Saturday, November 19, 2016

Busy Bee

Hey guys,

My life basically consists of working five days a week, drawing after work until about 3AM and planning photo shoots with Michelle (my muse). She leaves for New Zealand the beginning of January and I need to photograph her as much as possible while she's still home, so I have enough material to work with for the entirety of her yearlong absence.

So I'm kind of stressing about that because we're under a timeframe and our conflicting schedules don't help either. However, I have so many rad ideas for our series and I can't wait to get them all outlined and ready to go for filming! The overall vibe is very dreamlike and psychedelic. I have 16 ideas as of now and my goal is to have at least 24 by the time she leaves, which will set a goal of creating a new drawing and YouTube video every two weeks.

I hope that one day I'll be fortunate enough to live comfortably off my art, so I won't need a full-time job to compensate for my income. That would give me 40 extra hours a week to devote to art and I would be able to pump out a drawing every week with that time.

Of the 16 ideas Michelle and I have brainstormed, we did a photo shoot for seven of them and that's what I've been working on as of now. Thankfully we've gotten pretty good at working together and we're able to tackle about five photo shoots per meet-up.

I'm REALLY letting my imagination run free with my art now and it feels amazing!

 
Much Love Guys.

“Watching television is like taking black spray paint to your third eye.” -Bill Hicks

Friday, November 4, 2016

Surfer Update

Surfer came into my work last week! I was almost finished helping the woman in line, when I glanced up to my right and saw him standing there. He was smiling at me and said hi. As I exchanged a hello and smile back to him, my heart plummeted into my asshole and I began trembling. I tried to remain cool, but this guy makes me so nervous and I don't know why. She handed me a $100 bill and I was literally shaking trying to collect her change from the drawer.

The moment the woman left and I shifted my attention towards him, he had his fist out, waiting for a fist bump. He asked me how I was doing and what was new in my life, so I informed him that I was starting a YouTube channel and figured that was a good time to say that I was an artist and the reasoning for starting that endeavor. He seemed pretty excited for me and even mentioned that he always wanted to start one as well. In the moment, I was too nervous and forgot to ask him what he wanted his channel to be about.

He only came in to buy two items, one of which being a bottle of tahini sauce, so I asked him what he was going to make with it. His friend recommended that he spread it between dates and eat them as a snack.

Since he only bought two things, the transaction only took 20 seconds to complete and before I knew it, I was handing him his bag. I knew if I didn't get his number, I would be so upset with myself because it's been months of me wishing everyday that he'd come in.

I was too scared to ask him for his number or write mine on his receipt, so I asked him if he used any other forms of social media, like Instagram. He nodded and I asked for his username and got it! I even wrote it down on a piece of paper just in case, so I wouldn't forget it. The moment I was able to, my ass booked it to the bathroom. I whipped out my phone with so much excitement and looked him up on Insta.


He's so handsome. Those eyes, man.

I realized my high school friend was in one of his most recently uploaded photos, so I text her and filled her in on everything. Turns out they work together and he has a second job at another really healthy place. She said she's heard input from both sides, as far as his sexuality goes. So if he is gay or bi, he's either in the closet or only out to certain people. She also told me he has the biggest and kindest heart, he's 31 years old and that he has a condition.

I've yet to hear back from her, but I'm curious to know what 'condition' she's referring to. It could be physical, mental, social, etc. No idea. I was certainly surprised when I found out how old he is, because he doesn't look that old by any means. I figured he was about 27. 

I also believe he's vegan too!! 

Later that night, I sent him a DM that said "Thanks for the Tahini and dates tip, I'm going to try it out tomorrow :)"

Five days later he replied back "Yeah man it was good"

I was hoping we'd be able to start chatting on Insta, but from the way he replied, it doesn't seem like he's interested. The response was so dry and he really didn't set it up for more conversation. 

Thoughts?

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Pivotal Moment

I got some new toys! 



I'm filled with so much excitement and giddy going into this next chapter of my life. I finally have the tools necessary to begin my YouTube channel! It took me eight months to obtain them, but the hustle taught me the importance of hard work and that building the foundation of your empire takes time. 

I'm currently working on a commission for one of my managers and once completed, I'll begin filming for my YouTube channel! I decided to go with a Canon T5 as my camera of choice and an iMac, which is a huge upgrade from the laptop I had prior.

I won't have my first video uploaded to my future channel for another three weeks or so (got lots of new technology to figure out), but once I do, I'll make sure to send y'all a link!

What else has happened in my life?

I'll start where I left off last...with that awful date I went on. We haven't spoken since that night. I actually haven't been on any dates since then and I deleted Tinder for a few weeks to focus on other things. Guys can really be a distraction. However, I did re-download the app two days ago because I'm horny as fuck and I desire that male attention. I haven't done anything with a guy, not even kiss, in over four months and I'm going stir crazy. There's a few guys who come into work on a weekly/bi-weekly basis, that I find attractive and probably play for the same team.

A few weeks ago, we dodged Hurricane Matthew and thankfully had zero damage or inconvenience from it. It was hectic at work though and I got some nice overtime from it. My manager gave me a store gift card for working hard and decided to buy a cleanse I had been eyeing since I got hired. It's a two week full body cleanse that detoxes the intestines, liver, gall bladder, lymph, blood and digestive system. Tonight is day 11 (I believe) and I feel really good.


Along with the plethora of green powders and organic supplements I'm taking, I added mushrooms to the regimen. There's several different kinds, but for now; I'm starting out with Reishi, Chaga and Cordyceps. One of the benefits to these mushrooms is their ability to elevate the vividness of your dreams! How fucking rad is that? I already have the coolest dreams to begin with...and this is only going to magnify them. Umm yes please! I read quite a few reviews on Amazon from people who testify to this happening to them as well, along with more energy during the day and improved skin.


