​3 Things I've learned in my 20s (so far) 


Our twenties , for most of us , is when we finally experience life truly on our own . We still have our support systems and our families are still there waiting to send care packages or money as soon as they sense we're even REMOTELY in need . . . but it's in these years that we open our eyes to our world and not the world shaped by our parents , our teachers , or old lady June down the street who use to watch you when you were 4 . Most of us stepped out of our comfort zones and stumbled into reality - HARD . I feel like I realize new things almost daily but these are 3 of the things I've learned in my 20s so far , maybe you can relate .

1. Things never go as you plan .
 
I had crazy and in hind sight - very unrealistic goals growing up . I applied to Harvard , which isn't the unrealistic part because I'm actually REALLY smart . I got pretty far in the acceptance process but decided to stay close to home due to my mom's first diagnosis with Breast cancer and ended up with a full ride academic scholarship to The Ohio State University . #GoBucks . I graduated and decided the move was Los Angeles . The plan : move to LA , sign a recording contract and be on tour within a year . 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Poor 22year old Joe . Quite the ambitious one . Long story short , it didn't happen and still hasn't happened but you know what , I'm not worried - and I'm very happy about it . I'd be a very different person had that happened . I wouldn't be writing this . I wouldn't have met some of the greatest people I know . I wouldn't have had half the experiences I've been very fortunate to have . Honestly , I don't think I would be as happy as I am now . I suppose what I'm getting at is , I don't believe in failure ; there are only opportunities to learn . We all wish for 10 million dollars but the reality of it all is most of us wouldn't know what to do with 10 million dollars . We aren't READY for 10 million dollars . We have these goals but we may not be ready for them in the timeframe we give ourselves to achieve them . 

​2. That wasn't love .

New city . New shiny things . New REALLY hot people . I moved to LA from Columbus , Ohio where I worked at the Abercrombie & Fitch corporate office . Back then , I was surrounded by some of the most beautiful people . Models flown in for castings . Fashion shows . Fit modeling . Literally tripping over some of the people we #Goal on IG . I had my flings but they were whatever . Fast forward to LA . Thrust into a city filled with the faces and bodies of those deemed too elite for their small towns . I transferred to the A&F Flagship store because , why not ? I fell in love twice a day for the first year and a half out here . Los Angeles was over flowing with an energy I hadn't felt and an overwhelming concentration of beautiful people -both guys and girls . Some , a few shown below , have grown to be some of the best people I have ever met . Welcomed me with open arms and proved time and time again that they are just as perfect on the inside as they are on the outside . On the other hand , there were MANY , not shown , that gave me attention simply because I was the 'cute' new guy . A LOT of heartache . I didn't know who I was yet so I wasn't able to love myself , didn't know what love was so I couldn't expect others to love me back . I mistakenly equated attention for love and it messed me up for a bit . Caused me to get reckless - I mean people busting in on me making out with someone in the shadows in the club . 3am booty calls . Borderline body dysmorphia because I felt like I had to look like some ridiculously specific creation to keep the attention of these people because again - I equated attention to love . It wasn't love . I want to write more about this one but I'm gunna hold off so you guys will come back . ;)

(( Some of my favorite LA people ))
((Stunning inside & out))

​3. It's ok to experience . 

I'd never tell anybody to do anything they would feel forced to do . I'd never tell anybody to do anything that makes them feel in danger . But I will tell all who are willing to listen that it's never ok to get complacent or to -stay- comfortable . The world is far too big . Cultures and people are waiting to be embraced . 

Once I legit realized I was LIVING MY OWN LIFE , I had my personal 'the world isn't flat' moment and it was everything one would think it'd be . No fear of judgements . No fear of disappointing anyone . I was on a path to meeting someone I always wanted to meet - myself . I kissed some girls and grabbed some ass . I kissed some boys and grabbed some ass . (I've always been an ass man . Haha) . I found out what I'd look like as a girl , and people grabbed my ass . I went wild at my first music festival (Coachella) staying up for 38hrs . I cut A LOT of people out of my life which was much needed because for the longest time I felt I needed said people 'just in case' - whatever that means . I got tattoos . Lol . I did whatever . I made decisions for ME . 

Coachella with @Vin_Sant & @KevinPearn

(( Halloween as Beyonce ))

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The reason for this post is to show you that even though I'm now in the latter end of my 20s , I still haven't figured everything out and that's ok . I don't beat myself up . I don't cry myself to sleep . I don't even allow myself to think that I've let anybody down . We don't know the ultimate meaning of life but I assure you it's not to get some 9-5 job or to impress people or to live up to standards placed upon you growing up . Life to me , is about the journey and writing your story as it comes along . 

So get out there , kiss somebody and grab some ass . Haha . So when you look back on it , when you're going through whatever that impending and devastatingly life altering scenario may be , at least it'll put a smile on your face and get you through to your next sunrise . #SomeDailyJoe

Jason Strauss & Tao Group
​@JasonStrauss

When it comes to Vegas , it's hard to hold a candle to Tao Group when hospitality is involved . They're essentially the Beyoncé of the industry . Everybody loves them and for good reason . With Jason Strauss' GQ good looks and a commitment to an unparalleled standard , he along with the incomparable Jordan Miner patiently made sure every little scheduling detail was perfect , because let's be real it was my birthday and from time to time I had an additional requests or 50 . Lol . To say Tao Group takes care of their friends is an understatement . Every detail from mind blowing dinners each night at Lavo , TAO and their newest addition Beauty & Essex to putting us up in the luxury suites of the Venetian to tables with what seemed like endless amounts of good vibes and yes , obviously alcohol - the celebrations were something off of a Pinterest Dream/Goals board . With cameos from funny guy Kevin Hart throughout the weekend , and our generation's 'man's man' Dan Bilzarian and the one and only KYGO partying with us at Marquee Day Club at the stunning Cosmo - my 4 night stint in Vegas was a movie . I -WISH- I could tell y'all more but I have a few young readers and you know what they say , what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas (or on snapchat) . . . 😜

