SUN/SETS

As many friends of mine have come to learn, I am a major sunset enthusiast! It’s the perfect time of the day to sit back and reflect on life and the little things. It’s become a daily habit of mine to head to the top of a parking garage or a rooftop lounge to gaze at the colorful view while the sun sets over the city.

“Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens every day can end beautifully.” – Kristen Butler

To my surprise, at a recent sunset, my friends and I stumbled across a live band rehearsing and filming a video for their submission to NPR’s Tiny Desk Series. The bands’ name is Atrox Box, a jazz/hip-hop group based out of San Marcos, Texas.

My fellow friends and I joined in by dancing and clapping along with the high energy band and ended our day with the perfect jam session and sunset. It’s tiny instances like this that make life all the more worthwhile.

Watch the short story below of our time on the roof, and then check out some groovy tunes from the awesome local band, Atrox Box!

MY RUNAWAY TO PORT A

Hey guys! It’s been a while since I’ve posted some content on my blog, but with a new year coming up, one of my resolutions is to keep up with my site more! In doing so I’ll be posting more insight into my life and creating more videos like the one posted below….

With finals and the holidays coming up, I’ve been extremely stressed out–I mean who isn’t right? So, naturally, I grabbed my ukulele, packed up my car, called my friends, and headed to the coast for a day at the beach. We spent a whole day in the sun and attempted to camp, but with high tides and heavy winds, our camping experience suffered. However, where there is a will, there’s a way! So, we dealt with the situation and slept in the car which made the adventure that much more worthwhile.

Overall it was the perfect getaway to refresh our minds and spirits before ending the year. Stay tuned for our next adventure!

 

 

illsential

A brand new street wear clothing company has launched in Austin, TX by the name of “illsential,” that aims to make you feel absolutely ill, and extremely important at the same time. In the video below, you’ll see the local dream team feeling just that way in their promotional video for the launch of the clothing line.

Their product has a minimalistic approach with the occasional exception of colorful illustration tees like the Night Wolf. The product is designed and distributed locally in the Austin area and targets the urban street wear demographic. If you’re feeling ill, check out some of their classic dad hat and t-shirt looks below.

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Adam Davis Photography
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Adam Davis Photography 

Illsential will have more sick street wear coming your way, so be sure to keep up with them on your socials (@illsential) so you don’t miss out on their next launch for the line. In the meantime, have fun shopping!

Aloha, Hawaii!

Over winter break, I made the journey from Central Texas to the beautiful isolated islands of Hawaii, located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

As a young girl, I resided on the island of Oahu and lived the fairytale of beach bummin’ my way through life for two years before moving. Excited to return, I waited patiently as I passed over the Pacific. The plane landed, and 15 years since my departure, I had officially made it back to the islands!

In the video below, you’ll see me standing on the edge of South Point, which is famous for being the southernmost point in the United States. Check out the video to see 30ft jumps into the Pacific, as well as footage from the rest of our wild adventures.

The video features footage from Rainbow and Akaka Falls, Waipio and Pololu Valley, Ahalanui Beach Park, the cities of Hilo and Kona, Black Sand Beach, and Papakolea Green Sand Beach–one of only four located on the entire globe.

The green sand is created by a common silicate deposit of Big Island lava called olivine, which stays deposited on this beach because it is heavier than the other, lighter components of lava. To see this special spot where the green sand effortlessly contrasts with the clean blue ocean water, we embarked on a six-mile hike round trip. To say the least, the hike was well worth it!

Being on the island and basking in its exquisite beauty made me question how one could ever leave such a place. If you can’t tell by now, I never wanted too. Hopefully, it won’t be another 15 years before I return. Till next time, Hawaii!

 

Interview: Meet Alex

It seems like a lot of people I know are doing some really cool stuff with their lives and creating something out of their passions and desires, so I decided to go out and interview a friend who is doing just that.

Meet Alex Helm, a guy pursuing life through the lens, capturing all of his exciting moments with his Nikon D2300. Helm started his own multimedia brand, Helm Visuals, as an outlet for him to promote what he is capable of.