I've been able to remember almost every single dream I've had within the last few days, since I started taking these supplements, so I'm going to begin writing more Dream Journal posts! :) I absolutely love writing them!

I'll have more time to do things I want to do, like drawing and blogging, now that I'll be working four days again, rather than full-time. I learned how to write an order for a section at work, so I may be taking over as a section leader soon, which would be tight.

Lastly, I've been obsessed with Netflix. Holy shit it's amazing. After I finished Stranger Things, I got hooked on Sense8, than the first two seasons of The Killing and now I'm onto S1E9 of Shameless.

So yeah, that's about it. Life is cool right now. I'm super excited for what the near future has in store for me.

Much Love Guys.


Friday, September 9, 2016

Worst Date Thus Far

The date was a bust.

I got to the restaurant on time and he was running a little late, which I'll explain why in a moment. I walked in and immediately booked it for the bathrooms in the back, so I could text my friends and release my bladder...for the 10th time that hour. I grabbed a chair at the bar, next to the entrance and he said he was running late due to something creepy that just happened to him. I was somewhat relieved by that, because I figured that story would be an awesome ice breaker. After waiting for ten minutes and fidgeting around with my phone, I decided to make small talk with the pretty, blonde hostess.

I smiled at her and said "Hi, I know this is really random, but I'm meeting a guy here for the first time and I was wondering if you had any dating advice." Keep in mind, this was the first sit-down dinner date I've ever gone on. She was so cute and told me to smile a lot, laugh at his jokes, keep the conversation positive and to be myself. Easy enough, right?

Well shortly after I sat back down at the bar, he walked in and we shook hands. The hostess winked at me, grabbed two menus and led us to a booth that was more secluded, off in the corner.

We ordered waters and he began telling me about his creepy story. So apparently he noticed a puddle of water in his living room and he swears he didn't spill anything or create it. He checked the ceiling for leaks and couldn't find anything that would have caused it naturally. Furthermore, he lives alone, doesn't have any indoor pets and could not find an explanation. Than he realized on his way out of the apartment, that an empty water bottle was sitting on the ground in his entry way, along with a key. He inserted the random key into his door to see if it would open and it did not. He said it could have been a spare key from a previous owner, that they left above the door, which fell to the ground...or someone got into his place and is stalking him. He was genuinely scared and said he may even get a hotel room tonight so he doesn't have to go back home. His place is a three bedroom condominium and it's not an open floor plan, which made him even more freaked out, due to all the walls and possible places for someone to easily hide, if that were the case.

He lives in a more rural, yet highly upscale part of town, where snowbirds fly down during the winter months and live in their mansions, before heading back to NY or wherever. During the months in which the snowbirds are gone, he said there's a significantly higher amount of break-ins, since the houses/mansions are vacant. Aka this time of year. The sub-division he lives in is double gated and there are security guards patrolling the grounds, but realistically, that's just two walls to jump and a few security guards to avoid. Hopefully there's a simple explanation to all this and it's not some creepy stalker who somehow gained access to his home and is leaving signs behind. That would creep me the fuck out too.

As he was explaining this story to me, one of the first things I noticed, was that he was a bit more feminine than I expected. I think feminine guys are great, but I prefer guys who are more masculine. I guess I just assumed from his photos that he was going to be more masculine. Lesson learned, don't assume anything. The second personality trait I picked up on was how serious he was. I casually asked him the normal dating questions, like what are your hobbies, what's your family like, etc.? He could only come up with one hobby, riding horses and teaching people how to ride. He said it's his passion and he's turned his hobby into a career. I applaud him for that, but it's also good to have an array of interests. He never asked me what mine were...or hardly any questions for that matter. I almost felt like I had to talk about myself, simply because the conversation was so one-sided.

The server came back and I ordered a beer, to help me get through the next 90 minutes.

I don't know about you, but one of my biggest turn-offs is when someone starts voicing how much money they have. He made a point to subtly make it known that he's financially well-off. He told me that he had a mall job in high school, simply for the experience, even though he didn't need the money and got his manager fired. He told me he makes more money than his own mother. He sometimes goes weeks without talking to his mom and up to two months without speaking to his father. This made me question whether or not his parents were okay with him being gay, but I had no desire to probe that topic. From the way he spoke about his two siblings, it did not sound like he was close with them either. I find a family-oriented guy to be a huge turn-on and that was unfortunate to hear.

Some other red flags that were raised throughout the date included:
  • He wasn't very polite to the wait staff. I don't know about you, but I always make a point to smile and say please & thank you.
  • His zero interest in cooking. He said he's never opened up his oven or turned on his stove. He eats out everyday, for every single meal. His meals primarily consist of pizza, sushi, the same Jewish deli for breakfast, sweets and mac and cheese.
  • Texting/looking at his phone during dinner. He couldn't put his phone in his pocket for 90 minutes without looking at it? C'mon.
  • He lied about also being Italian, for no apparent reason. He's actually Cuban.
  • Our lack of similar interests...because there were none. haha
Granted, I do respect his hustle and for living out his dream, but he is so consumed with horses and that lifestyle, which seems apparent he'd do best in a relationship with a guy who is exactly like him. Someone who loves to be around horses all day, who enjoys the finer things in life and can handle his more up-tight personality.

Once we left the restaurant and hugged, he thanked me and said we should do dinner again sometime, before heading in separate directions to our cars. I don't know if he was just being polite or if he genuinely meant that, but I have no interest in meeting up with him again. I wish him all the best, but he's clearly not the one for me.

SOUL MATE WHERE YOU AT?!

