I had munchkin the summer of 2010, and while I was enjoying watching her discover the world I was discovering CreativeLive. It could not have come a better time in my life, nor in an easier format while I had my hands full with munchkin. I didn’t finish college, and I hungered for creative education, but options were scarce with a bunching baby on my knee. The platform allowed me to hop on whenever my schedule allowed, jump right into a free streaming class, and buy it if I enjoyed it so I could keep on learning indefinitely.

Every day Chase Jarvis and friends came into my home on my screens and educated me in creativity and beyond—including business, marketing, and finances. I watched LIVE educational classes, I watched Chase’s LIVE show, and I rewatched whatever I missed in between. Once there were multiple channels, I rewatched whatever I missed while I was watching whatever had been LIVE earlier in the day. It was absolutely amazing education, and I feel sad that it no longer exists in its original form.

We have a lot more options now, but this one will always have a special place in my heart—especially for the creative teachers and incredibly unique minds and talented humans Chase introduced us to on his LIVE shows. Just to name a few of my favorites: Sue Bryce, Lara Jade, Brené Brown, Marie Forleo, Ryan Holiday, Lewis Howe, Jeremy Cowart, Adrian Grenier, and The Lumineers.

Sue Bryce specifically impacted the way I shoot portraits forever. My video style was also inspired from her Show Reels that Sue shot with  Hailey Bartholemew, who she introduced us all to on CreativeLive. During their class Hailey shared her 365 Grateful project, and they assigned a 30 Days of Grateful video project. Mine features munchkin and uses music is by Mindy Gledhill, who I was also introduced by Sue along with Triple Scoop Music. Another one of Mindy’s songs is in my favorite Show Reel featuring Anna, that Sue and Hailey made for her Teen/Seniors market. The way CreativeLive as whole taught me to infuse story, play, and authenticity into my images is what inspired me to keep shooting.

Oh, Google+ how I miss thee, and my G+ friends! Just after I had munchkin I dove into my CreativeLive education, and I learned how to use my camera. However, I had been practicing in a bit of a vacuum until I found G+ and Chrysta Rae’s Scavenger Hunt. (FYI: You can try your hand at the old prompts, and even join in on new rounds because it’s still going!)

Google+ was a social network, which was really popular with photographers. I found friends, support, and mentorship through an online photography scavenger hunt led by Christa Rae—an amazing human with a big heart who we all adored more than words for bringing us all together. I participated in 13+ hunts and projects with the Scavengers. Winning a 3rd place vote by Thomas Hawk, with my photo drop was one of my biggest highlights, along with watching the professional photographers editing sessions live—like Alan Shapiro who was Chrysta Rae’s Mentor.

I even participated in G+ Photography Mentorships of my own, which allowed me opportunities to explore various styles, techniques, and get critiques from multiple professional photographers. I am so thankful for their time, and my photography skills grew in leaps and bounds from my participation and their support. Special thanks to: Beth Akerman, Ron Clifford, and Tamara Preussner.

When I was researching foster care I found Maria Bates and Project Patchwork. I remember calling on the phone and asking all the questions, as well as attending an event in person. Everyone I encountered was lovely, and we did got through the process of becoming a foster family. However, when we finished classes with the state, I found out munchkin was on her way. Then, we later decided to move to Florida, so our fostering journey ended.

For a short while I was also on the Project Board as Secretary. At one of our meetings we had a special guest,  Ashley Rhodes-Couter, the author of Three Little Words. I think Maria had recommended the book, which I read and loved very much. While I was chatting with Ashley I mentioned I am adopted, and she stopped me. “You were adopted. It happened in the past, and the event is over.” Of course, this is 100% correct, but no one had ever explained this to me. I thought about adoption differently ever since, as an event instead of solely an identity label.

I love animals—I always have. Growing up my mom had cats while I had hamsters. I found out I wasn’t a cat person when I got my first dog Stumpy—who had 3 legs—and I didn’t realize 🤦‍♀️ it wasn’t the nicest name because I was only 8. Our neighbor in Pennsylvania bred dogs, and she gifted me the runt of a litter for helping her groom and bath all the dogs. Sadly, Stumpy stayed behind in PA when I moved to Florida, and my heart never quite got over it. 🥺 I only had her about a year, yet, other animals did come into my heart.

 I focused mostly on our two dogs prior to becoming a groomer and having Isabel, but when we moved to the other side of Florida I got to add experience with horses, ponies, and donkeys. Some of the places I’ve parked the van even had resident cows, chickens, goats, and pigs I got to feed when the owners went out of town. It reminded me of the summers in Puerto Rico with my grandparents on their farm. Waking up to the sound of a rooster always brings back memories. It’s the only animal I didn’t see on our visit to Best Friends in Utah, where we enjoyed all of the tours on offer, including Wild Friends.

