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

Hi Ashlyn, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
I believe the word success holds a very diverse definition. Each of us go through different situations & grow up in different environments that shape us into the amazing people we are today. According to Merriam-Webster, success is “the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame.” But, I believe everyone has a different view of success & that’s what makes us so unique & beautiful.

My family & teachers always told me college was the only way to guarantee a successful life & that’s what I believed for the longest… Shortly after graduating high school that definition changed in my eyes. As I learned what was truly important to me as an individual.
But, you did ask; how do I define success? In my eyes, success is finding internal happiness & accomplishing my goals.
I grew up in a small town called Lufkin, Texas with a single mother. Money was always limited in our household & the fear of being disliked or talked about for being different always held me back from being myself. One day I decided to move away & blaze my own trail of success! Along my journey, I met amazing people here in Houston who have taught me how to become confident & not to care about what people say or think. Today, I’m a published author, business owner & model. Success is the feeling that you have accomplished something important in your eyes.

Success to some people is buying that mansion by the beach or finding a better career, or spending more time with the people you love. The word success is just as unique as you & I. Don’t let someone define or limit what you believe is successful in your eyes!

What should our readers know about your business?
I am the founder of K9 Kups. The 4 in 1 dog water bottle! A K9 Kup holds your puppos water, food, waste bags, & waste shovel all in one convenient water bottle. Our Kup also recycles the unused water back into the bottle, so you don’t have to waste water your dog doesn’t drink or dip into your own bottle later. A lot of people ask; how did you think of this? Well, I grew up in a small country town where we never had to pick up dog waste because there was so much land & that just wasn’t a thing.(lol) But, shortly after moving to Houston. Daisy & I learned that the rules are different here! I hate picking up steamy poop with that thin bag, so I decided to come up with K9 Kups to help solve the problems Daisy & I have on our everyday walks. The K9 Kup truly is the all-in-one on-the-go dog accessory! Daisy & I are so excited to announce the first set of products have come in & we are now open for business! The process was long & definitely not easy. Creating K9 Kups caused me to miss out on a lot of friend gatherings & sleep. But, would I do it again? Hell yeah I would! Now that I have seen the product in hand, its mindblowing. Like wow, we did that?! The biggest lessons I learned is that it’s okay to say no & to have patience. K9 Kups is a women & minority owned business. Our headquarters is located in Houston, TX. We are always looking for fresh faces for our brand, if you or someone you know would be interested in modeling our products please reach out to us on Facebook, Instagram, or our website.

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?
I quickly learned Houston has many amazing food choices! I would have to take them to Crafty Crab Seafood, Pappasito’s, & Preslee’s Southern Eatery(they have the best brisket mac & cheese stuffed turkey legs!) to eat. Then I would have to take them by Midtown to check out the rooftop & theme bars around the area. There are so many different cultures here in Houston. It’s so awesome having the opportunity to try so many new things!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I met alot of great people who have guided & motivated me to keep working when I wanted to give up. Thankfully I have developed an amazing group of friends who keep me accountable! Shoutout to Karmen D., Donnie M., Csandra C., Raymond H. & my mom! Xoxo!

Website: www.K9Kups.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k9_kups/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlyn-alsbrooks-654352190

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/K9-Kups-101809848764557/

Other: https://www.instagram.com/theashlynnicole/

Image Credits
Photo Credits: Nimbus Media & Dejuan Labray Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX 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.