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Gay Dating

Six months ago, I would have never felt comfortable enough to even consider going on a dinner date with a guy. I'm proud to say those days are over. I owe a significant chunk of my growth to a few of my coworkers who have been there for me when it comes to offering dating advice. I am so very thankful for them being in this chapter of my life.

I met a guy off Tinder last week who's struck my interest. He's a horse trainer. Yep, you read that right. Definitely an interesting job, one in which I know nothing about. I've been on a horse once in my life, when I was like six-years-old to pose for a photo. I need to find that picture, I probably look tense as fuck haha

He and I clearly live two very different lives...but opposites attract, right? We talked on the app for about a week, before swapping phone numbers.


 
Of course I read the last few texts to my coworkers and we were all laughing hysterically and trying to decipher what he meant by it. Hopefully we're able to finalize plans and meet up this week, because he seems cool and he's really handsome. A fellow Italian boy :)
 



 
I may or may not have mistaken that donkey for a baby horse, which he quickly called me out on haha Please tell me I'm not the only one who thinks that donkey resembles a pony...with just very large ears!
 
If he and I do grab dinner, I hope the date goes well and there's no awkwardness. Furthermore, one aspect of going on dates that makes me really uncomfortable, is when the check comes. I do not like when someone pays for me and I honestly don't have the money at the moment to pay for someone else. I know it's a very kind gesture when someone insists of paying, but can we just split the check, PLEASE?
 
All I want is a guy who'll whisper "let's go halfsies on the dinner bill" into my ear, is that too much to ask for?
 
Don't even get me started on first kisses. I can't even give hugs when I'm uncomfortable without stepping on their toes, let alone think about going in for a kiss. Baby steps, no pun intended.
 
Regardless of how great or awful this potential date goes, at least I'll have a story to tell you guys!
 
Much Love

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Flirting Fails and New Photo Shoot!

I bailed on that third date haha

I got too nervous and felt like being an introvert on Friday, the day we planned on meeting up. I had the day off and he was leaving the office early around 1:30, so we casually mentioned going to see Suicide Squad at the theaters. I was doing chores and running errands during the day and by the time I got home late afternoon, going back out and having to socialize did not sound appealing to me.

The following day he told me that he ended up going to a gay club with a few of his friends and participated in a hot body contest. He got on stage in his underwear, in front of the entire club and got rated by the crowd.

I got anxiety just calling the establishments I bought Groupon deals for...and this guy is winning first place in hot body contests. Seriously, I asked him if he won and he did. haha

Speaking of guys, I nearly had a heart attack on Thursday when SURFER showed up after his three month absence. This is the dude who came into my work multiple times, flirted with me and than disappeared. We all presumed he didn't make it through shark week and got washed away to the bottom of the ocean. Well, it turns out he's alive and kickin', because he made an appearance last week. :) I glanced up from what I was doing and we made the initial eye contact. I averted my attention and continued working, but thought to myself "wow, he looks a lot like Surfer". A few seconds later; I peeked up at him again and this time he was smiling at me and said hey.

*Cue the flood of nerves*

I tried to keep my composure. This guy has light blue eyes that seem to pierce through me and I can't keep eye contact with him for more than a few seconds, before looking away. After asking each other how we were doing, I asked him "where have you been, I haven't seen you in a while..." To which he smirked and replied, "I've been around. I was at the beach earlier today. I know that's your fear" and chuckled.

He was referencing our first conversation we ever had, when the topic of water sports and the ocean came up in the discussion and I disclosed how open water is one of my biggest fears. That was months ago and he remembered. My coworker Sarah casually slipped into the conversation and said "you should go to the beach and work on your tan", implying that he and I should go together. I kind of just froze up and got really uncomfortable. After we said our semi-awkward goodbyes to each other and he left, Sarah confirmed that he was quote, unquote 100% flirting with me. I walked outside to tell another coworker about Surfer's return and as I was filling her in on the deets, he turned around twice to look back at us from the parking lot. She made it known that my face was bright red and I need to work on my flirting skills haha I couldn't agree more. Flirting is difficult!

Oddly enough, another dude reached out to me two nights ago, completely out of the blue. Remember this dude? He text me saying he just got back from traveling throughout Spain and wants to grab coffee again. I wouldn't be opposed to meeting up with him, I enjoyed our first date.

Enough about guys. Onto more exciting things.

My sister hooked a brotha up and gave me her Netflix information so I could binge watch Stranger Things!! HOLY SHIT it's one of the best shows I've watched in a while. It's a sci-fi comedy/thriller that blew my mind. Season two can't come soon enough.

 
Speaking of Netflix, I absolutely have to recommend a movie I watched last night called 4th Man Out.  It's the best gay-related movie I have ever seen, revolving around a 24-year-old stud named Adam, who lives in Upstate NY and comes out to his three best friends and family. I resonated with so much of the movie and I was captivated from beginning to end. I think you guys will really enjoy it as well. The characters are genuinely relatable.
 
 
 
Lastly, Michelle and I did a photo shoot and photographed four of the 24 new pieces I'll be doing! It's honestly all I think about everyday. Here's a sneak peek from one of the shoots. I won't spoil the theme for this specific drawing, but let's just say it's going to have galactic elements and size distortion.
 
 
How GORGEOUS is she?! Her mind and personality are equally as beautiful as she is physically. I feel so blessed to have the most badass best friend, who is always encouraging and motivating me to accomplish my goals and helping me in any way possible to do so. I've never felt so close to another human being. She even let me tape her tits up, all for the sake of art. If that's not true love, I don't know what is!

That's all for now. As always, much love guys!

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Loving Summer

Hey guys

This past Thursday I met up with my coworker and did hot yoga again together. It's the hardest 90 minutes of my life, but I love it. I feel so at peace, being surrounded by people sharing the same passion and interest as I do. It's one of the very few places where I know I won't be judged and it's an environment for everyone to grow mentally, physically and spiritually in. Plus, a wellness lounge is opening up next door to the yoga studio, with Sensory Deprivation tanks and I caaaaaaant wait to try it out!

