A Thursday In My Head

"What's your greatest fear?"

It's a common question asked on first dates, classroom orientations, job interviews... I asked myself this question this morning and after much thinking, I've chosen happiness  and I'll explain why.

When you've reached complete happiness, that's when you have the most to lose. Happiness is scary because its ever changing and it isn't forever. You never want it to end but you know that at any given moment, you can lose that feeling and it's scary.

I don't mean for that to sound so morbid but it's just a reminder that nothing is set and stone and so it's important to live out every moment to the fullest and like its your last. It irks me to no end when I hear people use the excuse, "I have time. I'll do it next week, month, etc" when pushing something off. Time moves so quickly; why wait?

"Take me to a place where time doesn't exist, 

Where we don't speak because everyone listens,

Only there will I understand what I now may know"

Free People Love Stories

So I was just scanning through the Free People blog and I came across a new edition entitled: Free People Love Stories. I don't know how many they will be posting or if there are others, but this one in particular spoke to me because this couple is basically a real life version of... My dream partnership I guess? They just travel together and live so simply.

Anyway here's the video from the website and I strongly encourage you to read the story that accompanies it as well; It's really inspiring. Enjoy! :-)

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.