Disclaimer :

1 . Self Expression 
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How many of us grew up in religious homes ? Conservative homes ? Strict homes ? Environments where we maybe couldn't push the envelope as much as we knew we wanted out of fear of ridicule or judgement ? Nobody wanted to 'embarrass' their parents or be bullied in school . Growing up , few of us had that boss mentality to do whatever the hell they wanted and own every bit of it . 
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This is why now makes sense . We are in the time of our lives where creativity is at an all time high and what's deemed 'socially acceptable' is pretty much anything that isn't blatantly offensive (black face is still a no-go . . . so is Hitler . . . or a rapist and well , pretty much anything that will make you look like the shittiest person in the room) . 

Being dead was a huge trend across the board which is how a lot of us felt after drinking . ​. .

​Moreover , guys take this opportunity to be the entities that inspire them ; i.e. super heroes and if they have the body for it - warriors , Greek gods , sexy firemen - you get the picture . Sometimes they go funny : onesies , giant babies , Netflix & Chill , Ron Burgundy , Zoolander , so on and so forth . Girls tend to get HYPER sexualized : sexy nurse , sexy cop , sexy cat , sexy 'insert noun' . I've literally seen a sexy crayon costume . Lol . I don't judge because I think all this is perfectly fine for the simple FACT : we're not gunna look like this forever . If we got it , flaunt it . Hell - I did and I'm a guy . Sexiest male Victoria's Secret Angel in LA ! 

​Lil Zack's dream and what he worked towards most of his life was to be a Major League Baseball player . His life has gone every which way but looky there - he has multiple businesses , he's become a personality , an amazing content creator on numerous social media platforms AND he's found love . He's happy .

Announcer : Miss 3rd Ward , what is your aspiration in life ?'

Beyoncé : To be happy .​

An excerpt from Beyoncé's track Pretty Hurts , she answers as I would hope mankind would : To be happy . Happiness in itself is a phenomenon universally accepted as THE ultimate achievement of anyone's existence . We dream of a carefree life . One overflowing with love , with freedom , and a filled void we'd long accepted as 'a part of life' . We subconsciously wish of individual ecstasy that would , unbeknownst to us , simultaneously translate into a collective widespread euphoria . This is perfect , except perfect does not exist . . . yet .

I don't claim to speak on behalf of anybody other than myself . I don't believe to have all the answers . I address truths as I see them based off of the life I've lived and the world I exist in , because we all live in very distinct realities specific to -US- . 

Primitive example : you and I are walking down the street . You express that it's deathly hot outside . I express that I'm comfortable . In your reality , because it proves true to YOU , it's hot . In my reality , because it proves true to ME , it's not . Those choosing to dissect will say 'that's just an opinion' but isn't an opinion simply something that's proven true to you ? 

Despite the fact that we all strive to achieve happiness , I believe there's an unspoken controversy because we as humans can't precisely explain , label , categorize , pinpoint , or otherwise put happiness in a box . Some can't accept the blanket concept because individual happiness sometimes conflicts with another's idea of 'approved' happiness . I'd go as far as to say that for a lot of people , the relative nature of happiness is unsettling . I struggle to understand why examples like interracial or same sex relationships are still a thing , but they are . ​

Moving on .

When I moved across the country and left everything and everyone I knew , I got every comment in the book . The 'I'm really going to miss you's came from a good place . Others came from selfish places . . . . specifically 'who am I gunna party with/ get us free drinks' , 'who's gunna introduce me to the hot girls' and my favorite 'don't worry , you'll be back and you can stay with me . LA is really tough to make it in' . These were coming from people I called friend . People I thought believed in me or at least simply wanted me happy . I soon noticed that they only wanted me happy when it was convenient for them . I was obviously a 'connect' but that's not what this writing is about , that topic has WAY too many negative undertones . No thank you . 