If you have a curious little mind like myself, here's more information on Floatation Therapy. For testimonials, check out Joe Rogan's personal experience here.


I still have a tremendous amount of improvement to do in yoga, mainly due to lower back and hamstring pain/tightness, which is why I decided to book my first Acupuncture appointment! Al hail Groupon. I got a pretty sweet deal, consisting of three 60-minute treatments for $79. Although I know it'll be super beneficial for me, I'm still slightly nervous to have needles puncturing into my body. If you've ever done it before, leave me a comment letting me know how your experience(s) went. Funny enough, my mom worked as a receptionist at an Acupuncture spa to get herself through college and she never got a treatment done. How the hell does one work at a place like that and not have the curiosity to try it at least once?

Anyways, my sweaty ass raced home after yoga to shower and meet up with blue eyes again for a second 'date'. We met along Atlantic Ave and the beach (same as the first time) and it was nice. He was watching his friend's pug, so he brought the dog along with him and the three of us walked along A1A for awhile. That is until the dog began breathing so loudly that we legitimately thought he was going to pass out from exhaustion, so we gave him water and than strolled out onto the beach and sat down in the sand for the dog to catch his breath. We talked for another hour and a half. There were a few times when I didn't know what to say, so I started playing with the dog or the sand. Ha He wants to meet up again this upcoming week, so if we do, a change of venue needs to happen.

Unfortunately, I had to turn down a date this afternoon with a really cool and attractive guy I met off Tinder a week ago. He's a 24 year old Senior Bio major at UF, going into med school and he wanted to grab lunch on his way back up to Gainesville. But work, being the ultimate cockblocker that it is, hindered me from being able to meet up with him. Oh well, if it's meant to be, we'll cross paths in the future.



If all goes to plan, I should have enough money saved up when I get my next paycheck in two weeks, to get a MacBook! I'm so so so ecstatic for this! It'll be such a drastic upgrade from the laptop I'm currently working with and it'll be one step closer to me getting a camera, a video editing software and my YOUTUBE CHANNEL up and running!! I'll be filming time-lapse videos of my drawings, uploading them to my channel and than making prints of the drawings to sell at festivals and art venues. You know, just manifesting my dreams, that's all. :)

Much love guys!

Monday, August 8, 2016

Ice Cream Date

I had a serious case of bubble guts this evening. As I got off the can for the third time within an hour, I pulled my shit together (no pun intended) and got ready for my date with the blue eyed guy I posted a pic about in my last post!

I was incredibly nervous. We actually met two years ago on Grinder or Tinder (I can't remember) and both deleted our accounts shortly after, but before doing so; we added each other on snapchat. I got some drool worthy post-workout selfies over the course of that time. haha We would go from messaging each other for a few weeks, to not communicating for a month or two and than begin again. I think that's what enhanced my nerves so much, simply because we had been informally talking to each other for so long. This is the third date I've gone on this year and the most nerve wrecking one.

Thankfully, the date went really well! We walked along Atlantic Ave and the beach for about two and a half hours and grabbed ice cream (Ben & Jerry's has vegan options!). After about an hour, I began to get more comfortable around him, as the nerves settled down a bit. We talked about anything and everything, from our families, to our jobs, our passions, the universe, our common interests in yoga, fitness and eating healthy. It was a lot of fun and he had me laughing all throughout the night.

We're meeting up for a second date on Thursday! I hope it goes as well as the first one.

Much love guys!
 
 



Sunday, July 31, 2016

Sweaty Men

You guys! I'm making strides this year, yo. For the first time in three years, I went to a yoga studio!! That might sound like a measly accomplishment, but for me, it was a significant feat. Let me explain...

I used to do yoga all the time in school. Sophomore year was the most pivotal year of my college career. Michelle introduced me to yoga, I dropped my fraternity, I came out of the closet, I sought help from a counselor, I fooled around with a guy for the first time and I had my spiritual awakening. After I got a taste for yoga, I instantly fell in love with it, because I feel closest to God/the Universe when I'm on the mat. I was going to on-campus classes all the time and took advantage of my roommates P90x yoga Senior year. But once I graduated, I just kinda stopped practicing as frequently and didn't have the motivation.

Until recentlyyyyyy!

My coworker (who's also vegan!) and I went to a 90 minute hot yoga class and it was one of the most intense workouts I've ever done. As we entered the studio room, the other class was leaving, and I was graced with the presence of four beautiful shirtless, sweaty guys walking out.

So of course, I was already in heaven. Unfortunately, there was only one cute guy in our class, but thankfully he set up his mat right behind me, so I could easily sneak a few glimpses. haha

If you've never taken an advanced hot yoga class before, you're basically drenched in sweat after 15 minutes. Me and the other guy in the class ripped our shirts off and the girls were all in minimal clothing, for good reason. Everyone had beach towels on top of their mats to collect the sweat dripping off every crevice of our bodies.

Once the workout had finished and we were laying in Savasana (corpse pose), I was given an art vision, which I can't wait to bring to life! I was light headed as fuck as we were leaving the room, from a mix of getting my butt kicked, working out in a 90 degree room and not drinking enough water. On our way out, we each thanked the yoga instructor and walked over to grab our shoes. Before I could physically move my body in that general direction, standing about 15 feet away, by the kombucha bar/lounge area...was the most stunning guy I've ever seen. He was a solid 9.5 and just physically perfect. I was star struck by him (and light headed still), so all I could do was freeze and stare at him. He was talking to a girl and I must have looked like a deer in headlights, because he noticed and made eye contact. As Michelle put it "like the awkward staring that the person can't tell if you're rude, awkward or high." Haha I hope I see him again in the future...

