously had a conversation like, hey, you know, I'm making it cute, so you know, try not to shake your bag or like, you know, and they wouldn't know, like they if they open up a bag their lunch and it's like all messed up, it's like obviously like, oh maybe I shouldn't be like swinging around, right.
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Speaker 3: So my girls are just careful. They know they love my lunches.
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Speaker 4: They ask for them because I, you know, I check in and I'm like, do you rather eat you know, you want to buy pizza at school instead? Or you know, school and school lunch is free now in Nevada. I don't know if it is anywhere else but school lunch is free, really yeah, which is amazing. And so I'm like, it's free, you know, you can get lunch.
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Speaker 1: And do you ever wake up and just feel like, yeah, I can't cook it today.
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Speaker 4: Yeah, all the time, all the time. And my girls give me that time. You know, they understand. They're like, it's fine, mom, I'll I'll make my own lunch. And so I think it's just a big part of what I do is showing my love through different acts of lifes service.
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Speaker 3: And they they notice.
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Speaker 4: That, you know, and they appreciate the lunches that I do make them. You know, they know when I'm tired and I'm stressed out, or you know, my mom passed away a few years ago and I didn't want to do anything, and my you know, my oldest daughter is like, it's fine, I'll make me and you know, vacines lunch. You can just you know, stay in bed if you need to.
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Speaker 3: So, you know, like, my girls are really good.
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Speaker 4: And I think it's because they see the effort that I put into them, and you know, they really want to show that effort back to me.
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Speaker 3: It's yeah, it's.
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Speaker 4: Very sweet, and that's why I do this, you know, I do this because they're still loving.
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Speaker 1: I know. It's great when you can find something with your kids that they get because you know, there's so many things that we as moms do yeah for our kids that it's trow yeah and they and nor do they have to know and it's all taken for granted sometimes, but you know, it's so nice when there is that thing that they're like, I see you especially. You know what's funny for me is that when I started with twins, so when they were starting in school, like I loved and it's a boy and girl.
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Speaker 3: So oh that's what I wanted to It was really.
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Speaker 1: Fun like because they were very different in the different taste and to do make little faces on things and whatever in the lunch mail. But I'll tell you, by the time the fourth one came along, I peaked, like way way before that.
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Speaker 3: I was like, can't do this anymore, Oh my god.
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Speaker 1: And then I sort of dropped off the lunch mail for a while and then they.
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Speaker 2: Asked for it back. Yeah, and I was like, oh, the lunch.
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Speaker 3: Yes, see, they want it.
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Speaker 2: You know, things I know.
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Speaker 4: People will come in and say like they're trading that for you know, lunchables or like whatever. And I'm like, they actually asked me for these, you know, and so as long as they want it, I'm gonna be making them.
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Speaker 2: Oh I think it's the sweetest thing ever.
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Speaker 1: Or what's the best thing that you made for them that they were like, Oh my god, that was the best lunch ever.
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Speaker 3: They're all different, they all have different tastes.
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Speaker 4: So, like my middle child likes the simpler, like, you know, a pebe and j or a sandwich or a wrap kind of stuff. My oldest one loves Korean food, so it's always going to be something Korean. And then my youngest one is my pickiest one, so she will like having the same thing for like weeks. She's like one of those where it's like I know what I like, I like what I like.
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Speaker 3: And that's what I'm gonna stick with.
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Speaker 4: So her hers is more like soups, like chicken noodle soup. She loves this Korean like tofu soup I make. So a lot of her lunches are thermost and she's very particular about temperature as well, so I try to keep.
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Speaker 3: That in mind.
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Speaker 4: My Yeah, my youngest one's the biggiest one. She's funny.
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Speaker 1: And then what's was there any meal that you made and they were like, oh my gosh, that was terrible.
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Speaker 3: There have been a few. I can't remember what they were.
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Speaker 4: Exactly, but it's mostly because of the temperature, you know, like they'll just be like, oh, it was a little bit harder.
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Speaker 3: To eat because it was cold, you know.
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Speaker 4: But they're like, but then that's fine, you know now I know then next time, I'm like, oh, probably won't pack that for you know, life, because it's hours before they eat.
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Speaker 1: So, so you started as a makeup artist, right, Yeah.
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Speaker 3: I did makeup for twenty years.
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Speaker 2: Oh my gosh.
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Speaker 1: And then so and so was it sort of a choice to stay home with the kids. And this is like your creative outlet, Like how do you how do you go from being makeup arts?
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Speaker 2: Because they're both super creative. I mean, you're very visual. Your stuff is so adorable.
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Speaker 3: Thank you. So I did makeup, but I also did other things.
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Speaker 4: So I was a marketing director for a company and that was like my corporate you know, nine to five job for a while. And then I left that job because I had my third and I wanted to be home with her, you know, I didn't want to just get off work and do bad time and then sleep and that's it.
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Speaker 3: So I left.
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Speaker 4: And then I created two small businesses, all kind of geared towards children. I did digital drawings of children or like invitations or wedding invites or something like more family oriented. And then I also made accessories, so like handstwn hair bows and hair clips and necklaces and bookmarks like whatever I wanted to make, I made and sold. So I had those two small businesses that the makeup on the side. And then I was always creating content because I went to school for journalism and media studies, so that was kind of my background. I loved photography and filming just from growing up. My grandpa taught me how to develop film at wow when I was eight, you know, and my dad taught me how to build computers at like nine, so that, you know, everything that kind of tied into the content stuff. And so I s braathed yesterday. So then yeah, and then TikTok came along and I was like, hey, I can do this. It doesn't take that much, you know. It's more raw, real, it's what people are doing every day. It's not a huge production like YouTube videos were very high production, right, So then Yeah, I started doing the lunch thing in my lunch video and viral, and then from there I grew one million in one month and then just kept going.
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Speaker 2: It's amazing.
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Speaker 1: It's funny because you know, like my oldest two are about to be twenty one, and them and all their friends talk about what they're going to do with their lives. Are in college and you know, and possibilities are so endless now with you know, being an influencer and making content and all of these things. But it's also you know, they try to not my kids, but in general, like these kids, they're all trying to find the thing. And what I keep telling them is exactly what you've done with your life and career, which is you try everything and you do everything that is interesting right too, because you know, hearing your story, it's literally everything that you've done has brought you, yeah, to exactly this moment. Right, That's why all things are worth doing. I keep saying to this and my kids, I'm like, you don't have to worry about trying things to find out what you want to do, try things to cross them off your list.
