speaking of

everyt

hing

mag6

It’s the time of year when kids are getting revved up for summer; late nights, hot days and our favorite… summer vacations! As grateful as we are for maturity, there are some things we need to learn from chil-dren… Being playful is one of them! Some-times we forget it’s alright to get dirty and play!

The key to everything is balance. Work and play have to coexist to live a fulfilled life. In this issue we are sharing the success stories of people who are balancing their passions and some of them were even able to turn play into a paycheck. We want this issue to encourage and inspire you to channel your inner child and remind you to play because trust us… its super fun!

xoxo

Danae + Lexi

Danae EdmondsCo-Founder + Publisher

Lexi SenicCo-Founder + Editor-in-Chief

Keya GibbonsContributor

Felicia FowlerContributor

Jason AlbertContributor

Ethan ParrishContributor

Clarissa RiveraContributor

Patrick YoungContributor

June Contributors

that’s me!

Being an adult can be really hard sometimes, but you already know that. Everyone has a different lifestyle with successes, struggles, and adventures. In a world where everything goes to social media, we only get a glimpse at someone’s life. We are conditioned to only see the better parts of our friend’s lives on social media and not too much of the bad, leading yyou to believe that your friends have an immensely better lifestyle than you. More than likely, what you see on social media is just a fraction of what really goes on, that is, unless your friends are very rich and can afford such elaborate life-styles. We are always go go go with no intent to stop because that is the world we live in. Some days are perfect and some aren’t. From my perspective, it’s a hard balance to make sure ththat I’m nding time with all of the important people in my life.

Patrick Young of @pattywhack

as a father, husband & individual

To give you some background, I got married when I was 20. You probably think I am a crazy person right now but I’m just as normal as any of you (we’re all a little crazy, though, right?). I was a sophomore in college and I had been with my girlfriend for four years and we wanted to get married. I’ve always been driven to keep getting to the next big stage in my life. I graduated college, worked out of state while my wife was pregnant at home, came back for the birth of our son, and nally found a career in my eld. Balancing my life has become a job of its own. On top of all of these thingall of these things, I still have to nd time to be a good father, husband, and individual. Here is the good news… what I nd works best for me can work for you too.

The number one piece of advice I can give you is to know your priorities. I am a family man. I love being with my family. That said, we all need breaks from our signicant others too! You can’t expect to spend every last minute with them. When it comes to plans with my friends or events that have been planned far in advance, I keep that promise and hang out with my friends and shuffle things with my family around from there. Personally, I love to hhave things planned all of the time. I love looking forward to something with friends or going out. It helps me get through the work week. Even when my wife and I plan something, we usually try to invite friends along to join us. Sometimes I feel like I’m being too selsh inviting friends and not making enough alone time with my wife to be a

good husband but she always lets me know if she would rather it be just us. It makes my life a lot easier knowing I can trust my wife to be completely honest with me at any given time. Which brings me to my next point.

My second piece of advice is to be yourself 100% of the time. While I am a father, husband, and average joe, I am all of those wrapped into one. Not each of those separately. Just as much as I have to keep my relationship withmy wife intact, I also have to do the same with my son and my friends. My basic schedule goes something like this: Wake up, go to work, talk to a friend on the phone while driving home, cook/eat dinner with my wife and chilchild, watch some television with my wife, play with my son for a bit/bathe him/put him to bed, hop online and play games with friends/watch more television with my wife while eating ice cream, go to bed, repeat. To some, this may sound boring. To others, this may sound like paradise.

Life isn’t always about going out every night and doing anything and everything. Life is what you make it. I do my routine because I love what I do. I love my job, family, and friends. I wouldn’t change what I have. This year alone I’ll be going to Prague, going to Disney World (at least three times!), being a groomsman in a wedding, and bringing another child into this world. I get to enjoy all of these things as the trifecta human being that I am.

MMy last piece of advice would be always make time for yourself. Whether you are alone or without your signicant other or without your friends, make sure you still allow time for yourself. I don’t do this very much but I still value it. For me, it’s usually when I’m not with my wife (aside from being at work). Sometimes I go hang out with some friends or just go eat by myself. The reason I don’t do this a whole lot is because I am an extrovert. I prefer being with people. But in the time that I do have alone, I use it to read, or think about something cool I can do with my wife and son, work on a website, play some guitar, or just check out buzzcheck out buzzfeed. I do this to help balance and maintain the lifestyle I enjoy. Alone time doesn’t mean sit in a corner and do nothing. Alone time is for being you, as an individual and doing what you enjoy.