 
After yoga, I went to visit my friend at Raw Juce and she hooked me up with a free care package...basically a free juice cleanse! She is such a sweetheart.


 
 
The following night, the coworker that I went to yoga with, along with another, met up for dinner and it was so much fun! I feel so utterly blessed to have met so many cool people through my job.
 
 
 
During dinner, I started receiving snap chats from this guy whom I've been talking to on and off with for over two years now. We were supposed to go on a date to the beach like a month ago, but it started storming that day and I cancelled plans. We were "flirting" through the app and he told me once he gets back from Cali in a few days, he wants to meet up, so I'm excited about that :) He's 6'4" which is kind of intimidating, but we'll see how it goes. I could get lost in those eyes.
 
 
Than yesterday, I received my health insurance card in the mail, which allows me to go to any LA Fitness gym FOR FREE! I was so happy I almost cried. LA Fitness offers yoga classes that I get to start taking advantage of, on top of the yoga studio I'm going to with my coworker a few times a month AND the yoga workout videos I'm doing every morning from home. :) I would love to meet a guy through yoga, because yoga guys are the hottest, so the odds are definitely in my favor now.
 
Lastly, I started a timesheet for the rest of the year, by writing down the dates of the next 12 paychecks of 2016 and what to buy in correlation with the money (a camera, MacBook, studio lights, video editing software, etc.), so I set myself up for an epic 2017!
 
It's hard to believe Fall is around the corner. I'm so proud of myself and everything I've achieved this year. I finally feel like I have a vision of what I want out of life. I hope you guys continue crushing 2016 as well!!
 
Much love guys!
 




Thursday, July 21, 2016

Realignment

Yesterday morning I woke up with the WORST knot in my neck. Thank goodness I had the day off (as well as today), because I absolutely would have had to call out. I used an Icy Hot patch for the first time in my life, because my head was stuck in an abnormal, tilted position and I was unable to move it more than an inch or two. I had so much to do, yet this left me debilitated all day, along with a killer headache.

However, I try to look at everything that happens to me with a positive outlook. By early evening, the pain in my neck and right shoulder became unbearable and I had to stop doing art and lie down in bed. I began to meditate for awhile, before dozing off into a three hour nap. I had worked the past six days in a row, so I guess I was more tired than I thought.

Prior to falling asleep, I focused my attention on the ways I've enhanced my life in 2016 and HOW I can better it even further.

Here are some recent investments I've made to my health:

As soon as I wake up in the morning, I jump on my new trampoline for ten minutes. It wakes me up, gets the blood and oxygen flowing and charges me up to start my day.


I added two new supplements to my existing arsenal. Reishi and Chaga mushrooms!


My juicer broke about a month ago, so I upgraded and got this new beauty!


I was never a fan of flossing, so I made a very adult purchase and got myself a Water Pik. Best Idea Ever. I add one drop of Peppermint essential oil to the water and my teeth feel like I just went to a hygienist and got them professionally cleaned.


Each morning, along with my supplements and juice; I also make a huge smoothie, a protein shake and a green shot. Needless to say, things are flowing in the A.M. So what better way to help keep my body clean, than with this new addition! I lalalove my Squatty Potty!


Next, I got myself a diffuser and essential oils. Not only does it aid in helping me sleep better, but my bedroom has permanently become the best smelling room in the house. Essential oils have numerous benefits, from aromatherapy, household cleaning, personal beauty care and natural medicine treatments. Here's some information on EO's.


The last thing I do before getting in bed and turning on my zen music and diffuser, is meditate. I knew I needed a more comfortable setup, to help deepen my practice, so I got myself this chair which is so comfortable!


The epiphany I had last night while meditating, was that I absolutely need to get back into yoga! I crave that level of flexibility and clearness of mind I had in college, when I was doing yoga almost everyday.

After I woke up from my nap, I ordered four yoga DVDs: DVD1, DVD2, DVD3 & DVD4.

I'm excited to utilize this new smart TV we just got, by doing yoga every morning and lifting at the gym every night after work!!


That's all for now. Much Love Guys!

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Koi Fresco

Hey guys! How's life been?

I received my first bi-yearly review at work and got my first raise. I'm very grateful for that, but I'm still making SHIT money. However, I know it's all temporary and enabling me to obtain what I need to move on. This stage of my life is making me really appreciate what is yet to come in my future and my success. Thanks to this job, I am much less intimidated to talk to strangers...and more importantly, attractive guys. It's definitely contributing to more solid social skills, which I'll utilize when I begin selling my work at music festivals, wedding expos, etc.

Speaking of art, I just finished a new piece today and I absolutely love it!

 
Who is that gorgeous, vegan man radiating such ethereal beauty you might ask? Koi Fresco. I discovered him about six weeks ago and instantly fell in love with his YouTube channel. My parents just returned from a week long trip to San Francisco and while I had the house to myself, Michelle and I listened to his guided meditation video every night before bed. We'd sip our chamomile tea, light an incense in the living room, turn on the Himalayan sea salt lamp and meditate with him. It's become apart of my nightly routine and I HIGHLY recommend listening to this video...along with his other content. His mind is equally as beautiful as he is physically.


I posted the drawing to my Instagram earlier this evening and he liked/commented on the photo, so hopefully he posts it to his account and gives me a shout out.

*Update*

 
BOOM

This was the first time using my fancy Prisma colored pencils I had bought for myself as a birthday present to meee. Crayola's can suck a dick, there's a reason why an entire box of those costs $1. Prismas blend like butter and it's such a massive upgrade, which is perfect timing, because I'M STARTING 24 NEW PIECES!