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Speaker 4: Yeah, and that's what I did, you know, Like I just always wanted to learn. You know, I wanted to be a flight attendant because I love traveling. I wanted to work with animals because I you know, I loved them, and so like my whole life, I just wanted to learn new things and keep doing different things in my life. And yeah, like even going to school for journalism and media studies, which helped me a lot being in front of.
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Speaker 3: Camera, working camera.
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Speaker 4: And then I also had a concentration in public relations and advertising which helps me tremendously in my brand campaigns and working with different companies too. So I feel like I definitely had an advantage when I did go viral because I did have so much background right in marketing and just branding myself. So yeah, definitely, you know, you just have to see what you like and maybe it's something completely different and new that you don't even know.
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Speaker 2: Yeah, that's why you have to try everything. What's it like?
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Speaker 1: What was it like moving to Nevada.
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Speaker 4: After growing up at LA I went to Las Vegas in middle school, so I pretty much grew up there as well. I definitely say I'm a Vegas girl, and for me, it was normal, Like obviously some things are very weird, like you'll see you know, like strip club advertisements and like, you know whatever.
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Speaker 3: But it was just normal.
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Speaker 4: And for me, I think it was just like you're either in that lifestyle or you're not. And I was a cocktail server for a long time on the strip, so I was in it, you know. I was in hospitality doing all that stuff and clubbing at nineteen, you know, and I went through.
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Speaker 3: My Vegas phase too. But I but.
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Speaker 4: It's like anywhere else, you know, it's like the people you meet and who you you know, surround yourself with that kind of matters.
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Speaker 1: Yeah, all right, So tell me about the book. What was I mean, obviously this is everything you do, but like what made you decide it was time to launch a cookbook?
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Speaker 4: In the beginning, I automatically was like, what what can I do with this? You know, like what can I do with this that I can you know, what I really want to do, you know, And I was like I want to write a book, you know, just in my head, I was like I want to write a children's book or like something. And so when food became my core focus, I was like, I want to do a cookbook. And it was mostly my followers too, you know, they're like are you coming out with a cookbook? We want your recipes because I wasn't doing a lot of my recipe videos. I was doing mostly the lunch packing videos and people ask so then I was like, oh cool, Like I can do a cookbook. And it was kind of just in my mind for the longest time.
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Speaker 3: And then.
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Speaker 4: My life kind of stop because of my mom, and then I was going through a breakup, and so it was put on hold for like two years, I think, And so finally once I got myself out of there, I talked to my literary agent, which he had been with me since the band Guinea. He was like, you know, I want to help you put this book out and just let me know when you're ready.
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Speaker 3: So he waited like two years.
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Speaker 4: He still believed in me, you know, he understood what I wanted to do with my book, and you know, he just really believed in me and my vision and what I wanted to make. And so once I was ready, I wrote the proposal and then he that was when he him and my manager my team went and took it to the publishers and then from there I got my publishing book deal, and it's so exciting.
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Speaker 1: A lot of times people see people on TikTok or they see people you know, on reality and they're like.
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Speaker 2: Oh, it's just look at that.
00:19:02
Speaker 1: They just hit it big and so but it's hard to have your life thrust out there and it really changes things. And here you are, you know, make having your kids on, which I personally know sometimes it's tricky to put your kids in the spotlight and all that.
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Speaker 2: Do you ever worry about.
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Speaker 1: That sort of thing?
00:19:20
Speaker 2: And also you know, going through a breakup?
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Speaker 4: Yeah, of course, I mean, of course I worry. It's a huge worry for me, just because there's so many weirdos out there. But for me, my audience is ninety five percent women. Yeah, and I don't.
00:19:37
Speaker 3: Really get a lot of the weird messages. I you know, it's very rare.
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Speaker 4: And I feel like if I had a different audience, you know, if it was a little bit different, then I think I would be more worried. Yeah, differand is sweet, right, So just having that is fine. And then also my children wanting to be on as well. It was a big factor and they do you know, they like, oh my god, can we go live? You know, and I'm like no, because I don't know what you're going to say sometimes I don't want you to roast me on live and but they love it, you know, And so for me, it's an opportunity for them if they want to do this too. Like what kid doesn't want to be a YouTuber or a TikToker, you know? Every many Yeah, every kid I meet, they're like, that's what I want to do.
00:20:23
Speaker 3: And the cool thing about being.
00:20:24
Speaker 4: A content creator is you can still do what you love. You know, you can be a you know, chef or a dancer, you know, like Charlie D'milia like, you can do whatever you want and still be a content creator, which I think opens up a lot of doors for everyone. And so I'm always like, yeah, of course I'm going to push you and help you if I can.
00:20:46
Speaker 1: And I'm just making yeah, come on, we didn't do this for nothing, right, And.
00:20:51
Speaker 4: So I'm like, well, and I'm I want to retire some day so they can take over, you know. So you know, it was a lot of thinking, and I try to keep it not too excessive where they're like where I'm like, you have to film or you know, I'm sure that happens with certain families, but I just do it when they want to when they need to, and and it's fine, you know, or I don't have to have them on because I have my own content too.
00:21:19
Speaker 2: Yeah, I do the same thing.
00:21:21
Speaker 1: I mean, I let my kids take the lead for when they feel like filming and when they don't, Yeah, they don't.
00:21:27
Speaker 4: Right, because sometimes they don't, you know, they're like, don't film me right now, and I'm like okay.
00:21:31
Speaker 1: And you're right.
00:21:32
Speaker 2: Sometimes you don't know what they're going to say.
00:21:34
Speaker 1: Yeah, can't control everyone, yeah, right, right. And then going through a breakup when you're so public, that has got to be difficult.
00:21:45
Speaker 4: Yeah, it for me, it's just more on internally because I don't share too much.
00:21:52
Speaker 3: I share enough, but I don't share.