Being all of these important roles in life are part of my everyday experience. I’m no different than most of you, as a person. I enjoy a lot of the same things (e.g. partying with friends, going to the movies, going to live concerts, etc..), but I enjoy them in a different perspective. I don’t get to do these things all of the time. When I do, it’s based around my ppriorities. I hope this shows a little more insight into the married lifestyle or parental lifestyle. My experience will denitely be different from yours. But if you are having fun, then you are doing it right.

You can follow my journey on Instagram - @pattywhack

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It GirlAshley Jones

After hearing her story I knew that she would be a perfect It Girl… she is talented beyond measure, intelligent, charismatic, and relatable. Ashely Noel Jones is a singer/songwriter who funded her upcoming album on Indiegogo by relying on friends, family, and strangers who supposupported her vision. Ashley is full of inspiration and love. Her message is one of persistence, day-dreams, hardwork and faith. Her EP, Les Reveries of Une Jeune Noire, will be available soon, but until then, here is a behind the music view into Ashley Noel Jones… her hopes, dreams, goals, and daily grind!

xoxo Danae

“I just keep moving

forward, not waiting

for opportunities to

fall into my lap,

but working to

create my own.

1. Tell us a little about who you are and how you got started singing?I grew up in South Carolina and have been singing for probably as long as I can remember. But, I just came into my singer-songwriterness in the last few years! I had been just singing around the house, doing musicals and that kind of thing since I was in high school. But after living in NYC for a few years, I picked up a guitar, used it as a bit of break-up therapy, taught myself how to play and started writing songs.

2.What artists are you most influenced by?TThere are so many that if I listed them all, this interview would go on forever and ever! I’m inuenced by artists of alltypes. But as for music-ians, Jeff Buckley is my biggest inuence. I adore him and his music. And hope to be the kind of musician and singer that he was… One so vulnerable and open to his art that it’s electric with truth and beauty. I’m also hugely inuenced by Sam Cooke, Nina Simone, Ryan Adams, Johnny Cash, and my home church, Hillsong’s music. Lastly some cucurrent artists I love: Laura Marling, Mumford and Sons, The Lumineers, Noah Gundersen, and JohnnySwim. (Just to name a few.)

3. What was your first job and how long did you hold that position?I worked with my mom with her hair salons and businesses since I was little, so that started early. It was great being involved and seeing what being an entrepreneur is like which is a huge part of being an artist. You are your own business and brand.

4. What were your initial goals with your music? How have they evolved?4. What were your initial goals with your music? How have they evolved?My initial goals were nothing! And even to this day, I don’t have an endgame plan. I just wanna write and perform music and put it into the world and hope that there’s a crew of folks who like it. Now, don’t get me wrong, I denitely want to be an artist soon whose main source of income is my art. So in that respect there is that goal. But what the journey to that looks like, I have no clue… which I am more than okay with. I just keep moving forward, not waiting for opportunities to fall into my lap, but working to create my own.

5. What advice would you give yourself five years ago?Hmmm. I guess “it’s all gonna be okay. Better than okay.”

6. What skills have you learned from being a recording artist?I have learned so much from the process. Lots of technical things, but also about the music business in general and how that is chanchanging. One of the biggest things I have learned is to trust my vision and not to be afraid to stand up for that. I think as a woman, you can nd yourself, shrinking back from your own ideas or thoughts, especially in male dominated elds, but I learned to always hold on to my vision and know that my ideas and thoughts are valid.

7. Where is your favorite place or environment to write songs?songs?I love to write anywhere. I write a lot in my apartment. But I also like to be outdoors… So often I’ll start things at home and then venture into a park in the city somewhere and nish things up. And I write on the go. Somehow, I always get the best ideas when I’m walking down the street, riding the subway or in the shower. Ha! So it’s always important to have my iPhone handy to rrecord voice memo ideas! I have hundreds of them on my phone… just little song snippets. And it’s a cool experience to nish a song and then go back and listen to those original sketches and snippets and see how the song has changed and yet still stayed the same.