Remember the Consciousness Series I did with Michelle? It was a twelve piece series shining light on several different topics including marijuana, toxins, Earth, dreams, aliens, bees, psychedelics, food, animals, etc. I have more to say about each topic, so I'm making a subcategory of the 12 topics and creating two more drawings for each of them. Photo shoots coming soon and I'll take you guys through that entire process.

I'm so stoked to continue crossing off my 2016 To-Do List! My eyes are on the prize and I'm more ambitious and tenacious than ever.

Much Love guys!

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

The CrossFit Instructor

So this is definitely one of my more questionable life choices LOL

Yesterday I worked until 11PM and as soon as I got home, I made a big bowl of pasta and red sauce. I sat at the kitchen counter, replying to all the text messages I had received throughout the day and than I decided to tap on the Tinder app...

...a decision that unbeknownst to me at the time, would change my entire night.

I matched with a guy and he immediately shot me a message. He was a beautiful Ecuadorian guy, who was in town visiting his brother, who works at one of the poshy beach resorts along A1A. He was also 25, 5'10", graduated with an engineering degree, teaches CrossFit and wants to move to Florida in November.


Tonight was his last night here in the states, so he asked me if I wanted to hangout. It was already 11:45 at night and the Beach Resort he was at was 30 minutes South, but I agreed. I thought it would be fun to talk to a guy who's not only intelligent, but super attractive and lives in another country.

I jumped in my car, plugged the address into my phone and made my way down to him. I notified my coworker, who I know stays up really late, and filled her in on what I was doing and where I was going, just to be safe. As soon as I arrived, he was sitting along the curb next to the resort's welcome sign. I drove past him and I got so excited, because he looked just as beautiful in person, as he did in his photos.

The moment I got out of my car, I said his name and he popped up from the curb and walked towards me with the most heart-melting smile. If that wasn't enough, he began talking and his accent literally paralyzed me for a moment. We hugged and we sat down on the sidewalk and began talking and getting to know each other.

After about ten minutes of asking the initial, generic questions, I suggested we walk onto the beach. That was the best idea of the night, because it was so gorgeous out. We flicked our sandals off and walked over to a spot in the sand, about 30 feet from the water. The breeze felt amazing, the stars were shining so bright and I was sitting in the sand next to this beautiful guy.

After about ten more minutes of talking, he asked if he could kiss me. I blurted out "what?!" instead of "yes" and made this guy ask again haha

Of course I said yes and our lips locked. His lips were really soft, but in about 1.5 seconds, kissing turned into a  full-blown make out session on the beach. It was awesome. His body was literally like a rock of solid muscle and abs, but he wasn't cocky or egotistical at all.

Things got very steamy last night. Every time we'd take a moment from kissing/doing other stuff, I'd laugh and he'd go "Que? What's wrong?", in his sexy Spanish suave accent, which made me laugh harder.

I tried some new things last night and it turned out to be such an awesome night, one that I'll never forget. 2016 is teaching me that life is about stepping out of your comfort zone, having safe fun and learning & growing from your experiences.


Much love guys

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Tinder Date

I went on a date!

 
I haven't been on a date in over three years (since I was in college!) and I FINALLY mustered up the courage to go on a coffee date this past Friday.

If you read my last post, you might be wondering if that was the guy I met up with, but unfortunately, it wasn't. In fact, that guy hasn't come in to my work in almost a month. Quite frankly, I got tired of waiting for him to make an appearance...so I downloaded the infamous Tinder app. I'm not going to lie, I may have downloaded it in the hopes that I would find him on there. I haven't, but that's fine.

Amongst the matches, I began chatting with a guy who I immediately kicked it off with. After about two days of messaging/texting, he asked me if I wanted to meet up, so I agreed. I knew it was time to start getting comfortable going on dates. I was not nervous at all though. You would think I would be, since I haven't been on one in years, but I was really calm and excited to meet this guy and explore his mind.

We decided to meet at a Starbucks that's located right in-between where we live. I got there about ten minutes early, so I sat in my car for a few minutes. I only told two of my close friends and my coworkers about the date and sent Angel a safe word and told her if I text her that, to call me immediately, so I can peace out, in case the date starts getting weird. And than Michelle sends me this text that had me cracking up.



I walked into the coffee shop and there was a person ordering in front of me, so I had a moment to scan the room to see if he was already there. He wasn't. Not even 30 seconds later, the door opens from behind me and in walks the guy, with a huge smile on his face. He's my height (5' 10"), tan, dark hair and green eyes. We ordered our tea and coffee and found a table along the wall to talk at. That Starbucks was literally 60 degrees, so it didn't take long before both of us were shivering and decided to run outside in the rain and talk on the patio, and defrost under the umbrellas.

He's also 25, graduated with a programming degree and he's very open-minded. We talked about spirituality, veganism (he's going vegetarian with the help of his vegan brother), music festivals, psychedelics, documentaries, video games, yoga, meditation, his upcoming trip to Europe, lucid dreaming, astral projection, what we want to achieve in the future, etc. 

Two and a half hours went by and it was time for him to leave and get ready for work, so we hugged in the parking lot and said our goodbyes. We've been texting on and off and plan on meeting up to do yoga sometime soon.

And than...

I accepted another date invitation from a different guy later this week...cause, why not? Haha This guy is so handsome, it's slightly intimidating. He's 6'3", works out six days a week and has the most gorgeous blue eyes. Physically, he's stunning...but I'm interested to see what type of personality he has. We're meeting up one evening after he gets off work, to walk along the beach, so that'll be fun.

Until than, much love guys!

Friday, May 20, 2016

Boys

So let's get right to it, shall we...

