4:42PM

Have I told yall that I hate how dark it gets in the afternoon? I really do.

I have been sleeping a lot. Being as productive as I can be in the daylight. Its been kinda rough. I’m sure you feel that way too. It will get better soon, it has too. I believe we can make it though it.

Besides sleeping and spiraling, I’ve been working on new winter themes blends for my apothecary. I also got another dehydrator and I cant wait to finally make jerky. Not so put on the site, but for my and my mental health.

I love yall. Please take care of yourself as best you can. I promise to try if you do.

-M.Alicia

Perspective.

I wanted to make a post using random photos I take that are not intended for “art”. They are just random things I take photos of during the day.

I have always kinda branded my art and online presence as being “melancholy and boring”. I still stand by that. But, I want to shift into my life having meaning. Even if I’m the only one who understands what that is.

I have 12 years of photos, film and digital, of just me living and existing and capturing that feeling in that moment. Its only boring to me because that’s my perspective. I’m sure someone finds/feels something in what I do.

LOL at me discovering how interpenetrating art work :/

I make a lot of IG post that I later delete. I decided to keep them for a future art instillation I’m working on. Don’t ask when, I don’t know. I just know I’m ready for it when the time comes.

I hope you all are doing well. Staying warm, not letting the dark make you sad.

-M.Alicia

The last 3 months...

Hey, y’all. I hope y’all are doing well, staying healthy and hydrated.

I have’t posted on any of my pages (with rare appearances on my apothecary page), all year really. Ive been feeling like I’m just floating, existing and not really doing anything. I talk about it a lot with the councilor. Having that outside voice helps me a lot.

My birthday was on the 14th. I usually have a dramatic crisis. But this year, I really got to live out things for my younger. I looked very puck for my dinner, ate halloween sugar cookies, hung out with cats. It was very fun.

I feel like I missed a whole year. Like, wth is happening? I feel present but not really. Caught up but still so behind everyone. On top of my own stuff, life don’t stop. I’ve lost a lot of family and friends this year. Everything is going so fast and so slow. I took the last part of the summer to really slow down. I haven’t really took any real time to walk around the city and really take in the changes.

I say all that to say, please take time to tend to your mental health. Especially with the dark months coming up so soon. I will shamelessly plug my IG for self care tips. Sometimes I feel its more for me than anyone else. But we all need a little gentle reminder to eat lunch and get some fresh air.

I love yall.

M.Alicia

Into the thick of it

Its been over a year since my last in-person photo shoot. I’m dying. But earlier in the year, I did two photo shoots with my friends. I wanted to try and get back into my groove. I haven’t done anything in so long, I felt as if I lost it. I don’t think I have.

In February, I did a virtual shoot with my homegirl Bleu (formally @sistah_don). They moved away in 2019 so its been a minuet since we’ve done a shoot together. This was as close to doing an in-person shoot as we’re gonna get at the moment, and it still worked out.

Due to the pandemic, a lot of photographers were testing the waters with virtual shoots. I watched a few photographers give advice on how to navigate a virtual shoot, then did a few on my own. This is my favorite of the three that I did (other shoots were for a private client). I would do this for out of state clients only, I still prefer to be in-person. 6/10 would recommend.

In March, I did a very random shoot with my other friend Sam. I bought this mask off the Wish app (not an ad) and been dying to do a shoot with it. I knew Sam was the only person who could really carry this mask, she was the only one who was actually excited about wearing it.

I do wish I showed off the mask more. I was going for more of an overall feel with this shoot, rather then make it all about the mask. I also wanted to use smoke bombs.

In the next few weeks, I will post info for booking sessions. I will be taking a handful of people for now, just get get me back on. I can not wait to get back out here.

Let me know what y’all think of these mini shoots. Please be nice lol

Love y’all

M.Alicia

What is she doing?

What up? I’m trying out this as my new blogging format. Make my life a little easier, I spend so much time on here anyways.

I haven’t posted on my WordPress blog in almost a year. I, like any others, have been stuck in a black hole that is life. I’m tired, I know you are too. We here now so lets try and relax.

I get out when I can, see my favorite humans and animals, and do what makes me happy as much as I can. Its the least I can do for myself. This journey hasn’t been easy, like at all, but I know I’ll be better after all this. I can finally see and appreciate my growth. I’ve never done that before. The only good thing about the last year is all the reflecting and napping I got to do. I hope you all found some kind of peace as well, we all deserve that.

One thing I miss more than anything is doing photo shoots. My anxiety and never resting mind are holding me back but I’m slowly getting back into it. S/O to amazing friends who will help get you out of a slump.

I also started an apothecary, Lil Big Mama Self Care. Its my baby and I’m happy with where its going right now. It has taken up a lot of my time, she’s a growing girl. But I’m learning how to balance all my creative endeavors. Im not good at it at all, but I learn and will fall into a rhythm soon.

I plan on taking a few clients this summer. Maybe plan an art show for the fall. I miss seeing and hearing peoples art and talents. The world (mines, anyways) is slowing coming back to life. I look forward to all the new things with will emerge out of this time. Enjoy more photos, Ill see what I can make of this new format.

Love y’all

M.Alicia