TGIF And I'm At Home

It's a Friday night in the city -- I'm young, I'm employed, I'm loved; what better way to spend my evening than rolling up in my favorite blanket with my laptop, a bowl of ice cream and my roommate Brittany, fantasizing about being financially stable?

It got me to thinking about what I would actually do if I all of a sudden came upon a large sum of money. Would I use it responsibly?

Here's what I'd do, in order of importance:

• Find a sick vacation deal online and invite a few close friends
• Pay on the spot for said trip
• Write a check for mine and Brittany's rent for the remainder of our lease
• Browse for a better apartment in the south loop
• Call my parents and tell them I'm sending my brothers to private school 
• Lay down in bed for a couple hours and not sleep because I'm way too excited
• Get up, get ready and take an Uber SUV to breakfast 
• Call about my student loans and pay those off
• Laugh for 10 minutes after hearing the shock in their voice when I say I'm paying thousands out of pocket
• Take my cat, in an Uber SUV, to finally get fixed and get the rest of her shots
• Pick up that guy I like and tell him we're going on a stay-cation and not to work
• Order Champagne and waffles via room service
• Sleep in until noon
• Renew my passport for the friend vacation
• Plan accordingly

What would you do?

You're Just A Boy And I Have Galaxies Growing Inside Me

I've got some new photos back from a Free People Inspired shoot I did for Coco Indie Mag! Photography by Mark Reyes. Styling by Krystell Barraza.

Wanderlust Project

 

Alright, friends. I apologize for not having written in a while -- I've been so busy with the holiday madness that I've hardly had time for myself. 

I've been doing a lot of thinking the last couple of days, however, and I've decided to finally start the project I've been wanting to do. 

Here's the gist of it: 

It involves a videographer/photographer, myself obviously, traveling for an extended period of time, adventure. I'm thinking of putting together a Kickstarter to help fund the trip as well.

That's just the basic layout of course. I want this project to mutually beneficial for all parties involved so I want to brainstorm with a few people and see what we can pull together, whether it be a photo book or a web series... Maybe a combination of the two.

Anyway, if anyone is interested in taking a journey with me or if you have any recommendations/ideas feel free to comment below or send me an email. It would be greatly appreciated!

Giving Thanks

I realized today that I spend so much time wishing and wanting that I forget to take the time to give thanks for all the things I do have. One of my good friends mentioned to me the other day that he was jealous of how exciting my life is, and I just replied, "My life is exciting?"
I've done more things and met more people than I ever dreamed to just since I graduated high school so I aught to give thanks to at least a few of the things.

Here's a list with just a small amount of the things I'm thankful for just in the past year:

I'm thankful for my roommates. This is the first time I've not only gotten along with my roommates, but also consider them to be my best friends. They always have my back and it's definitely never a dull moment with them around. No matter where we all end up in the future, I hope we stay in touch for a very long time.

 

I'm thankful for the talented people I've gotten the chance to worth with recently. As in a hurry as I am to work with the "big designers" I'm proud to have gotten a chance to connect with all the other up-and-comers here in Chicago and help them on their journey to the top. True connections go a long way. 

I'm thankful for food. Come on, you know it had to be on my list. I have been to so many new restaurants and markets this year, I've made my taste buds the happiest of all.

 

I'm thankful for my family. We aren't the closest knit bunch, but I strive to be the best I can be for my younger siblings because I know they look up to me and I strive to prove to my parents that I'm no fool (Billy Madison reference, anyone?).

Caught In The Trees

I'm currently sitting in the library of a school that isn't mine -- I came here to do my homework but as usual, I've gotten side-tracked dreaming about traveling.
I'm constantly trying to come up with ways to travel without having a large amount of funds. The only thing I want to do is travel. I don't care about school right now, or my job, I just want to see the world.
I have probably 12345678990892345 posts on my blog about how I don't travel enough and I  know I'm beginning to sound like a broken record. I have plans set in motion and I know it will work out, I just really need to learn to have some patience.

My time will come. 

Unwoven Light

It's becoming more and more apparent how much I hate conformity. In my class today I had to take a "career planning quiz" to give myself ideas for career choices and as I thought about my short and long term goals combined my major I once again realized that I hate career goals.
I want to learn but I don't see the point in forcing myself to attend specific classes just to gain a piece of paper that says I paid a large sum of money in order to seem intelligent. I feel that I learn much better by doing versus whatever it is I do in school. I'm not saying I'm going to quit, because whether I like it or not, I am still an American and I still live in a civilization where life is made easier for people who obtain a degree. I know that if I do actually manage to live out my fantasy of living in a van as a nomad then I will live a very lonely life.

Decisions, decisions...

East of Eden

Hey guys, check out this video I did for Mauvais! It's been a long wait but it's finally here!



Though I may wonder far away from where I began, from the place where I find peace, from the place I call home. I am never alone. Though trials may come my way, and death awaits me, I am never afraid. For it is you who always finds me and leads me home. East of Eden. - grâce te suffit. 


 
East of Eden (a film by Mauvais) from Mauvais on Vimeo.

Model: Alexandra Pinheiro
HMU: Chelsea Blair
Creative director: Brian Christpher