If y'all aren't following me yet 👻 : HashTagJenkins

Freixenet
@FreixenetUSA
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Shoutout to Freixenet for 2 very different but VERY important reasons . 1. As far as booze went , y'all kept my guests and I the classiest while getting ready for everything that Vegas had to offer . Celebratory drinks all around before we stepped out to take over the strip and mimosas in the mornings to help facilitate the regaining of any dignity lost the night before .
2. Post Vegas , the invite to the Drake X Future Summer Sixteen Tour . Stop it . Not only did they put on an amazing show but you guys curated a pretty legit group to experience the concert and yalls hospitality . It's not everyday one gets to kick it with huge social media influencers and the babe of an artist Halsey while eating steak & shrimp , sipping on the Freixenet goodness and eating caramel apples , ice cream and gummy candies - listening to Drake perform One Dance - RIGHT IN FRONT OF US . Hahaha

Trendy Butler
​@TrendyButler

Im sure y'all have noticed I ALWAYS wear some sort of head covering . We all have personal struggles and one of mine is one I was hoping to share somewhere down the line but I guess there's no time like the present . The skin on my scalp is quite possibly my biggest struggle courtesy of psoriasis . YAAAYYYYYY . *rolls eyes*. It doesn't define me by any means but it's definitely something I deal with every day . Anyway , that's for a post on another day . Lol . Snapbacks are typically frowned upon in Vegas night clubs so I want to give a special thank you to Trendy Butler who sent me a couple Beanies to wear on my trip . What better way to spend your birthday than being Anxiety free ?

iHeart Radio & iHeart Media
@iHeartRadio & @iHeartMediaOfficial

Not to belittle any thanks I have for any of the previously mentioned . . . however . . . THE THANKS OF ALL THANKS goes to iHeartRadio & iHeartMedia for the tickets to see Queen Bey at the Formation World Tour . All who know me , know what this has meant to me . The love & liberation I felt when witnessing all that is BEYONCÉ is something I wish upon every being on this planet . The artistry . The vulnerability . The honesty . She's hands down the best entertainer of our generation and I am grateful to be alive in this moment in history . Life changed after I was blessed to see the On The Run Tour (shout out to Cathleen Cher for that because you single handedly facilitated my enlightenment) and Life shifted yet again after the Formation Tour . I am unbelievably thankful !

Beyoncé . Thank you for being so much to the lives of many . You are truly an amazing representation of a powerful woman . Talented , loving and an inspiration to the masses .

Thank you to everybody who sent a text , a DM , posted a memory , called me , and anything and everything in between . I'm a reflection of all the good that y'all are and that makes me happy .

Some would say I'm OBSESSED with striving to be good looking or aesthetically pleasing but whatever . Who doesn't wanna work towards complete confidence in their physical appearance ? THIS is the face that's gunna get me into the club or on a red carpet despite the fact that I have a bachelor of science from THE Ohio State University , a bomb ass personality and I like to believe I dress well . . . But I digress . 
My bombshell of a friend @SharlenaHassani who has PERFECT skin (I mean - please creep her IG) reached out about trying this skin care regimen and find Moses cause lawd Jesus I done died and went to heaven .

I know black don't crack - obviously - but I've been freakin out lately because I'm about to be 946 years old and I can't be havin none uh dat .

Jan Marini's Skin Care Management System is a 4 to 5 step morning and evening skin regimen that pretty much has me getting carded at the club again . It reduces fine lines and wrinkles , diminishes dark spots , leaves your skin looking like a DREAM and feeling like . . . what's soft ? Velvet ? That's weird but we'll go with velvet . And don't you fret my friends - it works on all skin types . Also if you're one of those people who checks Yelp and whatever before you try something new , it holds the title and is the 6 time winner of Best Anti-Aging System by the Beauty Choice Awards .

I wasn't paid to do this or anything like that and I wouldn't take the time to try the product for 2 weeks and write about it if this wasn't something I felt could really help y'all out . Go check them out , their website is below . Y'all stay cute and cheers to you !

www.JanMarini.com
@JanMariniSkinResearch

Amazing Skin and Purveyor of All Things Beautiful : @SharlenaHasanni

​Beauty bloggers , designers , celebrity makeup artists , and social media influencers schmoozed and mingled after walking the Pink Carpet , sipping custom designer drinks and snacking of everything from sliders to macaroni and cheese balls to steak skewers - because let's be real . . . The Money Team spares no expense .

Instagram : @Ryan_Patros @BadMedina @WalterCollection

​Yes there was a lot of buzz about Money Man but the event was truly about #BadMedina and it went off without a hitch . An amazing venue , hand selected crowd , photo booths , gift bags , an open bar and so much love and support . Sheer opulence . Girlfriend or not , it shows that Doralie is someone important to Mayweather and has his full support in this endeavor . Best of luck to you Miss Medina and shoutout to those who continue to uplift you , Floyd and The Money Team!

Instagram : @SomeDailyJoe @Arzalea @KingBach @JenaFrumes