I got asked to go to Las Vegas with a guy last week. I've been talking to this really cool guy who I met online six weeks ago. He's also 25, super handsome, an architect and he lives in Portland. So, I nicknamed him Portland, obviously. I know what you're thinking...why the heck are you talking to a guy who lives 3,200 miles away. Well that's a solid question bahaha and the answer being that I wasn't interested in any of the guys that lived in my area, so I got curious and started looking at guys who live all over and that's when I stumbled upon Portland and shot him a message.

He's working on a residential project near Vegas and he asked me if I wanted to meet him there. I had to decline because the invitation was pretty last minute...and I already had my work schedule locked in. Plus, that trip would have been expensive and I'm trying to cross off all my goals and spend my money wisely right now. Boys come second right now.

Speaking of boys...there's this guy who comes in consecutively, every Saturday, for the last month. The first time I ever noticed him was four weeks ago, when he came through my line to checkout and I thought he was cute and friendly, but I didn't think much of it. Some people are just naturally bubbly and smile a lot, so I assumed he was just a happy person and full of life.

He looks like a surfer. He's got that golden beachy tan, he's about 6'1" and he has bright blue eyes like the Caribbean ocean. So I nicknamed him Surfer.


The second Saturday afternoon I saw him, he came through Britt's line and I was there bagging for her. This time he made a point to look at my nametag and go "so your name is Jeremy, huh?" Awkward me forgot how to keep a conversation flowing, by asking him what his name was...and in the moment, all I said was "Yep, that's me." Haha

Than last week/Saturday #3, he came in and he checked out at another register. I was bagging for my friend Lauren and I quickly updated her on how he had come in the last two weeks and he's super friendly towards me. Lauren and I were working at a register closer to the exit from where he was checking out at, so he had to pass me on his way out. Lauren looked over her shoulder and whispered "here he comes, here he comes", anxiously awaiting to see if he'd say something to me. As soon as he got within three or four feet of where I was standing, he turned around and screamed "HEY DUDE!" with the biggest smile on his face. He said it loud enough for every single person in front of the store to hear. Five of my coworkers flocked me like vultures out of nowhere, asking for the deets on who he was.

Than this past Saturday, I spotted Surfer and ran over to Britt and told her that he was in the building. Ugh he was looking so cute that day too. I was being a pussy and got too nervous to talk to him, so Britt completely wing womaned me. Not only did she wait to jump on a register as soon as he was ready to checkout to ensure that he went through her line, but she got his name. It's Brandon.

I was too nervous to walk over and bag for her and talk to him, so I went to my girl Kaila's line and bagged for her, while watching Britt and Surfer from afar. haha Kaila leans in to me and goes "isn't that your guy checking out in Britt's line?" haha

Everyone I work with is pretty much in their 20's and early 30's, so it's like a party. A bunch of us are actually going to Key West together in August.

Anyways, as he grabs his bags and starts walking towards me on his way out, I could feel my heart pounding against my chest harder and harder the closer he got. This time he walked right up to me and said "Hi Jeremy!" and walked out. I can't even remember if I made eye contact. If I did, it was for half a millisecond. I was so nervous and I hope that didn't come off as me being unsocial or uninterested.

As soon as he turned around and continued walking, I BOOKED it over to Britt and she was beaming with excitement! "HE ASKED ABOUT YOU, HE ASKED ABOUT YOU!!!" I thought I was going to puke and I thought she was lying at first. Keep in mind this conversation is going on while customers are still coming through the line, so they're eavesdropping on all of it hahaha

What do you mean he asked you about me, I asked!? She said while scanning his items, he asked Britt "so who's that guy over there? Every time I come in, I always see you two laughing, you guys are trouble when you work together." And she blurted out "Ohhh that's Jeremy!!"....and I can't remember what else she said.

But clearly he already knew my name. We wear name tags and he specifically said my name that prior time he came in. I think he said that to Britt to give me closure that he also plays for the same team. Unfortunately, I only see him come in on Saturday afternoons and I don't work this Saturday.

Lucky for me, my coworkers are fucking rad and their all rooting for me. Even all my male coworkers haha it's so funny, every day someone will jokingly ask "so how's Surfer doing?" haha All my favorite people work on Saturday, so one of them is going to give him my number for me, granted he comes in.

I'm so nervous and excited!! I really can't stop thinking about him. I have such a strong urge and desire to get to know him and hangout.

So hopefully I receive a text from an unknown number sometime this weekend and I'll most definitely keep you guys updated on it all!

I've been working out five days a week and I finish the work portraits in TWO days!!!

YES YES YES!

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Believe in Yourself

Oh why hello there peeps!

How are you guys doing? It's been three weeks since my last blog post and I gotta fill you guys in on everything.

First off, my birthday at the beginning of the month was amazing. It was low key, just as I wanted it to be and I got to celebrate with two of my best and closest friends.

LOOK WHAT MY FAMILY GOT ME!


I got a Vitamix! I had been using the one on the right, which happened to be a wedding gift my parents received. They got married 37 years ago...it was time for an upgrade. But the cool part is, I didn't even ask for it. I didn't ask for anything...but I wanted one SO bad. I just didn't have the heart to ask for such an expensive present.

I hate showing my emotions, but I walked back in my room a little while after opening the present and cried. It was one of the best gifts, if not the best one, I've ever received. I've used it every single day since I got it.

Of course, I had to spoil myself a bit and got these bad boys for myself!

 
I am so excited to use these for the series I'm working on with Michelle! You can see the reference photos I'm using in the previous post. Of all the things happening in my life right now, I'm probably most excited about these drawings. I literally sit in the break room during my lunch and brainstorm.

