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

Hi Reyna, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Over the years I have come to realize that having a good work-life balance is key to maintaining my sanity. I’ve always been the type of person to throw myself 100% into whatever I was focused on, and if there happened to be 2 or more things, then I was spreading myself extremely thin. Within the last year I have made it a point to plan way in advance and that allows me time to schedule and focus on one thing at a time.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I spent over 30 years dancing Ballet Folklorico, which fanned the passion for my culture, and would become the starting point of my creative designs.
After spending 15 years in the Marine Corps, I was tired of being away from my kids, so I decided to purse my passion for cultural fashion; and Lovely Latina Shop was born. A major focus of my business is my flower crowns and honestly it brings me so much joy when I watch a customer try on one of my crowns and fall in love with it. I love that my creations make people feel special. I have been asked to create crowns for weddings, photo shoots, fashion shows, and special events; and every single time I feel so honored that someone wants to include my crowns in their special event.

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?
Oh man, this would be difficult because there are so many amazing things to see and do in our amazing city. I love following @ImAlwaysAdventuring on Instagram because they always have great ideas. For example, we have to stop at Barrio Donas for their delicious tortas and donuts then head to Balboa Park for the architecture and the museums. Some other great must-eats are Rise biscuits, Cocina de Barrio, Randy’s Donuts, Casa de Pico, and Buona Forchetta. Some other must-see experiences are Old Town, the SD Mission, La Jolla cove, Torrey Pines state beach, and the Hotel Del Coronado.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I truly appreciate all of the other business owners that I’ve met on my journey. They’ve given me tips, advice, and they’ve been some of my biggest cheerleaders.

Website: https://www.LovelyLatinaShop.com

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/LovelyLatinaShop

Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/LovelyLatinaShop

Image Credits
Jeff Danner

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSoCal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.