I took my happiness into my own hands and ran with it . The best decision I've ever made . I've grown . I push my own envelope . I've become even more creative . I actively put out the BEST vibes I know how to . I smile so often it's almost unnatural and I've noticed that my happiness has been a motivator for others to run with their own . 


This has gotten long and for good reason because sometimes you can't put your thoughts in a paragraph , yourself in a summery or your happiness in a box . I'll close out by saying this : if you are happy , be happy . If your genuine happiness whether it be moving away from your comfort zone , quitting your job and traveling the world , an interracial or same sex relationship , getting a boob job , or anything that isn't promoting hate or endangering anybody . . . run with it . Once we all find our individual happiness , we'll find ourselves chillin in that unbeknownst collective widespread euphoria and THAT's perfect . ​#SomeDailyJoe

This is not laden with images because this is something I'm hoping you all will READ .
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​It's not every day we personalize death . We're outraged about the killing of unarmed Americans . We stand in unity with countries  where their citizens are massacred by Isis or other terrorist groups . We even get up in arms about the inhumane slaughter of animals . It's important that these unfortunate occurrences garner our attention , as they should , but again - we rarely . . . individually . . . address death . 

Let me first speak on fear . Fear is defined as an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous , may cause pain or is a threat . Ok , sure . I understand . I think it's important to grasp the concept of fear but not to operate in it . Some say fear is a defense mechanism ; that it keeps you safe . I call bullshit . Fear is completely a product of the mind and a scapegoat we use so we don't have to face the root of issues . You're not afraid of the dark . The root is that you don't feel safe because you lack an awareness of your surroundings . You're not afraid of spiders . You are disgusted by their appearance and you are taught from a very young age that spiders can cause you harm . It's easy to say you fear things this trivial but it's simply a lazy way of getting around the root of why you're uneasy . Moving on . 

Some of you know that my dad died 4 months before I was born . He died of a heart attack at 23 . Fast forward . My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer the first time and was given 10 years to live . She beat the 10 years only to be diagnosed a second time . Before the second diagnosis , she was neglected and to be frank - almost killed on multiple occasions courtesy of what I'm convinced was medical malpractice . . . but I'm no lawyer . Lost a friend to cancer .  One of my close friends was killed in a car accident the last day of my senior year of high school . My God Father passed away just over 2 weeks ago . Not to continue and overload , one could say that I've had the reality of death or possibility of death in my face so many times in my life that I had no choice but to have a very eye opening pow wow with the concept of death . 

I've realized that I do not fear death . If you haven't actually had a real ass minute with yourself , looked in the mirror and said 'We all are dying . You are dying' you probably haven't had your 'A Ha !' moment of enlightenment . What makes me uneasy about my death is the result of my death . It breaks my heart to think of what my death would do to my mother , brothers and sister . I can't even wrap my head around what I'd put by best friends through if I were to die . I'm weary about not making a big enough impact with the life I've been given . Addressing death and the realness that we are all gunna kick the bucket has given me a freedom and individual purpose I never knew I needed . 

Once you come to terms with the FACT that you are dying , you can finally live . 

I wake up each day grateful that I have another chance to put a smile on someone's face . I wake up with a quiet FUCK YEA mentality that I was given another chance to make an impact . I wake up happy that I get to talk to my mom again . Hell , I wake up with a smirk for the simple fact that I can roll over , check my IG and toss out some likes . Lol . 

Addressing death and understanding that I don't fear death itself , rather I'm uneasy about the result of my death - I now live a life solely to do good . To encourage and support the people around me . To take risks . TO BE HONEST . To take no shit . To fall in love and be ok with falling in love . To tell someone they're beautiful . To hold a door for someone . When you understand that you can die at any second , it really puts your existence into perspective and it lights a fire in you to leave the BEST memories about you when that day comes . The clock is ticking and you'll never see the second hand as it draws closer and closer to that final chime so step up and own your life . #SomeDailyJoe 

​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