00:21:56
Speaker 4: Like if I'm like going through it obviously I'm not like saying I'm going through it, like I'm I'm going through it right now. But and it's more like just having the motivation to, like, you know, try to be happy on camera, and because it's everything so real for me that like I can't fake anything.
00:22:19
Speaker 2: I can't fake but that's why you that's why people love you.
00:22:22
Speaker 4: Right, And but it's like it just sucks for me because I'm like, well, I don't have motivation to sound happy or look happy or you know, do do all these things that I normally do because I you know, I'm just so hurting inside.
00:22:36
Speaker 1: But don't you think your audience would respond so well to that? I mean, I think sometimes, I mean, one of the things I love and hate about social is that, you know, sometimes everything's perfect and glossy, right, and none of us are perfect right or glossy, and we all go through shit.
00:22:55
Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, have to deal with stuff.
00:22:56
Speaker 1: But I feel like it humanizes you and it makes people connect with you so.
00:23:00
Speaker 3: Much more, right.
00:23:01
Speaker 4: And I did do that with my mom passing. Yeah, and it really helped me because I came from a from just not talking about anything. I was very much a person who bottled everything inside. And even to this day, my sisters like, you're the worst influencer because you hate sharing.
00:23:19
Speaker 3: Yourself, you know.
00:23:20
Speaker 4: And but I did share that part of myself with my audience about my mom and all that stuff, and it helped me, you know, it helped me like talk about it and like, you know, help me just heal. And they were so supportive, you know. They everyone was like telling me their stories about their moms or I know, it's.
00:23:44
Speaker 1: Great when you built such an incredible community.
00:23:48
Speaker 4: Yeah, and even if they you know, like they would just connect to me, like, you know, I never had that kind of relationship with my mom. But it's so good to see you having a relationship with your mom because I want that with my children or you know, like stuff like that.
00:24:01
Speaker 3: And those messages definitely help me.
00:24:03
Speaker 4: And being online has helped me open up more about myself, which is a good thing. But also, I don't know, sometimes it is kind of scary to just put yourself out there, especially when I'm like, I don't even tell my friends what happened half the time, you know, and now I'm like telling all these strangers.
00:24:21
Speaker 1: Sometimes it's easier to tell stress, right right.
00:24:24
Speaker 3: Right, Yeah, it is.
00:24:26
Speaker 4: So I'm just kind of still figuring out that part of myself is how much I do want to still share and how much I want to keep you know, because my kids are watching. And that's the biggest thing is do I want this out there for my kids to be watching and hearing so and but I mean they know everything, they you know, My biggest thing is just being open and honest with them too. So as long as I'm making my kids, happy, proud, not embarrassed for the most part.
00:24:56
Speaker 3: Yeah, that's like my rule.
00:24:59
Speaker 2: What's the saying.
00:25:00
Speaker 1: It's like you're only as happy as you're unhappy as child?
00:25:03
Speaker 3: Yeah, basically it's so true. Yeah, how old are they? Six? Ten and thirteen? We just had two birthdays?
00:25:12
Speaker 2: Yeah, Oh my gosh.
00:25:13
Speaker 1: Mine are all around birthdays or all around the same times too. It's so really, Yes, we have like a birthday season.
00:25:18
Speaker 3: Yeah. June is mine?
00:25:20
Speaker 2: Really?
00:25:20
Speaker 3: Oh June? And then my middle one was born on New Year's Day.
00:25:25
Speaker 2: New Year's Day is good though.
00:25:26
Speaker 4: Yeah, it's cool because I'm always like, all those fireworks are feet baby here?
00:25:30
Speaker 2: Oh, isn't that good? Sae? My birthday's January. It's terrible.
00:25:33
Speaker 1: Everyone's done broke over it hungover. Yeah, George, January, it's terrible.
00:25:38
Speaker 2: We don't celebrate till February. Ahtually. So the book's coming out. That's very exciting.
00:25:44
Speaker 1: You're going on book tour, Yes, amazing. And what's next?
00:25:50
Speaker 3: What's next?
00:25:51
Speaker 4: I'm working on a Bento Box collaboration, so I'll have my own little collab Bento Box.
00:25:57
Speaker 2: That's exciting.
00:25:58
Speaker 4: So product book, then product great, and then I want to hopefully get into voice acting because people know me before my voice. So yes, that's kind of what I want to do in the future.
00:26:15
Speaker 2: Isn't that funny?
00:26:16
Speaker 1: Do people recognize you like in stores if you're because that happens to me. If I'm in a grocery store or something, people hear my voice from another aisle.
00:26:24
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:26:24
Speaker 4: Same at Like the first time I got recognized, I had a mask and I was at a bakery and I was like okay.
00:26:30
Speaker 3: And she's like, wait, I know your voice, and I.
00:26:32
Speaker 4: Was like cool, you know, like and then she was like, oh, I think I know saw you on TikTok and it was pretty you know, like soon. So I was like, oh, ohoh, that's crazy. So but yeah, people do recognize my voice, which is crazy.
00:26:47
Speaker 1: What do you want people to know about making lunch for your kids?
00:26:52
Speaker 2: What's like the most important thing that people need to know?
00:26:54
Speaker 4: I think the most important thing in what I do and share is just loving your kids and spending time with them and doing special things like little things, because it matters, you know, it really matters, Like even if I wasn't making these intricate lunches, but like me just writing the note, you know, and that was just another way of communicating with them.
00:27:21
Speaker 3: You know, if I'm like angry at her.
00:27:25
Speaker 4: Or upset like you know, I'll still apologize, you know, I'll write the note and I'll be like, I'm so sorry for being upset, you know. And so just opening up that line of communication, not just your kids, but just you know, anyone that you love, just doing little things that make you happy, but also someone else in your life happy, and just being kind and nice.
00:27:47
Speaker 3: You know.
00:27:47
Speaker 4: That's a big thing that I push is be kind to everyone, you know, and.
00:27:53
Speaker 3: Just be nicer.
00:27:55
Speaker 2: You know.
00:27:55
Speaker 4: I feel like we just need a little bit more love and sweetness and kind in the world. So that's just kind of what I want to share.
