Meet Tanika Andrews

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tanika Andrews. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Tanika, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

At an early age I was taught to do things for myself. My great grandmother Pearline James never just did anything for me she told me to try first. My mother Wendy Andrews would say did you try before asking me? I am a real example of watching, learning and paying attention to the adults around me. My mother was young when she had me but it never stopped her from being a better version of herself. She didn’t just graduate from high school, she went to job core and then graduated from college. She made no excuses for herself and showed me without saying a word that if you want it then go for it. My great grandmother taught me life. She had me in the kitchen with her, I made my first dish at 4. It was only pancakes but I was very proud and her and my great grandfather ate my pancakes like they were the best in the world. My Granny would never allow me to make up an excuses. I had to make my bed in the morning, fold my clothes and check to make sure I had my homework before leaving for school. Always and mean always thank God for everyday I take a breath. Watching both of these women gave me the attitude that either I was going to get what I wanted or I was going down trying my best. Granny also told me that not everything is meant for me so if I have too many signs to stop then I should

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a disabled army veteran, government employee, online store owner, private chef and caterer. I am a mother of 3, son’s Treavon and Tren’ton, daughter Tatiana and granddaughter Gianna. I served 13 years before being medically discharged. I then transitioned in 2018 to a government employee and have enjoyed my part in still having the ability to serve my country.

I was born with the ability to draw what I see, it’s what I call my God given talent. I have always cooked; I started in 1981 at the age of 4. My Granny was the only one that let me cook at that age as long as she was in the kitchen. By 7 my mother allowed me to fix simple things my favorite was the most amazing grilled cheese sandwich that I learned to make at 5. When Covid hit I started cooking for older people that didn’t want to go out and making plates at $10 for coworkers due to the limited choices at work. At the same time, I was working on learning how to control my PTSD and deal with my medical issues. I have a brain injury, so it takes me some time to process things sometimes which is why a calm environment is healthy for me. My psychiatrist told me to find something that will help keep me centered and not get angry. The same week a coworker said you should start a business and Sharrayssweetandsavory was born.

I do custom cakes, cupcakes and full meals. It expanded from there and I went from doing cakes for friends to coworkers, parties and now businesses, organizations and private parties some that I must travel out of town for. My busiest time of year is from October to January, so I really enjoy my down time. I realized that I love to cook and bake so much because it reminds me of my Granny that I always felt so much love from even when I was wrong and not at my best. My grandmother Elizabeth Winston also taught me to cook dishes from the south. I cook many different kinds of food from southern to vegan. I really enjoy doing vegan food because it challenges me to find amazing flavors in bland food. Custom cakes make me smile from my soul. I have so much fun creating these cakes and when customers say I don’t know what I want but make it beautiful it brings out all my creativity.

I started T4xbrand custom clothes and shoes when my son came to me saying he wanted to make t-shirts. I started to research and found that this would be another great avenue for me to find a way to keep my mind at peace and help with my PTSD and also not focus on the body pains that I have every day due to unfixable injuries. I created an online store www.t4xbrand.shop where I sell regular everyday relaxed, comfortable and sheik stylish women’s clothes along with my own custom line of clothes and shoes.

During this time of year for the holidays is very important to me simply because mental health is extremely sensitive to me since I spend every day protecting mine. Sharrayssweetandsavory donates meals to families in need, this year I am fortunate enough to be able to donate 4 meals for Thanksgiving and 3 for Christmas. I am a small business so my resources are limited but I do what I can. I have volunteered to serve the first 250 children that enter the doors to Poe’s 8th annual Bit’s of Joy in Washington DC. We are booked every weekend up until January 18th. This brings me so much happiness being able to do what I love, generate passive income and provide a service to others that makes them smile

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I learned in my late 20’s that I had to take time just for me to give me time to focus on what it is I need for me to be better in all areas of my life. I started yoga when I joined the army just to help me keep my flexibility and turns out it not just helped me do that but also helped me refocus after a long day or week.

I learned that I needed to actively listen and understand its ok if I don’t agree with someone I love because what worked for them may not work for me or be best for my situation. I also learned that I am stronger than I thought. The army challenged my mental, emotional and physical to limits I never imagined. Stopping and keeping still has been extremely important in my life. Stop talking, stop moving and stopping the activity that is not working and finding a better way.

The most important thing I learned was just go for it. Either I will succeed, fail and try again or stop because it’s not for me. If I wake up tomorrow then it gives me another day to try again and correct myself or enjoy life because I only get one.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

The best thing and most loving thing I believe my mother did for me was when she left for school she left me with my dad’s grandmother. She left to create a better life for herself and me, and to do this she had to leave home. Being placed with my Granny who taught me to be a good human being with morals and respect for life and love God above all. My Granny was and will always be my number 1 role model. She taught me to look at life outside of my own opinion and remember that it’s not always about me. She told me early in life that we all have something in our lives that will cause pain but what we do with it is what makes the difference. She said when things don’t work out for you maybe you are doing something wrong. She taught me not to blame other people when I make mistakes, and to never expect people to do what I want but accept that they will do what’s best for them. She said it’s ok to walk away, say no and to take time to take care of me. I learned to love me and that it’s not selfish to focus on myself sometimes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sharrayssweetandsavory.com
• Instagram: @sharrayssweetandsavory
• Other: https://t4xbrand.shop

Image Credits

Treavon Parsons, son Executive Assistant
Tatiana Andrews, daughter part-time help
Tren’ton Parsons, son part-time help
Wendy Andrews, mother part-time help
William Abbott, cousin part-time help