End of the year

Well, it's hard to believe that the year is practically over. I'm not exactly sure where 2023 went; it seems it came and, in a blink of an eye, it's gone. I wish I could sum up 2023, but I'm not sure I have the words or the memory to do that. Haha, there have been a lot of amazing and memorable times though, that's for sure. I even got to travel back to Cali! It might not have been to visit my sisters, but it was nice and neat at the same time to be back "home" in the state I was born. I got to be a part of a Cannamoms Retreat with my biz partner at Sol Spirit Farms up in Northern California in Willow Creek. It was simply gorgeous up there!! While there, I got to be in touch with nature, and for a few days, just worry about me. I had no one else to think about except myself and how I wanted to enjoy my time. It was a beautiful and refreshing time. The hospitality of the team there was top-notch! We even got to tour their beautiful cannabis grow. We, of course, smoked their flower too! Which I have to say, that sun-grown flower is so tasty and flavorful!! While there, I met some super amazing and strong women too. We all had a lovely time together! By the way, did I mention that I literally slept in a tent in the woods! I never imagined I would ever go camping! Well, this was really considered "glamping," but it's the closest I've ever gotten to actually camping out in the woods! I had the best time and can't wait to hopefully experience it again. I would highly recommend anyone who can make the trip, do it! I hope to be able to experience it with my husband also!

I got to attend 2 cannabis expos! Benzinga in Miami and then the Cannabis Marketing Summit in Colorado. Both expos were a great experience, and I got to step out of my comfort zone with networking and speaking more about Hi-Curious. I still feel like I stumble on my words, but I know the more I do it, the better I'll get and the easier the words will flow. I love to watch Lauren talk and make pitches. She's so good at it! I mean, she should be; she has over 20 years of experience!!

I got to work with some super awesome clients this year too! I helped manage their social media pages, by curating content for their brand and making posts and engaging on their behalf. I've closed the chapter on some clients but also opened the door to even more clients, and I've started to raise my prices for my services!! Whoop! Yay me!!

I'm also working on getting more brand deals myself as a content creator. Meaning I want to get paid for showcasing a brand's products! I've done the get-free-product-for-content before. On occasions, I still do it for certain brands. But also, I know that what I do and create is useful and engaging, and that's what brands want! It takes time to make good content. I don't just record myself smoking then post it. Well maybe I do in my IG stories...haha but what I mean is I think about what I'm going to make, what message I'm trying to put out there, who am I trying to reach, what's my purpose, my why, and then I have to edit it! Lol, I like to do fun silly videos, makeup videos, and educational videos. Breaking stigmas about cannabis and normalizing the plant. I'm a mom, and I use cannabis, which can be deemed as so bad and irresponsible. Insert eye roll. But no one says anything to the wine-drinking parents, the beer-drinking family. It's socially more acceptable for people to drink and get drunk together than it is to smoke a joint together. But of the two, only one could lead to more negative effects. And it's not weed. I could go on, but that's not what this blog is about. Lol.

I have been blessed with the amazing opportunity to work with some dope brands and continue to work with new brands too! I really have to thank my friend Lauren for helping with that! She's an excellent manager and inspiration!

I have also been able to work with a couple dispensaries locally too! Yes, they paid me to make content! As they should be doing!! Lol, I don't want just free weed. That's a plus for the job!! Haha But the two dispensaries I've worked with have been amazing, and I hope to work with more dispensaries in 2024.

My daughter started 3rd grade and turned 8 years old this year. EIGHT!! Where did my little baby go?! She's growing to be such a bright, smart, and beautiful girl. She is a fierce sassy girl who is full of love and silliness! She needs to stop growing so fast! Haha. I guess this is the life of a parent. To see your babies grow to be amazing loving good humans. And to breaking generational trauma too!

My husband completed HVAC school, and can now repair/maintenance anyone's AC unit...for a price, of course!! He's multitalented! A music producer, DJ, Audio Engineer, filmmaker, and HVAC pro! Oh, and add on a phenomenal father to that list!!

We didn't do much traveling as a family this year because of his school schedule, but next year will be different hopefully! If anything, we need to take some road trips to see some friends during the summer! And a trip to the beach is a must also. We don't go there nearly enough. Well, that's because it's 2 hours away...ugh.

Oh, and I turned 40 this year! 4-0! I remember being a teenager and thinking 40 was kinda old. Sesh...do teenagers think I'm old now?! Haha Good thing I have great genes and look like I'm in my 20s! Haha To celebrate me and turning 40 I had myself a fun birthday shoot with a friend and photographer I've shot with before. Miss Sunnie of 420 Pinups! I love her! We had the best time at the shoot and we got some amazing shots!! I'm always so excited about the final outcome! These photos were no exception!

Turning 40 feels...I don't know. Weird and odd to say out loud. But hey, I'm owning up to it and feeling great! I mean how may 40-year-olds look this good?! I make 40 look good!! Ayyeeeee!!

Something I do want to do, for myself in the new year and to also better understand me, is to get tested for neurodiversity. Basically I want to know if I have ADHD or if I’m neurodivergent. There are so many things, patterns of behaviors I see in myself and have become more aware of lately. And thanks to several videos on social media, like the AHDDCouple, I feel...seen. Like, some of the things they talk about I can relate to, and suddenly I'm left wondering hmm....is that why I do this, or that, or even why I feel things the way I do?? I feel like knowing this will not only help me to better understand myself but it will also help me understand how to approach situations with my daughter. I'm not saying she has it, but...there are small signs, but again she is still young and growing, so I will not worry about it too much. She is full of energy, I know she is so super smart and capable of great things!

As 2023 comes to an end, I hope to continue my self-inner and outer growth. I will continue to keep up with my fitness routine! Gotta really pat myself on the back because I have been consistent this whole year!! Whoop whoop, go me! I want to continue to grow and build Hi-curious and help creators get paid for making cannabis content. I will continue to do travel for work trips and will also do some leisure traveling, if not by plane, then at least via a road trip!

I also hope to strengthen and grow my relationship with my sisters.

My husband and I really need to do better about getting out on dates just the two of us. Again the limited childcare thing is the reason why we don't go as much, but there are a couple of options, and we need to do better about utilizing our family and friends. Although at times it can be hard and the desire to ask often, at the thought of we're bothering them, comes to my mind often, but also I know it's ok to ask. WE simply must do better.

2024 will be fantastic, and I'm sure filled with plenty of lessons still yet to be learned. Thanks, 2023, for all the amazing memories, it's time to make new ones.