00:28:03
Speaker 1: I love that, and I think it's great. I think the book is amazing. Everyone's going to love it. And also we want to put out there also, and you've said this is that it's not just about the fancy lunch. It's about the effort and the message you're sending to your kids. And look, man, going to school is hard.
00:28:19
Speaker 2: Yeah, and you know, I.
00:28:21
Speaker 1: Just remember being a kid and having a tough day and you get to lunch and there's just something in there that you love. Yeah, And it makes it a little better.
00:28:30
Speaker 3: Yeah yeah.
00:28:30
Speaker 4: And like even in the beginning, some of the teachers saw my videos and you know, they would comment and be like, hey, I see your daughter during lunch and you know, her face lights up every time she opens her lunch. So you know, it's just those the words of validation from like people where I'm not there. You know, I'm not there. I don't know exactly what happens, but to hear that from you know, staff and faculty and you know, being supportive and even when they were little and couldn't read yet, they would read the notes for them, you know, and so cute, very cool.
00:29:01
Speaker 1: I used to do like I you know, like an I I would yeah, I do that a heart and like a you.
00:29:08
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah for sure. Great.
00:29:09
Speaker 1: Well, tell everyone how to find you on social and how to get the book.
00:29:14
Speaker 4: I am at Sully Jessica everywhere, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and then if you go to my Instagram anywhere my cookbook is linked. But it's also on books a Million, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, you can order it now. It'll come out in six days and then you can see me on tour, which I'm going on this week.
00:29:38
Speaker 2: As well, like and this week continued success.
00:29:41
Speaker 3: Thank you so much,
Speaker 1: Let's talk with Heather Do bros Starts now, Okay, my guest today. I've been watching her forever.
00:00:09
Speaker 2: She doesn't know. I'm kind of a super fan. She became so huge.
00:00:14
Speaker 1: I think starting in the Pandemic, we're going to break it all down. She's got her new cookbook called Let's Make Some Lunch.
00:00:20
Speaker 2: It's Sully Jessica.
00:00:21
Speaker 3: Woo welcome.
00:00:24
Speaker 1: First of all, look at how cuter book is.
00:00:26
Speaker 2: I mean amazing.
00:00:28
Speaker 1: So there's so much to break down with all of this. You're a mom of three. I'm a mom of four, been making lunches for a long time. Nowhere near your lunches, however, I mean I did do the whole thing. Anyway, We're going to get into all of that, but I want to kind of scroll back a little bit and talk about how it began, because what we talk about a lot is, you know, especially being on a reality show, is that authenticity, right cells Yeah, it's what works. And I remember in the Pandemic, I remember just watching your videos and you just very authentically kept saying, let's make some lunch for my girls.
00:01:02
Speaker 2: Yeah, that makes some lunch for my kids.
00:01:04
Speaker 4: It was basically just something I did, you know, every day. My oldest was already going into third or fourth grade, so I had been making these lunches every day since kindergarten, you know, and for me it was just another task. And for I just have an artist background, So I was like, how can I make this nicer, cuter, funner, you know, more fun, I.
00:01:27
Speaker 3: Guess, And.
00:01:29
Speaker 4: It just kind of gradually, you know, I just made it so that it was more challenging for me, like what can I make her that will open up her palette?
00:01:38
Speaker 3: You know?
00:01:38
Speaker 4: What can I make her to eat more vegetables? So it was just kind of one of those kind of journeys where I'm a mom, I'm doing the same thing every day, but it's boring. So I wanted to make it fun for myself.
00:01:50
Speaker 1: But also, I mean, I really respect the fact that you know, there's you know, some candy in there.
00:01:56
Speaker 3: Yeah, of course some things.
00:01:57
Speaker 1: Well, because you know, look there's a spectrum of mom lunches, right.
00:02:02
Speaker 3: Yes.
00:02:02
Speaker 1: I feel like you have a really good balance, thank you, because you know there's some people. Now I don't know what the feedback, but like, I mean, I know you have huge feedback because you have gazillions of followers and views the feedback is good, but do you get people on both sides of the spectrum being like this is the best I want to do this and other people being like this is too much, I can't do this.
00:02:22
Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean all the time. I mean Molly Sims actually made a like a make fun of my video a video yeah that you know she threw in the tella and like, you know, there's obviously all those she.
00:02:33
Speaker 1: Dumped, like like loose potato chips in.
00:02:36
Speaker 4: The thing, right, So you know, there are moms that are like, not just moms, just people people in general, that are like, I would never do that. I don't have time for that, Like who, like, why would they do that? The kids are going to just throw it away?
00:02:49
Speaker 3: You know.
00:02:49
Speaker 4: So I have that that spectrum. But then I also have the parents who are like, I want to do this. You know, I'm not I'm not even I don't I'm not even in a relationship, and I want I do this for my future children or you know, their partner or their parents. You know a lot of kids are like, I want to do this for my parents.
00:03:07
Speaker 3: Oh that's sweet, very sweet.
00:03:09
Speaker 1: Well, let's face it, like there is drudgery to housework and there is drudgery to making kids lunches, right, I mean, I remember my memories of growing up in my house was the paper bag, right. We didn't have fancy bendo boxes. It was the paperback. And I remember there were days that the lunch was great and days where it was like whatever was in there was kind of just thrown together. Yeah, but there was always like a ring ding.
00:03:34
Speaker 2: Do you know what a ring ding is?
00:03:35
Speaker 3: I don't know whatever.
00:03:36
Speaker 1: I think like the a is a like hostess, yeah, but it's like a circle. So I think in some places they call it a ding dong.
00:03:41
Speaker 3: Yeah, yah, ding dong Okay.
00:03:43
Speaker 1: Yeah, So what was your what was what were your lunches like growing up? Where did you grow up?
00:03:48
Speaker 4: I grew up in La Actually I got Korea Town, and my mom actually packed me the lunches that were actually you know, more traditional kind of like it's.
00:04:00
Speaker 3: Smelled funny, you know, it was like kim chi stuff like that. Lucky for me, I.
00:04:04
Speaker 4: Didn't get too many like kids bullying me for lunch because I did go to a minority school. Like a lot of my friends were all minorities, so they kind of understood, you know, they they had their own traditional type food as well, so but.