Of all animals, horses really captured my heart, and I feel so lucky to have had such wonderful presence with them. While they are amazing as individuals, there is nothing like watching herd. One rescue had dozens who would run at once when we dropped hay, and it’s one of my fondest memories. A friend I met through a horse rescue who is a Reiki healer whose guides delivered a message that the closest to the way I love on this plane I would find is the love of animals. So far, that has proved true as animal love is unconditional in a way most human love is not.

Munchkin entered kindergarten already being able to read, and we thought FLVS Full Time  would allow her the freedom to move at her own pace. (It was public school online with an intense schedule at the time.) Unfortunately, while they thankfully let her work through kindergarten and start a semester of 1st grade, but then they blocked her from moving forward with 3 months left in the school year. She was halfway through first grade (in kindergarten), but then she needed to keep busy with actual busy work, so we decided to homeschool on our own after that.

Our homeschool journey has taken many forms, including homeschool cooperatives and online programs. We were quite active in many homeschool groups, and I even ran one for a while. My favorite aspect is that there is a lot of freedom in homeschooling, which allows flexibility for family time, travel, and exploring their interests. I really enjoyed teaching, coming up with topics, and having all ages classes (even including caregivers at times). However, just before covid hit munchkin and I realized we were exhausted. We were over scheduled and had been skipping classes and signing up for less and less.

By the end of the pandemic we took a huge step back, and now we aren’t in any regular groups. The freedom to allow her the flexibility to do what works for her and our family is a huge benefit of homeschooling. Kids having the power, the idea of democratic education, Sudbury specifically, is something I really like, feeling like I had little power in my own education growing up. (However, we don’t live near any, and the tuition is really expensive—but I still try to ensure she can make as many choices as possible.) Currently, she’s been doing FLVS Flex for years, and she spends much of the rest of her time drawing—her first love. I feel lucky that we can support her freedom of choice in education.

Finding humans with big hearts and open minds isn’t always easy online, but in the Twitch stream of Brendon Urie from Panic! At The Disco we all found each other. We shared many hours together of random conversation, Fortnite (and other games), music lessons, and companionship.

Whenever I hear Forêt de Vin I find myself looking around, half expecting to hear B’s voice and the stream to pop up somewhere. So glad about the time we spent together, to B and Jake Chams for bringing us together, and especially for the memory of the Vro Prom (May 31st 2020).

VRO CREW by Jake Chamseddine

A typo turned lifestyle.

The term "vro" has a simple meaning on the surface, a non gender specific form of the word "bro". But with the birth of the term "vro" a family was born.

A family full of individuals who stand for self expression, equality, kindness, and the idea that people have the right to unapologetic ally be themselves to the fullest extent.

That family goes by the name of The Vro Crew.

Finding this app changed the course of my life, and I have not been able to find an alternative since it ended. I loved chatting authentically with other humans (while in bed in my pjs) , and finding things in common even when we disagreed. I got the opportunity to be a Quilter (member), cohost, host (Queer Qs, and I was hired as an Ambassador Guide.

I’ll never be able to thank Ashley J. Sumner the founder enough, and I was so ecstatic to meet her on app and in person at our Miami Retreat (I helped plan). Besides interviewing Ashley, I connected with some wonderful souls I’d only spoke to from a distance—including one who became my partner and moved states to go on a camper van adventure with me.

The universe led me to Quilt through a trail of shiny humans (listed below), and I am so glad that I randomly decided to follow that trail—and that I had an iPhone, since it was only available on iOs. I downloaded the app to join a Become Project event Bethany C. Myers shared on IG stories. I found Bethany through tags on Nico Tortorella’s IG, who I found from through Antoni’s IG follow recommendation. I was on Antoni Perowski’s IG after watching a Queer Eye episode. So many tiny steps, but such a big impact on my life—including leading to my becoming a professional Developmental Editor.

Below are a few of my highlights cohosting and hosting.

• Queer Qs, created and hosted by me (on hiatus)
• Janet W. Hardy, CoAuthor of The Ethical Slut
• Whitney Frick, Publisher & Editor•in•Chief of The Dial Press

I am so grateful to have found Mischa through the a non monogamy community and to have been a part of Beyond Consent (October to November of 2023). We learned about ourselves on a deeper level and our interactions with others to find intimate abundance and sexual integrity—terms I had not encountered in my life prior.

I’ve never been part of such a class, and it was really interesting to look at my previous romantic, sensual, and sexual relationships to realize just how far out of alignment I had been for most of them. This education and exploration helped me figure out what I wanted to cultivate more of in my life.

I highly recommend Beyond Consent, as well as Mischa as a coach for those seeking sex and relationship accountability. As a nonbinary, gray ace human, I also want to mention that I felt perfectly welcome and enjoyed the class immensely.