8. What is a typical day like for you?Depends on the day. I work (my money making jobs) different days of the week. So a lot of times, I’ll get up in the AM and take care of whatever I need to do before heading to my restaurant job… Work a shift there and then when I’m off, I work on music things, or acting stuff. And I’m super involved with helping with the creative team at my church here in the city, so I spend a lot of time working on that as well as attending meetings and services. So my ddays are pretty busy… Which is a typical NYC life! Everyone is usually doing 8 million things, so I t right in! I try my best to maximize the hours in the day as best I can to work to take care of my obligations, pursue my music and artistic endeavors, and serve at my church.

9. What was the biggest obstacle you faced while pursuing your dreams?There are always obstacles and I’ve been through quite a few! I think the hardest obstacleis to just keep going. It’s so easy to give up. Or get complacent. Or feel the pressure of ‘life obligations’. But I’m continually pushing myself everyday to keep moving forward. Because I kknow my dreams are becoming more real every day. I’ve already seen so many of the things that I’ve desired come to pass. So just staying focused on those other big ones becoming true is the goal.

10. What is the best piece of advice you have received?I’ve gotten a lot of amazing advice. But probably my favorite has been from my mom which wwas “just do it.’ Seems simple enough, but so often in life we spin our wheels waiting and hoping and wishing, when the real thing we needed to do was to just do it. Just move forward. Because when we do we start to see opportunities open up.

11. When do you get your best ideas?In the bathroom. Ha! And at night. I’m a night owl so my brain is usually moving and shaking in the early AM hours! I do a lot of brainstorming and writing around that time.

12. What is the soundtrack of your life like?That’s a good one! My soundtrack would be a mix of a lot of artist. Like a life mix-tape. A little country music for when I’m daydreaming. Some Old Standards and Ella Fitzgerald or Gregory Porter when I’m thinking about matters of the heaof the heart. Some good ole rock and roll like Led Zeppelin and old school Kings of Leon when I wanna get pumped up! Some 90s R&B when I’m feeling nostalgic… And a good simple folk or bluegrass record when I’m just wander-ing through the city pondering life and dreams and my journey.

13. What inspires you?People inspire me. New York City. Love. Art. Great movies. Great books. Lots of books. I’m a bit of a nerd about a good book. Nature. I love grass and open elds and the smell of saltwater in the air.

14. How do you unwind?I lI love movies! There’s a small indie theater in NYC that I love to go to and see an independent lms, grab some popcorn and a fountain ginger ale. I love spending time with my family and friends to take a break from everything. I love trashy TV shows. Ha! I can zone out with some good Housewives of… shows. A good glass of wine, well-made cocktail or some home-cooked southern food are always a plus.

15. What do you hope people take away from your album? (& where will it be available?)I hope that people will connect to it. That they’ll relate to it and it’ll be part of the soundtrack of their lives. I hope alsalso, that people will be inspired to go after their dreams. This started as just this little nugget of a thing and it’s been such a journey. Having so many people encourage me and get behind my music project on Indiegogo has been amazing. I feel like it’s as much their record as it is my own, so I hope that people will think to themselves, ‘well, if this girl can do it, why can’t I?”. So much of the record is just about being in the moment, and living the life that you want to be living and not waiting for someone to give you the life that you desire… and the challenges and joys of living your life that way.

And it will be available wherever you get your fave music (itunes, Spotify, Amazon, etc). The EP Les Reveries of Une Jeune Noire will be out this Summer. So look for updates on my site and lots of cool content. www. ashleynoeljones.squarespace.com. Or follow me on twitter and instagram: @noelashley

16. Anything we missed that you would like to 16. Anything we missed that you would like to share?I think you guys covered a ton! I’d just like to say thanks! I’m really pumped about being asked to be a part of this issue and think this is awesome! And such a great resource! I’m inspired by your gusto to just go after your own dream and creating this great mag. So for all the guys and gals out theand gals out there, your dreams are valid. The ideas in your heart are not silly and there’s no better day than today to start pursuing them.

Still can’t get enough of Ashley? Click here for the trailer for Les Reveries of Une Jeune Noire.

Fashionshould

beplayful.

-Paloma Picasso

guys’ ultimate

Classic trunks in killer prints & bold colors from Peter Millar, Sid Mashburn & Strong Bloat. These trunks will leave the ladies swooning!

Ethan ParrishIt’s summer. Time to suit up!

Strong Boalt trunksA whimsical option for those days when your condence is already high and you know thatit will be a good day. Besides, their suit has sh with wings on it.