00:04:19
Speaker 3: You know, it wasn't really normal. You know.
00:04:21
Speaker 4: I wanted like a hamburger sometimes one of the sandwich, yeah, peanut butter and jelly sand potino. So you know, my mom, I love food though, so I was like, you know, I'm I'm fine with this, but I also wanted to, you know, live on the other side and have French fries or like yeah, and.
00:04:39
Speaker 2: You want to fit in right right what everyone else is having.
00:04:45
Speaker 4: So then so yeah, I just grew up having those traditional lunches. My mom was really big into me knowing where I came from, my roots, my culture, my traditions, so she did instill that in me from you know, at a very young age. So I think a lot of my content, you know, it shows, you know, because I wanted to pack those same kind of lunches for my girls because they love Korean food. So it's like, why why wouldn't I you know, we're having rice with fish and kimchi, and for me, I'm like, well, I'm just going to do it.
00:05:18
Speaker 3: And then sometimes I would worry and.
00:05:20
Speaker 4: Be like, okay, well what if they get my fun of you know, and like so I would put like a.
00:05:25
Speaker 3: Little bit, and lucky for me, my girls were like why do you put so little?
00:05:30
Speaker 4: You know, like she'd be like, I want more kimchi in there tomorrow, you know, and so so then I was like, okay, well, my kids are fine with it. I can explore more types of cuisines. I love doing international comfort food, So anything that kind of reminds you of your mom or your grandma's looking, I'd love all that stuff, you know, Indian food, Mexican food, Thai food. So I just slowly kind of incorporated anything that we wanted to eat.
00:05:56
Speaker 3: Mostly I cooked things that I'm like, I crave this.
00:05:59
Speaker 1: So then and then do you worry about the room temperature of it all? Because that's what I always think, Like when I watch your videos and other people's videos that do meals on the go, I.
00:06:09
Speaker 2: Always think like, you can't eat that.
00:06:10
Speaker 4: Up right, And you know, that's pretty much my number one question is like do they eat that cold?
00:06:15
Speaker 3: And yeah, I mean I don't you know they.
00:06:20
Speaker 2: Camera it's like a soup.
00:06:21
Speaker 4: You can put it in a fat and other most I try to keep the warm things warm as much as I can. But for me, my kids never complained, you know, like sometimes they'll be like it was a little bit harder because it sat for a while, you know, so they would give me the feedback, and but I was like, do.
00:06:39
Speaker 3: You want school lunch? You know? Do you want to just get school lunch?
00:06:43
Speaker 4: Like by yeah, you know, cause I'm like, because it's warmer.
00:06:47
Speaker 1: And I know that have they ever bought it?
00:06:49
Speaker 3: They did.
00:06:50
Speaker 4: My middle child actually was like, Mom, I want to do school lunch. And so it was like a week and I was like, Okay, that's fine, you know, like more time for me to sleep. Yeah, And she did it for a week and then she's like, all right, never mind.
00:07:04
Speaker 2: That's so funny.
00:07:05
Speaker 1: And then what about the practicality of bandbox funny? Because Jenny Mullin's been on the show before, and you know she used to do She has a cookbook also where she makes lunches different than you, yeah, but also really fabulous. And I always was like, doesn't it slide when you turn it on its side?
00:07:23
Speaker 3: You know it does, But my kids know.
00:07:26
Speaker 1: You make it so beautiful and everything's caught, and I like the way everything's stacked and the little pins you put in that are all like have their theme and everything. And then I just worry that it's sliding.
00:07:36
Speaker 4: My girls just know, you know, like they know that I make lunches and I make them cute, and I spend time and energy and I put all my love into it.
00:07:45
Speaker 3: So they carry it very carefully, you know.
00:07:47
Speaker 4: They know not to be like throwing their back around like most kids. And at school they take their lunch and then they like have it on a cart where everyone's lunch bag is, and then they use the cart to like get out to lunch. So you know, like I obviously had a conversation like, hey, you know, I'm making it cute, so you know, try not to shake your bag or like, you know, and they wouldn't know, like they if they open up a bag their lunch and it's like all messed up, it's like obviously like, oh maybe I shouldn't be like swinging around, right.
00:08:18
Speaker 3: So my girls are just careful. They know they love my lunches.
00:08:21
Speaker 4: They ask for them because I, you know, I check in and I'm like, do you rather eat you know, you want to buy pizza at school instead? Or you know, school and school lunch is free now in Nevada. I don't know if it is anywhere else but school lunch is free, really yeah, which is amazing. And so I'm like, it's free, you know, you can get lunch.
00:08:40
Speaker 1: And do you ever wake up and just feel like, yeah, I can't cook it today.
00:08:44
Speaker 4: Yeah, all the time, all the time. And my girls give me that time. You know, they understand. They're like, it's fine, mom, I'll I'll make my own lunch. And so I think it's just a big part of what I do is showing my love through different acts of lifes service.
00:09:00
Speaker 3: And they they notice.
00:09:01
Speaker 4: That, you know, and they appreciate the lunches that I do make them. You know, they know when I'm tired and I'm stressed out, or you know, my mom passed away a few years ago and I didn't want to do anything, and my you know, my oldest daughter is like, it's fine, I'll make me and you know, vacines lunch. You can just you know, stay in bed if you need to.
00:09:20
Speaker 3: So, you know, like, my girls are really good.
00:09:23
Speaker 4: And I think it's because they see the effort that I put into them, and you know, they really want to show that effort back to me.
00:09:29
Speaker 3: It's yeah, it's.
00:09:31
Speaker 4: Very sweet, and that's why I do this, you know, I do this because they're still loving.
00:09:36
Speaker 1: I know. It's great when you can find something with your kids that they get because you know, there's so many things that we as moms do yeah for our kids that it's trow yeah and they and nor do they have to know and it's all taken for granted sometimes, but you know, it's so nice when there is that thing that they're like, I see you especially. You know what's funny for me is that when I started with twins, so when they were starting in school, like I loved and it's a boy and girl.
00:10:02
Speaker 3: So oh that's what I wanted to It was really.
00:10:04
Speaker 1: Fun like because they were very different in the different taste and to do make little faces on things and whatever in the lunch mail. But I'll tell you, by the time the fourth one came along, I peaked, like way way before that.