Speaking of art, I got asked to be on the art team at work! I'm currently drawing two dozen of my coworkers!! I'm drawing every section leader and once I finish, they'll be hung up next to their favorite item within their section. These are the smallest portraits I've ever worked on. The dimensions are 6"x5" and note to self, drawing smaller is not easier. I haven't been given too much time to work on them in work, so I literally spend all my time on days off working on these. I'm trying to get them done as soon as possible, because the art leader has another huge project for me to tackle as soon as I finish this one.

I just feel so beyond blessed to have this job and for how accommodating they have been. I have no idea what might happen after the portraits are on display, but it'll be insane exposure for me. :)

Also, I'm talking to a guy! I won't be getting into any detail about that, simply because we're just talking and I don't want to make a bigger deal out of it. He is fun to talk to though haha and he's super handsome!

I'm branching out of my comfort zone even more and going to a yoga studio with my co-worker on Wednesday! I got the Groupon all printed out and ready to go!! This yoga studio also has a vegan café, so I feel like this is the perfect place for me to make new friends and get back into yoga!

There's also a new raw vegan smoothie/coffee café type place that opened up RIGHT by my house, so I'm going to start going there on my days off to do art and maybe I'll meet some people there as well!!

I am hyper focused right now. I'm working hard, I'm drawing a lot, I'm socializing more than ever and I feel myself lifting off the plateau that I had been stuck on for so long.

Friday, April 8, 2016

Art Brainstorming

I'm working on a new project!

 
I photographed my bestie Mich last week and these were the top three photos from the shoot:

 
The first drawing is titled Heavenly View and it'll depict her on the right side of the paper, with butterflies exploding out of her head. A dove is going to be flying towards her, with flowers enveloping her in the background. 
 
 

 
The second drawing (a mirror of the first) is titled Supernova and it'll depict her on the left side of the paper, surrounded by planets. The planet closest to Mich will have a dragonfly sitting on top of it, making eye contact with her...almost like they're communicating telepathically. The background will have a puzzle piece layout.

 

Or...

 
I could do an elemental theme and title them Earth, Air, Wind and Fire. The first idea/image would be perfect for wind. The photo of her looking forward would be used for water and fire. For water; I could do an underwater scene, with coral reefs and fish swimming around her. Her hair would be adorned with sea shells and various fruits plunging into the water behind her. For fire; I would turn her into a sun goddess and play with the previous idea, of planets orbiting around her. I would use the third image for earth, dropping her in a lush, tropical oasis, with small animals and fresh fruit everywhere.
 
What do you think????
 
I'm really in the mood to draw some things that revolve around nature and mysticism and I think these would satisfy that craving. I want these pieces to feel almost dreamlike and magical.
 
I just ordered my first pack of Prismacolors today and I CAN'T WAIT to test them out on this mini series!! 

Thursday, March 31, 2016

I'M 25!

MY BLOG HIT 1/2 MILLION VIEWS!
 
THANK YOU!!!!
 
WHAT AN AMAZING AND SURREAL FEELING
 

The clean eating regime is paying off!! I'm up to 148 pounds!! I have religiously eaten raw vegan for breakfast the last month or so (except for that time I discovered vegan cinnamon rolls last week and ate the entire roll hehe). I'm physically starting to see a difference. Every single morning I start by taking my supplements, followed by a turmeric shot, a matcha green tea shot, a Green Superfood shot and than an Apple Cider Vinegar shot.


 
 
 
 
Afterwards, I make myself a smoothie consisting of frozen strawberries, bananas, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries, steelcut oatmeal, chia seeds, hempseeds, organic baby spinach, coconut water and unsweetened vanilla almond milk. This smoothie tastes DIVINE!
 
About 30 minutes later, I juice a half dozen carrots, a beet, a lemon, celery, an apple, kale, a cucumber, ginger and strawberries.
 
After I workout I make myself a protein shake and eat a Clif Builder's protein bar. Usually the mint chocolate flavor, because they're f'ing delicious and taste like a mixture of Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies and Snickers. And it's vegan! Winning.
I've been consuming a ton of nuts as my fat and protein intake. If I'm not muching on cashews or hazelnuts, I'm eating raw almond, cashew or peanut butter. I cut out bread and replaced it with organic, gluten-free bread. I've noticed that my face gets really red and itchy after I eat bread, so I think I may be allergic.
 
I'm slowly cutting out more and more processed foods and my body is thanking me!
 
Anyways, enough about food. I have so many exciting things in the works that I can't wait to share with you guys! I contacted a graphic designer to possibly collaborate with, to redesign my blog and give it a complete revamp and facelift!! I'm completely giddy with excitement just thinking about it! I feel like I've come a looooooong way since I made this blog 5.5 years ago, and I want it to reflect the person I am now!

Sidenote: I just switched my URL from bdgatorfan.blogspot.com to lifeofkid.com--My family has called me 'The Kid' my entire life, so I thought lifeofkid was fitting. I wanted a name that sort of encompassed everything that I talk about on my blog now: my art, dreams, story time posts, food, health, faith, fitness, etc., all the while being short, simple, catchy, easy to remember and spell. I hope you guys like it! I used GoDaddy to purchase & sync my new domain name for any bloggers that might be interested in doing the same thing.
 
I also did the most amazing photo shoot with my best friend Michelle this afternoon and the photos turned out INCREDIBLE!!! I'm going much bigger with this new drawing, than the typical 11"x15" I limited myself to for so long. The title is 'Heavenly View' and it's going to look stunning once it's complete. We brainstormed and came up with such a cool concept. I can't wait to share more details later. This drawing will be at least 16"x20", if not bigger!! Here's a pic from the shoot! I can't wait to finish it and make prints to sell once I find the perfect print shop!!! Ahhhhhh!
 

I have so many amazing things happening and manifesting in my life and I'm so thankful for everything God is doing in my life!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!
 
Much Love Guys! 

 
(and yes, April Fools Day is my birthday!)