Helm captures his day to day life by taking portraits of his alluring friends and filming his hobbies. Some typical content you may see Helm produce consists of portrait style photos, as well as video footage of wakeboarding, longboarding, traveling, and of course, partying.

Helm is hard working, and his art naturally catches the attention of others. He has an eye for the water and surrounds himself with positive “beachy” vibes, all which were influenced from the West Coast in California. In the interview, he explains his passions, influences, and style in his own words. Check it out the video and meet, Alex.

In addition, check out Helm’s, “Daydreaming,” as explained in the interview as one of his “most memorable” and most recent productions.

Provided below are some portrait style photos taken by Helm.

Helm Visuals
Photo: Helm Visuals
Helm Visuals
Photo: Helm Visuals
Helm Visuals
Photo: Helm Visuals
Photo: Alex Helm
Photo: Helm Visuals

Follow Helm Visuals on Instagram and Twitter to keep up with his most recent captures.

The Beauty of Blogging

Today, I was reflecting on the beauty of blogging and how running a site about my passions and daily activities has been so rewarding. For me, blogging has been a way for me to enhance what I share on my social media about my life. I’ve reflected my thoughts on blogging through a series of questions below. Have a look if you’re considering exploring the blogging lifestyle…

  • Which tools are effective? Which aren’t?

In blogging, the effective tools to be successful include captivating photography, passion on the topic, and a creative writing style. If you don’t have any of these three things, it will be hard for an audience to follow.

  • What would you want to improve or include within the blog?

The theme. I think the layout of a website can make or break whether it is successful or not.

  • In what ways could the experience benefit you in the future?

I’m hoping to add more festival coverage and music-oriented content to the site. With that being said, I hope to further my career in the industry by growing as a writer and knowledgeable reviewer.

  • Discuss how you might implement these tools professionally in the future, in a job or an entrepreneurial endeavor.

I plan on implementing the emmofe brand into my life long career. Where it’s going is unknown, but I plan on pursuing it as a personally owned brand, enhancing my life in a way that allows me to have multiple outlets of passion for focusing on, whether it’s music, life, art or food.

  • What has been your most popular week, and how many views and visitors did you get that week?

October 3-9. I received 208 views and 88 visitors.

  • Which was your most popular post of the year? How many views did it get? Why do you think it was the most popular?

My most popular post of the year thus far was titled “Meet Toyosi,” receiving 56 views. I think it populated the most views because Toyosi and I graduated from the same high school, so many of my friends on social media wanted to read about an old friends success.

  • In all of the Site Stats data, was anything surprising to you?

Yes, I’m shocked by the amount of traffic I was able to draw in. I didn’t expect the audience I’ve been receiving, so I think I’ll keep pursuing it after the class with the numbers I’m seeing.

  • Do you have any Twitter, Facebook or other social media stats you want to share?

No, but checking insights is always fun to see what impact you have on the online social community.

Meet Toyosi

Toyosi Oyelola, the mind and matter behind the blog, “Unmapped Territory,” is the star of today’s story. With me being a newbie in the blog world, I thought I would share with you my biggest inspiration when it comes to posting.

Oyelola and I attended NYOS Charter School in Austin, TX, where we both graduated in 2015. Since our time at the institution and beyond, I’ve watched Oyelola grow into the successful young women she is today. Oyelola is a current student at New York Univeristy and is perusing the life of business and entrepreneurship.

Oyelola’s blog, “Unmapped Territory,” is explained by her as, “a place for me to share everything from the clothes on my body to the thoughts in my head.” This typically entails posts on topics such as New York City, music, photography, college, life, and of course, style! She stated she, “believes in the power of bright lipstick,” but I think her power lies within. She can make coffee cups, boots, and accessories look good on their own, and is confident in her wardrobe and lipstick choices. She’s captivating, and that’s why she is one of my biggest inspirations.

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If you’d like to find out more about Toyosi, check out her website here, or follow her on social media for more great content @toyosioyelola!