Hello 2026
its been a minute here is an update.
It’s been a while since I last wrote. A lot unfolded in my personal life between August and December of last year, so let’s start there.
August took me to Puerto Rico to see Bad Bunny during his residency tour, and that trip was exactly what I needed. Short, sweet, and packed with adventure, it was the perfect little reset tucked between shoots and clients. I also threw my last Island De Fuego party at Hacienda. A success, as usual.
September was quieter but still full. I took a spontaneous weekend road trip with my best friend to what is apparently the largest hotel on the East Coast in Connecticut. Very random, but genuinely fun. I missed three chances to see The Conjuring, so I finally gave up on that dream. Otherwise, it was a standard month of clients and shoots, which flowed right into October.
October, however, was mentally and personally rough. My last housemate, who was also a friend, decided to break our lease early after we de-escalated our relationship. They felt they needed a fresh start and moved to Costa Rica. I was left feeling stressed and uncertain about finding a new roommate I would truly mesh with.
At the same time, Exxxotica NJ happened, and surprisingly, it was my most chill and productive convention yet. I only attended the con on Friday and spent the rest of the weekend shooting, doing photoshoots, and filming for others at the content house. I helped cook meals to feed the house, and the whole experience felt easeful in a way conventions rarely do. Seven shoots total that weekend. Bonus: I got a really sick tattoo.
From November onward, I shifted into rest and hibernation mode. I found the perfect new housemate, who would be moving in December, and I spent a week in Japan, which lived up to every bit of its hype. I went with a friend who had been before, and she was the ideal guide. The rest of November was spent seeing clients and focusing on editing and posting across platforms.
click the image below to see one of many Japan vlogs.
December arrived with my new housemate officially moved in. I spent time helping her settle and get organized, and we shared a lot of quiet moments resting and planning for 2026. There were birthdays, low-key holidays, and plenty of reflection. I spent a lot of time processing the past year.
I was also dealing with some lingering hardship around Consensual Carnage. My former housemate had also been my business partner until they decided to leave that part of our shared life as well. Communication stopped, even though there were intellectual properties that legally became mine. I pivoted and moved forward, but I didn’t realize how much emotional energy I was spending grieving their departure and rebranding everything on my own yet again.
I leaned into community and reached out to folks who expressed interest in supporting and becoming part of Consensual Carnage. There has been a lot of brainstorming, but I’ll be honest: this winter has left me feeling stuck. I even increased my antidepressant dosage because I needed extra mental support. I’m still showing up and trying my best, but I can also admit when things feel heavy and progress feels slow.
I do want to properly recap 2025, even though I’ve been dragging my feet on pulling all the data together. I have several projects I’m excited to start and continue this year. I want to push myself outside my comfort zone, to write more, shoot more, and organize more intentionally. For now, I’m also stepping away from hosting play parties.
I’d love to know: what helps you get unstuck when motivation feels frozen? And how do you push yourself into growth without burning out? Leave a comment and let’s chat about it!
Thank you for staying with me through the quiet seasons & until next time 💞🦇