Be a gentleman - don’t wear boardshorts

Sid Mashburn, being the ultimate men’s option in Atlanta, also carries swim trunks. The light green is a simple suit that will easily become your go-to option and blue is always a classic.

A swim trunk with a bold pattern or bright hueis sure to make you stand out among the guys wearing board shorts to go along with their long unkempt hair. Be a gentleman and don’t wear board shorts.

It holds enough, but the perfect size for hailing a cab! Plus, have you seen thesenew ower prints?!

K. SlademadeSimply the perfect bag

Clarissa Rivera

Let’s face it, at the surface; a clutch is not always the most practical handbag to carry. It’s something one has to clutch, literally, leaving one hand unavailable for movement as simple as hailing a taxi. A clutch is traditionally tiny and almost always forces you to forgo half of the items you usually carry around in your day bag. But I must ask – why were you lugging around so much stuff anyway?

Enter K.slademade clutches. Kelsea, owner and founder definitely knows a thing or two about handbags. Much of her inspiration came from classical American heritage using only the finest and most genuine leather, hardware, and zippers to construct a classic, sophisticated yet simple handbag line.

The base of every beautiful bag is natural leather and beautiful fabric from her travels and local shops. Today,K.slademade pieces are scattered across the world; from Germany to Australia to China and throughout the United States. These glam pieces are perfect for brides, businesswomen, teens and stay-at-home moms.teens and stay-at-home moms.

K. Slademade

K.slademade’s Brooklyn Foldover clutch will complement any occasion. It’s light-weight and compact size allows for easy crowd navigation and won’t seem bulky for a cocktail function.

The Artist series floral vale pouch slightly smaller than the Foldover; it’s chic shape remains classic and compact, but still roomy enough to fit all the essentials of any modern woman – cellphone, keys, gum, and makeup for those finishing touches. The pouch is designed to avoid cumbersome holding angles and the floral watercolor pouch is designed to avoid cumbersome holding angles and the floral watercolor pattern adds an edge to an otherwise casual outfit.

Kelsea continues to add to her materials and repertoire in creating global statement pieces that stand out at every occasion. See all her designs on her website and follow her Instagram for outfit inspiration.

Is it time to cross off the summer bucket list already?! It may depend on where you’re and what you’re doing, but one thing is for sure: everyone needs a vacation! Traveling increases during the summer, but no matter if you’re heading down the street or ve hours away a little planning goes a long way. Try some of these tips to help your planning go a little smoother.

SummertimeVacation Planning

Felcia Fowler of @Fe_Duh_

Beachin’: Tripadvisor compiled their list of Top 25 beaches in the United States - here are the top 10:

Check out Tripadvisor.com for the complete list.

What to do: So you just left for your spontaneous weekend adventure and realized you don’t know what there is to do at your destination or maybe you’re sitting in your living room trying to decide where to go. Peek Tours & Activities by Peek Travel Inc. has launched a mobile app available to Apple users to help. It has ccreated a unique experience allowing users to discover, book, and pay on-the-go. Lists of the best attractions arecategorized and the prices already listed. There won’t ever be an excuse to be bored in a hotel room again.

Packing: Packing for a vacation can seem so over-whelming at times, and there is nothing worst than over packing a carry-on and paying for it. Here is some adviadvice:

Whatever you plan may be enjoy this summer with great people doing fun things, the summer won’t last forever, but your memories will!

1. Buy travel sized essentials – You won’t need a full size bottle of anything while you’re away. Save yourself some headache and snag some smaller bottles.

2. Organize your outts

3. Limit yourself to 2-3 pairs of shoes

Lanikai Beach, KailuaKa’anapali Beach, LahainaHanalei Beach, HanaleiWai’anapanapa State Park, HanaWailea Beach, WaileaManini’owali Beach (kua Bay), Kailua-KonaHanauma Bay Nature Preserve, HonoluluHanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Honolulu

Hunting Island State Park, Beaufort

Siesta Key Public Beach, Siesta KeySaint Pete Beach, Saint Pete Beach

Florida

South Carolina

Hawaii

Wise Words From Dad

My uncle was the predominant father figure in my life. The best advice he ever gave me was to stay happy. He said it like it was the simplest thing in the world to do. When I think of him I’m reminded that my happiness is my choice, and it’s been a lot easier to stay happy since.

Stay Happy

With love,

Keya Gibbons