00:10:15
Speaker 3: I was like, can't do this anymore, Oh my god.
00:10:17
Speaker 1: And then I sort of dropped off the lunch mail for a while and then they.
00:10:20
Speaker 2: Asked for it back. Yeah, and I was like, oh, the lunch.
00:10:24
Speaker 3: Yes, see, they want it.
00:10:26
Speaker 2: You know, things I know.
00:10:27
Speaker 4: People will come in and say like they're trading that for you know, lunchables or like whatever. And I'm like, they actually asked me for these, you know, and so as long as they want it, I'm gonna be making them.
00:10:38
Speaker 2: Oh I think it's the sweetest thing ever.
00:10:40
Speaker 1: Or what's the best thing that you made for them that they were like, Oh my god, that was the best lunch ever.
00:10:46
Speaker 3: They're all different, they all have different tastes.
00:10:48
Speaker 4: So, like my middle child likes the simpler, like, you know, a pebe and j or a sandwich or a wrap kind of stuff. My oldest one loves Korean food, so it's always going to be something Korean. And then my youngest one is my pickiest one, so she will like having the same thing for like weeks. She's like one of those where it's like I know what I like, I like what I like.
00:11:13
Speaker 3: And that's what I'm gonna stick with.
00:11:14
Speaker 4: So her hers is more like soups, like chicken noodle soup. She loves this Korean like tofu soup I make. So a lot of her lunches are thermost and she's very particular about temperature as well, so I try to keep.
00:11:28
Speaker 3: That in mind.
00:11:29
Speaker 4: My Yeah, my youngest one's the biggiest one. She's funny.
00:11:32
Speaker 1: And then what's was there any meal that you made and they were like, oh my gosh, that was terrible.
00:11:41
Speaker 3: There have been a few. I can't remember what they were.
00:11:43
Speaker 4: Exactly, but it's mostly because of the temperature, you know, like they'll just be like, oh, it was a little bit harder.
00:11:50
Speaker 3: To eat because it was cold, you know.
00:11:52
Speaker 4: But they're like, but then that's fine, you know now I know then next time, I'm like, oh, probably won't pack that for you know, life, because it's hours before they eat.
00:12:02
Speaker 1: So, so you started as a makeup artist, right, Yeah.
00:12:08
Speaker 3: I did makeup for twenty years.
00:12:11
Speaker 2: Oh my gosh.
00:12:12
Speaker 1: And then so and so was it sort of a choice to stay home with the kids. And this is like your creative outlet, Like how do you how do you go from being makeup arts?
00:12:21
Speaker 2: Because they're both super creative. I mean, you're very visual. Your stuff is so adorable.
00:12:26
Speaker 3: Thank you. So I did makeup, but I also did other things.
00:12:29
Speaker 4: So I was a marketing director for a company and that was like my corporate you know, nine to five job for a while. And then I left that job because I had my third and I wanted to be home with her, you know, I didn't want to just get off work and do bad time and then sleep and that's it.
00:12:47
Speaker 3: So I left.
00:12:50
Speaker 4: And then I created two small businesses, all kind of geared towards children. I did digital drawings of children or like invitations or wedding invites or something like more family oriented. And then I also made accessories, so like handstwn hair bows and hair clips and necklaces and bookmarks like whatever I wanted to make, I made and sold. So I had those two small businesses that the makeup on the side. And then I was always creating content because I went to school for journalism and media studies, so that was kind of my background. I loved photography and filming just from growing up. My grandpa taught me how to develop film at wow when I was eight, you know, and my dad taught me how to build computers at like nine, so that, you know, everything that kind of tied into the content stuff. And so I s braathed yesterday. So then yeah, and then TikTok came along and I was like, hey, I can do this. It doesn't take that much, you know. It's more raw, real, it's what people are doing every day. It's not a huge production like YouTube videos were very high production, right, So then Yeah, I started doing the lunch thing in my lunch video and viral, and then from there I grew one million in one month and then just kept going.
00:14:14
Speaker 2: It's amazing.
00:14:15
Speaker 1: It's funny because you know, like my oldest two are about to be twenty one, and them and all their friends talk about what they're going to do with their lives. Are in college and you know, and possibilities are so endless now with you know, being an influencer and making content and all of these things. But it's also you know, they try to not my kids, but in general, like these kids, they're all trying to find the thing. And what I keep telling them is exactly what you've done with your life and career, which is you try everything and you do everything that is interesting right too, because you know, hearing your story, it's literally everything that you've done has brought you, yeah, to exactly this moment. Right, That's why all things are worth doing. I keep saying to this and my kids, I'm like, you don't have to worry about trying things to find out what you want to do, try things to cross them off your list.
00:15:07
Speaker 4: Yeah, and that's what I did, you know, Like I just always wanted to learn. You know, I wanted to be a flight attendant because I love traveling. I wanted to work with animals because I you know, I loved them, and so like my whole life, I just wanted to learn new things and keep doing different things in my life. And yeah, like even going to school for journalism and media studies, which helped me a lot being in front of.
00:15:31
Speaker 3: Camera, working camera.
00:15:34
Speaker 4: And then I also had a concentration in public relations and advertising which helps me tremendously in my brand campaigns and working with different companies too. So I feel like I definitely had an advantage when I did go viral because I did have so much background right in marketing and just branding myself. So yeah, definitely, you know, you just have to see what you like and maybe it's something completely different and new that you don't even know.
00:16:03
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's why you have to try everything. What's it like?
00:16:05
Speaker 1: What was it like moving to Nevada.
00:16:08
Speaker 4: After growing up at LA I went to Las Vegas in middle school, so I pretty much grew up there as well. I definitely say I'm a Vegas girl, and for me, it was normal, Like obviously some things are very weird, like you'll see you know, like strip club advertisements and like, you know whatever.
00:16:29
Speaker 3: But it was just normal.
00:16:31
Speaker 4: And for me, I think it was just like you're either in that lifestyle or you're not. And I was a cocktail server for a long time on the strip, so I was in it, you know. I was in hospitality doing all that stuff and clubbing at nineteen, you know, and I went through.
