Today we’d like to introduce you to Juno Alexis Rosales.
Juno Alexis, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I get asked about what I do, I always answer that I am a mother first. If there is anything I’ve learned in the last few years, it is that my children are my priority and my businesses follow after them. I am currently living in Los Angeles and have a frozen cake business called The Pajama Baker LA.
The Pajama Baker started at the height of Covid when we were all locked down at home. I was stuck in the Philippines and did not know when I could fly back to Los Angeles again. After my kids would go to bed, I would stay in the kitchen (in my pajamas!) and whip up little indulgences to help myself feel good. Being in the kitchen was my therapy! I perfected a concoction I now call frozen cake–no, this is not ice cream cake, this is a unique kind of frozen treat.
My frozen cakes are sold online both in the Philippines and here in Los Angeles. Who would have thought that something unfortunate like covid would catapult me to launch an international brand and at the same time, still be able to put my children first?
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would be lying if I said things just fell into the right place. Although in hindsight, I could see why things happened the way it did. Being locked down was such a terrible and traumatic experience but little did I know it was preparing me to launch this food business. As in any business, I experienced a lot of ups and downs especially when I started operating in 2 countries. It definitely was not a smooth road because on top of business concerns, I also had my children to take care of. My husband lives in a different country and although he comes to be with us every quarter when he is not here, I am the sole responsible parent to our children—talk about pressure! I had several breakdowns, low moments, and extremely challenging days. It even reached a point where my core beliefs were tested. I thought I had to choose between my passion for business or compromising my standards of motherhood.
I eventually had to go through therapy (a lot of it!) to figure out how to balance being a mother and a business owner. In the end, I realized that my children’s growth is more important to me than the speed of my businesses’ growth. Getting to this conclusion was definitely not an easy one. Along the way, there were a lot of self-doubt, confidence issues, and generational trauma that I needed to unpack, unlearn and (still continue) to heal.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have a frozen cake business called The Pajama Baker LA. Frozen cakes are very similar to ice cream cakes—only better. I currently have three flavors in LA (dalgona coffee, speculoos, and strawberry nutella). I am very proud of how this business got to where it is today. I started out in my home kitchen making cakes and reaching out to friends to give it a try. I remember during the first year, I would deliver the cakes to customers all over LA with my kids in tow. I love how my children took it as going on “field trips” instead of helping mom at work. At times, I would buy them happy meals from Mcdonald’s to make the experience fun and memorable. Wow, have times changed. Fast forward to two years later, the frozen cakes are now produced in a professional kitchen and are being sold through our website http://la.thepajamabaker.com. We have a delivery option or pick-up option in Westwood, LA.
What makes The Pajama Baker LA cakes unique is the simplicity in its flavors. Great things don’t need to be complicated, right? I only make flavors that my children approve of! They are my taste testers and so they tell me the brutal truth. The Pajama Baker’s frozen cakes simply can be described as FEEL GOOD food.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
While I am very proud of The Pajama Baker LA as a passion project turned international brand, I am more proud of where I am now in life. I have chosen a challenging path being here but have found so much fulfillment and purpose. I am proud that I am showing my children how mothers should grab life by the horns. They saw me start this business from scratch and they were part of it every step of the way. They’ve seen me make mistakes, learn from them and conquer them with pride. They’ve seen me struggle as I try to balance motherhood and running a business where truthfully, in the end, there’s no real balance. We just keep on moving, learning, loving, and living life to the fullest.
I am hoping that living my life this way is setting a good example for my children. I am hoping that my example will inspire them to grow up as empowered individuals who will contribute more FEEL GOOD things in this world—and this is what matters MOST to me.
Pricing:
- Frozen Dalgona Coffee Cake- $35
- Frozen Speculoos Cake- $35
- Frozen Strawberry Nutella Ganache Cake – $39
Contact Info:
- Website: la.thepajamabaker.com
- Instagram: thepajamabaker_la
Image Credits
Bia Catbagan