00:16:49
Speaker 3: My Vegas phase too. But I but.
00:16:53
Speaker 4: It's like anywhere else, you know, it's like the people you meet and who you you know, surround yourself with that kind of matters.
00:17:00
Speaker 1: Yeah, all right, So tell me about the book. What was I mean, obviously this is everything you do, but like what made you decide it was time to launch a cookbook?
00:17:11
Speaker 4: In the beginning, I automatically was like, what what can I do with this? You know, like what can I do with this that I can you know, what I really want to do, you know, And I was like I want to write a book, you know, just in my head, I was like I want to write a children's book or like something. And so when food became my core focus, I was like, I want to do a cookbook. And it was mostly my followers too, you know, they're like are you coming out with a cookbook? We want your recipes because I wasn't doing a lot of my recipe videos. I was doing mostly the lunch packing videos and people ask so then I was like, oh cool, Like I can do a cookbook. And it was kind of just in my mind for the longest time.
00:17:56
Speaker 3: And then.
00:17:59
Speaker 4: My life kind of stop because of my mom, and then I was going through a breakup, and so it was put on hold for like two years, I think, And so finally once I got myself out of there, I talked to my literary agent, which he had been with me since the band Guinea. He was like, you know, I want to help you put this book out and just let me know when you're ready.
00:18:22
Speaker 3: So he waited like two years.
00:18:23
Speaker 4: He still believed in me, you know, he understood what I wanted to do with my book, and you know, he just really believed in me and my vision and what I wanted to make. And so once I was ready, I wrote the proposal and then he that was when he him and my manager my team went and took it to the publishers and then from there I got my publishing book deal, and it's so exciting.
00:18:55
Speaker 1: A lot of times people see people on TikTok or they see people you know, on reality and they're like.
00:19:00
Speaker 2: Oh, it's just look at that.
00:19:02
Speaker 1: They just hit it big and so but it's hard to have your life thrust out there and it really changes things. And here you are, you know, make having your kids on, which I personally know sometimes it's tricky to put your kids in the spotlight and all that.
00:19:18
Speaker 2: Do you ever worry about.
00:19:19
Speaker 1: That sort of thing?
00:19:20
Speaker 2: And also you know, going through a breakup?
00:19:23
Speaker 4: Yeah, of course, I mean, of course I worry. It's a huge worry for me, just because there's so many weirdos out there. But for me, my audience is ninety five percent women. Yeah, and I don't.
00:19:37
Speaker 3: Really get a lot of the weird messages. I you know, it's very rare.
00:19:41
Speaker 4: And I feel like if I had a different audience, you know, if it was a little bit different, then I think I would be more worried. Yeah, differand is sweet, right, So just having that is fine. And then also my children wanting to be on as well. It was a big factor and they do you know, they like, oh my god, can we go live? You know, and I'm like no, because I don't know what you're going to say sometimes I don't want you to roast me on live and but they love it, you know, And so for me, it's an opportunity for them if they want to do this too. Like what kid doesn't want to be a YouTuber or a TikToker, you know? Every many Yeah, every kid I meet, they're like, that's what I want to do.
00:20:23
Speaker 3: And the cool thing about being.
00:20:24
Speaker 4: A content creator is you can still do what you love. You know, you can be a you know, chef or a dancer, you know, like Charlie D'milia like, you can do whatever you want and still be a content creator, which I think opens up a lot of doors for everyone. And so I'm always like, yeah, of course I'm going to push you and help you if I can.
00:20:46
Speaker 1: And I'm just making yeah, come on, we didn't do this for nothing, right, And.
00:20:51
Speaker 4: So I'm like, well, and I'm I want to retire some day so they can take over, you know. So you know, it was a lot of thinking, and I try to keep it not too excessive where they're like where I'm like, you have to film or you know, I'm sure that happens with certain families, but I just do it when they want to when they need to, and and it's fine, you know, or I don't have to have them on because I have my own content too.
00:21:19
Speaker 2: Yeah, I do the same thing.
00:21:21
Speaker 1: I mean, I let my kids take the lead for when they feel like filming and when they don't, Yeah, they don't.
00:21:27
Speaker 4: Right, because sometimes they don't, you know, they're like, don't film me right now, and I'm like okay.
00:21:31
Speaker 1: And you're right.
00:21:32
Speaker 2: Sometimes you don't know what they're going to say.
00:21:34
Speaker 1: Yeah, can't control everyone, yeah, right, right. And then going through a breakup when you're so public, that has got to be difficult.
00:21:45
Speaker 4: Yeah, it for me, it's just more on internally because I don't share too much.
00:21:52
Speaker 3: I share enough, but I don't share.
00:21:56
Speaker 4: Like if I'm like going through it obviously I'm not like saying I'm going through it, like I'm I'm going through it right now. But and it's more like just having the motivation to, like, you know, try to be happy on camera, and because it's everything so real for me that like I can't fake anything.
00:22:19
Speaker 2: I can't fake but that's why you that's why people love you.
00:22:22
Speaker 4: Right, And but it's like it just sucks for me because I'm like, well, I don't have motivation to sound happy or look happy or you know, do do all these things that I normally do because I you know, I'm just so hurting inside.
00:22:36
Speaker 1: But don't you think your audience would respond so well to that? I mean, I think sometimes, I mean, one of the things I love and hate about social is that, you know, sometimes everything's perfect and glossy, right, and none of us are perfect right or glossy, and we all go through shit.
00:22:55
Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, have to deal with stuff.
00:22:56
Speaker 1: But I feel like it humanizes you and it makes people connect with you so.
00:23:00
Speaker 3: Much more, right.
00:23:01
Speaker 4: And I did do that with my mom passing. Yeah, and it really helped me because I came from a from just not talking about anything. I was very much a person who bottled everything inside. And even to this day, my sisters like, you're the worst influencer because you hate sharing.
00:23:19
Speaker 3: Yourself, you know.
00:23:20
Speaker 4: And but I did share that part of myself with my audience about my mom and all that stuff, and it helped me, you know, it helped me like talk about it and like, you know, help me just heal. And they were so supportive, you know. They everyone was like telling me their stories about their moms or I know, it's.
00:23:44
Speaker 1: Great when you built such an incredible community.
00:23:48
Speaker 4: Yeah, and even if they you know, like they would just connect to me, like, you know, I never had that kind of relationship with my mom. But it's so good to see you having a relationship with your mom because I want that with my children or you know, like stuff like that.
00:24:01
Speaker 3: And those messages definitely help me.
00:24:03
Speaker 4: And being online has helped me open up more about myself, which is a good thing. But also, I don't know, sometimes it is kind of scary to just put yourself out there, especially when I'm like, I don't even tell my friends what happened half the time, you know, and now I'm like telling all these strangers.
00:24:21
Speaker 1: Sometimes it's easier to tell stress, right right.
00:24:24
Speaker 3: Right, Yeah, it is.
00:24:26
Speaker 4: So I'm just kind of still figuring out that part of myself is how much I do want to still share and how much I want to keep you know, because my kids are watching. And that's the biggest thing is do I want this out there for my kids to be watching and hearing so and but I mean they know everything, they you know, My biggest thing is just being open and honest with them too. So as long as I'm making my kids, happy, proud, not embarrassed for the most part.
00:24:56
Speaker 3: Yeah, that's like my rule.
00:24:59
Speaker 2: What's the saying.
00:25:00
Speaker 1: It's like you're only as happy as you're unhappy as child?
00:25:03
Speaker 3: Yeah, basically it's so true. Yeah, how old are they? Six? Ten and thirteen? We just had two birthdays?
00:25:12
Speaker 2: Yeah, Oh my gosh.
00:25:13
Speaker 1: Mine are all around birthdays or all around the same times too. It's so really, Yes, we have like a birthday season.
00:25:18
Speaker 3: Yeah. June is mine?
00:25:20
Speaker 2: Really?
00:25:20
Speaker 3: Oh June? And then my middle one was born on New Year's Day.
00:25:25
Speaker 2: New Year's Day is good though.
00:25:26
Speaker 4: Yeah, it's cool because I'm always like, all those fireworks are feet baby here?
00:25:30
Speaker 2: Oh, isn't that good? Sae? My birthday's January. It's terrible.
00:25:33
Speaker 1: Everyone's done broke over it hungover. Yeah, George, January, it's terrible.
00:25:38
Speaker 2: We don't celebrate till February. Ahtually. So the book's coming out. That's very exciting.
00:25:44
Speaker 1: You're going on book tour, Yes, amazing. And what's next?
00:25:50
Speaker 3: What's next?
00:25:51
Speaker 4: I'm working on a Bento Box collaboration, so I'll have my own little collab Bento Box.
00:25:57
Speaker 2: That's exciting.
00:25:58
Speaker 4: So product book, then product great, and then I want to hopefully get into voice acting because people know me before my voice. So yes, that's kind of what I want to do in the future.
00:26:15
Speaker 2: Isn't that funny?
00:26:16
Speaker 1: Do people recognize you like in stores if you're because that happens to me. If I'm in a grocery store or something, people hear my voice from another aisle.
00:26:24
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:26:24
Speaker 4: Same at Like the first time I got recognized, I had a mask and I was at a bakery and I was like okay.
00:26:30
Speaker 3: And she's like, wait, I know your voice, and I.
00:26:32
Speaker 4: Was like cool, you know, like and then she was like, oh, I think I know saw you on TikTok and it was pretty you know, like soon. So I was like, oh, ohoh, that's crazy. So but yeah, people do recognize my voice, which is crazy.
00:26:47
Speaker 1: What do you want people to know about making lunch for your kids?
00:26:52
Speaker 2: What's like the most important thing that people need to know?
00:26:54
Speaker 4: I think the most important thing in what I do and share is just loving your kids and spending time with them and doing special things like little things, because it matters, you know, it really matters, Like even if I wasn't making these intricate lunches, but like me just writing the note, you know, and that was just another way of communicating with them.
00:27:21
Speaker 3: You know, if I'm like angry at her.
00:27:25
Speaker 4: Or upset like you know, I'll still apologize, you know, I'll write the note and I'll be like, I'm so sorry for being upset, you know. And so just opening up that line of communication, not just your kids, but just you know, anyone that you love, just doing little things that make you happy, but also someone else in your life happy, and just being kind and nice.
00:27:47
Speaker 3: You know.
00:27:47
Speaker 4: That's a big thing that I push is be kind to everyone, you know, and.
00:27:53
Speaker 3: Just be nicer.
00:27:55
Speaker 2: You know.
00:27:55
Speaker 4: I feel like we just need a little bit more love and sweetness and kind in the world. So that's just kind of what I want to share.
00:28:03
Speaker 1: I love that, and I think it's great. I think the book is amazing. Everyone's going to love it. And also we want to put out there also, and you've said this is that it's not just about the fancy lunch. It's about the effort and the message you're sending to your kids. And look, man, going to school is hard.
00:28:19
Speaker 2: Yeah, and you know, I.
00:28:21
Speaker 1: Just remember being a kid and having a tough day and you get to lunch and there's just something in there that you love. Yeah, And it makes it a little better.
00:28:30
Speaker 3: Yeah yeah.
00:28:30
Speaker 4: And like even in the beginning, some of the teachers saw my videos and you know, they would comment and be like, hey, I see your daughter during lunch and you know, her face lights up every time she opens her lunch. So you know, it's just those the words of validation from like people where I'm not there. You know, I'm not there. I don't know exactly what happens, but to hear that from you know, staff and faculty and you know, being supportive and even when they were little and couldn't read yet, they would read the notes for them, you know, and so cute, very cool.
00:29:01
Speaker 1: I used to do like I you know, like an I I would yeah, I do that a heart and like a you.
00:29:08
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah for sure. Great.
00:29:09
Speaker 1: Well, tell everyone how to find you on social and how to get the book.
00:29:14
Speaker 4: I am at Sully Jessica everywhere, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and then if you go to my Instagram anywhere my cookbook is linked. But it's also on books a Million, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, you can order it now. It'll come out in six days and then you can see me on tour, which I'm going on this week.
00:29:38
Speaker 2: As well, like and this week continued success.
00:29:41
Speaker 3: Thank you so much,
